Those at Longley attacked the residence of an obnoxious clergyman, reached the cellar, and drank there to intoxication. They then set fire to the house and to other dwellings. The whole dis11 trict was soon in a ferment, and repressive measures had to be adopted. The Stafford authorities held Mr. Cooper responsible for the outbreak, and issued a warrant for his arrest. He was already in durance at Manchester, to the disappointment of the York Chartists, who expected him at a great meeting upon the racecourse there. The Stafford assizes were first held, and Mr. Cooper was placed mpon trial on the charge of arson in October, 1842. It was in conducting his own defence before Sir Nicholas Tindal as judge, that he made his celebrated speech to the jury, from which several passages have been already quoted. It opened as follows: "My lord, and gentlemen of the jury,—I have never, except for a brief lapse of time, in my life, lost my confidence in Providence. And, perilous as my circumstances may now seem, I do not even now lose my confidence in the goodness of that Almighty and Fatherly Power which has superintended and controlled the events of my life. "I am proud of my country: proud of the name of Englishman. It is not because the liberty I love has been left without restraints in the land that gave me birth, it is not because the advocates of freedom have been left unpersecuted and unoppressed, that I hold it matter for just pride to say that I am an Englishman. But it is because my country has produced men who, while they suffered, and suffered deeply, knew how to suffer with dignity in the cause of human freedom, that I am proud of my nation.” He then quoted Raleigh, Latimer, and Algernon Sydney, and their characteristic sayings in the face of death; and declared that it was not for him, in circumstances of such peril, either to deny his Chartism or to defy and denounce his judges. He had been a democrat from boyhood, and "With such convictions-the growth of a whole life-what wonder was it that, twenty months ago-and it is but twenty months since I first heard a Chartist lecturer-what wonder was it, with these growing convictions, that I began to openly profess the principles of the People's Charter? That document, as far as my understanding enables me to judge, is neither more nor less than an embodiment of the principles contained in the theory of the British Constitution. It provides that Englishmen shall be fully, fairly, and freely represented in their own House of Commons; in other words, that they shall be governed by their own consent, and that taxation shall be co-extensive with representation. The document, then, is a constitutional document. So far from the People's Charter containing one syllable aiming at the abrogation of the monarchical power, or the baronial privilege, it simply regulates and preserves the due weight of the Commonalty in the constitution." Appealing to the judge's own opinion given in favour of the people's right to meet for political discussions, and claiming his share in such a right, he continued, "I do not claim a right to urge my opinions to the injury of my fellowcreatures: I never taught such a doctrine in my life: I have been ever opposed to violence: my whole life will show it; and, with your lordship's leave, I shall briefly detail the circumstances of that life, after I have made a few observations explanatory of my recent visit to the Potteries, and also a few remarks touching the evidence of the witnesses who have to-day appeared against me.” He then described the circumstances and events of his visit to Hanley and elsewhere, as they have already been recounted, and keenly criticised the testimony for the prosecution. He acknowledged his advocacy of cessation of labour, and admitted-"In reference to the People's Charter I have again and again said, 'Give me but one million of combined human wills, and the Charter shall, in one day, be law in England!' Thus undisguisedly have I spoken, gentlemen of the jury; but I have always deprecated force." Mr. Cooper argued from the details of his previous life that he was "utterly unlikely, through habits and associations long and deeply formed, either to commit violence and outrage himself, or to urge on others to the same insane and guilty course." After the passage formerly cited referring to his early study of the works of Hooker, Cudworth, and other master minds, he asked, "But, gentlemen of the jury, could I gather any disposition to spread destruction and disorder from breathing the atmosphere of intellectuality in company with spirits such as these?" The same question recurs, with much rhetorical force, after each passage of his history. In conclusion, he solemnly averred that he was not present at the riots, and that he had neither counselled, aided, nor abetted any acts of violence; and he said, "I cannot promise that I shall cease to be a Chartist if I receive your acquittal, for I cannot act contrary to my heartfelt convictions; but I will say that, if Providence delivers me from this danger, I shall take care never again to be found in circumstances where there is the least danger of violence being enacted." The address was a manly, earnest one; fearless, but without bravado, and full of a chaste and noble eloquence. It excited much attention, and was shortly afterwards published by request. 