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Deity, the superstition of politics: it contains nothing intelligible. to simple and uninformed minds, yet there is nothing moral, but of which the most simple the most uninformed mind has a full comprehension, when fairly unfolded to it! Ask a plain though shrewd country labourer what he thinks of a constitution founded upon the five elements of Principles: Arms-bearing: Legislation: Judicature and Magistracy he would say: "Lord! Maister! I do not know, I don't understand your hard words." Ask him what he thinks about not living under any laws but those which he had consented to have made: he would answer: "That would be very well, if I knew how to make them." Make him sensible that he is to chuse the wisest man he knows to make them for him; and you enlighten the man and make him a perfect politician in an instant. He will get at every thing else by observation and reflection. Talk to him about free discussion, or the liberty to say and write what we like to one another, and he will have no difficulty to understand it; but ask him to conceive a reason why one man should say what he liked, and another be put in prison for answering him, and he would tell you directly, that it was not fair play, and he could see no good that could come out of it, nor any reason why it should be so, because fair words cannot hurt any body. This simple minded man would have more good sense and more correct notions of morality than all your wordy literati which are turned forth from your universities.

As I have been as severe as is necessary upon the mischievous and ridiculous part of the Major's book, I will conclude with stating the change in the Major's political principles; or how far he is advanced towards Paine. The Major was wont to confine all his talk about Reform to the House of Commons: if he could but get that perfect, Monarchy and House of Lords might stand as they were! Mr. Paine saw that a Legislature ought to be free from impurities and partial interests, and he was for leaving none to corrupt a pure House of Commons. The Major has, after thirty years search, instead of finding the English constitution in refutation of Mr. Paine, who said there was none, actually proclaimed his conviction, that all Mr. Paine's political pinciples were correct, and only asks to be allowed to retain a few Saxon names! The title of King he would have changed to Heretogan! The House of Lords he would have abolished! And the House of Commons should be called a Wittenagmote!

I am not aware that I have taken an unfair notice, or neglected anything worth notice in the Major's book. It is extremely verbose,

and a nutshell would contain the pith of it, or that which is good. If it had any pretensions to become a rallying point for Reformers, I hope I have spoiled it to that end: for it is there that I saw it to be mischievous. Whatever it has good, is masked, and I am for open Under a mask a man does not know his enemy from

countenances.

his friend.

I could have written more details on many points, but I limited myself to thirty two pages, and cut my observations accordingly. Should any thing I have said provoke observation, I am ready to explain and defend any and every sentence here written, and every principle laid down. The fact is, I wish to rouse some of these Radical Christian Political Reformers to discussion, or silence them altogether. If they will not do good: I will spoil them for doing harm. They shall be made and known as the advocates of moral or immoral reform. Such is a necessary means to a necessary end; the only foundation for a good constitution.

RICHARD CARLILE,

Printed and Published by R. CARLILE, 5, Water Lane, Fleet Street.-All Correspondences for "The Republican" to be left at the place of publication.

No. 2, Vol. 8.] LONDON, Friday, July 18, 1823. [PRICE 6d.

TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE ISLAND OF

ALBION.

CITIZENS,

Dorchester Gaol, July 12, Year 4,
of the Spanish Constitution.

I ADDRESS you this week to tell you, that though I have much to say to you, I have very little space to say it in. In my article on the affairs of Spain, dated June the 1st, I told you, that, the three Spanish Generals, O'Donnel, Morillo, and Ballasteros, more immediately in contact with the Bourbon Army, were not to be depended upon in the present war. I hope I may be deceived as to Ballasteros; but the other two have fulfilled my expectations, and have deserted from the popular cause. After the treachery and shuffling which O'Donnel had in former times exhibited; after seeing Morillo fighting with fury and desperation against Bolivar in South America; How could it be expected that they would fight for liberty at home? There has been dreadful treachery everywhere among the Spanish aristocrats: they are no more to be depended upon than the priests, or Ferdinand himself, in Spain, nor elsewhere. Their interest is not the interest of the people as a whole; therefore they never ought to be employed where the struggle is in reality a popular struggle against Kings, and Priests. I wish to see Ballasteros tried as quickly as possible, that we may know what we are to expect from him; for, after he has been fairly tried, there is nothing more to fear: we shall then see the real authors of the Revolution in prominent commands. These defections of the Generals will do no ultimate evil; they will merely prolong for a few weeks the lives of the invaders. The Spaniards, the good Spaniards, have sustained, as yet, not one real loss or disadvantage; and, in September, the struggle will begin to take its right course. All you who are inclined to give personal aid, do not despair of going; but prepare yourselves with good shoes, and good linen, and every thing that you can see will be useful

