The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-16 00:00:00

with the result of her industry, than that manufactures
should be stopped for one year.—(Cheers.) In say-
ing this he should also state that he should like to
see the farmers prospering, because he knew that the
interests of both classes of the community were mu •
tually dependent on each other. The course of
events showed that if the farmers and agricultural
population did not join the League in their efforts
for free trade they would become the laughing-
stock of all civilised nation s.—(llear, hear.)
If any one entered the mansions of the aristocracy would
they not find all the luxuries and comforts which were
the production of manufacturing ingenuity and indus-
try ? But what evidence was there of the slightest aid,
so far as the surrounding objects went, of agricul-
ture ? But they said they did not want independence
of manufactures; what they wanted was' protection
for agriculture. Why, protection for agriculture
meant nothing more nor less than protection for the
landlords. Was corn the only thing that would not
find its level ? Through all parts of the coun-
try did Heaven bestow equal blessings; the light
shone, and the rain fell, equally for the just
and the unjust ; but if the food was to be sluiced up
like the waters, and prevented from a free current, he
thought the landlords of England would be answer-
able for the evil consequences. He would say to the
meeting that by their attendance there that night
they had manifested their determination to carry this
great measure, and shown an example to all the
nations of the earth. They should not tire in the
truly great and good work, the consumation of which
would open the prairies of America to England as a
granary, and make the poor happy and the indepen-
dent more so. People were each day becoming more
enlightened; mind met mind ; a new world of ideas
had been created, and the consequent religious, poli-
tical, and historical power would be found sufficiently
strong to put down all the monopolies which now pre-
vailed. The present was not the time when rude masses
of uncultivated and ignorant men would rise together,
influenced by passion and violence, to commit inju-
ries upon their fellow men,_ involving combina-
tions in crime.—(Cheers.) For his own part, he
would not address such an assembly—the present was
not such an assembly.—(Cheers.) But men wanted
to be taught, and these meetings were held for the
purpose of teaching them.—(Cheers.) Let it be
remembered that those who wanted to maintain the
corn-laws had lost the monster monopoly of know-
ledge.—(Great cheering.) They had lost also the
monopoly of the knowledge of moral power ; and
having lost that, they had lost the only
monopoly which would have secured in
perpetuity all other monopolies.—(Cheers.) The days
when wily politicians could wield the condition of a
nation had gone by—the days of heroes, of warriors,
and fights had gone by—the days of the quarrels of
nations had gone by—(Cheers)—the days of peace
had come—(Cheers)—and the nations of the civilised
world looked to each other. France looked to
England— (Cheers) —England looked to France;
and even Spain was beginning to see that evils were
evils, and good was good.—(Cheers.) They were
looking to the beneficial results of good government,
and not to those transactions which had been a
scourge to countries, and only enabled those who
scourged them to prey upon the ruins they had
made.--(Great cheering, amid which the Rev. Gen-
tleman retired.)
The CHAIRMAN then announced that another
meeting of the League would take place there next
Wednesday. 'lt might, also, be as well that he
should state that it was not likely these meetings
would be continued for a much longer period, in
consequence of the necessity of commencing the
arrangements for the bazaar that was to be held in
that building.—(Cheers.)
The vast assemblage then dissolved after giving
nine cheers for the League.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION.
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY norm—During the day both
parties have been hard at work canvassing, and on the part
of the free traders, every hour brings with it news of men
who have consented to separate themselves from party, and
to look at the contest only as one affecting the interests of
trade. As regards the " ways and means," the free traders
have evinced a spirit to-day, that shows them sanguine of
the result, for the guarantee fund has already reached 13,0001.,
and that for the Manchester district of the county alone
Since we wrote yesterday, giving an account of Mr. Entwistle's
visit to his Committee here and at Newton, we have learned
that he went forward yesterday afternoon to Liverpool, and
met his Committee there. It was the intention of his friends
to introduce him on 'Change, at Liverpool ; but the Com-
mittee reported an adverse wind in that quarter, and he re-
turned to Manchester without suffering the honour. To-day
his friends have also forborne to introduce him on 'Change
here, and there is a whisper that it is still the intention of his
party to wi.hdraw him from the contest, if they can substi-
tute a fitter man.
At seven o'clock this evening there was a splendid meeting
of the friends of Mr. Brown, the free-trade candidate, at the
Free-trade Hall, of which we subjoin a report!

MEETING IN THE FREE-TRADE HALL.

