pleasing and homely a style of eloquence, as to command attention and carry conviction to every man who was open to reason. In a word, he was the first to thoroughly convince the people of Great Britain that they had a right to be allowed to purchase the necessaries of life wherever they could obtain them, and to dispose of their manufactures wherever they could sell them, on the most advantageous terms.
- [Footnote:
labours, my children must have been beggars, had not my neighbours,
who knew my circumstances, originated the subscription which restored
me independence. I took the money without shame, because I had
earned it. If money had been my sole object in life I should have been
a more successful man by sticking to my calicoes, for my partners have
grown richer than I by doing so, and young men taken into the
concern since I left have made fortunes. I may add that the original
formation of the partnership, and the whole scheme of the business,
sprung exclusively from myself. But what has this to do with your
bill? I never detect myself falling into a twaddle about things
personal and past without suspecting that I am growing old and
garrulous. I doubt the policy of your presenting a bill to the House.
Your strength lies in your principle—perfect freedom—which you can
argue with more force when not compelled to enter upon details. If
you have any suggestions as to the clauses of the Bill, would it not be
better to do as you did with the Shipping Bill by giving the Board of
Trade the benefit of your hints? It may be necessary to concede
something for the sake of carrying any measure, but I doubt whether
any concession, beyond a registration, which may be shown to be a
convenience to all parties, will not be unsoundness. If it be necessary
to tamper with sound principles for the sake of pleasing the Lords, let
the proposal come from their party. I suspect we shall be weaker in
both Houses in dealing with the question of private partnership upon
free-trade principles than with that of Joint Stock Associations. Upon
the latter question, people of the and school of political
economy, whose principles are, if pushed home, a little socialistic, took
a great interest, because they have an amiable faith in the power of
association amongst the working classes. But I doubt whether they
will throw much zeal into the question of private partnership. By the
way, don't put the question in the House in the form of a problem
A. B. C. D. &c. It does in a written argument, and even then demands
a severe attention; but I find that that mode of stating the case in the
House does not succeed.
"I shall be happy to renew the discussion when we meet, and remain very sincerely yours,
"Rd. Cobden."
]
