FRANCIS PLACE
AND
EBENEZER ELLIOTT
This
article discusses some correspondance betwee the two men which took
place in 1834 when Elliott was well known after the publication of his
"Corn Law Rhymes" a couple of years earlier. In places the
letters are hard to read and gaps have had to be left on occasion.
Francis Place (1771-1854) was most famous in his day for helping to draft The People's Charter in 1838. When he was 22, he led a strike which made him unemployable in London, his home town. With time on his hands, he started collecting radical publications. As his collection grew, it became a meeting place for like minded activists, and Place gained a reputation as a reformer, soon becoming friendly with Owen, Bentham, Hume and the MP, Burdett. In 1836, Place helped set up the London Working Mens's Association and was closely involved with the Anti-Corn Law League, which Elliott helped to set up.
Place, like Elliott, was against violence and opted out of the Chartist Movement when it decided that violence would be needed to make progress in reform. Elliott dropped out of the movement for the same reason. From about 1840, Place's energy was directed at repealing the Corn Laws. Clearly Elliott and Place had much in common and got to know each other well through the committees they attended. Elliott was to dedicate his 1833 poem "Win Hill" to Place.
Place's large collection of pamphlets, press cuttings, manuscripts, journals and books is now kept in the British Musuem. The collection covers the period 1790-1850 and is strong on improving the quality of life of working people, on Chartism, on freetrade, on strike action and on other similiar topics.
Place clearly had not met Elliott when he wrote this introductory letter since he explains his outlook in life and adds sweeteners with the books he is sending for Elliott to read. Which is a good way of making an impression. He notes that Elliott is a working man, too. Place obviously recognises that he and Elliott have similar views. The tone of the letter is sensible and humble though the last line sounds a little conceited. The Sheffield men who visited London in 1825 must have been very impressed with Place since they clubbed together to send him a gift of cutlery. Place, in turn,was very touched with the generosity of the men of Sheffield. The letter is as follows:-
To Mr Ebenezer Elliot
Sheffield
I do not ask you to concur with me in any opinion you may find in my book. I know well enough that men who think for themselves and form opinions for themselves, must sometimes differ among themselves respecting many things though their object may be the same. Sure I am that all such men should bear with one another and work together for the common good. All I ask of you is to read what I have sent you on the several subjects and draw your own inferences.
I was once a working man myself and never had a relative who was able to assist me in any way as I grew up. And never knew any friend who could assist me until I had made considerable progress in life and was in a situation to command assistance. When very young I was deeply engaged in forming societies among working men and in conducting them, and I have never since ceased, and am sure I never shall cease so long as I live to advocate the cause of working people. I am of opinion that it is possible for the working people to be badly paid and kept down nearly to the starvation point, and that all or nearly all of the remainder of the people may be well provided for. I know that this is not the common opinion, but it is mine, not taken up on slight grounds nor hastily formed, neither is it a recent opinion. I believe that the condition of the working people may be very much bettered, not only in their physical circumstances but intellectually, to a greater extent than they are at present in any country on the face of the earth not even omitting the United States of North America, and I am thoroughly convinced they will become so in time, after they shall have adopted the means which are in their power, and that they never can become so but by their own exertions. As a body they are greatly improved in all respects and can hardly be classed with their predessors 40 years ago when I was most actively employed among them.
If you should desire to know who or what I am, I dare say you will gather some particulars from the good Sheffield men who came to London as deputies in 1825 on an attempt being made to enact a law against the working people all but infinitely more degrading and more unjust towards them than the old laws all of which had been repealed in the preceding year - almost at my insistence after I had worked for nearly 20 years to pursue their repeal.
