William Cobbett: A Biography in Two Volumes, Vol. 1Smith, Edward
History
William Cobbett: A Biography in Two Volumes, Vol. 1
Smith, Edward
Cobbett, William 1763-1835
The “Prospect” was pretty successful; and it was resolved to continue
it occasionally. The next number was not published, however, till the
end of March; and the title was changed to “The Political Censor.” But
we now find on the title-page the name of Benjamin Davies, at No. 68,
High Street--so it appears that the dissatisfaction with Mr. Bradford
had some meaning in it. Between the first and second numbers of the
“Censor,” Peter Porcupine produced a little book on French “horrors,”
which had a great sale both in America and England, under the name of
“The Bloody Buoy, thrown out as a Warning to the Political Pilots of
all Nations: or, a faithful Relation of a Multitude of Acts of Horrid
Barbarity, such as the Eye never witnessed, the Tongue expressed,
or the Imagination conceived, until the Commencement of the French
Revolution,” &c. This was published at Davies’ Book-store, and its
announcement in the papers was probably the first intimation that Mr.
Bradford had of the impending loss of Porcupine’s custom.
The later transactions between Cobbett and Bradford are thus disposed
of in the autobiography:--
“After the ‘Observations,’ Mr. Bradford and I published
together no longer. When a pamphlet was ready for the press,
we made a bargain for it, and I took his note of hand, payable
in one, two, or three months. That the public may know exactly
what gains I have derived from the publications that issued
from Mr. Bradford’s, I here subjoin a list of them, and the
sums received in payment.
Dollars. Cents.
Observations 0 21
Bone to Gnaw, 1st part 125 0
Kick for a Bite 20 0
Bone to Gnaw, 2nd part 40 0
Plain English 100 0
New Year’s Gift 100 0
Prospect 18 0
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Total 403 21
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“The best way of giving the reader an idea of the generosity
of my bookseller is, to tell him, that upon my going into
business for myself, I offered to purchase the copyrights of
these pamphlets at the same price that I had sold them at. Mr.
Bradford refusing to sell, is a clear proof that they were
worth more than he gave me, even after they had passed through
several editions. Let it not be said, then, that he put a coat
upon my back.”
Upon Mr. Bradford finding that “The Political Censor” was to be carried
on without his assistance and patronage, he wrote to Cobbett requesting
him to fulfil the contract, which, he alleged, existed between them by
the sale of the first “Prospect,” and threatened an “applycation” to
the laws of his country, &c. Mr. Cobbett, remarking on this, says,--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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