An Englishman in Exile
Faced with a choice between silence, dungeon or exile, William Cobbett chose exile — and then had to make sense of it.
1817
King George III 1760-1820
Faced with a choice between silence, dungeon or exile, William Cobbett chose exile — and then had to make sense of it.
1817
King George III 1760-1820
In March, 1817, English radical William Cobbett fled to the US, in the belief that he was about to arrested for his cheap, popular and highly critical digest of Parliamentary news, the Political Register. A few months later, he wrote back home to his supporters from his Long Island farm explaining how, as an expat, he would balance his divided loyalties.
Whatever I send to be published in England I shall publish here in some shape or another,* and, as you will see, though I have been so ill-treated by those who govern England, I shall never turn my back upon my country or my countrymen. There are persons here, who will think well of no Englishman, who will not only distinctly and explicitly disclaim all allegiance to the King, but all regard for his country.* I will do neither. I owe allegiance to the King as much as any American owes allegiance to the laws of his country. I cannot, if I would, according to the laws of England, get rid of it. And, as to my country and my countrymen, my attachment to them can never be equalled by my attachment to any other country or people. I owe a temporary allegiance to this country, and am bound to obey its excellent laws and Government. I am even bound to assist in repelling my own countrymen, and to consider them as enemies, if they attack this country. All this I owe in return for the protection I receive.
* Robert Waters (1835-1910), a Scotsman who moved to British North America in 1842 and then to the US in 1851, was one of Cobbett’s many admirers, but he felt that the US was not the right choice for him. “Had the Atlantic telegraph been in existence at that time, his plan would no doubt have been altogether successful; but with no quicker means of conveying his thoughts to England than by slow-going sailing-vessels, it could not be other than a failure; for his thoughts came too late; he was striking the iron after it had cooled. With his views, he would, I think, have done far better to have gone over to France or to Holland.”
* This was written in the Political Register for July 1817, just a few years after the War of 1812 between Britain and the USA ended with a formal peace in 1814 (though fighting lasted into the following year). Feelings were still running high. The President of the US in July 1817 was James Madison, followed later that same year by James Monroe.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
What did Cobbett promise to do in the event of a war with Britain?
To take up arms for the USA.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Cobbett left England. He went to the USA. He felt a loyalty to both.
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IAdopt. IIOld. IIIOwe.