The names of these good men alluded to are:-
John Sheldon, Fender Maker, Solly Street
Thomas Ward, Walkley
John Adams, Sims Croft
Joseph Bullock, White Croft
Joseph Andrews, File Smith, White Swan, West Bar
George Knowles, 26 Coalpit Lane
To the honour of the working men of Sheffield, they without giving me the least intimation of their intention sent me a case of knives and forks; which, excepting a silver cup and cover sent to me by the seamen of the Tyne and Wear; I prize above any thing in my possession. Such a case of knives and forks as I have never seen - such a case as every man to whom I have shewn them says he never saw. They are now exactly in the condition in which I received them, in this condition they will go to my eldest son whose names are the same as mine and I hope to the eldest of my grandchildren who shall bear the same names. You will be at no loss to estimate the value I set on the good opinion of the men who subscribed that money for the presents though it would be hypocracy in me to pretend to think I did not deserve it.
| So who was Francis Place? |
Francis Place (1771-1854) was most famous in his day for helping to draft The People's Charter in 1838. When he was 22, he led a strike which made him unemployable in London, his home town. With time on his hands, he started collecting radical publications. As his collection grew, it became a meeting place for like minded activists, and Place gained a reputation as a reformer, soon becoming friendly with Owen, Bentham, Hume and the MP, Burdett. In 1836, Place helped set up the London Working Mens's Association and was closely involved with the Anti-Corn Law League, which Elliott helped to set up.
Place, like Elliott, was against violence and opted out of the Chartist Movement when it decided that violence would be needed to make progress in reform. Elliott dropped out of the movement for the same reason. From about 1840, Place's energy was directed at repealing the Corn Laws. Clearly Elliott and Place had much in common and got to know each other well through the committees they attended. Elliott was to dedicate his 1833 poem "Win Hill" to Place.
Place's large collection of pamphlets, press cuttings, manuscripts, journals and books is now kept in the British Musuem. The collection covers the period 1790-1850 and is strong on improving the quality of life of working people, on Chartism, on freetrade, on strike action and on other similiar topics.
| Letter from Place to Elliott, Feb 5th 1834 |
Place clearly had not met Elliott when he wrote this introductory letter since he explains his outlook in life and adds sweeteners with the books he is sending for Elliott to read. Which is a good way of making an impression. He notes that Elliott is a working man, too. Place obviously recognises that he and Elliott have similar views. The tone of the letter is sensible and humble though the last line sounds a little conceited. The Sheffield men who visited London in 1825 must have been very impressed with Place since they clubbed together to send him a gift of cutlery. Place, in turn,was very touched with the generosity of the men of Sheffield. The letter is as follows:-
To Mr Ebenezer Elliot
Sheffield
London 5 feby - 1834
Dear Sir
Though you are personally unknown to me I claim acquaintance from sympathy, being, as I have for many years been actively employed in endeavouring to better the condition of the working people. I shall send you a copy of Colonel Thompson's book, which has been but a few days published, as "Wages And Combinations;" he might have added on the consequences of the Corn Laws. I shall also send you two copies of a small book I wrote in 1822 on Population and six copies of Len[?] Milton's Pamphlet on the Corn Laws, which at the instance of Mr Hume has been published at one ha'pence a copy.
Though you are personally unknown to me I claim acquaintance from sympathy, being, as I have for many years been actively employed in endeavouring to better the condition of the working people. I shall send you a copy of Colonel Thompson's book, which has been but a few days published, as "Wages And Combinations;" he might have added on the consequences of the Corn Laws. I shall also send you two copies of a small book I wrote in 1822 on Population and six copies of Len[?] Milton's Pamphlet on the Corn Laws, which at the instance of Mr Hume has been published at one ha'pence a copy.
I do not ask you to concur with me in any opinion you may find in my book. I know well enough that men who think for themselves and form opinions for themselves, must sometimes differ among themselves respecting many things though their object may be the same. Sure I am that all such men should bear with one another and work together for the common good. All I ask of you is to read what I have sent you on the several subjects and draw your own inferences.