66 The verdict was Not Guilty," and Mr. Cooper was acquitted of the charge of arson, but remanded upon two other indictments. His escape was a narrow one. Others were condemned-some upon shamefully insufficient and un-trustworthy evidence-to transportation and imprisonment. Upon the remand Mr. Cooper was set at liberty on bail, and returned to Leicester and political activity. Under the auspices of Mr. Joseph Sturge another conference was held to promote united action between the middle and the working classes. The "Complete Suffrage Association" drew up a "Bill of Rights," and this was accepted by the representatives of the former party; but the Charter was proposed by the others in opposition, and carried. Mr. Sturge and most of his friends thereupon retired, and left the Conference to be continued as representative of the Chartists only. Mr. Cooper then presented a plan for the organization of the entire Chartist body, very comprehensive in its scope, and likely to consolidate and strengthen the cause he had at heart. It was agreed that it should be submitted for popular approval, and that another convention should meet in London in the April following. By that time Mr. Cooper was in Stafford gaol, and the scheme was dropped in favour of one propounded by Feargus O'Connor. In March, 1843, the Lancaster assizes were held; when Cooper, O'Connor, and more than fifty others, were charged with inciting to disaffection and hatred of the laws. Though most of the defendants were found guilty, they were released upon a legal point raised by their counsel, after entering into recognizances to appear when called upon for sentence, and no further step was taken in the matter. But Thomas Cooper had yet the remaining charges at Stafford to answer, and was tried there in the same month. Finding that the unfair course was pursued by the prosecution of raising the old questions as to aiding and abetting the arson at Hanley, under cover of the new indictment for conspiracy, he resolved to give them as much trouble as he could possibly devise. His one case lasted ten days. Conducting his own defence, he cross-examined the witnesses at great length-sometimes for five hours uninterruptedly. Unsympathetic and hostile county papers complained of his "insolent daring" in thus, by his persistency, confusing the whole business of the assize. Proof was again attempted of his presence at the riots and fire; but, by the admission of both judge and jury, it utterly broke down. He was found guilty, and called up in the Court of Queen's Bench, before Lord Denman, Sir John Pattison, and Sir John Williams, to receive sentence. Sir William Follett, who had had charge of both the Stafford prosecutions, "again used his decaying strength; and, the hour before judgment was passed upon us in the Bench, pointed to me with an austere look, and said, 'This man is the chief author of the violence that occurred, and I conjure your Lordships to pass a severe sentence upon the prisoner Cooper.'"+ Mr. Cooper inflicted another speech, of eight hours' duration, upon his judges, and was then condemned to two years' imprisonment, which he suffered in Stafford gaol. This, with the time already spent there upon the first charge and trial, made up a total incarceration of two years and eleven weeks. * "Letter to Working Men of Leicester," March 12th, 1845: written from Stafford gaol. + Preface to the "Purgatory of Suicides." The Essayist. THE POETRY OF JOHN KEBLE. (Continued from page 232.) ANOTHER characteristic of Keble is his exquisite tenderness and pathos, his intense sympathy with humanity in all its moods and phases of emotion, "Whatever stirs this mortal frame”—— the appropriation, in fine, and adoption, on Christian principles, of that time-honoured sentiment of heathen philanthropy "Homo sum, humani nihil à me alienum puto." This is indeed a prevailing characteristic of his poetry; but, as a special instance, we would give the beautiful lyric entitled "Bereavement," which goes yet further to illustrate the trait before noticed that love of children which lay deep in the heart of the poet-all childless as he was. A simple, lowly incident-the death of a little child-can draw from the poet's lyre music sweet, as in the following strain : "BEREAVEMENT. "I mark'd when vernal meads were bright, I mark'd her, blithe as morning light, "A basket on one tender arm Contain'd her precious store Of spring-flowers in their freshest charm, "The other wound with earnest hold A maid who scarce twelve years had told: "One a bright bud, and one might seem A sister flower half blown. Full joyous on their loving dream ⚫ Terence. "The summer months swept by: again That loving pair I met. On russet heath and bowery lane The autumnal sun had set : "And chill and damp that Sunday eve "Behind, the guardian sister came, "Thou mourn'st to miss the finger soft "Sweet toils, sweet cares, for ever gone! 'Thy first glad earthly task is o'er, "What if henceforth by heaven's decree "O yield thee to her whisperings sweet: "In loving hope with her unseen When foes are strong and trials keen, How beautifully is the bright vernal morn, with its smiling meads and primrose flowers, here contrasted with the sad autumnal eve, when Nature lies forlorn and desolate in her season of decay, picturing thereby childhood, with its tender graces, its fresh innocent charms, consigned to an early tomb,-fading, swiftly as spring passes away with all her flowers! Very beautiful also, in a |