as he was not able to walk back the sameness and sincerity; any errors that you day, and that he had come in to hear may have committed in consequence of the Lecture, and to see a man whose writ- that deception are excusable; but when ings he had so long admired, and that, as you are undeceived, then to persevere in the Lecture was put off till Monday, he error is not excusable. I can neither had come to see me at the Inn. gain by the correction of your errors, nor lose by your perseverance in them. In addressing you upon this occasion, I have no motive other than that of wishing you to act a part tending to the good of the country, and to your own well-being; and in the hope that you will act that part, I remain your obliged and faithful friend, and most obedient servant, BETT.

WM. COBBETT.

The old man had been gone about an hour, perhaps, when SMITHSON came to settle something about the Lecture, and he expressed his sorrow for the postponement, because there was an old friend of his ninety years of age who had come in on purpose to hear it, and that he (Smithson) always gave the poor old fellow a bed when he came to Leeds. I asked him the old man's name; he said it was Walker! It would have been to partake in the perfidy, not to tell Smithson what this man had said at MANN's, and TO COUNTRY PEOPLE. about the affidavit. He was horror- LET nobody persuade you to quit Engstricken; and well he might. In about land to go to COLONIES. You are an hour or so he returned to the Inn in sure, either to die speedily or to lead most great haste, and begged that my servant degraded and miserable lives. If you can might go to his house with him. There get to live under the cheap government this old man, in the presence of my ser- of the UNITED STATES, it may be worth vant, said that the Bible-roasting took the voyage; but if you go to Colonies, place in 1795, when Smithson was a misery for life is your lot. However, child in petticoats, and that, as to the last there is this to be said; that those who Saturday's affair, it was a mere joke in go to these Colonies are such stupid and derision of the lie in the House of Com-base creatures as not to be fit to be treated mons. In short, the old man here negatived all that he had said at MANN'S

shop, and that had made Mr. Mann

CRY! I told Mr. MANN how false this

old Walker was, and besought him to confess his error. He said he had other witnesses. But honest men of Leeds, if he have other witnesses, why did he not name them to me, and why, O why! did he go away with this old Walker to get HIS AFFIDAVIT! And why, O why! was NOT that affidavit made! Why, when the story came before persons not bereft of their senses by feelings of deadly enmity, it was seen that it was false, and that the attempt to uphold it by such means must cover all the parties with everlasting infamy.

Now, good people of Preston and "Radical Union" men of Leeds, it is in the nature of honesty and sincerity not to be suspicious; not to be suspicious is to be exposed to deception by cunning knaves and bold impostors. You have been deceived in consequence of your own frank

in any way other than as cattle. But
you, good bat-men of Kent and Sussex,
stay you at home, and keep the invaders
away; or, if you do move, move only to
the United States.
WM. COBBETT.

LEEDS POLITICAL UNION.

On the 5th of April a general meeting of the members of this Union was held at the Commercial Buildings, to hear the letters of T. B. Macaulay, John Marshall, jun., and M. T. Sadler, Esqrs., on the vital question of tithes ;

Mr. JOSHUA BOWER in the Chair. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business, briefly stated the object of the meeting.

Mr. LEES, the secretary, said, that in consequence of the great intérest which was attached to the tithe question, he had been instructed by the council of

the Leeds Political Union to address the following letter to each of the three candidates for the representation of the borough of Leeds :

પૂ

tion which has been formed by the gentlemen in whose name you have written, not to support any candidate who will not explicitly and frankly avow his sentiments upon the question of tithes. On this, and on every subject, my opinions, whether popular or unpopular, shall be openly and fearlessly stated.

I will answer your questions as shortly and clearly as I can.

Council-Room, March 13, 1832. SIR,-The question of tithes for Ireland is every day increasing its interest in the minds of the thinking part of the community, and, from its importance, claims (after the Reform Bill) the first To the first I say, that in my opinion attention of our legislators, and of those part of the church revenues is private who may be instrumental in raising property, and part public property. An them to that distinguished honour. advowson which has come by purchase With this impression, the Leeds Poor by inheritance, into the hands of an litical Union deem it an indispensable individual, seems to me just as much his duty they owe to themselves and their property as his house. It may be taken posterity, not to support any candidate from him for public purposes, just as his for the representation of Leeds, who house might be taken from him in order will not most explicitly and frankly to make a canal or a rail-road; but, as avow his sentiments upon this vital in the case of his house, so in the case subject. of his advowson, full compensation The council have therefore autho- ought to be given. There are, however, rised us to submit the enclosed ques- if I am rightly informed, very few adtions to the consideration of each can- vowsons of this kind in Ireland. didate, and to request that you, as one, would favour me with your early opipion, that I may lay the same before the meeting on Tuesday next.