Printed and Published by R. Carlile, 5, Water Lane, Fleet Street.

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and convenient to carry with you. If you are ultimately prevented in going, this preparation will become no loss; but an advantage.

After telling you that Mina is the hero of the day-that he is performing wonders in Catalonia-of which I will give you some particulars on an early day; I must introducé to you some pieces from my new, my very intelligent, very industrious, and very interesting correspondent "James Hall:" whose face, I am sure you will know, without my putting his portrait on paper in a more conspicuous manner. I hail him with a welcome, to which I know you will respond-WELCOME!

RICHARD CARLILE.

SIR,

TO MR. R. CARLILE, DORCHESTER GAOL.

THERE are twenty of us, all of the very lowest, but the most industrious, class of bees in this metropolis; we assemble, every Saturday night, at a certain house, to read "The Republican," and "Mr. Cobbett's Register. In the Register of the 7th of this month, June, there is an extract from the Bishop of Winchester's charge to the clergy of his diocese. In Mr. Cobbett's remarks, there is one which says, that this charge is not grammatically written. In consequence of his saying this, we, the undersigned James Hall and James Glover, were desired to look it carefully over, and to correct it if we were able; this we have done, and we now present it to the public for their decision. We beg leave to call on the Bishop, to state distinctly what he means by his charge, which calls on us to pay respect to superior authority. We want to know what he means by superior authority. If he mean, BISHOP, or LORD, or DUKE, or PRINCE, or any OTHER TITLE, or MONEY, OR PROPERTY OF ANY DESCRIPTION, we shall not pay any respect to any one, nor to all these, unless accompanied with TALENT; and that exerted in a good honest cause, then we will pay respect to all.

We have here copied the Bishop's
Charge.

The awful character of the times in which we live may justly be considered as originating from extraordinary revolution, which took place in a neighbour

that

A Copy corrected by James Hall,
Shoemaker, and James Glover,
Journeyman Tailor.

The awful character of the times in which we live, may be justly considered as originating from that extraordinary revolution, which took place in a neigh

ing kingdom at the close of the last century, when principles were for the first time publicly propagated, which threatened destruction to every civil and ecclesiastical establishment throughout the world.

Though, through the wise exertions of our Government, under the favour of divine Providence, those principles made less progress in these dominions than in most other countries of Europe, yet we were far from entirely escaping the general infection; and though we are no longer under the evils and horrors of war, OR apprehensive of any formidable disturbance of public tranquillity, the return of peace has not brought with it the full enjoyment of our former comforts and blessings.

The storm has indeed ceased, and left the main pillars of our constitution standing erect and uninjured; but its long continued violence has in some degree impaired the foundation, upon which alone Government can safely rest -has shaken and weakened that system of subordination, without which human society cannot exist.

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Some of the seeds of irreligion Some of the irreligious and and anarchy, which were so pro- anarchial seeds which were so fusely and industriously scattered,profusely and industriously scatfell upon the ground, where they tered, fell upon ground, where have taken root, and are now they have taken root, and are now bringing forth their natural and bringing forth their natural and bitter fruits. bitter fruits.

Every engine having been set at work, which could mislead the wayward will of man, pervert his understanding, or inflame his passions, and all the restraints of power and authority, so necessary to hold in check the turbulent propensities of the human mind,

Every engine that could mislead the unruly mind of man, was set at work; to pervert his understanding, or to inflame his passions, and all the restraints of power, so necessary to hold the turbulent propensities of the human mind in check, having been

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