MANCHESTER, TUESDAY NIGHT.—This evening, at seven
o'clock, a great meeting was assembled at the Free-trade
Hall of the electors resident in the Manchester district of
South Lancashire, to receive a deputation from the League.
Amongst the gentlemen present, in addition to the deputa-
tion from the League, consisting of Richard Cobden, Esq.,
Mr. Alderman Brooks, and others, we observed Mr. Alderman
Kershaw, Mr. Rawson, Mr. Woodward, Mr. Harvey (of the
firm of Harvey and Tysse), Mr. Atkinson (of the firm of At-
kinson and Saunders), Mr. Alderman Hopkins, Mr. Alderman
Walker, and many of the leading freeholders.
The chair was taken by Mr. GEORGE Wusoss, who, in
opening the proceedings, said—Gentlemen, we have con-
vened this meeting of the electors residing in and near
Manchester, irrespective of all political party feeling, in order
that you may have an opportunity of meeting a deputation
from the League, and hear stated those reasons which they
think ought to influence you materially in giving your vote
for the free-trade candidate in the contest for this county.
We have called this meeting of electors of all parties. The
Free-trade Hall is neutral ground.—(Cheers.) It was not
built, it was not erected, for party purposes. We meet here
to discuss the evils of the giant monopolies under which this
country suffers.—(Loud cheers.) We ask you to pause well
before you give a vote in favour of the perpetuation or con-
tinuance, for one hour, of these monopolies.—(Applause.) I
have a number of letters from gentlemen compelled to be ab-
sent unwillingly, because engaged in canvassmg.—(Cheers.)
But I will not occupy your time by reading them ; I will at
once proceed to business by introducing Mr. Cobden, who will
Mr. COBDEN,
address you on behalf of the League.—(Cheers.)
M.P., was received with most enthusiastic
and prolonged cheering.
He spoke as follows :—Mr. Chair-
man and Gentlemen,—lf you were met here for party objects
I should not be amongst you. I have never, since I
have appeared in public, taken any part in mere party
squabbles; and, so far as I may be considered to speak the
sentiments of the Anti-Corn-law League, I challenge all who
have had the opportunity of observing my public conduct,
to point to a single instance in which my proceedings have
been influenced by any regard to any political party, or any
individuals connected with party.—(Applause) We have
met here, as the chairman very properly says, irrespective of
parties. I cannot point to any existingpolitical party which
takes its stand upon the ground that the free traders and the
Anti-Corn-law League now occupy. We have two sections
of politicians ; one disposed to profess free trade in the ab-
stract, and to carry out free trade little by little ; we have
another party taking its stand upon fixed duties and protec-
tion ; but there is no political party that seeks at once to ob-
tain the object we have in view—that of practical and per-
fect free trade.—(Hear, hear.) This is a question that is re-
ferred back to the electors of this county ; and to no portion
of the electoral body can it come with so strong a claim to
their attention as to the electors of South Lancashire.—
(Applause.) Gentlemen, we are not solely a manufacturing
community in South Lancashire ; there is a large rural dis-
trict in this county. We have farmers as well as manufac-
turers. I have made good the ground of free trade on farming
ground as well as manufacturing ground ;
and if there be one
stronger ground than another, it is that upon which Lord
Ducie and Lord Spencer have taken up the question—that
is, as to the benefit which free trade will confer upon agri-
culture itself.—(Hear, hear.) But, unfortunately, the manu-
facturers of this country, whilst they generally admit that
free trade would be good for themselves, have hitherto not
come to consider this question of free trade apart and alto-
gether away from a political partizanship. If we could only
lay aside our old animosities and predilections—if we could
only come to a common ground, and consider this question
of the corn- laws apart from all views of Whig and Tory, I
verily believe there would not be two opinions amongst the
manufacturing classes in South Lancashire.—(Loud ap-
plause.) Now, Gentlemen, I am glad to say, that on this
occasion we have evidences of our coming soon, if we have
not already arrived at, that happy point, when we shall be
' no longer blinded to our true interests, nor the interests of
the country, by such absurd delusions as these mere Whig
and Tory distinctions in politics. lam happy to announce to
you that we hear from all quarters—not merely in Man-
chester, not merely in Liverpool—but in all the surrounding
districts, we hear of numerous instances of most intelligent
and influential men who have on this occasion declared that
they will no longer vote as Tories or as Whigs; that the
question before the country is free trade or monopoly, and
that they will vote for free trade.—(Loud applause.) It
would be invidious to name these gentlemen, and besides
that it would be very partial and unjust ; for I_ really believe
we are only beginning our conversion, and that before the
contest is over we shall see such a change manifested in
South Lancashire among the manufacturing classes, as even
the most sanguine of us has not expected. This is the last
contest for South Lancashire in which any party will come
before the electors of this important district, and profess to
be an upholder of monopoly in any shape.—(Applause.)
And, Gentlemen, if anything could prove this, it is the
terms in which Mr. Entwistle has put forward his address
to the electors of this county.—(llear, hear.) That address
is, at all events, a tribute paid to the triumph of free trade
opinions in this country; for although it does not agree in
professing to carry out the principles of free trade, it is full
of compliments to those principles so far as they have been
applied ; it speaks of the paramount importance of ma-
nufactures and commerce ; and it proposes, very intelligibly,
to go on carrying out free trade as fast as somebody else, who
shall be nameless, perhaps in London, will give the cue for
doing so.—(Loud applause and laughter.) Now, I think we
in Lancashire are too old birds to be can ht with chaff like
this on the present occasion.—(Laughter.l We midst not be
deluded or mystified with plausibilities. Ye want free trade
—not in the abstract ; we don't want it ten or twenty years
hence, we want it now; and if we can get it we will have
it now.—(Loud applause.) But lam told that some of Mr.
Entwistle s canvassers are canvassing for him as a free trader.
Now, I don't set myself up here as a casuist to settle matters
of conscience ; but surely, if gentlemen go and obtain pro-
mises on false pretences, they don't expect those promises
to be binding.—(Applause.) I should be sorry to lead the
electors into any mistakes, but I warn you, add, through the
press, I beg to warn the constituency of this county that Mr.
Entwistle is not a free trader, though' his address tries, all
that words can do, to make it appear that he is.—(Cheers.)
Now, Gentlemen, we have another candidate in the person
of Wm. Brown, Esq., of Liverpool.—(Loud applause.) Mr.
the kingdom the man that would be properly selected for the
Brown, -as a commercial man, I should say, is of all others in
high honour of representing this county in Parliament.—
(Applause.) I say as a commercial man, because I won't
did, for he Would not disguise it from you himbelf, that if we
you, and Mr. Brown would not thank me if I
disguise from