COLONEL THOMPSON'S PUFFERS AND THE SPECTATOR'S DETR ACTERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Leeds, 31 November 1842.
SIR—Will you allow me to correct the error you have fallen into in last week's paper, in commenting on the series of articles called " Exercises, Re- views, and Action." You say they were "issued from the central office of Colonel Thompson's publisher to his convenient jurnals." They were issued from Yorkshire, not from London. The sole responsibility of their publication rests with the writer : neither Colonel Tnoursow's publisher, nor any other individual whatsoever, is implicated directly or indirectly in their being issued.
The term "his convenient journals," it is difficult to understand. The articles have been copied by a large number of the provincial papers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland; in more than one instance, by two papers in the same town, and within the last week by one of the Metropolitan papers, of no inconsiderable circulation : a popularity mainly to be attributed to the deep interest which is felt in all that concerns Colonel Twomrsow, and the very high and general esteem in which he is held. The object of the articles was neither " to cry up Colonel Thompson," nor "to cry down the Spectator." When the writer first commenced the series, he was altogether ignorant that the Spectator did not fully appreciate the gallant officer, for the criticism of the 10th of September had not appeared ; and as to crying up Colonel THOMPSON, he is fully able to make himself heard in the metropolis, and in the provinces, and in all the capitals of Europe : but the publication of the Works of Colonel Twoursow suggested to the waiter the idea that to apply particular parts of them to the passing events of the day would be making good use of them. Whether the articles in question have been unjustly severe towards the Spectator, those who have been readers of both will judge for themselves. It certainly appears to me, that no one reading the extracts from the Spectator of the 1st October, as given in your last week's paper, without the com- ments of either party, could draw any conclusion but that the Government were called upon to dismiss from the machinery required for the collection of the Income-tax all those who are opposed to the Peel Government : and although I have not the opportunity of referring to the Spectator of the 17th of September, where you designate the Peel Government "the Government God has given us," I believe the general spirit and tendency of the article in question was to hold up the present Government as worthy of respect. I per- ceive you now say that your meaning was, that it is only to be endured be- cause it is "something against which it is useless to struggle "; and you say you are quite sure "nothing unfriendly" was intended in your review of Colonel Twomrsoles 'Works. If this is the extent of your allegiance to the present Ministry, we in the provinces hope it will very quickly be seen, that this Tory Government is one which we can and will struggle against success- fully ; and we shall be very glad to have your cooperation—not, indeed, to re- place the aristocratic Whigs, who equally with the Tories involved us in wars, which I congratulate you on having so admirably exposed in your article last week on " The Opium-War." As Colonel THOMPSON said, in the spirit of prophesy, in his Exercises, before the Whigs went out of office-
" All the King's horses, and all the King' men,
Can't put Humpty.dumpty together again."
Our hope is to see the Government in the hands of Colonel THOMPSON, and such men as we are quite sure the Spectator at one period of his career would have selected.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
THE AUTHOR OF "EXERCISES, REVIEWS, AND ACTION."
P. S. At the Municipal election, yesterday, for this borough, seven candidates brought forward of Radical or Universal Suffrage principles were returned ; and had more been nominated, more would have been elected. This will show you in what direction the tide has set in, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Previous page