I was once a working man myself and never had a relative who was able to assist me in any way as I grew up. And never knew any friend who could assist me until I had made considerable progress in life and was in a situation to command assistance. When very young I was deeply engaged in forming societies among working men and in conducting them, and I have never since ceased, and am sure I never shall cease so long as I live to advocate the cause of working people. I am of opinion that it is possible for the working people to be badly paid and kept down nearly to the starvation point, and that all or nearly all of the remainder of the people may be well provided for. I know that this is not the common opinion, but it is mine, not taken up on slight grounds nor hastily formed, neither is it a recent opinion. I believe that the condition of the working people may be very much bettered, not only in their physical circumstances but intellectually, to a greater extent than they are at present in any country on the face of the earth not even omitting the United States of North America, and I am thoroughly convinced they will become so in time, after they shall have adopted the means which are in their power, and that they never can become so but by their own exertions. As a body they are greatly improved in all respects and can hardly be classed with their predessors 40 years ago when I was most actively employed among them.
If you should desire to know who or what I am, I dare say you will gather some particulars from the good Sheffield men who came to London as deputies in 1825 on an attempt being made to enact a law against the working people all but infinitely more degrading and more unjust towards them than the old laws all of which had been repealed in the preceding year - almost at my insistence after I had worked for nearly 20 years to pursue their repeal.
The names of these good men alluded to are:-
John Sheldon, Fender Maker, Solly Street
Thomas Ward, Walkley
John Adams, Sims Croft
Joseph Bullock, White Croft
Joseph Andrews, File Smith, White Swan, West Bar
George Knowles, 26 Coalpit Lane
To the honour of the working men of Sheffield, they without giving me the least intimation of their intention sent me a case of knives and forks; which, excepting a silver cup and cover sent to me by the seamen of the Tyne and Wear; I prize above any thing in my possession. Such a case of knives and forks as I have never seen - such a case as every man to whom I have shewn them says he never saw. They are now exactly in the condition in which I received them, in this condition they will go to my eldest son whose names are the same as mine and I hope to the eldest of my grandchildren who shall bear the same names. You will be at no loss to estimate the value I set on the good opinion of the men who subscribed that money for the presents though it would be hypocracy in me to pretend to think I did not deserve it.
Yours very sincerely,
Francis Place
Francis Place
* NB 1825 was the year of the Combination Act which prevented
trade unions from bargaining for better conditions and made strikes
against the law. The Amenment Act of the same year allowed trade unions
to negotiate on wages and hours, but did not permit obstruction or
intimidation. The good men of Sheffield were in London to help bring
about these changes.
Note that this letter is difficult to read. Where [xxxx] occurs in the text, one word will have been missed out. Where [xxxx][xxxx] is seen, several words may be missing. The letter was addressed to Mr Francis Place Gent, Charing Cross, London.
DSir --------------- Sheffield 4th July 1834 ---------------
When shall I see again a letter written in this dear and beautiful small hand of yours, on which it is a pleasure to look, and imagine it indicative of the patient and perspicuous mind of the writer? But you may ask why I did not answer your letter months ago? Because, when an author sends me a strongly and deeply reasoned book, it is a rule with me to thank him for it by carefully reading and studying it, before I write to him. Well, but I might have acknowledged the receipt of the books, if only that you might tell the Colonel I had received them. True, but postage is another heavy tax - I think it is the worst of all our taxes, the corn-tax excepted - and, alas, I am one of those persons who enrich the world with an overstock of hands, backs, mouths etc! consequently - [xxxx][xxxx].
To say that you compleatly demollish the [xxxx][xxxx], is inadequate praise. Your book is, in other respects, an exceedingly valuable one, but with more to be wondered at than the writings of Franklin, the printer, or Burns, the poet.
