The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-03 00:00:00

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

From the Times.)
With a promptitude and a facility that contrasts strangely
'with the protracted and fruitless negotiations of last Deem-
13er, Lord John Russell's Ministry is already arranged. Our
Leaders may depend on the following list ; which, though
ligreeing to a considerable extent with that given in our
columns last Tuesday, " as far as it goes," presents some im-
portant differences, which the history of the intervening days
maY possibly account for :

Lord Chancellor
Lord Privy Seal
llorne-ufsree
Sir GEoacw GREY.
Foreign-office
COIODiaI-efilee
First Lord of the Treasury .....
_Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr. CHARLES WOOD.
Usiuscellorot the Duchy ot Lan
caster . . .......... Lord
Paymaster-General ..
.....
Mr. MCAULAY.
Woods and Forests
Postmaster. General
.. Marq. of CLAsinicAnDE.
Board of Trade. ....... Earl of CLARENDON.
hoard of Control .................
Sir JOHNHoeirouse.
thief Secrary for I E reland Mr. LABOUCHRE.
Admiralty
NOT IN TH.E CABINET.
tLordstieutenant of
onitnander-in-Chief ....
Duke of WELLINGTON.
ckaster-General of Ordnance
As the Cabinet, of course, professes to be only a revival of
Mt old Whig Cabinet, it admits of no other criticism than
a general inquiry into the merits of such a revival. Before
Vre drop a word on that subject, it may be as well to re-
late briefly whatever has come to our knowledge of a
nature to throw light on the construction of the Cabinet as
it now stands. We believe we may say that Lord John Rus-
tell has spared no pains to increase its strength by the ad-
dition of new elements. On receiving her Majesty's corn-
rnande to form a Ministry he sought an interview with Sir
Robert Peel. The ex-Premier received him with every sign
cordiality, gave him a general promise of assistance, and
Undertook that he would not oppose any measures Lord John
flight bring forward, simply because they proceededfrom
of
that quarter. To this he added expressions, the force
Which may have been overrated, but which implied the
absence of all wish for a return to power. On this, it is said,
Lord John ventured to ask for what he considered a fair
edge of Sir Robert's sincerity. He requested that the ex-
Minister would acquiesce in three of his late colleagues,
Whose names our readers will probably anticipate—Lord D4l-
- Lord Lincoln, and Mr. S. Herbert, accepting seatsin the
ha Cabinet. To this Sir Robert is said to have replied, that he
felt ue.ssilling to interfere in so delicate a matter, that he
World' offer no opposition, but could certainly not recommend
littp which would be liable to unfavourable comment, as
utlicating a too great tenacity of office on the part of those
Youthful statesmen. As we yesterday intimated to our
readers, Lord John Russell returned on Wednesday from
Osborne House, charged with an expression of her Majesty's
'wishes that the Duke of Wellington would still continue in
oommand of the army. To this request his Grace yielded
it dutiful compliance, in conformity with his views under
somewhat similar circumstances in 1827. At the same time
he said that he considered his political life now ended, and
that he should now never open his lips in Parliament, except
1)n subjects connected with his office. Lord John Russell
hereupon felt himself encouraged to make the same request
he had previously made with imperfect success to Sir R. Peel.
The Duke at first returned much the same answer as his late
colleague. He was subsequently, however, induced to give his
Consent to a letter, of which Lord John sent copies to the
above-mentioned three members of the retiring Cabinet.
Their replies left Lord John Russell no hopeOf their assistance
!sommeembers of his Government—for the present at least.
Cabinet Which
our readers ill possibly be grieved to find that a
N:artntea zhich has-rise into power on the back of the measure
sympathyY the League, should bear so little outward sign of
with that h I
will discover me °(•Y• In the first place, however, they
founded in fa'
• Views in a morepledge that their misgivings are not
to break with
favour i e circumstance that Lord Grey now
able light the difficulties that led him
question too, of the Cabinet attemted last December. The
are informed offeringseatMr. Cobden received we
a to
admission oflong and repeated discussion. Of course the
a great and triumphat agitator to the councils
?fahser Majesty and the Executive Government of the nation
to
a prooposal likely to present same unfavourable aspects
usually persns such as Ministers, Whig or Conservative,
are. We have reason to believe that no un-
oecoming jealousy was displayed. There are cir-
cumstances, however, which will occur to all our readers as
offering at least a temporary impediment in the way of that
gentleman's' acceptance of office, His business, it is well
known, is ohe peculiarly dependent on personal superintend-
ence, so much so that Mr. Cobden himself considers a period
of political retirement necessary to make amends for the
loss he has suffered by his generous devotion to a public
cause, and on the same ground a magnificent subscription
has been set on foot by his friends and admirers. However,
a communication has, we believe, been made by Lord John
Russell, with the acquiescence of his intended colleagues, ex-
pressing his deep sense of Mr. Cobden's services and conse-
quent claims, and conveying also the prospectiecr o
f a
Seat in the Cabinet, contingent on Mr. Cobden finding
him-
self some day in sufficient health and wealth to discharge
that great responsibility without danger to his life or for-
tune. Proposals have also, we have reason to believe, been
nude to two other prominent members of the League; and,
although in one case they were, also from private reasons,
Unsuccessful, it is not improbable that at least one gentleman
• Who has distinguished himself by his public advocacy of
corn-law repeal will enter Lord John Russell's Government.
The Cabinet which has resulted from these nego-
tiations and failures of negotiation is not more aristocratic
than Cabinets usually are; and therefore need not on that ac-
count excite the suspicions of the most thorough-going friend
of the people. That it does not contain more of the popular
element is clearly not owing to any lingering spirit of exclu-
sion in theleader. He has done his best to give it a compre-
hensive character, but found himself limited to the personnel
of which it was inevitable that a Whig Ministry should be
composed. It deserves, what it will probably obtain, a fair
trial at the hands of all parties. We are not aware of any
articular :objection to which it is liable, unless it be the
itight Hon. Baronet selected for that
very' important and
arduous
place, the Board of Control. Surely it was not
necessary to inflict on us, by his return to that office, the
painful recollections of his former most unfortunat e official
career,es • pecuilly when his qualifications are such as to as-
sure us that his failure was something more than misfortune.

