The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-24 00:00:00

A MILLION

FUND.

R EAT

MEETING

OF THE

ANTI-CORN-LAW
LEAGUE

AT MANCHESTER.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
(BY EXPRESS.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY, 11. ALF-PAST FOUR.
Manchester and Manchester men have spoken out
nobly on the question of free-trade—in a manner which
cannot fail to strike terror into the ranks of the monopo-
lists. It will be recollected that two years ago a meeting
was held in the Manchester Town-hall, when Fourteen
Tigirld Pounds 're subscribed in a few hours. The
s-s the first to publish that "great fact." To-day
more than four times that amount has been subscribed in
an equal space of time.
One of the most i nfluential meetings ever known in this
town was held to-day st the Town-hall, for the purpose
of adopting the necessary steps fur raising the sum of
250,000 Z for the purposes of the League—i. e., to " libe-
ralise" the county electors.
Robert Hyde Greg, Esq , late M.P. for Manchester,
took the chair. In the course of an elaborate address he
vindicated the claims of the Anti-Corn-law League, and
the confidence of the manufacturing public; and after
some remarks, which the lateness of the hour at which
the meeting broke up will not allow us to report, he
called upon Mr. Wilson, the chairman, to read the re-
port of the Committee.
Mr. GEORGE WILSON, the Chairman of the League,
read the report, from which it appeared that, of the
Hundred Thousand Pounds subscribed two years ago,
there remained about Twelve Thousand Pounds in hand.
The report was received with loud applause.
Mr. Alderman CALLENDER moved that the accounts
were satisfactory, and be approved.—(Cheers.) He had
been connected with the League from its commence-
ment. There e 41.4 not a single farthing, except petty
cash, expended without a Tote of the Committee. There
was not a farthing expended without full value received.
They were now in sight of the accomplishment of the
great measure which they wished to see repealed, and
there was no measure which to such an extent promised
to forward holiness, godliness, and homely comfort to
the people of this country.—(Cheers.)
LAURENCE HEYWORTH, Esq., of Liverpool, in second-
ing the motion, said that he was one of fifty gentlemen
ho guaranteed 1,0001. each two years ago. He had
paid more than a thousand pounds. Would it become
them, now that they were in sight of their much-to-be-
desired object, to be silent ? No ; it would ill-be-
come Englishmen. They must not only get that, but
they must also give the franchise to the bulk of the
people. These things could not be done without funds,
and the meeting must come forward liberally. The
aristocracy even would be enriched by free trade. Had
not trade been unprecedentedly profitable during the
last twelve months, in consequence of the cheapness of
bread? He appealed to every gentleman present to say
whether that was not the fact.
The Chairman put the motion, which passed unani-
mously.
Mr. Alderman NEILD moved a resolution to the effect
that the meeting, composed of the merchants, traders, and
other manufacturers of Manchester, repeated their so-
lemn protest against the laws which prohibit the free im-
portstion of grain and other provisions, believing them
to be opposed to the interests not only f the people of
the manufacturing classes, but also of the agricultaral
interest, and pledging itself not to relax in its exertions
to support the League. He considered that they bad
gained a great moral victory upon this question. Had
the corn-laws been abolished by a mere numerical vote
of the House of Commons in six or twelve months, the
victory would not have been so great. After an earnest
appeal to the necting to support the League, he said that
if the corn-laws were once repealed, every man must
know that they were abolished for ever. -He called
upon the meeting to show that tho men of Manchester
were in earnest upon this momentous question.
Mr. R. ASHTON, of Hyde, seconded the resolution,
which passed amidst great cheering.
Mr. H. A BEIWORTII, of Bolton, moved a resolution, ex-
pressing the greatful sense in which the meeting viewed
the exertions of the National Anti-Corn-law League in
the cause of freedom of trade ; and, in order to enable
