Note 16 — Chapter XXIII · “WHATEVER OTHER FAULTS I MAY HAVE, THAT OF LETTING GO MY HOLD IS NOT ONE.”
Reading edition
Among the anti-Cobbett literature of this period which has not utterly perished, may be named,—
“The Political Death of Mr. William Cobbett” (Edinburgh, 1820), a short collection of slanders, intermingled with just sufficient truth to float it.
“The Book of Wonders” (London, 1821), an occasional publication. The second number was a verbatim report of the trial in Wright v. Cobbett, illustrated with notes.
“Cobbett’s Gridiron: written to warn Farmers of their Danger, and to put Landowners, Mortgagees, Lenders, Borrowers, the Labouring, and indeed all Classes of the Community on their Guard” (London, 1822).
“The True Patriot,” No. 1, May 15, 1824,—should have been entitled “The Truthful Hypocrite.”
“Cobbett’s Reflections on Religion,” and “Cobbett’s Reflections on Politics” (Sunderland, circa 1820-1), were “loyal” selections from his early writings.
“The Gridiron; or, Cook’s Weekly Register.” First number, March 23, 1822. Here are specimens of it:—
[“Our present intention is, principally, to exterminate Cobbett from the political world. The time required to effect this, of course, cannot be distinctly defined.…
“In our immediate attacks upon Cobbett, we request our readers to excuse the coarseness of the language adopted.”
“Farmers’ wives.—It is now but a few years since that an old shameless, wicked fellow rose up from his bed to pray for your husbands’ destruction. This wicked fellow’s name is no other than Cobbett,” &c.]
No. 2 speaks of the increasing demand for the first number. No. 3 is reduced to sixpence, for the purpose of affording a more general circulation. No. 4, ?????
All this anonymous rubbish did more good than harm, as obvious hypocrisy always will, under similar circumstances. A more respectable opponent was Henry White, a well-known Whig writer of the day. People said he was jealous of Cobbett. He was a very able man, and had himself been well abused by the Times and other papers, on account of his strict partisanship. After many years of animadversion, he produced “A Calm Appeal to the Friends of Freedom and Reform, on the Double Dealings of Mr. Cobbett, and the baneful tendency of his Writings. With a vindication of the Whigs, and the Patriots of Westminster and the Borough of Southwark, against his Scurrilous and Malignant Aspersions. By Henry White, late editor of the Independent Whig, the Charles James Fox, the Independent Observer, the Sunday Times, the Public Cause, &c., &c.” (London, 1823). Referring to his own party, White says, “What virtue, what wisdom, what real patriotism there is in the country, he knows they possess.”