Well, but when it shall no longer be thought expediant anywhere, to value down the population to the safety point as in Sweden - or employ German and Dutch to make [xxxx][xxx] on Potatoes - [xxxx], as in Ireland - or pay an emigration tax, as in England; - where every adult shall possess the philosopher's stone, true knowledge - when all mothers, politically educated, shall be able and willing to teach their children the principle on which depend their weal and woe - as to when "Wealth of Nations" and "the Essay on population," shall be familiar school books - what will you then propose? that the women shall be gelded? What is meant by "preventing conception," physical means etc? If the women are to be gelded, I , for one, will not consent that the men shall. Or will you advise a law, that no person shall marry untill theyare thirty years old, and not then, unless they give security that their offspring shall not become chargeable to otheers? Do tell me how you mean the rising race to manage the application of the most important of emolient [xxxx]?
Why not write essays, explaining your views, with sufficient brevity and liveliness, for the Magazines and other periodicals? This if done, should be done without allusions to subjects calculated to give watchwords to conscientious and other opponents. I think Tait would be glad of you. Young persons, even when of a thoughtful turn, will not read such books as yours, with the requisite attention. I have some good lads in my family, and was pleased to see one of them take up one of your two copies. He carried it with him to school, and kept it for two months. When it came back, I eagerly examined it, and was vexed to find six pages in the middle of it uncut, and four towards the end. It is too plain he had only skimmed it. I find, however, he is now persuaded that folk cannot live without eating, and that population has a tendency to encrease in a geometrical ratio, or something. Is the progress of truth so sure, as you deem to think it? It is slow. Does it never retrograde?
Of the good men you mention, Sheldon lives and thrives; of the rest, most are dead - or have become bankrupt - or exist, with crushed hearts, in the ranks of poverty, forced down and kept down by Acts of Parliament. Why should the strong die, the industrious fail, the honest hide their hearts, and yet say to themselves "We are victims?" Well, your hope is their humble memorial of gratitude, and still you think, and speak and write of them. They are not dead then, they are not lost. In one manly heart they yet live, and are men. Much honoured and benefitted by your communications, I remain
DSir
Yours very truly
Ebenezer Elliott
Amazingly Francis Place replied very quickly to the Corn Law Rhymer's letter which showed the importance Place attached to receiving a letter from the poet. Place's reply is dated only five days after Elliott wrote his letter: what a wonderful postal service in those days! Moreover, Place spells Elliott's surname correctly this time. It's a very long letter - Place is clearly getting value for the cost of his postage stamp and clearly takes himself seriously.
Again the use of [xxxx] in the letter signifies an illegible word and [xxxx][xxxx] indicates a few words.
To Mr Ebenezer Elliott. Sheffield
| Elliott's letter to Place, July 4th 1834 |
Note that this letter is difficult to read. Where [xxxx] occurs in the text, one word will have been missed out. Where [xxxx][xxxx] is seen, several words may be missing. The letter was addressed to Mr Francis Place Gent, Charing Cross, London.
DSir --------------- Sheffield 4th July 1834 ---------------
When shall I see again a letter written in this dear and beautiful small hand of yours, on which it is a pleasure to look, and imagine it indicative of the patient and perspicuous mind of the writer? But you may ask why I did not answer your letter months ago? Because, when an author sends me a strongly and deeply reasoned book, it is a rule with me to thank him for it by carefully reading and studying it, before I write to him. Well, but I might have acknowledged the receipt of the books, if only that you might tell the Colonel I had received them. True, but postage is another heavy tax - I think it is the worst of all our taxes, the corn-tax excepted - and, alas, I am one of those persons who enrich the world with an overstock of hands, backs, mouths etc! consequently - [xxxx][xxxx].
To say that you compleatly demollish the [xxxx][xxxx], is inadequate praise. Your book is, in other respects, an exceedingly valuable one, but with more to be wondered at than the writings of Franklin, the printer, or Burns, the poet.