I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,

J. LEES, Secretary.

To Messrs. Macaulay, Sadler, and Marshall.

The revenues of bishoprics, of deans and chapters, of benefices to which the crown nominates, are, in my opinion, strictly public property, and may, without injustice to any human being, be applied by the legislature to public purposes, as soon as the existing interests expire. Almost all the church property of Ireland is of this latter kind. The revenues of the church of Ireland are, therefore, in my judgment, publie pro» perty.

Do you consider the revenues of the church to be public or private property? What is your opinion respecting the To the second question I answer, that appropriation of a part of the a considerable portion of the church immense wealth of the church to property ought, in my opinion, to be the necessities of the state? applied to public services, due regard What is your opinion of the Leeds pe-being had to existing interests. tition respecting Irish Tithes, and To the third question I answer, that their appropriation to the poor, the in my opinion it is of little consequence clergy, and the church equally? to us now what may have been the disIn your opinion, ought the present in-tribution of the tithes seven hundred cumbents to receive the whole or years ago. Whatever may have been any part of their present income the original distribution, we know that during life? for some centuries the tithes have not To this letter the following answers been equally divided between the church, had been received :the clergy, and the poor; and that no advowson or presentation has for some centuries been bought or sold, with the understanding that the tithes were to be so divided. The claim, if it ever ex

3

FROM T. B. MACAULAY.

London, March 15, 1832. SIR-I highly approve of the resolu

isted, has been dormant for many gene- answers, you will, I trust, be of opinion rations. The discussion of it may now that they are frank and explicit.

use the words of the second question; Secretary to the Leeds Political Union.

or appropriated to the poor, the clergy, and the church equally, to use the words of the third question.

To the last question I answer that the present incumbents ought, in my SIR, I received your letter some opinion, to receive the whole of their days ago, which I regret I have not prerevenues during life. If their lifeviously answered. I trust, however, interest be not property they have no that constant and pressing engagements claim whatever. If it be, as I believe in reference to an important public it to be, property in the strictest sense, they have a claim to the whole.

am now obliged to address you on the The above letter was addressed tosubject of the Irish tithes, to which" Mr. Joseph Lees, Secretary, Leeds your letter refers. I have expressed and Holbeck Union, Leeds." myself so recently and so much at Mr. LEES, having read the letters, large, at the public meeting in which said, that he considered that of Mr. yourself, the president, and a large por- Sadler, being addressed to him as the tion of the council and members of the Secretary of the Leeds and Hulbeck Union to which you belong, were, I be- Union, a direct insult both to himself lieve, present, that I have really nothing and to the Union, inasmuch as the body further to add, excepting that I am of his letter to Mr. Sadler distinctly more and more convinced that an ade-stated, that he wrote on behalf of the quate provision for the starving poor of Leeds Political Union, which must have Ireland is one of the first duties of the been before him at the time he anlegislature, and ought to be no longer swered. He wished to make but one delayed for any question, however im- observation upon the purport of Mr. portant; an opinion to which I am glad to find myself sanctioned by the press here, and especially by that part of it, with whose views you, probably, most nearly concur. I cherish hope, therefore, that, on a candid and mature consideration of the subject, and seeing how deeply the rights of the deserted and starving poor of Ireland are impli- Mr. T. T. METCALFE, after an able cated, and also the interests of the ope- speech in which he spoke in high terms rative classes of England, whose wages of, the splendid talents and excellent are grievously diminished by a multi-principles of Mr. Macaulay, and of the tude of Irish competitors, who are, li- deserved estimation in which Mr. terally speaking, 'now starved out of John Marshall was held by his townstheir own country, I shall have your men, concluded hy proposinggood wishes in favour of the endeavour which I am about to renew for poorlaws in Ireland, as I hope I have also for the success of the attempt in which I am now anxiously engaged, and which has prevented me from replying to your letter in due course.

I remain your faithful servant,
MICHAEL THOMAS SADLer.

Sadler's answer, and that was, that his apology for not answering sooner was the pressure of business. Now five questions had been proposed to him relative to the tithes Mr. Marshall had answered the whole in 188 words, whilst Mr. Sadler had made use of 390 words without answering one question.

