Cobbett returned home from America in 1800, famous for his pro-British, anti-democratic writings as Peter Porcupine, to a welcome from Pitt's Tory administration and offers of control over various newspapers sponsored by the government. Refusing these offers (but accepting private financial help from the Tory William Windham) Cobbett began his independent Weekly Political Register in 1802. As Asa Briggs points out, however, Cobbett was fortunate in the timing of the first issue. Addington had taken over from Pitt as Prime Minister in 1801, and under his leadership the Peace of Amiens had been achieved. Cobbett, objecting to this compromise with Bonaparte, adopted a tone far from sycophantic towards his former allies. Thus, having made his name in America as a dissenting voice, here too he ‘could be both patriot and critic at the same time’, criticizing the peace as undermining national honour, security, and martial traditions.

Cobbett's early English writings are thus not in any simple relationship to the status quo. This chapter will explore the language and methods of his version of reaction, beginning by exploring the literary environment into which he enters on his return to England in 1800 and ending with close readings of three Political Register articles from 1802. As Cobbett perceives his place as being firmly within the mainstream of enfranchised political debate in this period, an initial examination of broadly ‘refined’ writings is appropriate. This contextual exploration will allow us to see the nature and interest of Cobbett's apparently conservative writings.