"Not Perceval [the Prime Minister] alone, but the government at all levels had scores to settle with Cobbett. He had condemned the celebration of the king's jubilee on October 25, 1809, a day set aside to commemorate the fiftieth year of the reign of George III. What reason was there to rejoice? asked Cobbett. During that period the national debt had been increased from £90 million to £700 million; the number of paupers had increased from 200,000 to 1,200,000; America had been lost following the capture of a whole British army at Saratoga and another at Yorktown. At the moment of celebration thousands of British soldiers were sick and dying at Walcheren; thousands more wounded had been left behind a retreating British army in Spain; and the French, who dominated the European continent, threatened to invade the country. The junior members of the royal family had also come under attack by Cobbett: He opposed increases in their handsome allowances and inveighed against the public display of their mistresses. He thought the royal family should pay taxes like everyone else. The influential leaders of the opposition, as well as the members of the cabinet, were constantly under Cobbett's flail. And the letter addressed 'To the Right Honourable Lord Ellenborough' published by the Political Register in September 1808, how he should interpret the law of libel."25

While in prison, Cobbett continued to write and his articles got published. They were usually ended with, "State Prison, Newgate." On June 18th, 1812, Cobbett was released from Newgate. To celebrate his reentry into society, a grand dinner was given at the Crown and Anchor attended by 600 admirers with Sir Francis Burnett27 in the chair. The next day, Cobbett, in "a carriage full of gentlemen" left London for Cobbett's home at Botley. The family, I should say, noticed that there was to be a marked change in Cobbett after his release from prison: he was more severe and less good humoured.