"That the thanks of this meeting are due to T. B. Macaulay and John Marshall, Jun., Esquires, for their frank, prompt, and manly answers to the questions of the Political Council respecting the great subject of Tithes, and that the Secretary of the Union be instructed to communicate the same to each of the parties."

To Mr. Joseph Lees, &c. &c. Mr. HEALD, in an eloquent and arguP.S. With all due respect to yourself, mentative speech, seconded the motion, I am obliged to state that I have it not which was put by the chairman, and in my power to continue the correspond-carried with only one dissentient. ence on this subject, having more communicatious from the secretaries of the operative societies of Great Britain, in reference to the important subject which I have undertaken, and engagements upon my hand in reference to it, than I can properly attend to.

* Vide Globe newspaper, March 31.-"We should like to see the provision for the poor (of Ireland) first." Morning Chronicle, March 22.-" We also should like to see the provision for the poor first." ́

Both the mover and seconder of this resolution spoke of Mr. Macaulay and Mr. John Marshall as most fit and proper persons to represent this borough in Parliament, and were frequently and loudly cheered. ·

Mr. SMITHSON said that he highly approved of the resolution, but thought that the meeting should not pledge themselves to any particular candidates.

The CHAIRMAN said, he did not wish any pledge to be given, but the letters

1

The council of this union met on the 11th April; Mr. OWEN in the chair.

of Mr. Macaulay and Mr. Marshall | NATIONAL POLITICAL UNION. proved them to be men of talents and men of principle; as to Mr. Sadler offering himself to represent Leeds, when he had endeavoured, by opposing the Reform Bill, to prevent the electors from returning members, it was ridiculous; and he thought even the aristocrats must laugh at the man who could act so inconsistent and dishonourable a part. (Laughter and cheers.)

The SECRETARY stated that three pounds were received in support of the lectures, under the superintendence of the council, and a dictionary from Mr. Berthold.

The Rev. Mr. Fox, in preferring bis motion, said, that the crisis is coming, or come, towards which institutions of this kind have been looking, and that shall determine whether the right shall

The meeting showed their opinion of Mr. Sadler's disingenuous and evasive answer, by passing over his merits in entire silence. To one of the five ques-be demanded in a more decided manner tions proposed to Mr. Sadler, his letter is an answer, by reference: but to the other four, none of which were discussed at the Leeds meeting, it is no answer whatever.

Mr. LEES proposed

than usual. What will be necessary to be done, should now require the most intense consideration of the council; and to accomplish which is our determination, by legal, peaceful, but determined action, which may ensure that success "That this meeting view with great sought and required; for a nation to be satisfaction the donation of ten pounds freed is sufficient that she wills it—and given to the Leeds Political Union by that she wills it not from intemperance, John Marshall, Esq., as a decided proof but knowledge. It was for this purpose of his liberality of both purse and poli- the council were elected by the union, tical principle, and also as furnishing and he trusted that every member of it the best lesson to the higher orders of will be found at his post, and meet society, to assist their poorer neigh- it by some determined measure. bours to obtain those liberties, without therefore moved "that should the Rewhich the distinction riches confer will form Bill be rejected, a special meeting soon cease to exist. This meeting, of the council should be held on the foltherefore, offer him their sincere ac-lowing evening, to consider what means knowledgments, and hope they may should be adopted in such an unfortunate long enjoy his friendship and con- exigency."

He

fidence.' Mr. ROGERS seconded the motion, Mr. Z. ORRELL seconded the resolu- and vindicated the council from an tion, which was put and carried unani- apparent apathy concerning the fate of mously. reform, as they have depended solely on Mr. Grosvenor, of Hunslet, was ap-my Lord Grey, who had pledged himpointed one of the political council "for the middle class, in the room of Mr. Blaxland, who has left Leeds.

The meeting was then adjourned to next Thursday evening, at half-past seven o'clock.

self so strenuously and decidedly and whose pledges were sincere that the bill should be carried. They did not, therefore, suggest means to Lord Grey, rather rendering themselves liable to the charge of inaction than of impeding the The Chairman having left the chair, progress of the bill by idle suggestions. it was taken by Mr. Nichols, when, on He alluded to the non-payment of taxes the motion of Mr. T. T. Metcalfe, se- in case of rejection; for he believed conded by Mr. E. Matterson, the thanks that the opinion was general concerning of the meeting were given to Mr. the mode to be adopted; nay, he conJoshua Bower for his able and im-sidered that the rejection of the Reform partial conduct in the chair, and the meeting separated.

Bill should be a warning to every tradesman to shut up his shop, meet in the squares, and to deliberate; and from