THE CABINET

_____
MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.
the.l.2 rd John Russell had interviews yesterday morning with
Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl- of Clarendon, and Vis-
count Plmerston.
Earl Grey called on Lord John Russell yesterday-
At four o'clock a very
the Whi
numerous meeting of the leaders of
party took pia
of Lord John
Russell. ace at the residence
Among those present were, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the
Earl of Clarendon, th
Hob-
Ron, Earl of Besborough, LeordEa
hon.. Cr lo
t toef n hAuckland,am , Si r JohnEa rl
Cam Grey,
---, Sir George Grey, the Right Hon. E. Ellice, the Right
, T. B. Macaulay, the Right Hon.. H. Labouchere, Sir
Denis Le Marchant Air. C. W,od, Mr. Tufnell, &c.
Lord Edward Fitzalan Howard, who was former PI-
bate secretary to Lord John Russell when in office, was in
attendance.
The meeting sat for two hours.
tlAt half-past six o'clock Lord John Russell left Chesham-
_ace for Buckingham Palace, to have an audience of her
Majesty.
The Noble Lord returned to Chesharn-place from Buck-
ingham Palace at a quarter past eight o'clock.
At ten o'clock there was another numerous meeting of
the heads of the Liberal party at Lord John Russell's private
residence.
....Lord Lyndhurst does not relinquish the Great Seal until
Monday next. A communication on the subject passed
Zesterday between Lord Cottenham and the Noble and
A.earued Lord.
The Duke of Devonshire had an interview with Lord John
Russell on Wednesday.
; The Duke of Bedford dined last evening with Earl Spencer.
di St. James's-place. —Timm

