The following pages need no Preface, with regard to their subject. I am unwilling, however, to let the work go forth to the public without a renewed word of thanks, to those who have given me any sort of encouragement or assistance. My acknowledgments are especially due to the venerable daughter of Mr. James Swann, for the use of some letters; to the author of the “Handbook of Fictitious Names,” without whose apt teaching in the art of Bibliography, the work might have wanted the interesting app

William Cobbett was born in the parish of Farnham, in the county of Surrey, on the 9th of March, 1762. The town of Farnham is a hop-garden. It had, in olden days, one of the most important corn-markets in the south of England. Before that, it was a great clothing mart; and, early in Parliamentary history, was called upon to send representatives to the “Collective Wisdom.” But, at last, the mercantile spirit proper, as was the case with many towns in Surrey, Kent, and Sussex, fled from Farnham; g

Extracts from “ The Soldiers’ Friend ; or, Considerations on the late pretended Augmentation of the Subsistence of the private Soldiers. “[Motto] ‘Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.’— Goldsmith. “Written by a Subaltern. Price Twopence, or one hundred copies, 10 s. 6 d. 1793. “Amongst the many curious manœuvres of the present administration, I do not recollect one that marks more strongly its character than the late alteration in the pay and establishment of the army. The augmentatio

The summer of 1805 finds Mr. Cobbett again at Botley with his family. A letter to Wright, dated 5th July, says, “I have found here a most delightful house and a more delightful garden.” Preparations are being made for a prolonged stay, and for the occasional entertainment of his correspondent: “I have given you a deal of trouble, and hope that you will find hereafter some compensation during the time you will spend at Botley.” The carpets are to be taken up (in Duke Street), and all the bedding,

1. The Soldier’s Friend : or considerations on the late pretended augmentation of the subsistence of the private soldiers. “Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the laws.”— Goldsmith. Written by a Subaltern. London: Ridgway, 1792, 8vo. 6 d. ; reprinted in 1793, without printer’s or publisher’s name. Price 2 d. , or 100 copies 10 s. 6 d. , pp. 15. [This tract is evidently the work of more than one hand. The style is that of Cobbett; but some of the subject-matter comes from a person well acquai