Well, but when it shall no longer be thought expediant anywhere, to value down the population to the safety point as in Sweden - or employ German and Dutch to make [xxxx][xxx] on Potatoes - [xxxx], as in Ireland - or pay an emigration tax, as in England; - where every adult shall possess the philosopher's stone, true knowledge - when all mothers, politically educated, shall be able and willing to teach their children the principle on which depend their weal and woe - as to when "Wealth of Nations" and "the Essay on population," shall be familiar school books - what will you then propose? that the women shall be gelded? What is meant by "preventing conception," physical means etc? If the women are to be gelded, I , for one, will not consent that the men shall. Or will you advise a law, that no person shall marry untill theyare thirty years old, and not then, unless they give security that their offspring shall not become chargeable to otheers? Do tell me how you mean the rising race to manage the application of the most important of emolient [xxxx]?
Why not write essays, explaining your views, with sufficient brevity and liveliness, for the Magazines and other periodicals? This if done, should be done without allusions to subjects calculated to give watchwords to conscientious and other opponents. I think Tait would be glad of you. Young persons, even when of a thoughtful turn, will not read such books as yours, with the requisite attention. I have some good lads in my family, and was pleased to see one of them take up one of your two copies. He carried it with him to school, and kept it for two months. When it came back, I eagerly examined it, and was vexed to find six pages in the middle of it uncut, and four towards the end. It is too plain he had only skimmed it. I find, however, he is now persuaded that folk cannot live without eating, and that population has a tendency to encrease in a geometrical ratio, or something. Is the progress of truth so sure, as you deem to think it? It is slow. Does it never retrograde?
Of the good men you mention, Sheldon lives and thrives; of the rest, most are dead - or have become bankrupt - or exist, with crushed hearts, in the ranks of poverty, forced down and kept down by Acts of Parliament. Why should the strong die, the industrious fail, the honest hide their hearts, and yet say to themselves "We are victims?" Well, your hope is their humble memorial of gratitude, and still you think, and speak and write of them. They are not dead then, they are not lost. In one manly heart they yet live, and are men. Much honoured and benefitted by your communications, I remain
DSir
Yours very truly
Ebenezer Elliott
| Place makes a very prompt reply to Elliott's letter |
Amazingly Francis Place replied very quickly to the Corn Law Rhymer's letter which showed the importance Place attached to receiving a letter from the poet. Place's reply is dated only five days after Elliott wrote his letter: what a wonderful postal service in those days! Moreover, Place spells Elliott's surname correctly this time. It's a very long letter - Place is clearly getting value for the cost of his postage stamp and clearly takes himself seriously.
Again the use of [xxxx] in the letter signifies an illegible word and [xxxx][xxxx] indicates a few words.
To Mr Ebenezer Elliott. Sheffield
London 9. July 1834.
My Dear Sir
I sent you a small tract written by Robert Dale Owen the oldest son of my fanatical friend Robert Owen. Mr D. Owen is one of the best of men, kind, honest, fearless. He is somewhat imbued with his father's notions, but his understanding is too good to permit him to adopt the wild speculations which his father entertains, to any thing more than a very limited extent.
I write to you as to a Philosopher who can bear to hear or read any thing, however much it may be at variance with any preconceived notion, and can honestly examine any system, theory or opinion on its own merit without any fear of the results of his inquiries. Men never will become rational until they have aquired the power to reason thus, and at present very few possess it. Their number is however continually increasing.
Very many thanks for your letter. You ask "when shall I again see a letter etc" - Answer, Now, - here it is. As for the hand writing which you say is plain and easy to be read, I assure you that the printers complain of it, and make most curious mistakes continually.
Postage is as you say a "heavy tax," it depresses me as well as others of much gratification and more information on various subjects, but the purpose of our Government has all along been, to keep the people as ignorant, as stupified and besotten as possible, and until a time even within my own memory, they suceeded perfectly, and the people were as silly as their masters could desire them to be, following some senseless cry, which they did not understand, and had no desire to understand: They banter(?) out "church and state," burned Dr Priestley's house and hung Tom Paine in effigy, lauded a stale church, a stupid king and a vile Aristocracy, and none sparred(?) and kicked about and sent for soldiers and pressed for sailors, and flogged as they deserved to be for this meanness and murderous war propensities, they were loaded with debt, and plagued in every possible way with taxes. Yet I wish you had not paid the postage of your letter.
