文档介绍：MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
MISCELLANEOUS
PAPERS
BY CHARLES DICKENS
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
THE AGRICULTURAL
INTEREST
The present Government, having shown itself to be particularly clever
in its management of Indictments for Conspiracy, cannot do better, we
think (keeping in its administrative eye the pacification of some of its most
influential and most unruly supporters), than indict the whole
manufacturing interest of the country for a conspiracy against the
agricultural interest. As the jury ought to be beyond impeachment, the
panel might be chosen among the Duke of Buckingham's tenants, with the
Duke of Buckingham himself as foreman; and, to the end that the country
might be quite satisfied with the judge, and have ample security
beforehand for his moderation and impartiality, it would be desirable,
perhaps, to make such a slight change in the working of the law (a mere
nothing to a Conservative Government, bent upon its end), as would
enable the question to be tried before an Ecclesiastical Court, with the
Bishop of Exeter presiding. The Attorney-General for Ireland, turning
his sword into a ploughshare, might conduct the prosecution; and Mr.
Cobden and the other traversers might adopt any ground of defence they
chose, or prove or disprove anything they pleased, without being
embarrassed by the least anxiety or doubt in reference to the verdict.
That the country in general is in a conspiracy against this sacred but
unhappy agricultural interest, there can be no doubt. It is not alone
within the walls of Covent Garden Theatre, or the Free Trade Hall at
Manchester, or the Town Hall at Birmingham, that the cry "Repeal the
Corn-laws!" is raised. It may be heard, moaning at night, through the
straw-littered wards of Refuges for the Destitute; it may be read in the
gaunt and famished faces which make our streets terrible; it is muttered in
the thankful grace pronounced by haggard wretches over their felon fare in
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
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