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESFONDENT.)
the Fairy yacht,
thabitrmr 2.—Her Majesty left Osborne
.Palace for London
day, steaming out of the harbour innwenty
sail,
kid through the mercantile fleet (a ou princi-
-14% large American ships loaded with sugar). The absence
' e Court is expected to be short, as the. whole
.othf the
e
hors have been left behind, and all the carriages with 'caption of her Majesty's and the two dressers' vans. bOn
n
taittitt: eeeasions the horses and carriages have also been
the u_e_ll .Sir Robert Peel left Osborne Palace the whole of
Tre Yet ramily went to the beach to see him oft
/*.olia euenternduda,ughters of the Emerald Isle ought to be
J'ennis thritke-em—ftJeaty's having chosen a wet-nurse for the
~. Thafelowin- -°4l.ereongst the daughters of Erin. .
a•erd. 1,4,,,,,5hg fashionables have taken houses at Cowes .
Thcrnas I/
allifliT'l,l4rd Sandwich, Sir Bellingham Graham,
Sir Edward Pag4:l4,:iekreZmund Lacon, Lady Farnham,
Captain Lyon, and At been made by the M r.
• Marshatn, Mr. Wilson, Mr.
hPowell.e
Applications for houses have
Mr. Marquis of Ayiernis of Applications
the Earl of Wilton,2
Rennard, and several' ROYAL ntr al other fashionables.
the Duke of Beaufort, Mr. Hope,
YA4
SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE.
JUNE 26.—M din ARRIVALS.
London_, and proecßart., from
ded for Lymington.
cutter. Sir B. R. Graham,
27. Fairy Queen Wit
ton; Resolutiontohotrener, Hon. W. Hare, from .
Lvtaing-
, Duke of Rutland, from South•
!Inpton; Heroine cutter, Sir J. Rivett Carnac, Bart, from
London.
30. Whim cutter, Charles Brett, Esq. from Dartmouth;
Stormfinch cutter, Lieut'Col. Bowers,-'Poole, and pro-
ceeded to the eastward ; Petere
Weymouth. 1 cutter, Earl of c es ,
from
Il h ter from
JULY 1. Gitana schooner Southampton.
, J. Digby Murray, Esq., from
2. Frisk cutter, Richard Prankland, Esq., from Waterford ;
Brilliant schooner, G. H. Ackers, Req., from Southampton.
SAILINGS.
Jun
To 27. Albatross yawl, Sir Wm. Gallney, Bart., for
psham.
28. Wyvern schooner, Duke of Marlborough, for Leith and
Inverness.
YACUITS AT AND ABOUT THE STATION
eso.
Schooners—Fairy Queen,
ant. Camilla, Maud, Rlution,
Magic, Gem, Gitana, Brilli
Cutters—Sparrowhawk, Angara, Peterel, Whim, Snake,
Witch, Osprey, St. Margaret, Ganymede, Turquoise, Duchess,
ICoran, Eudora, Heroine, Frisk.

On the occasion of the Thames Regatta Mr. Lumley
had a dejeuner at Fulham. Amongst the company were,
the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Earl and Countess
Bective, the Countess de St. Aulaire, the Duke of Cleveland,f
the Earl of Delawarr, the Earl of Lonsdale, the Marquis of
Clanricarde, Mr. and Lady Caroline Sandford, and the Hon.
Miss Vivian ' • their Excellencies the Ministers of Sweden,
Denmark, Sardinia, Wirtemburg, and Saxony; Sir William
Abdy, Mr. and Mrs. Grote, Mr. Hubert de Burgh, the
Countess Han-Han, Dwarkanauth Tagore, Duke de Melfort,
Sir John Lowther, M.P., Mr. Broadwood, M.P., Mr. Bald-
win, ALP., Mr. Mackinnon, ALP., and Miss Mackinnon,
Mr., Mrs., and Miss Prinsep, Captain and Mrs. Ogle, Mr.
Parnther, M. de Berg, Baron de Barth, Baron Oscar
Bjornestenea, Mr. aneMisses Mitchell, Viscount Ranelagh,
Mr. Hodgson ALP.. and Mrs. Hodgson, Mr. Dodd, M.P., and
Mrs. Dodd, Lord Harry Vane, Marquis of Granby, Earl of
Munster, Colonel Dawson Darner, M.P., Viscount Canter-
bury, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Twiss, &c.
ENORMOUS INCREASE OF GENERAL AND DISTRICT
POST-LETrizas.—Within one hour of the afternoon of yester-
'my, not less than 753 letters, exclusive of newspapers, were
posted at the receiving. house in Moorgate-street, and during
the last quarter of an hour at the close of the dutyin Lom-
bard-street Office, 3,000 circulars were posted.
Mr. Sergeant Talfourd way sworn in yesterday as
•Queen's Sergeant, before Lord Lyndhurst. This honour
Zi"_unsolicited, we believe ; and the last act (certainly not
0 least creditable) of the retiring Chancellor's judicial life.

GREAT MEETING of the LEAGUE.