the council to make renewed and increased exertions, a
subscription of 250,0001., be -entered into.—(Loud
upon the
towards meeting
e tcheers.) He had seen a subscription of twelve millions
into for the purpose of saving an hour in the
theing fundsto
come
of
distance between London and Manchester, and he called
upon
thforwardeea
gwuiet
.h theirH e
dwelt
uponsubscrip-
tionst
the necessity of the League turning their attention to
the registration courts. No man had suffered any in-
jury from the purchase of a freehold, for he could get
greater interest from his investment than he could get
from the savings' banks. They had once seen the ports
open—not to let in grain, but to let it out. The Govern-
ment had sent out doctors, not to repeal the corn-laws,
but to see whether they could convert rottenness into
glutin.
Alderman KERSHAW seconded the motion, observing
that he had known the League when it was no bigger
than a man's hand, and he could truly say that no insti-
tution so much deserved public support. He rejoiced to
see the importance of the meeting duly appreciated by
the people of Manchester, who had met once more, and,
-as he understood, once for -all, to express "t4eir
disgust and disapproval of the laws • which. affected
the industry of the people.—(Loud cheers.) He
believed this would be the last time that the League
would appeal to the people, and he never subscribed
money with so much' pleasure as to the fund of the
League, for he considered it the best investment which
he could make.—(Cheers.) They must back their
friends who had to meet a band of monopolists in the
House of Commons. They must attend to the registra-
tion of counties, and the fate of those laws was sealed for
ever.—(Loud cheers.)
A motion for a subscription was then agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN said he would set the example. For
himself and brothers he would subscribe 1,000/
(Tremendous cheers.) Last time they gave 5001. Hei
understood that twenty-five gentlemen would do the
same.--(Loud applause.)
The following subscriptions were then an-
nounced :
J. Chadwick, of Eales 1,000
Laurence Heyworth • • • • ••• • • 500
Thomas Thomasson, of Bolton .. .. 1,000
Kershaw and Co. • • • • 1,000
Thomas Hoyle and Sons • • .. 1,000
Mr. COBDEN said that he had been commissioned by
Mr. Brooks to say, that he would not be " second
chop" to any one, and if any one gave a larger subscrip-
tion than 1,000?., his name must be put alongside of it.
He must he at present • • .. 1,000
Robert Ashton, of Hyde .. 1,000
W. Bayles and Brothers, of Staleybridge ... 1,000
Robert Platt, of Staleybridge •• • .. 1,000
Robert Lees and Son, Dukenfield
... 1,000
J. Whittaker and Sons ••• • • ... 1,000
J. Bright and Brothers ...
.. 1,000
Samuel Ashton and Brother... • • .. 1,000
Thomas Ashton and Sons, Hyde 1,000
James King and Son, of Rochdale • •
.. 1,000
Messrs. Booth and oyle, of Rochdale .., 1,000
Peter Dixon and Sons, Carlisle
•••
••• 1,000
\lr. Joseph Eccles, Mill-hill, near Blackburn 1,000
Eccles, Shorrocks, and Co., Darwen ... 1,000
Henry and Ed. Ashworth, of Turton
.. 1,000
Pilkinton, Brothers, of Blackburn • •
.. 1,000
James Buckley, John Buckley, and 13rothers,
J. Buckley and Sons ••• .. 1,000
A. and S. Henry end Co. ••
... 1,500
Messrs. Mather and Family, of Liverpool .. 700
Alfred Reyner and Brothers, of Ashton .. 1,000
J. B. Smith, Manchester • • 500
John Cheetham, Staleybridge
••• • • 500
Richard Maley •••
••• 500
Gardner and Bazley'..• 500
John Ashton, of Hyde 500
Callender, Beckham, and Co.
•.. 500
J. Heywood, Acresfield . . 500
John Fenton, of Crimble 500
M'Connel and Co., Manchester • •
.. 500
John and Thomas Potter 500
11. Bannerman and Sons
•.. 500
Richard Cobden—(Loud cheers)•
.. 500
CHAIRMAN—It goes against my conscience to take
it.—(Cheers.)
E. Armitage and Sons ••• 500
F. Steiner (of Church) ••
... 500
Anonymous, per J. Bright •• •
.. 500
Sl. Fletcher, Son, and Co.
... 500
CHAIRMAN--I receive this with the greater plea-
sure, for it is the first time they have come forward.
It was always a matter of regret to me that they did
not come forward, and join us in all our engage-
ments.— (Cheers.)
George Foster, of Sabden
Win. Ross ••• • •
•••
John Maims .. • •
•••
Hyde. Sons, a-1.1 Sowerby, Dukenfield
Thompson, Brothers, and Son
Wells, Cooke, and Potter
W. Morris

