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Cobbett was anything but refined； in the conventional sense of the
word； but he was pure； temperate； self…denying； industrious；
vigorous； and energetic； in an eminent degree。 Many of his views
were； no doubt； wrong； but they were his own； for he insisted on
thinking for himself in everything。 Though few men took a firmer
grasp of the real than he did； perhaps still fewer were more
swayed by the ideal。 In word…pictures of his own emotions； he is
unsurpassed。 Indeed； Cobbett might almost be regarded as one of
the greatest prose poets of English real life。
NOTES
（1） Mungo Park declared that he was more affected by this incident
than by any other that befel him in the course of his travels。 As
he lay down to sleep on the mat spread for him on the floor of the
hut； his benefactress called to the female part of the family to
resume their task of spinning cotton； in which they continued
employed far into the night。 〃They lightened their labour with
songs；〃 says the traveller； 〃one of which was composed extempore；
for I was myself the subject of it； it was sung by one of the
young women； the rest joining in a chorus。 The air was sweet and
plaintive； and the words； literally translated； were these： 'The
winds roared； and the rains fell。 The poor white man； faint and
weary； came and sat under our tree。 He has no mother to bring him
milk； no wife to grind his corn。' Chorus'Let us pity the white
man； no mother has he！' Trifling as this recital may appear； to a
person in my situation the circumstance was affecting in the
highest degree。 I was so oppressed by such unexpected kindness；
that sleep fled before my eyes。〃
（2）'Transformation； or Monte Beni。'
（3） 'Portraits Contemporains；' iii。 519。
（4） Mr。 Arthur Helps； in one of his Essays； has wisely said： 〃You
observe a man becoming day by day richer； or advancing in station；
or increasing in professional reputation； and you set him down as
a successful man in life。 But if his home is an ill…regulated
one； where no links of affection extend throughout the family
whose former domestics （and he has had more of them than he can
well remember） look back upon their sojourn with him as one
unblessed by kind words or deedsI contend that that man has not
been successful。 Whatever good fortune he may have in the world；
it is to be remembered that he has always left one important
fortress untaken behind him。 That man's life does not surely read
well whose benevolence has found no central home。 It may have
sent forth rays in various directions； but there should have been
a warm focus of lovethat home…nest which is formed round a good
mans heart。〃CLAIMS OF LABOUR。
（5） 〃The red heart sends all its instincts up to the white brain； to
be analysed； chilled； blanched； and so become pure reasonwhich
is just exactly what we do NOT want of women as women。 The
current should run the other way。 The nice； calm； cold thought；
which； in women； shapes itself so rapidly that they hardly know it
as thought； should always travel to the lips VIA the heart。
It does so in those women whom all love and admire。。。。
The brain…women never interest us like the heart…women；
white roses please less than red。〃THE PROFESSOR AT THE
BREAKFAST TABLE； by Oliver Wendell Holmes。
（6） 'The War and General Culture；' 1871。
（7） 〃Depend upon it； men set more value on the cultivated minds than
on the accomplishments of women； which they are rarely able to
appreciate。 It is a common error； but it is an error； that
literature unfits women for the everyday business of life。 It is
not so with men。 You see those of the most cultivated minds
constantly devoting their time and attention to the most homely
objects。 Literature gives women a real and proper weight in
society； but then they must use it with discretion。〃
THE REV。 SYDNEY SMITH。
（8） 'The Statesman；' pp。 73…75。
（9） Fuller； the Church historian； with his usual homely mother…wit；
speaking of the choice of a wife； said briefly； 〃Take the daughter
of a good mother。〃
（10） She was an Englishwomana Miss Motley。 It maybe mentioned that
amongst other distinguished Frenchmen who have married English
wives； were Sismondi； Alfred de Vigny； and Lamartine。
（11） 〃Plus je roule dans ce monde； et plus je suis amene a penser
qu'il n'y a que le bonheur domestique qui signifie quelque chose。〃
OEUVRES ET CORRESPONDENCE。
（12） De Tocqueville's 'Memoir and Remains；' vol。 i。 p。 408。
（13） De Tocqueville's 'Memoir and Remains；' vol。 ii。 p。 48。
（14） Colonel Hutchinson was an uncompromising republican； thoroughly
brave； highminded； and pious。 At the Restoration； he was
discharged from Parliament； and from all offices of state for
ever。 He retired to his estate at Owthorp； near Nottingham； but
was shortly after arrested and imprisoned in the Tower。 From
thence he was removed to Sandown Castle； near Deal； where he lay
for eleven months； and died on September 11th； 1664。 The wife
petitioned for leave to share his prison； but was refused。 When
he felt himself dying； knowing the deep sorrow which his death
would occasion to his wife； he left this message； which was
conveyed to her： 〃Let her； as she is above other women； show
herself on this occasion a good Christian； and above the pitch of
ordinary women。〃 Hence the wife's allusion to her husband's
〃command〃 in the above passage。
（15） Mrs。 Lucy Hutchinson to her children concerning their father：
'Memoirs of the Life of Col。 Hutchinson' （Bohn's Ed。）； pp。 29…30。
（16） On the Declaration of American Independence； the first John Adams；
afterwards President of the United States； bought a copy of the
'Life and Letters of Lady Russell；' and presented it to his wife；
〃with an express intent and desire〃 （as stated by himself）； 〃that
she should consider it a mirror in which to contemplate herself；
for； at that time； I thought it extremely probable； from the
daring and dangerous career I was determined to run； that she
would one day find herself in the situation of Lady Russell； her
husband without a head：〃 Speaking of his wife in connection with
the fact； Mr。 Adams added： 〃Like Lady Russell； she never； by word
or look； discouraged me from running all hazards for the salvation
of my country's liberties。 She was willing to share with me； and
that her children should share with us both； in all the dangerous
consequences we had to hazard。〃
（17） 'Memoirs of the Life of Sir Samuel Romily；' vol。 i。 p。 41。
（18） It is a singular circumstance that in the parish church of
St。 Bride； Fleet Street； there is a tablet on the wall with an
inscription to the memory of Isaac Romilly； F。R。S。； who died in
1759； of a broken heart； seven days after the decease of a
beloved wifeCHAMBERS' BOOK OF DAYS； vol。 ii。 p。 539。
（19） Mr。 Frank Buckland says 〃During the long period that Dr。
Buckland was engaged in writing the book which I now have the
honour of editing； my mo