A meeting of the General Council of the League was held
on Thursday, at the Town-hall, Manchester, " for
the purpose of considering what course the League shall
take, now that the Bill for the repeal of the• corn-laws his
received the royal assent." Mr. George Wilson, Chairman
of the League, presided on the occasion. Among those pre-
sent were, Mr. Richard Cobden, M.P., Mr. John Bright,
M.P., Mr. W. Brown, of Liverpool, the new candidate for
South Lancashire, in the place of Lord Francis Egerton ;
Mr. \V. Rawson, Treasurer of the League ; Mr. W. B. Wat-
kins, Mayor of Manchester; Mr. W. R. Callender, Mr. J.
Mellor, Liverpool ; Mr. W. Bickbam, Mr. Henry Ashworth,
Turton ; Mr. W. R. Greg, Mr. Duffour Dubergier, the Mayo)
of Botdeaux ; Mr. W. Hargreaves, Miluthorpe ; Mr. G. Thomas,
Bristol ; Mr. C. Thomas, Bristol ; Mr. W. Tottie, Bristol;
Mr. J. Molineux, Liverpool ; Mr. W. Evans, Manchester ;
Mr. T. Woolley, Mr. J• B. Smith, Mr. A. Prentice, Mr. P. A.
Taylor, Mr. J. Finch, Liverpool ; Mr. C. Rawdon ; Mr. J.
Harvey, Mr. R. Mather, Mr. John Mather, Mr. Thomas
Mather, Mr. Glynn Abbott, Holywell ; Mr. W. Rathbone,
Liverpool ; Mr. John Cheetham, Staleybridge ; Mr. Douglas
Jerrold, Mr. Thomas Thomasson, Bolton; Mr. W. A. Wil-
kinson, London, &c.
The CHAIRMAN said, Gentlemen, I have no doubt that all
the members of the council who have received invitation to
attend here this day, are prepared to expect that the specie
business of this meeting will have reference to the course
which this great organisation shall adopt, now that the
chief purpose for which it was established is virtually accom-
plished.—(Hear, hear.) There will be submitted for your
consideration resolutior.s which have engaged the anxious
attention and consideration of the executive council. I would,
by no means, have it for one moment supposed, that because
they are so introduced and so recommended, it is intended
to restrict the opinions of any gentlemen, members of the
council, who may entertain different opinions, or who are
disposed to discuss the propriety of the course which we
propose for your consideration, but that on this, as on all
previous occasions, the fullest and freest discussion is invited
by the members of the executive council, from those of the
general governing body.—(Hear, hear.) I rejoice, as lam
confident all members of this association must do, that we
meet no longer to sharpen our weapons, or to prepare to
concentrate our forces for another attack upon that absurd
system of legislation which has for seven years in-
vited our especial opposition. The corn monopoly,
thanks to the last Bill which has passed the Legislature,
has now its days dated and numbered. Although, perhaps,
if the League had been invited to prepare that measure, or
if they had been consulted on its preparation, they would not
have allowed the prolongation of its existence for a single
day, yet, as provision has been made for its final extinc-
tion in 1849, as during the time intervening all its horrors
will be removed, we propose to take a common sense view of
the subject, and discuss it as if it was altogether done away
with.—(Hear, hear.) It is due, then, to ourselves and to the
public who have intrusted us with such unlimited authority
for the last seven years, that we should inquire whether, in
the administration of their affairs, we have ever violated a
single pledge, or departed, on one single occasion, from the
principles which it was our duty to support and lay before
them.—(Hear.) We all know that the only restrictive
provisions of our organisation were these :—that we should
seek on all occasion* the total and unconditional abolition of
the corn-laws, and that we should seek it peacefully, legally,
and constitutionally ; that, on the one hand, all men who
joined this association should join it, knowing that they should
be privileged from being dragged into the consideration of
any other question, and that, in doing so, they should be free
from penal and legal responsibility. Now, perhaps, if we were
called upon to defend ourselves, we might say, What other
question has the League touched or interfered with? And 1
might ask, What man has suffered penal or legal conse-
quences from becoming a member of this association ? But
as it will only take a few moments to show you, that from
the first we have adhered to our principles, I propose, in a few
words, to show you the means we have made use of, and
leave you to judge whether they have been such as are likely,
with the least delay, to secure the accomplishment of our
object. We all know the origin of the League—we all know
that at a meeting in September, 1838, held in this town, at
which that accomplished gentleman, Dr. Bowring, was pre-
sent, a number of gentlemen resolved to form an Anti-Corn-
law Association—that that association grew larger and
larger, extending its influence. Shortly after its formation
the merchants, traders, and manufacturers of Manchester
held a meeting near this place, and there voted for the pur-
pose of supporting the Manchester Anti-Corn-law Associa-
tion 3,0001., which was afterwards increased to 6,0001. Thus
armed the Anti-Corn-law Association convened a meeting of
delegates from all parts of the kingdom ; they assembled in
Manchester, and resolved to form an Anti. Corn law Asso-
ciation throughout the kingdom. The delegates returned
home, empowered by the meeting in Manchester to convene
a meeting in London in February, 1839. Those meetings
took place, and then it was resolved by the merchants,
traders, and delegates there assembled, to petition Par-
liament that thi y might present evidence at the bar
of the House of Commons. Mr. Villiers made a motion
to that effect. The petitioners were Mr. Greg, Mr. •J.
B. Smith, and others ; the motion was negatived, and
the delegates separated. A month elapsed, when they were
again invited to meet at Palace-yard. They met. Mi. Villiers
brought forward a resolution, inviting the House to agree to
the formation of a committee for the consideration of the abo-
lition of the corn-laws. That motion was again negatived.;
whereupon the delegates assembled, and there and then re-
solved, at the suggestion of Mr. Cobden, to form this asso-
ciation which we have now met to dissolve. They voted
that its head-quarters should be at Manchester, and that
for the sake of communicating with its members and intro-
ducing notices of all its proceeding to the public, an Anti-
Corm Law Circular should be established, the first number
of which was published in April, 1839. Thus armed, the
executive council at once proceeded to work. We engaged
lecturers, sent them throughout the country, they held
meetings and discussions; they were interrupted, but they
always conquered. Thus the Anti-Corn-Law Association
was formed throughout the country, and at the end of 1839
upwards of 100 towns joined the Anti-Corn-law Asso-
ciation. Our course of proceedings during that year was
simply confined to lectures, the distribution of the stamped
publications, and public meetings. In 1840, we commenced
those large assemblies for which Manchester has been since
so famous. In January of that year there was erected on
the spot that is now occupied by the site of the Free Trade
Hall, a pavilion, where on the 13th a public dinner was
given, at which 4,000 of the members and friends of the
association were present; and on the 14th, 5,000 operatives.
Delegates attended that meeting from all parts of the king-
dom. At the meeting on the 14th the delegates resolved
again to assemble in London, at the opening of the Parlia-
ment : they met in London, when Mr. Villiers again brought
forward his motion. The debate closed without a division.
The delegates separated and returned home, and made their
reports to those who had delegated them. In March of the
same year they again assembled at Brown's Hotel, Palace-
yard. Mr. Villiers again brought forward the resolution,
and it was negatived by a large majority. The delegates
again separated, resolving to adopt other means for insuring
the success of this great agitation. To the end of 1840 few
changes took place, our proceedings being confined to lectures
and the distribution of publications; but in November, 1840,
the delegates again met, and voted confidence in the execu-
tive council, and recommended us further to proceed. In
1841, as you all know, Lord John Russell gave notice of his
resolution for wheat to be admitted at a duty of Bs., and
other things in proportion. A dissolution took place, and
our question went before the country. The monopolists
throughout the counties gained their elections. During that
election we were numerically worse than we were in the pre-
vtiitilorusiropsr
dilluitairemirnsect, but there was sent to Parliament one ally
t whosehe e l e e t i returnon ._wellsewaor,rhtheaar.)scoprereovfiotuhsotsoe
the
meeting of Parliament, and well knowing the great majority
against the League, we applied for aid to those who, in the
times of privation and distress, had shown it to be their special
duty to attend to the wants and privations of the poor, the
Dissenting ministers; and inJuly of that year there was held
for four days, an assembly of men which, I am prepared to
say, speaking the opinions of all who had the privilege of
listening to their discussions, has never yet been equalled on
any other subject in this country. Parliament met; the
Ministers were defeated; Sir R. Peel was restored to power ;