500'
500

.
W. Rawson, and Hall and Rawson

... 30,3
.. 400
.. ;:t5O
... 250
.. 440

J. Mason and Co. ... .. ... ••
R. A.. Thicknesse, Wigan • . .. ••
Jame s Carlton (new subscription) .. ..
A Fr end ... .. .. .. ••
W.. d argreave, of Grange ... .. ..
W. Taylor, Wigan ... ••• ••• ..
M, ..ssYs. Murray ..• .. ..
Ro ben Stuart ... ••• ..
Hi ndley and Sutcliffe .. ••• ••
Ch ri stie and Son ... ••• • • •
W. hi tehead and Brothers • • •••
W. .and J. M'Can ... ••• .. ..
Mr ;... and Miss M'Call ... •••
Rol n rt Johnson, Manchester ••• ..
Eu- 6n s and Nicholson .. •••
Sim p on, Thomsoa, and Co. ..
Buy mons and Hunter ... ••• ..
J. 3eattie and Co., Rochdale •••
WI z. Allard, Warrington ... ..
..
J. 1.-, nd J. Allen, Warrington .. .
J. ii n:I P. Schofield, Littleborough ... ..
S. Ti:] ewer and Co. .. • • ... ..
Rolm rt Crewdson ... ... ... ..
Binris , Dcan, and Co. .. ... ..,
Thcs. Mason. and Sons, Ashton ••• ..
Mar low and Brothers, .. ...
J. 1 'wee dale, Rochdale .. • • •••
H. 4 ..,`rossfield, Liverpool .. ..
E. 1 lowarth, Rochdale .. .. •••
Chas 4 Howard, Hyde .. .. ...
Si. 'i._, ucas .. ••• .. ... .
An admirer of Sir Robert Peel (Laughter) ...
Geo.rge Wilson (Chairman of the Council) ..
B. S i.tith and Sons ... .. .. ..
Parr, Curtis, and Co. ••• .. ..
Hen ry Johnson, jun. ••• ••• • •
Henry Bagley _ ... •.• ••• •••

A. 111e,:rry, Liverpool ...
Thog. Harvey, Liverpool ... _
W. B. Watkins (Mayor of Manchester)
s.. P. ;Robinson ••• •••
A. IV. Thornely, of Godby
Janies Knptt and Sons, Ashton
Hee ld. and Wilson
Star dey and Hardwick, Ashton
Jam es Ogden, Dukenfield
Thom. Hunter ..
Beni,. Nicholl ••• •••
Curry Powder, per J. Wilson—(Laughter).
W. 'Edwards • • • •
Cha3:le.s Potter, Darwen
H. Potter, Darwen
Edward Potter, Darwen
Henry- Lee, of Glossop . •
1,. R. Atkinson • • •••
E. Potter and Co. ...
R. Irolroyd and Co. ...
Nicht rlson and Evans ..
A. Walker, M.P., Bury ...
J. Grundy, ditto ...
R. Ash ton, ditto ...
T. and, J. Wrigley, ditto ..
J. and E. Grundy, ditto ..
T. A. stand J. Grundy, ditto ...
Walker, Smith, and Co., ditto
J. Walker, ditto ..
Edward Grundy, of Park-hill, ditto .
3. Wr iglt-y, ditto •• • •
L. and. R. Openshaw
Forth and Howarth, Todmorden
W. lirdlawell, ditto ..
A. Ormerod and Brothers, ditto
J. and A. Stansfield, ditto ..
J. and W. Barker, ditto ...
R. Hibbert and Sons, Godley
R. Clarke and Sons ...
Procter and Co., Rochdale ...
T. Chadwick, ditto ...
S. Tayjor, ditto
J. Ch ad wick, ditto ...
Henry- Kelsall, ditto ...
R. Kelsall, ditto ...
Robert Heap, ditto
Robert= Schofield, ditto
George t. Howarth, ditto
Joseph Crook, Bolton
P. R. Arrowsmith, ditto

• • • • .

