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

) the last nine days my Bon. Friend Mr. Bright and I
have addressed seven meetihges. We have been in the
cathedral city of Bath and the mountains of Derbyshire,
and we have been in Gloucestershire. Wherever we
have gone there is the same unanimous feeling that we
find amongst our tall chimneys in Lancashire.—(Cheers.)
Everywhere, the only complaint is, there is no place
large enough to receive the free-traders. Now, gentle-
men, I felt some apprehension when I first heard
the intention of Government, :est we should sink
into apathy in consequence of the hope—the falla-
cious hope—that somebody else was going to do our
work. But I am happy to say that this morning's
papers relieve me from all anxiety, for I see that
his Grace the Duke of Richmond has met, along with
fifty or sixty other gentlemen, at No. 17, Old Bond-
street, and there they have thrown down the gauntlet
and declared that they will fight till the death for mono-
pely.— (Laughter and cheers.) Now, I find some relief
in this. They are small in numbers to be sure—
(Laughter)—humble in pretensions, of es ery hind, for a
contest like this.—(llear and laughter.) But still we
have a foe left in the field, and while that is the case I
em not afraid of the courage of English men.—(Laughter.)
The Duke of Richmond leads not the hosts, but the
handful of monopolists that still follow his banner. By
representation I know something of the Duke of Rich-
mond. I was horn within seven miles of him, in Sussex
We were boys together almost. He is an amiable, re-
spectable man in private life—a man who acquits him-
self in that decent, respectable sort of way that you
would expt et a man to do to whom you gave 30s. a week.
—(Cheers and laughter.) He is just an amiable, re-
spectable man ; but, as a senator, as a statesman, I
would find a thousand men in this room, with fustian
jackets, that if you put a coronet on their heads, would
be able to take a far more comprehensive view
of what is good for the nation.--(Loud cheers.)
Why, gentlemen, these men, the protectionist
nobles and landlords, they do nut know what the condi-
thin of the country is at their own doors. I have always
said that the worst enemy to the agriculturists was the
aristocratical order. The danger lies at their own doors,
and they do not know it. Why, we had a meeting in an
agricultural district, and we had a farmer present. He
made a few hasty remarks, and then be threw himself
into a chair. Be said he durst not trust himself, for if
he was to state what the feelings of the tenant-farmers
were, he should be liable to be accused of entertaining
feelings similar to those entertained at the time of the
French Revolution.—(Hear, hear.) Why, I ask these
men who talk of fighting the question, to call a meet-
in any county, and give but a week's fair notice, and I
will engage that the meeting shall be against them.
Why, they met in Stayning, in Sussex. Now, I would
undertake to go to this place—the head-quarters of
these Dukes—almost within a stone's throw of both of
them, add I would call a public meeting by public ad-
vertisement, and I would engage to pass a resolution
in that village condemnatory of these laws—con.
demnatory of protection—denouncing it as being a
fraud to the farmer, and an injury to the working classes.
Now they are in a nice predicament to meet us,
are not they?—(Cheers and laughter.) Why, if my
friend Mr. Bright and I were to go into the agricultural
districts, and it was found that we were coming, and the
weather was fine, we should have a tail like a comet
after tia.—(Laughter.) I wish the fine weather to come.
We must meet and show these bread-taxers the unani-
mity of the people of this country, by holding an open-
air meeting on Kersal-moor a hundred thousand strong.
—(Cheers.) I want to see the hosts pouring in from
Bury, Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton, Stockport. I
want to see the male population of this country poured
out; then let the Duke of Richmond come and take his
place on the grand stand, and witness that.—(Cheers.)
I say, they are impervious to the signs of the times;
they do not know a brick wall till their heads knock
against it.—(Cheers and laughter.) They yield to
nothing but fear ; and they don't want courage and
don't see fear till it is brought home to them. The
people are unanimous everywhere on this question.
They told me at Nottingham that they had not had
a unanimous meeting for a long time, owing to
the divisions of parties, but all parties are una-
nimous on this question. There is only one thing
I want to see. The great metropolis is not easily
moved_; but the reason is it is so gigantic in its propor-
tions that it takes such a time to gather up its huge
limbs ; but London meets in the Guildhall next Mon-
day, and I intend to claim my right as an elector to be
there with them.—(Cheers.) He trusted to see London
join Yorkshire and Lancashire in this movement, and
the question was settled. With reference to their late
meetings in the south, they were purely business meet-
ings—the promotion of the qualification scheme. The
discovery of this scheme was like the discovery of a
jewel in a casket. They did not know their power till it
was found. And he had no doubt the aristocracy, if it
went on, would feel that power ; they would soon find
themselves as powerless as the feather carried along in a
strong north-wester.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. John Bright, M. P., and Mr. Brothorton, M. P.,
followed, and a vote of thanks having been given to the
gentlemen who had taken a part in the proeeedings, the
assemblage broke up.