hey were proposing to separate without the slightest consi.

deration of the relaxation i)f the corn duties, when a meeting
was held in this hall in September, to protest against the
prorogation of Parliament until the subject of the corn-laws
had been again considered. A deputation was appointed by
that meeting to wait upon Sir R. Peel, and to him was con-
veyed the resolutions they had passed. Thus was finished
1841. Most in Parliament were hostile to us ; we had

only a few who sympathised with the principles of the
League. In the H-ouse of Commons we had two able men,
who were prepared on all occasions to discuss this question;
and it was discussed, and the benefits arising from the

discussion consequent upon the dissolution are such as will
form an era in' the agitation of this question.—(Hear,
hear.) The winter of 1841 now exhibited an increasing
amount of distress, suffering, and privation, and then
for the first time the ladies of this and the principal towns
in England met together and agreed to canvass from
house to house and door to door, to promote a memorial
to her Majesty, humbly imploring her to instruct her
Ministers to bring in a Bill for the relief of the distressed
community. In the depth of winter, in this town, the
ladies who were not otherwise engaged in behalf of the
bazaar, canvassed and obtained upwards of 100,000 sig-
natures to their memorial. They did more in 1842; they
had a bazaar in the Theatre Royal, Manchester, from which
was netted, for the use of the League, during the succeeding
year, -a sum greater than the revenue of the League for any
previous year, amounting to 100,0001. Thus armed, we com-
menced the year 1842. As before, our principal movements
were petitions, lectures, and publications; but in the com-
mencement of 1842, Sir R. Peel brought forward another
amended sliding-scale. The delegates were then met in
London, and they denounced this eliding-scale; a meeting
was convened in Manchester for the same purpose ; it was