••• • •


Joseph. Whitworth and Co. .. • • ... 150
Henry Walmsly, Fulsworth ...
"• ••• 100
J. Bari ett and Sons ... .. ... ... 100
E. and J. Jackson, Manchester ••• 100
. •
J. Midgley, Rochdale .. ... ... .. 100
Jaeoh.T weedale and_ Sons, ditto . ••• 200
Joseph Fenton, ditto ... .. ••• ... 200
Thomas Shaw, ditto ... ... .. .. 50
B. Heap, ditto ••• • ••• ... 50
Ogden and Co. ••• .. .. 50
•
J. and J. Bancroft, Ashton ••• ... 50
John Turner' of Godley (new subscriber) ... 50
Prentice and Cotterell • • .. ... 50
Petty, Ernest, and Co. ••• ••• .. 50
Edwin Moorhouse, a working man, from
Ashton ••• •.• • • ... ... 25
J. and J. Platt, Oldham ... ... .. 100
Hervey, Tysoe, and Co. .. ••• .. 200
J. lleginbottom, Ashton ... • • .. 100
W. Richardson and Co., Stand ... ... 200
J. C. Dyer ... ... • • ... ... 50
Thos. Roberts ... ••• ••• • • • • 100
J. Gatiey and Brothers .. .. .. 100
F. Schwann, of Huddersfield ••• ... 400
Mr. Brig ht said, Huddersfield will send at least 5,000
Crossfield and Co., St. Helen's ... ... 50
0. Ormerocl, Rochdale .. ••• .. 50
J. Howard ... .. ••. ••• .. 20
Sugden •.. ... • • • • •••
C. Littlewood .. ... ... • •
R. Taylor ... .. •••
J. Cropp, of London ..
A Friend ••• •••
Ryland , .. ...
Mullmeui •••
R. Wray ••• •••
Jos. Acton, Wigan ...
Johnson and Co., ditto
J D. Feruley, Stockport
W. Johnson ...
J. Evans, Wigan
W. Riley, ditto
J. Aspinall, ditto
J. Acton, ditto .
J. Aspinall, ditto • •
L. Parker and Co., ditto
R. Rawson and Co. ... • •
H. Wood's workpeople, and others ..
J. B. Pearson ... ...
W. White, London
J. Chadwick ... ...
J. Hampson, Stockport
Dixon
,and Galloway ...
D. Morris ... •I
Kenworthy Booth
J. Yates •••
R. Owen • .
Professor Newman .. .. ...
Mr. COBDEN announced Lord Ducie's name for
1001., and to be doubled if necessary'
E. VTalmsley, Stockport • • • 4
Silas Leigh, Worsley
Evan Leigh, Ashton ... ...
Jos. Brotherton, M.P.—(Cheers)
W. Sagan ... •• •
Clarke Brothers •••
J. and W. Fielden
T. Bottomley ..
J. Mason

.... ..

•••
••• •••
"' "'
8031. 152..6d.
• • •••

...

