The Important Trial of Thomas Spence

The Important Trial of Thomas Spence by Thomas Spence

Thomas Spence was tried and convicted for publishing "revolutionary" texts. Today, we would hardly bat an eye at most of his concepts. He supported divorce (as a way in making marriage better.) He also advocated land reform. He would have local government units own the land. The revenue of the units would be from the rent paid by those who worked the land. The book includes his complete constitution. It included a form of representation as well as speech protection and law enforcement. His radical texts were too much for 200 years ago. Today, the work can be found on Marxist web sites. Conditions have changed today. However, if you consider the rents to be "property tax", it is not too far from what we have today. (Though without restrictions on multiple ownership.)

Hear Both Sides

Hear Both Sides by Thomas Holcroft

I read a free version that was a Google scanned version of an old library book. The quality had much to be desired. Every other page seemed to have a lot of bleedthrough from the other side. (It was interesting that the other half of the pages seemed to be clear.) I found a version on Amazon for sale that seems to have a totally made up synopsis that has absolutely nothing to do with this play. 

The actual play comes across as a very British comedy. It was first performed in 1803, but did not last for long, yet we still have it today. There are people bickering. There is an inheritance involved along with people that may or may not be dead. Bits did seem funny, however, I had trouble following what was going on. It would be better to see (or even listen to) a performance.