. . .
there denounced, and the principles of the League were
voted to be the only principles upon which a goodßill could
be framed, and in every town this principle of the repeal of the
Corn-laws was introduced without opposition. Mr. Villiers
then brought in a measure for the first time, proposing that all
duties upon the importation of foreign corn should then cease
and determine. It was rejected, 395 voting against it, and
92 for it, leaving 303 majority against total repeal. Follow-
ing this, came the disturbances, to which I will not refer be-
yond this, that every attempt was made in that critical time
by the monopolists to connect the League with
the promotion of that disturbance. It is due to the
League to say, that it suspended none of its ordinary meet-
ings in consequence ; it is due to the League to say, that im-
mediately after that it commenced its weekly meetings—
those meetings which have since formed so important a move-
ment
in the promotion of this object. In 1842 we closed,
having made little progress in Parliament, and under the
Persuasion that other measures must be used forthwith, in
the commencement of the new Parliament, to induce the
solved, on aand resolved to hold a
again met,
to adopt our principle. At the end of 1842 we
i formation much
and farm labourers; freely,
weekly meeting. We re-
ef the previous session, to distribute in•
coming agitation, among the farmers
the previous subset especially
s:b and we resolved, for the purpose of the
a sum of five times the amount of
The
weekly should be asked for, namely,
50,000/.
were removed to the Corn-Exchange,
became more important and
that building which now ;t' xdchange, and then was erected
was
of the men who conduct thaels a monument of the energy
w:ague—the Free Trade Hall.
—(Loud cheers.) 50,000/.
sum to collect in
those days, without the object
especially explained to those who whichcontributed. For tint
purpose, and at the invitation of the principal merchants
and influential persons in almost every town in the '
Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright visited, assistd by country,
trY'
Thompson and Mr. Moore, all the large towns of Scotland,
cotlannd,
and most of the large towns of England, and received con-
tributions, which flowed in, exceeding our expectation.—
(Loud cheers.) We opened the Free Trade Rail in January,
1843, announcing that 44,0001. had been collected. We then