•••• 40
. . .
• • j5O
.••
50
... 40

25
250
20

.. ••• 20
30

J. R. Barnes and Sons ••• •• ...
W. C. Chambers • • • • ..,. ..
J. Nuttall • • • • • • • •
L. Wilson .. • • • • ••• •••
J. Stanfield ... ••• ••• •.. ..,
E. Whittaker ... ••• ••• ••• •••
Three others ... ... .•• ••• •••
C. J. Darbashire • • .. • • ..
E. Royle ••• .. .. •. •••
J. Standing ... ... ••• ..
T. Harvey, Liverpool ••• ••• •••
T. Simpson .. .. ••• .. .••
T. Leigh ••• ... ••• ••• •••
P. Walker, Eccles .. • • .. • •
Gaskell • • .. • • ••• • e•
Two others .. ••• ••• .... •••
From Todmorden • . ... .. ..
Small sums from ditto .. .. ..
J. Branson .. ... .. • • •••
J. Mallenson and Sons ••• .. •••
J. Pollock, Esq. • • ... .. • •
J. Chadwick and Brothers, Eccles • . ...
J. Marshall, Horsforth, near Leeds .. •••
H. Stanfield, of Leeds, says their subscription
will be doubled
R. Romney ... ••• ... ... .
W. Wilson, Stockport ••• ...
G. and E. aters, Manchester ..
Ellis Cunliffe, ditto .. ••• i. • •
B. Whitworth, ditto .. • • ...
W. M'Cartney, ditto .. ... •••
Thomas Johnson •.• • • ••
E. West ... ...
• •
John Kay, Huddersfield. ..
Crossfield, ditto .. ••• •
Edw. Heaps, ditto . • •••
Foster Shaw, ditto .. ..•
R. Welsh .•• ••• •.•
C. H. Jones . • •.• •.•
G. Cooke and Sons, Ashton ...
R. Dewhurst, Huddersfield ..

• A--
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., rose, and was received with tre-
mendous applause. Ile said that two years ago, when
they held a meeting in the other room, there wiLe reur-
-1

I teen Thousand Pounds subscribed. On that occasion
' the room was not half filled, and as there were six
times more persons present now, he believed that the
I amount raised to-day would be 50,0001.—(Cheers.)
After euine,general observations as to the purposes of
the League in attending to the registration, he said that
he would pledge himself, in less than three years from
this time, he would undertake to unseat a hundred county
i monopolist efembers—(Tretnendous cheers)—and place
in their stead men who would vote in accordance with the
interests of the people.—(Cheers.) They knew what
he (Mr. Cobden) was telling them was true—(Cheers)—
and he thought that the speedy settlement of this ques-
tion would follow.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. BRIGHT addressed the meeting, and said of this
great question that masters and men would meet in public
assembly under the canopy of heaven, and there declare
that these laws should he abolished.
Mr. J. HEYWOOD next addressed the meeting, and
said that he thought the differences might be settled by
cempromise.--(Cries of " No.")
Mr. COBDEN said that concession had reached its ut- '
most limit. There were two ways of getting rich—one
by getfing it honestly, and the other by taking it dis-
honestly. If Sir Robert Peel took off the malt-tax, he
(Mr. Cobden) had no object: ae
Mr. BROTHERTON, M.P., next spoke. This was a
demonstration that would inspire hopes in the free
itraders, and alarm amongst the monopolists. It would
shew that they were not free traders merely in the abstract,
tent in reclity. Either the corn-laws 'were righter ;pang.
4lf wrong, they ought to be repealed, end of this he felt
quite certain. The agriculturists said they paid all the
taxes, but when trade was bad the Exchequer began to
suffer.—(Hear.) They hed strengthened the hands of
the Member of Parliament, OA they would listen to no
compromise wbatever.—(Loud cheers.)
The following additional subscriptions wore then an-
nounced:— £. s.
R. and J. Kercher, Ashton ... • • 150 0
S. Lee, Ashton ... . . . . . . 109 0
Mr. Burton, Ashton... ... • • ••• 100 0
J. Chorlton, kshton •
••• • • . , 10 0
James Smith, Liverpool ... ... .. 25 0
Dr. Massie .. • •
••• ••• ••• 2 10
' Robert Hayward, Bolton ... .. ... 100 0
P. Martin, Bolton .. ••• •• . .. 100 0
11. Hollins, jun., Bolton . . 50 0
• • ..
W. Betty ... ..
•••
Schunick, Soucbay, and Co.
•.• ... ••• .. 5010 0
0 0
A Friend from. Bury .. ..
The CHAIRMAN here said that the subscription ex-
ceeded his most sanguine expectations, but if they
could say that they had raised 60,0001, the days of mo-
I
nopoly would be numbered.

