William Cobbett (1763–1835), journalist, farmer and resident in North America for three substantial periods, exemplifies the point par excellence that individuals in this era did not fit neatly into rigid political categories that may be imposed by modern readers. Not only did his broader political allegiances change more than once, but, unlike Coleridge, so too did his attitudes to the United States of America. He also typified the pattern that British commentators' opinions on America reflected their views on British politics and, indeed, that the subject of America was often simply a forum for arguing about domestic affairs. Perhaps in his case more than most, however, he was often really discussing not only British politics but himself and his own experiences, under the guise of writing about America. Cobbett had a troubled and rocky relationship with the politics of his own country. He idealized the British constitution and his conception of how it had worked in practice in the recent past, and he was usually anxious to proclaim a profound English patriotism, but he was frequently disillusioned by his present observation and experience of the government of Britain. The United States acted for him as a foil for the England which at times he adored and by which at other times he was deeply disappointed; indeed, twice, America provided an asylum for him when he fled from political persecution at home after voicing his criticisms too strongly. As his contentment with British politics and society rose and fell, he frequently appeared to change his mind in inverse proportion regarding the merits and flaws of American politics and society. It has been suggested that Cobbett was not very interested in international politics – that he was a ‘Little Englander’, who said of himself that he was not, unlike Paine, ‘a citizen of the world’, but instead he was preoccupied with the interests of ‘England, Scotland and Ireland’.