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suffering world； or sees it； or cares to extend its knowledge of it； or； so
long as it remains a world； cares anything about it。 All those whom
Dante placed in the first pit or circle of the doleful regions； might have
represented the agricultural interest in the present Parliament； or at quarter
sessions； or at meetings of the farmers' friends； or anywhere else。
But that is not the question now。 It is conspired against； and we have
given a few proofs of the conspiracy； as they shine out of various classes
engaged in it。 An indictment against the whole manufacturing interest
need not be longer； surely； than the indictment in the case of the Crown
against O'Connell and others。 Mr。 Cobden may be taken as its
representativeas indeed he is； by one consent already。 There may be no
evidence； but that is not required。 A judge and jury are all that is needed。
And the Government know where to find them； or they gain experience to
little purpose。
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THREATENING LETTER TO THOMAS HOOD FROM AN
ANCIENT GENTLEMAN
MR。 HOOD。 SIR；The Constitution is going at last！ You needn't
laugh； Mr。 Hood。 I am aware that it has been going； two or three times
before； perhaps four times； but it is on the move now； sir； and no mistake。
I beg to say； that I use those last expressions advisedly； sir； and not in
the sense in which they are now used by Jackanapeses。 There were no
Jackanapeses when I was a boy； Mr。 Hood。 England was Old England
when I was young。 I little thought it would ever come to be Young
England when I was old。 But everything is going backward。
Ah！ governments were governments； and judges were judges； in my
day； Mr。 Hood。 There was no nonsense then。 Any of your seditious
complainings； and we were ready with the military on the shortest notice。
We should have charged Covent Garden Theatre； sir； on a Wednesday
night： at the point of the bayonet。 Then； the judges were full of dignity
and firmness； and knew how to administer the law。 There is only one
judge who knows how to do his duty； now。 He tried that revolutionary
female the other day； who； though she was in full work （making shirts at
three…halfpence a piece）； had no pride in her country； but treasonably took
it in her head； in the distraction of having been robbed of her easy earnings；
to attempt to drown herself and her young child； and the glorious man
went out of his way； sirout of his wayto call her up for instant sentence
of Death； and to tell her she had no hope of mercy in this worldas you
may see yourself if you look in the papers of Wednesday the 17th of April。
He won't be supported； sir； I know he won't； but it is worth remembering
that his words were carried into every manufacturing town of this
kingdom； and read aloud to crowds in every political parlour； beer…shop；
news…room； and secret or open place of assembly； frequented by the
discontented working…men； and that no milk…and…water weakness on the
part of the executive can ever blot them out。 Great things like that； are
caught up； and stored up； in these times； and are not forgotten； Mr。 Hood。
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The public at large （especially those who wish for peace and conciliation）
are universally obliged to him。 If it is reserved for any man to set the
Thames on fire； it is reserved for him； and indeed I am told he very nearly
did it； once。
But even he won't save the constitution； sir： it is mauled beyond the
power of preservation。 Do you know in what foul weather it will be
sacrificed and shipwrecked； Mr。 Hood？ Do you know on what rock it
will strike； sir？ You don't； I am certain； for nobody does know as yet but
myself。 I will tell you。
The constitution will go down； sir （nautically speaking）； in the
degeneration of the human species in England； and its reduction into a
mingled race of savages and pigmies。
That is my proposition。 That is my prediction。 That is the event of
which I give you warning。 I am now going to prove it； sir。
You are a literary man； Mr。 Hood； and have written； I am told； some
things worth reading。 I say I am told； because I never read what is
written in these days。 You'll excuse me； but my principle is； that no man
ought to know anything about his own time； except that it is the worst time
that ever was； or is ever likely to be。 That is the only way； sir； to be truly
wise and happy。
In your station； as a literary man； Mr。 Hood； you are frequently at the
Court of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen。 God bless her！ You have
reason to know that the three great keys to the royal palace （after rank and
politics） are Science； Literature； Art。 I don't approve of this myself。 I
think it ungenteel and barbarous； and quite un…English； the custom having
been a foreign one； ever since the reigns of the uncivilised sultans in the
Arabian Nights； who always called the wise men of their time about them。
But so it is。 And when you don't dine at the royal table； there is always a
knife and fork for you at the equerries' table： where； I understand； all
gifted men are made particularly welcome。
But all men can't be gifted； Mr。 Hood。 Neither scientific； literary； nor
artistical powers are any more to be inherited than the property arising
from scientific； literary； or artistic productions； which the law； with a
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beautiful imitation of nature； declines to protect in the second generation。
Very good； sir。 Then； people are naturally very prone to cast about in their
minds for other means of getting at Court Favour； and； watching the signs
of the times； to hew out for themselves； or their descendants； the likeliest
roads to that distinguished goal。
Mr。 Hood； it is pretty clear； from recent records in the Court Circular；
that if a father wish to train up his son in the way he should go； to go to
Court： and cannot indenture him to be a scientific man； an author； or