I can see no probable end to our burthens, and [xxxx] therefore no [xxxx][xxxx] a penny postage, as there ought to be, and no more on a letter which should go from the Land's End in Cornwall to the North of Scotland; but I do see one thing and think I have a glimpse of another thing which among many other valuable matters, may be the means of enlarging the intercourse between good and right conditioned men all over the country.
The Lord Chancellor has been examined by a committee of the House of Commons on what is called "Libel law," and he has availed himself of the opportunity to condemn the Stamp Duty on Newspapers; he has done this so very well, so extensively and so efficiently, that the acts which inflict this tax must be repealed. Mr Hume and other members of the house of commons and [xxxx] my friends are printing 10,000 copies of so much of his evidence as relates to these stamps, which will be widely distributed, and then a public meeting will be called in London to demand a repeal as the chancellor called it of the "pernicious stamp duty."
To print evidence taken before a committee of the house before it has been reported to the house is Breach of Privilege, but we care little of such matters when good can be done, as in such cases as this it can. The repeal of the stamp duty is then the thing I see that of which I have a glimpse is the conveyance of printed papers by the Post - say a demy sheet of 16 octavo page for a halfpenny, a double-demy for a penny and so on to about 4 or 6 ounces weight. I will send you an essay or two in this and on some other subjects.
My Book of which you make honourable mention was intended to be as little annoying to Mr Godwin and Mr Booth as was consistent with letting the truth which the circumstances demanded should be told.
You ask "What can be proposed when every adult shall possess the Philosophers Stone,, true knowledge etc." I reply, that true knowledge must include the principle of Population, and true wisdom the due(?) regulation of the number of people. A bad system of Government could not exist in this country, if the working people were all well off and well instructed, or have the means to be so. You have an answer in Dale Owen's little book. Whenever the people shall be sufficiently informed to understand their own condition accurately, and consequently the means of elevating themselves, the vile system of fraud and force which has been founded on and are maintained by Ignorance will fail and will never be again restored. You ask doubtfully "Is the progress of truth so sure as you seem to think it? Has it now retrograded?" It has retrograded, but never since the glorious art of printing came into general use. All the persecutions of knowledge, or to prevent its diffusion, all the craft and cunning continuously as they have been practised, have not been able to make it retrograde. It gainsground in Germany and in the North of Italy not withstanding the lead on despotism under which those countries seem to be crushed. It makes progress even in Turkey. Prussia cannot stop it, and Prussia encourages it. In France it progresses and even in Spain and Portugal it does not stand still. In Holland Belgium Norway Sweden and Denmark it goes forward, and nothing can materially retard its increase any where. And this [xxxx][xxxx] the Anglo American Republicans, of whom at no very distant period there will be 100,000,000, aye(?) and of much wiser people too than are the present generation. Doubt not the Press?, it will do its good.
You ask me "Why do you not write Essays?" I have written many and an immense number of articles for newspapers. I have sent you one and will send you others. When the Stamp Duty is off newspapers and men shall be at liberty to communicate freely by means of the press. We shall then have a Society for the "Diffusion" of Moral and Political "Knowledge." I hope to see the time when I shall be able to write in plain and familiar language of many things which I believe are true and may be useful, at present I can only nibble at these things, unless I print at my own expense and give away what I print and this I cannot afford to do. Some time ago I was challenged by many persons and almost reprobated by some because I did not write essays to the working people. I saw at that time, there was no reasonable expectation of the people being in a temper to attend to them, so I said so, but afterwards when the absurd proceedings of the so called trades unions had failed or were about to fail, I said I am now ready and willing to write if you be ready with the money to pay the expenses of printing and distributing. I then wrote four essays.
