Confrontation-averse -- cowardly -- as I am, I would rather conclude on Cobbett, not by quoting the "Poor Corporal," but by quoting the editor in his preface of a posthumously published work of Cobbett's.

H. L. Stephens, editor. Quotes:
page iv. "....we can recognize in the demagogue whose violence, ignorance, and hopeless egotism made him useless for any but the most general political purposes, a leading master of the English language."

page v. " 'How many of the insolent and ignorant great and powerful have I pulled down and made little and despicable!' "

page vii. "....views based on a curious collection of inconsistent sentiments, supported by hastily acquired half knowledge of many matters, and protected from the effects of serious reflection by an assured belief in his own infallibility."

page ix. "....his political writings, where his strength frequently degenerates into violence, or explodes into thoughtless abuse."

page xiii. "It was thoroughly consistent with the whole of Cobbett's character that he should despise any knowledge he did not possess, and if possible should connect this feeling with either the Reformation or the Public Debt....Cobbett's political feelings are always pretty near the surface."

page xvii. "The late Mr. Bradlaugh, possessing something that Cobbett lacked, had sufficient greatness of mind to learn late in life that it is well to try to understand your antagonists' case as it appears to them....He, in fact, learned in the House of Commons those good manners which men more happily situated may learn in boyhood. Cobbett never learned them at all."

from Cobbett's English Grammar
London: Henry Frowde, 1906