commenced a most important year. We resolved to adjoura
our ordinary meetings of the council for a month to London ;
also the weekly meetings. We thee commenced at the
Crown and Anchor; thence we proceeded to Freemasons'
Flail ; and then, invited by that distinguished man, Mr.
Macready, took possession of Drury-lane Theatre. From
week to week meetings were there held ; our tract distribu-
tors were at work, traversing hill and dale, delivering to
very elector in the register a packet of tracts, containing an
exposition of our principles; and, over and beyond this, the
first broadside was given to the agricultural monopolists by
Mr. Cobden announcing his intention of holding a series of
agricultural meetings. These meetings were continued, and
with one questionable exception, in 31 or 32 open county
meetings, the monopolists, on their own ground, were over-
come and. defeated.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) We thus
closed the year 1843. We ad lectured the people; deputa-
tions had waited upon Government; petitions had been
presented to the Ministers; information was spread widely
and freely to the people; and at our county meetings we had
every one, save one, declared in our favour. We have made
a report to our constituents, and then we proposed that which
they at once conceded, that the fund to be collected for the
next year should be 100,0001. It was agreed upon at a
meeting held in this room, and presided over by Mr.
Greg, when 12,000/. was given at one collection. It was
afterwards increased to 20,000/. I shall not go over a de-
tailed history of our proceedings for 1844; they were in
almost all respects similar to those of 1845—public meetings,
agricultural meetings, lectures, and the distribution of pub-
lications • nor shall I refer to the proceedings of the League
during 1845, because they were in all respects, save the
agricultural meetings, of the same character as those of
1844. Nor will I refer for one moment to that extraordinary
exhibitioh of man's ingenuity and woman's devotion, the
Anti• Corn-law Bazaar, which was held for 21 days in the
Theatre Royal Covent-garden. But in order, after having
educated the country, that we might bring all the influences
of the past agitation to bear on the Legislature, we projected
the last and greatest movement—the registration.—(Cheers.)
I may say of that movement, much as it has been objected
to, that every vote which has been acquired, according to the
suggestions laid down by the League, has been pronounced,
when presented for the consideration of the Lord Chief
Justice, good in every respect—(Hear, hear)—that the de-
,ire and disposition of the operatives, or others who may seek
to possess the franchise, has been said by the same eminent
authority to be laudable and commendable.—(Cheers.) I
have thus gone over the principal plans pursued by the
League ; they were confined to a few leading operations ; it is
for you to judge whether those operations are such as should
entitle any man to say they were at variance with the princie
pies on which this League was established, or in any respect
other than legal, peaceful, and constitutional.—(Hear, and
cheers.) It has been a glorious thing, that, to the men of ,
Manchester, and to those of- other large towns, who have
connected themselves with the League, the country is mainly
indebted for the abolition of the corn-laws. It would have
been glorious to have carried our flags over the heads of our
aostile opponents to victory; but surely it is more glorious,
more desirable, to see our forces recruited, and our armies
led, by men who, all their lives, and up to the present mo
,nent, have opposed the abolition of the corn-laws—(Hear,
hear)—and that the flag of free trade should wave in
peaceful triumph over the heads of a reconciled and united
people.—(Cheers.)
Mr. COBDEN—If this were a meeting for any other purpose
than that of business, in the strictest sense of the word, I am
luite sure that I should feel more embarrassed at meeting
you on this occasion than I have done at any previous time;
,or feeling myself almost oppressed with the consciousness of
the importance of the events we have been passing through
lately, and of the great interest which is involved in the pre-
sent meeting, I am sure I could not do justice to the feelings
which are now affecting me. We are met here on the present
occasion as a"meeting of the council of the League. We have,
in the working of this body, as you are aware, an executive
committee of gentlemen living in Manchester, and also the
council of the League, consisting of the subscribers of 501. and
upwards. The executive council of the League have called
you, the council, together, for the purpose of taking your
Tinion as to the course we shall now pursue; and I think
the importance of that question is such that I shall confine
myself as strictly as possible to business details in what I
have to say, because I do not wish to prevent many gentle-
men who have come from distant parts having the opportu-
nity of giving their advice and assistance on this occasion.
The executive council of the League in Manchester have
talked over the matter repeatedly, and are now prepared to
submit their views; and as I may as well put you in posses-
sion of what the general purport of all the resolutions is, I
will just explain the substance of the whole.--(Hear' hear.)
We propose to recommend, not that the League shall be ab-
solutely dissolved in the strict sense of the word, and yet we
propose to take such steps as amount to a virtual dissolution
of the League, unless the protectioniSt party compel us again
to revive our agitation. We propose to ask from you the
authority and instruction to wind up and suspend the affairs
of the League. We recommend that you should pass a re-
solution, absolving all those gentlemen who have put their
names down to the large guarantee fund and paid their first
instalment from any further liability. We propose that you
shall pass a resolution, authorising the gentlemen in Man-
chester who have acted on the council of the League, in case
they should see any serious efforts made by the monopolists
to revive the system of protection, or to induce Parliament to
retrace its steps, again to call the League into active exist-
ence. Gentlemen, we have thought that the course by which
we shall fulfil our ditty to the general body of subscribers, and
likewise our pledges to the public. We have pledged ourselves
not to retire from this agitation, or disband the League,
until the corn-laws were totally and immediately abolished.
We are therefore not competent to dissolve this League. At
the same time I ought to say, that with reference to our
practical operations, it would be exceedingly difficult to
draw a line between a total suspension of the League and a
partial suspension. If we continue active operations at all,
it must be on a large scale and at an enormous expense.
I do not think you can draw a distinction between 500/.
a week and nothing. We have been spending, the last
three years, at least 1,000/. a week. Under these circum-
stances, I think it is a fair practical question to consider
what can be the object gained if we continue the active
agitation of the League. In two years and a half the corn-
laws will be abolished by art Act now upon the statute-
book ; and suppose our efforts in agitation out of doors
should be ever so successful, it is hardly possible that in
less than two years and a half we should succeed in altering
the law which now exists ; therefore I do not see that any
practical good can result from continuing the agitation in
any form whatever. Now, many people may say, " Are you
safe in disbanding this great organization ; are you safe in
taking off your uniform (if I may use the expression), or
casting aside your weapons of moral warfare ? Will not the
protectionists gain strength and confidence if they see you
abandon the field ?" lam of opinion that there is no danger
of anything of thekind. I look upon it that the mere boasting
and vapouring of a few of the less wise part of the protec-
tionist party may be very well excused by us. It is quite
natural that men, who felt worsted in argument and in all
the tactics of political acting during the last seven years,
should console themselves with the promises of what they
will do the next seven years. But I hold that you may as
soon abolish Magna Charta, or do away with trial by jury,
or repeal the Test and Corporation Act, or the Catholic Eman-
cipation Act, as ever re-enact protection as a principle in this
country. Some people say we go back in this country—l
maintain that we never go back after a question has been
discussed and sifted as ours has.—(Hear, hear.) You have
never gone back in any of the great questions ; if settled once
they have been settled altogether. People do say that we
went back after the Reform Act was passed. I will tell
you what we did. We got hold of a machine which we
did not know how to use, and the proper use of which we
are now learning, but we never went back. Nobody ever
proposed the repeal of one enactment of the Reform Act.
Therefore, having • made friends everywhere, our minds
should be at ease, and if we should see a Noble Lord or even
a Noble Duke talking of what they will do, don't let your
nervous system be excited or alarmed. They must raise a
fresh crop of statesmen to carry out their principles,
for we have all the statesmen now on our side of the
question. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Such being our
position, we have very good grounds for gratulation on
the present occasion. In consequence, I hardly know
whom to thank, or how to account, for our present
position ; there has been such a combination of fortunate
accidents, that I must confess I am disposed to thank
that Providence which has overruled so many and apparently
conflicting incidents for this great and mighty good.—(Bear.)
I believe, gentlemen, we at all events may say that, humanly
speaking, we owe one debt of gratitude to our gracious Sove-
reignareinstronglyanyfavourbutisknownwe
that the Queen.--(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) I believe it
is not in strict etiquette to allude to the Queen's personal
h viewsrpr predilections e cf et
agi-
tate. Then there's her late First Minister.
Well, gentle-
men, along with our success we have seen the downfal of
that Minister. Some people say he has lost office by giving
us free trade. Well, if he has lost office, he has gained a
country. For my part I would rather descend into private
life with that last measure which led to his discomAture in