1. A letter to Mr Hansom of Birmingham etc his speech at a meeting of Trades Unions.
2. Trade Clubs justified; Trades Unions reprobated.
3. Wages and Profits. Advantages of high wages, disadvantages of low wages.
4. Corporation Unions, Law and other trade clubs compared.
Each by Francis Place. In these essays I took the largest view I could, and endeavoured to speak the truths of all parties, workmen, their employers - the gentry - and the aristocrac y. The consequence was that they who had been urging me to write shrunk away and they will not be printed.
Whenever the stamp duty on Newspapers shall be repealed I will in the most open candid good natured way endeavour to provoke a discussion of all the most important matters which relate immediately and some which relate remotely to the people. Will point out to them what their relative and actual situation is as well as what it ought to be and may some day be. I will do them the utmost justice in my fervour, but I will neither flatter nor endeavour to lead them by their passions and prejudices - I am of the late Dr Jibb's opinion, "that no effort made in the right way for the good of the people is ever wholly thrown away."
I have no personal interest in any thing which concerns the working people, and I do not think I shall ever have any, but as I think I can do them some service, I feel bound in duty to use my best endeavours to serve them. I care not for reproach nor for abuse of any sort, but satisfied as I am that when either abuse or reproach comes from the working people it is always the result of event of knowledge, I am never offended, being quite sure that this increase of knowledge will put an end to all abuse and all ill manners.
I sent you a small tract written by Robert Dale Owen the oldest son of my fanatical friend Robert Owen. Mr D. Owen is one of the best of men, kind, honest, fearless. He is somewhat imbued with his father's notions, but his understanding is too good to permit him to adopt the wild speculations which his father entertains, to any thing more than a very limited extent.
I write to you as to a Philosopher who can bear to hear or read any thing, however much it may be at variance with any preconceived notion, and can honestly examine any system, theory or opinion on its own merit without any fear of the results of his inquiries. Men never will become rational until they have aquired the power to reason thus, and at present very few possess it. Their number is however continually increasing.
Very many thanks for your letter. You ask "when shall I again see a letter etc" - Answer, Now, - here it is. As for the hand writing which you say is plain and easy to be read, I assure you that the printers complain of it, and make most curious mistakes continually.
Postage is as you say a "heavy tax," it depresses me as well as others of much gratification and more information on various subjects, but the purpose of our Government has all along been, to keep the people as ignorant, as stupified and besotten as possible, and until a time even within my own memory, they suceeded perfectly, and the people were as silly as their masters could desire them to be, following some senseless cry, which they did not understand, and had no desire to understand: They banter(?) out "church and state," burned Dr Priestley's house and hung Tom Paine in effigy, lauded a stale church, a stupid king and a vile Aristocracy, and none sparred(?) and kicked about and sent for soldiers and pressed for sailors, and flogged as they deserved to be for this meanness and murderous war propensities, they were loaded with debt, and plagued in every possible way with taxes. Yet I wish you had not paid the postage of your letter.
I can see no probable end to our burthens, and [xxxx] therefore no [xxxx][xxxx] a penny postage, as there ought to be, and no more on a letter which should go from the Land's End in Cornwall to the North of Scotland; but I do see one thing and think I have a glimpse of another thing which among many other valuable matters, may be the means of enlarging the intercourse between good and right conditioned men all over the country.
The Lord Chancellor has been examined by a committee of the House of Commons on what is called "Libel law," and he has availed himself of the opportunity to condemn the Stamp Duty on Newspapers; he has done this so very well, so extensively and so efficiently, that the acts which inflict this tax must be repealed. Mr Hume and other members of the house of commons and [xxxx] my friends are printing 10,000 copies of so much of his evidence as relates to these stamps, which will be widely distributed, and then a public meeting will be called in London to demand a repeal as the chancellor called it of the "pernicious stamp duty."
To print evidence taken before a committee of the house before it has been reported to the house is Breach of Privilege, but we care little of such matters when good can be done, as in such cases as this it can. The repeal of the stamp duty is then the thing I see that of which I have a glimpse is the conveyance of printed papers by the Post - say a demy sheet of 16 octavo page for a halfpenny, a double-demy for a penny and so on to about 4 or 6 ounces weight. I will send you an essay or two in this and on some other subjects.
