“Plan of the Campaign. From our Head-quarters in Pall Mall, April 1, 1802.--_General Orders._--The army to be formed into two divisions; the first, commanded in person by General L----d G----e, to occupy the _heights_; the other, under the orders of Lieut.-General W----m, to attack the enemy in his _lower_ position. The ground to be taken by either division to be previously marked out by Quartermaster-General Cobbett. A copy to be given to each officer, to whom the command of a column may be entrusted; the Quartermaster-General’s advice to be taken, and studiously observed in every operation,” &c., &c. CHAPTER XII. “THE THOUGHTS OF THE NATION ARE LIKE A CORK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN.” William Cobbett was now in his fortieth year,[1] in the prime of life, blessed with unfailing health, unimpaired talents, and habits of industry, and a sturdy sense of his independence. At this beginning of the year 1802, he could command anything he chose--not the least matter being the ear of thousands of ready listeners. It is very easy to understand and account for the immediate success of the _Political Register_. The plan had long been in Cobbett’s mind. It partook of the qualities of his Philadelphia _Censor_, joined to those of a weekly newspaper: parliamentary debates, public official documents, foreign intelligence, weekly prices-current, and diary of the weather, &c., along with the editor’s summary of politics, made up such a journal as was wanted--not only for periodical instruction, but that might furnish a ready means of reference. As projected and as carried out for the first two years, the _Register_ was far in advance of anything that had been hitherto attempted. About three hundred subscribers were found, to start with, the price being 10_d._ per number, fortnightly. But the two numbers for January were so far successful, that February 6th saw the commencement of a weekly issue.