my hand, than mount to the highest pinnacle of human
power.—(Cheers.) Well, among the statesmen, we owe one
debt of gratitude to Lord John Russell.—(Hear, hear.) In-
dividually, I believe, we owe to him and his firmness during
the intrigues of the last six months in London, the support
of the Whig aristocracy at all in this measure.—(Bear,
hear.) lam anxious, as an individual, that all should have
their share of the gratitude dip for the passing of these mea-
sures. I would not forget the late Deacon Hume, Mr. Mac-

gregor, and Mr. Porter; their writings have done more
than any declamation can possibly do. I would wish not to
forget Colonel Thompson.—(Cheers.) Colonel Thompson has
made larger pecuniary sacrifices than any man, and he
has contributed intellectually. Gentlemen, I said I should
not detain you with a long !speech, and in fact I cannot do

it, for I do- feel oppressed-with the feelings which now per-
vade my mind.—(Hear, hear.) I believe we are at an era
which, in importance, socially, has not its equal for the last
1,800 years. I believe there is no event that has ever hap-
pened in the world's history, that, in a moral and social point
of view, there is no human event that has happened in the
world, more calculated for the enduring interests of humanity,
than the establishment of the principle of free trade ; I do
not mean in a pecuniary point of view, or as a principle, ap-
lied to England, but we have a principle established now
which is eternal in its truth and universal in its application,
and must be applied in all nations and throughout all times,
and applied not simply to commerce, but to every item of the
tariffs of
,the world; and if we are not mistaken in thinkiog
that our principles are true, be assured that those results will
follow, and at no very distant period.—(Loud cheers.) Why,
gentlemen, it: is a world's revolution, and nothing else.—
(Mar.) And every meeting we have held of this League,
and this its last meeting probably, maT be looked back upon
as the germ of a movement which will ultimately compre-
hend the whole world in its embrace.—(Cheers.) I see and feel,
and have always felt, the great moral and social importance
of this great question.—( Hear, hear.) I believe many who
have taken an active part in this question have been in-
fluenced solely by its moral and social consequences.—(Hear,
hear.) Gentlemen, we have amongst us on this occasion a
gentleman who has come] from a neighbouring country,
France, an eloquent advocate of free trade there, M. Dufour,
the mayor of Bordeaux.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is grati-
fying that we should attract by a kindred sympathy the visit
to our meeting of so distinguished a man—(Hear, hear)—
and I know he will go back, not with fresh emotions of sym-
pathy towards our cause, for those he has entertained al-
ready, but I have no doubt he will go back inspirited by
what he sees here, and that he will be anxious that France
should not stand long apart from England in this glorious
career, but that we should join hand in hand in setting na •
tions the example of the mutual advantages of peace.—( Loud
and prolonged cheering.) Well, gentlemen, this League must
dissolve—it must suspend. Our elements must be scattered.
Well, I cannot help saying personally for myself, that the
greatest pleasure I have found in the course of these pro-
ceedings has been in the acquaintances I have formed
with, and the kindness I have received from, the men con-
nected with this association.—(Hear, hear!) If I could
ever have despaired of this country, after the acquaintances
which I have made with men in connexion with this
question—men who will be found the salvation of this
land in whatever good is to be accomplished—having
known what I do of my fellow-countrymen in this agita-
tion, I shall never despair of a moral power to conduct
this good ship through whatever storm may arise, which
will save us from anarchy at the one end or tyranny at the
other of society.—(" Hear, bear," and loud cheers.) I am
Being to be egotistical; but I will say that, so far as I my-
self amconcerned—so far as my tastes go—a release from
an active life of agitation wilt not be unacceptable to me.