My Book of which you make honourable mention was intended to be as little annoying to Mr Godwin and Mr Booth as was consistent with letting the truth which the circumstances demanded should be told.
You ask "What can be proposed when every adult shall possess the Philosophers Stone,, true knowledge etc." I reply, that true knowledge must include the principle of Population, and true wisdom the due(?) regulation of the number of people. A bad system of Government could not exist in this country, if the working people were all well off and well instructed, or have the means to be so. You have an answer in Dale Owen's little book. Whenever the people shall be sufficiently informed to understand their own condition accurately, and consequently the means of elevating themselves, the vile system of fraud and force which has been founded on and are maintained by Ignorance will fail and will never be again restored. You ask doubtfully "Is the progress of truth so sure as you seem to think it? Has it now retrograded?" It has retrograded, but never since the glorious art of printing came into general use. All the persecutions of knowledge, or to prevent its diffusion, all the craft and cunning continuously as they have been practised, have not been able to make it retrograde. It gainsground in Germany and in the North of Italy not withstanding the lead on despotism under which those countries seem to be crushed. It makes progress even in Turkey. Prussia cannot stop it, and Prussia encourages it. In France it progresses and even in Spain and Portugal it does not stand still. In Holland Belgium Norway Sweden and Denmark it goes forward, and nothing can materially retard its increase any where. And this [xxxx][xxxx] the Anglo American Republicans, of whom at no very distant period there will be 100,000,000, aye(?) and of much wiser people too than are the present generation. Doubt not the Press?, it will do its good.
You ask me "Why do you not write Essays?" I have written many and an immense number of articles for newspapers. I have sent you one and will send you others. When the Stamp Duty is off newspapers and men shall be at liberty to communicate freely by means of the press. We shall then have a Society for the "Diffusion" of Moral and Political "Knowledge." I hope to see the time when I shall be able to write in plain and familiar language of many things which I believe are true and may be useful, at present I can only nibble at these things, unless I print at my own expense and give away what I print and this I cannot afford to do. Some time ago I was challenged by many persons and almost reprobated by some because I did not write essays to the working people. I saw at that time, there was no reasonable expectation of the people being in a temper to attend to them, so I said so, but afterwards when the absurd proceedings of the so called trades unions had failed or were about to fail, I said I am now ready and willing to write if you be ready with the money to pay the expenses of printing and distributing. I then wrote four essays.
1. A letter to Mr Hansom of Birmingham etc his speech at a meeting of Trades Unions.
2. Trade Clubs justified; Trades Unions reprobated.
3. Wages and Profits. Advantages of high wages, disadvantages of low wages.
4. Corporation Unions, Law and other trade clubs compared.
Each by Francis Place. In these essays I took the largest view I could, and endeavoured to speak the truths of all parties, workmen, their employers - the gentry - and the aristocrac y. The consequence was that they who had been urging me to write shrunk away and they will not be printed.
Whenever the stamp duty on Newspapers shall be repealed I will in the most open candid good natured way endeavour to provoke a discussion of all the most important matters which relate immediately and some which relate remotely to the people. Will point out to them what their relative and actual situation is as well as what it ought to be and may some day be. I will do them the utmost justice in my fervour, but I will neither flatter nor endeavour to lead them by their passions and prejudices - I am of the late Dr Jibb's opinion, "that no effort made in the right way for the good of the people is ever wholly thrown away."
I have no personal interest in any thing which concerns the working people, and I do not think I shall ever have any, but as I think I can do them some service, I feel bound in duty to use my best endeavours to serve them. I care not for reproach nor for abuse of any sort, but satisfied as I am that when either abuse or reproach comes from the working people it is always the result of event of knowledge, I am never offended, being quite sure that this increase of knowledge will put an end to all abuse and all ill manners.
very
sincerely
yours
Francis Place
Francis Place