-Mr: BRIGHT then addressed the meeting at some
length, observing that public meetings had convinced
the world that they were in earnest, and would confirm
the decision to which the now•forming Cabinet must
arrive. They must show the world that the trade of
the country would no longer work in fetters.
After an address from an American gentleman, whose
name we did not hear,

The CHAIRMAN read some other subscriptions, and
then stated that the Committee would meet in the even-
ing to receive subscriptions. The amount now sub-
scribed was

59 160 POUNDS.
—(Rapturous applause.)
The Chairman then left the chair, which was taken by
his Worship the Mayor, when the thanks of the meet-
ing were gtveri to the late Chairman, with great
applause.

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
MEETING OF THE UNITED PARISHES OF ST.
ANDREW, HOLBORN, AND ST. GEORGE
THE MARTYR.

A general meeting of the inhabitants of the above pa-
rishes, and, indeed, of the borough of Finsbury gene-
rally, was advertised to have been held in the Hall of the
Workhouse, Gray's Inn-lane, yesterday, permission to that
effect having been given by the governors and directors,
but owing to the determined opposition offered by the
board of guardians, the gathering was adjourned to the
Queen square •rooms, Theobald's-road, when the pro-
ceedings•commenced at seven o'clock.
Mr. Churchwarden Hunt, who had proMised to,take
the chair, sent a note of apology at the eleveht,b hdtu:,
and the meeting was, in consequence, presided over by
Mr. George Taylor.
The CastamAN thanked the meeting for the honour
they had done him in calling on him to take the chair.
They had been called together in consequence of a re-
q uisi ti on, signed by fifty-one of the most respectable rate-
payers of the united parishes, and he only regretted that
they did not, as originally intended, assemble in the
Workhouse-hall, because it compelled them to meet in
a room which might, as_ ib be deemed extra-paro-
chial. He had now to inform those assembled that he
held in his hand a letter from their esteemed represen-
tative, Mr. Thomas Duncombe. The letter was dated
from Copgrove, Boroughbridge, and was addressed to
Mr. Tidniareb, who had acted as chairman of the com•
mittee of management in that matter. He would read
the letter to them :--:

" My dear Sir,—Your favour of the 20th instant, in-
viting me to a meeting of the inhabitants of the parishes
of St. Andrew, Holborn, and St. George the Martyr, to
be holdeu to-morrow evening, on the subject of the corn-
laws, has been forwarded to me in Yorkshire.
" Nothing, I can assure you and the committee, would
have afforded me greater pleasure than being present on
the occasion, had it been in my power to have h d that
honour ; rest, however, assured of my intention, let
whoever may be Minister, or whatever party may be in
the ascendant, to continue my humble exertions in
favour of the principles cf free trade, which I have ad-
vocated during the nineteen years that I have had a seat
in the House of Commons.—l have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) " T. S. DUNCOMBE."
—(Cheers.) He had also to inform the meeting that
their other representative, Mr. Wakley, had promised
to be present shortly after eight o'clock. He would net
detain them by any arguments in support of his own
opinion that these laws should be abolished, but at once
call upon other gentlemen, who had to propose certain
resolutions for the approval of the meeting. He would
first call upon Mr. ridmarsh.—(Cheers.)
Mr. TIDMARSH, in a short speech, advocating the nn-
eonditional repeal of the obnoxious corn-laws, proposed
the following resolution:—" That, in the opinion of this
meeting, the present corn-laws are impolitic, inhuman,
and unjust ; that while they in effect operate only
for an alleged benefit to one class, they are, OR the other
hand, the cause of privation and suffering to a majority
of the population of this country, of far greater extent
than description could pourtray ; that in times of scar-
city they enhance the price of most of the necessaries of
life beyond the means of the poorer classes, and by en-
couraging undue speculation in all kinds of food, produce
uncertainty and danger to the financial and commercial
interests of the community."
Mr. MILNE recapitulated the principal events in the
history of society since the first passing of the corn-laws
in 1815, and argued therefrom, that while the rents of
laud were increased to an amazing degree, benefiting
the proprietors only, the farmers, for whose protection
it was ostensibly said to be passed, now realised 80s. per
quarter for their produce, because Providence had blessed
the country with abundant harvests, which rendered
nugatory the attempts of the Legislature to altogether
crush the people.—(Cheers.) Therefore he contended
that the only object the ultra-Conservatives had in
their present opposition, was the very same object which
had actuated them throughout—namely, to continue the
high rents, which really went into their own pockets,
and into theirs only. There was indeed a time when
agriculture might be considered the staple of the country,
but for the last hundreds years manufactures had made
such giant strides, that the former could not for a
moment be placed on the same level.—(Hear, hear.)
Surely then, at that time, every interest had a right to
protection. But they required no protection now; and he
was fully of opinion with Lord John Russell that pro-
tection in any case was a political fallacy.—(Cheers.)
He cheerfully seconded the resolution.
Mr. DUNCOMBE, after animadverting on the conduct of
the guardians in reusing the workhouse for the purposes
of the meeting, and prompting the rate-payers to oust
them at the next election, proceeded to explain the ruling
principles which influenced the landlords in their conduct
to their tenants—a princi e, which he contended had
given birth to the Chandus clause—that monstrous ano-
maly in the Reform Bill. But their power was coming
to a termination, and it seemed a special dispensation of
Providence to send the potato failure upon the country,
in order to show the fallacy of depending on themselves
for food. The landlords could not swallow these potatoes
at all—(Lauteliter)—and therefore it was that the pre-
sent curious cabinet making" was going on.—(Con-
tinued laughter.) He (Mr. Duricorube) felt pity for the
position the Queen held among them.—(Cheers.) The
speaker indignantly repudiated the expressions used by
Mr. Alderman Farobrother, when he stated that the
Anti-Corn-law League were increasing an unnecessary
agitation by prophecying that a famine was coming upon
the country. He then paid a just tribute to the exertions
of the League, and concluded by supporting the resolu-
tion.
The resolution was put from the chair, and carried
unanimously.
Mr. PARIS ehen moved the second resolution--" That
in the opinion of this meeting the longer upholding of
these prohibitory corn-laws will prove perilous to the
nation's peace and welfare, and that the discontent and
misery daily occasioned thereby amongst all classes of
society is calculated to produce anarchy and confusion,
and also thoe.e numerous calamities attendant thereon,
which (in he present crisis) it may be unwise to
predict."
It was seconded by Mr. MAISE, supported by Mr.
CRAMP, and, like the former, carried unanimously.
Mr. HUI /FURIES, in proposing the third resolu-
tion, " That this meeting, therefore, respectfully,
but most earnestly, calls upon her Majesty's
Ministers to suspend immediately the operations
of the Cc rn Bill, and to submit to the Legis-
lature, at tin early period, a measure for the entire
abolition of the laws which restrict the free supply of
food ; and that a memorial, signed by the chairman on
behalf of tlele meeting, be presented to her Majesty's Go-
vernment," said that they were undersold in every
market of the world bccause of these iniquitous laws,
and he thought the prosperity consequent on their re-
moval woi4d even convert those who were then opposed
to them.

