TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Volume II is available as Project Gutenberg ebook number 49845.
WILLIAM COBBETT.
A BIOGRAPHY.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS,
ST. JOHN’S SQUARE.
J. R. Smith pinxit. F. Bartolozzi R.A. sculpsit.
Mr. William Cobbett.
WILLIAM COBBETT:
A BIOGRAPHY.
By EDWARD SMITH.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
London:
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON,
CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET.
1878.
[All rights reserved.]
“It is not by his faults, but by his excellences, thatwe measure a great man.”
G. H. Lewes (On Actors, &c.).
“Fear never but you shall be consistent in whatevervariety of actions, so that they be each honest and naturalin their hour. For of one will, the actions will be harmonious,however unlike they seem.”
R. W. Emerson (Essay on Self-reliance).
NOTE.
The following pages need no Preface, with regard totheir subject.
I am unwilling, however, to let the work go forth to thepublic without a renewed word of thanks, to those whohave given me any sort of encouragement or assistance.My acknowledgments are especially due to the venerabledaughter of Mr. James Swann, for the use of someletters; to the author of the “Handbook of FictitiousNames,” without whose apt teaching in the art of Bibliography,the work might have wanted the interestingappendix; to Mr. Job Swain, one of the last survivorsof Cobbett’s personal friends, for some reminiscences;and to Mr. Ellis Yarnall, of Philadelphia, for copies ofseveral letters, and for some suggestions which haveenabled the author to throw additional light on the“Porcupine” days.
E. S.
London: November, 1878.
CONTENTS.
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| CHAPTER I. 1762-1784. | |
| “I looked back with pride to my Waggon-driving Grandfather” | 1 |