THE PROTECTION MOVEMENT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlN—Neither you nor your readers must for a mo-
ment suppose, because you think proper to give long
reports of League aggregate meetings, that the free-
traders are the only parties throughout the country whu
possess the power of eloquent speech—of "thoughts
that breathe and words that burn." No- sensible man
will deny them the best of the argument ; but for elo-
quence and research—oh! and for originality of thought,
too, and invention, they are far indeed behind the wise-
acres of agriculture. I have been reading the copious
report you published of the League meeting in Covent-
garth n Theatre on Wednesday last, and I cannot help
remarking, that though the speeches of Cobden, Bright,
and Fox are plain, straightforward, and earnest, yet they
possess none of those remarkable points in which Punch
so delighteth—points of brilliancy, like those which
emanate from the real diamond, and distinguish it from
its counterpart, paste. Why don't these orators strike
out something new—something equally startling and
beautiful as the facts with which "Jockey of Norfolk,"
Peel's new Dean of Westminster, and (which brings me
at once to the reason of my addressing you), one Mr.
Robert Everard, of Spalding, in this county, delight to
intet lard their speeches'? I have just read in the Lin-
cotishire Chronicle a report of a meeting held lost week
in the above highly intellectual town, and which, being
in the centre of this division of Lincolnshire, I have no
doubt had collected together all the brilliancy and talent
of ,that clever race: of people who, at the last general
electiob, evinced their shrewdness by rejecting a Hand-
ley and electing a Turner! This Mr. Robert Everard
was the "great gun" of the meeting—"the star of that
goodly company"—and a few of his "sayings" I take the
liberty of forwarding to you, from which your readers
may conceive what, if his party were in power, his
doings" would be.
Mr. Robert Everard, in the plenitude of his pity at
Lord Morecth's lachcs, in joining that wicked conspiracy,
the League, tells the meeting that. "he N_MA4,I-".4311 ,e
attention to the words used by Cat-tiliie, the celebigted
Roman, who said, that when men of unblamabie Cha-
racter became familiar with the arts made to corrupt
them, they soon resembled and fell in 'with them.
There, think of that, "uneducated" CobdenAnd "un-
learned" Bright ! Are there no grammer-tchools in
Spalding ? or (it being holiday-time) was there no
school-boy from the second form to tell this erudite
habitant of the Fens that Cataline was notorious, and
not celebrated ; that nothing of the kind ever fell from
his lips, or flowed from his pen ; and that the stricture
which Mr. Robert Everard was evidently "cudgelling his
brain'' to remember, was spoken of, abd not by, Catalina?
We next find that Mr. Robert EVerard, having got
out of his depth in the classics, next tries his hand on
"dry land" (dry enough, in all conscience 1), and in the
middle of a calculation as to the. produce of a farm of
300 acres, gives utterance to the following piece of un-
meaning and unintelligible nonsense:—" The best culti-
vation would produce sixteen coombs—(of what, I
should like to know?—there is no doubt what produces
coxcombs)—and taking the medium price of wheat at
5I s., and the price of oats at two-fifths the price of
wheat, the gross proceeds of such a farm would amount
to 1,9601 per annum." Now, it seems to me, that if 16
coombs per acre is meant, the produce would-be 12,2401.
per annum; or, if only 16 combs for 300 acres, it
would only be 40/. 16s. What the " oats• at two-fifths
the price of wheat" has to do with the matter, no one
can possibly conceive.
But Mr. Robert Everard—(ever-hard, indeed !)—is
not, like Michael Cassio, " a great arithmetician ;" for,
a few lines afterwards, he calculates that, "with rents
reduced 33 per cent., land, which now lets at 40s. an
acre, would then be 375. 1!" Great consolation, cer-
tainly, for the landlords, although, unfortunately, not
" according to Cocker."
I apologise for troubling you at such length, but,
looking upon The Sun as the only luminary beneath
whose searching rays the false and wicked bread-tax
has for years been slowly, but surely, receding, " like
noxious dew," I hope you will give my remarks a place
in your columns. They will there certainly meet the
eyes of the people—they will show something like the
average value of the protection principle and its talented
advocates—and they may induce the satirists of the
League to award to Mr. Robert Everard a niche in the
temple of public ridicule beside the Duke of Curry-
powder and Profelsor Mangle-wurzle.
I am, Sir, your constant reader, and a subscriber to
theloague, although

A TENANT FARMER.
Stamford, Lincolnshire, Dec. 22, 1845.-..