The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-13 00:00:00

EXETER.

A very large and highly influential meeting of the
inhabitants of Exeter and the neighbourhood was held on
Thursday, at the Guildhall, in pursuauce of a requisition
addressed to the Mayor, and signed by upwards of 800
inhabitants, of whom 517 are Parliamentary electors,
" to consider the propriety of presenting a memorial to
her Majesty's Government on the present critical state
of the country, in regard to the supply of food."
Amongst the gentlemen present we observed C.
Bi utton,Esq., the May or, in the chair; E. Divett, Esq.,
M.P.; S. Maunder, Esq.; J. D. Osborne, Esq.; J. C.
Sercombe, Esq.; S. Hayden, Esq.; E. Davy, Esq.; C.
Bird, Esq.; R. Bastard, Esq.; Dr. Ludlow; 1)r. Barham;
Hey. Mr. Bigwood; F. Orchard, Esq.; T. Besley, Esq.;
Dorville, Esq.; Rev. Mr. Hellings; C. Richards, Esq.;
R. T. Abraham, Esq ; T. Latimer, Esq.; W. Drewe,
Esq., &c. There was also a goodly sprinkling of the
working classes present, who appeared to take a deep
interest in the proceedings, which were characterised
throughout by the enthusiasm and unanimity which
prevailed.
The MAvoahaving taken the chair, and briefly opened
the proceedings by stating the object for which the meet-
ing was convened,
1)r. BARHAM came forward to propose the first reso-
lution, and after a brief speech, moved that " It is highly
desirable that a memorial should be presented to her
Majesty's Government, requesting them to take such
steps as shall ensure a sufficient supply of food in the
present critical state of the country. '—(Cheers.)
Mr. DIVETT, M.P., one of the Members for the city,
then came forward, and was received with the warmest
applause. He said, that it was with great satisfaction
that he rose tosecond the resolution which had just been
proposed ; and great as was the pleasure which he
had anticipated in attending that meeting, he assured
them that that pleasure was greatly enhanced by
being permitted to second a proposition based on such
sound principles as those which had been enunciated
by his friend Dr. Barham.—(Great cheering.) He
considered that it was no ordinary occasion on which
they had assembled. For his own part, he had generally
felt an indisposition to be present at public meetings,
unless he was called on either to give an account of his
proceedings in Parliament, or to state what his views
were with reference to any particular measure; but the
present was a matter of such general interest, that be
was glad of an opportunity of expressing his feelings
with reference to it. Till within the last few days he
had had some doubts as to the policy of the agitation
which was at this time going on in the country—doubts
originating in a fear that possibly they might be creating
an alarm for which there was no occasion, lest they
should produce an impression elsewhere that there was
a greater scarcity of food than really existed, and lest
foreign countries should, in consequence, place restric-
tions upon the exportation of food. That point, coupled
with a doubt as to the possibility of obtaining an adequate
supply of food, had, he confessed, caused him a great
deal of uneasiness, and had made him hesitate before he
approved of the policy of the present agitation.—(Hear.)
On that score now he was able to say that he was per-
fectly satisfied. If the law were put on a proper footing
with regard to the food of the people, he a as convinced
that there was ample sources whence to procure an abun-
dant supply for all. The Hon. Member for Winchester
(Mr. Escott) had proposed to introduce maize as an arti-
cle of food, and he (Mr. Divett) concurred with that gen-
tleman in his opinion that it might be used extensively
and very advantageously for food. On looking at the scale
of dudes imposed on the importation of maize, he found
that it amounted te ss. a quarter, or at least 50 per cent.
oil the prime cost of the article. It appeared to him to
be of immense importance that in articles of that sort a
relaxation should take place which would enable them
to obtain a supply of food from the most distant parts of
the globe.—(Cheers.) Having thus expressed his views
with regard to the possibility of obtaining an adequate
supply of Food from other sources, it would no doubt be
expected from him that he should enter more fully into
the great subject of the corn-laws—(Cheers)—and, im.
portant, no doubt, as was the urgency of the moment, it
would still he ridiculous to keep out of sight the fact that
the final settlement of this great question, upon a sound
and satisfactory basis, was a matter yet more requiring
their earnest consideration —(Cheers)---and he confessed
Mold *dos if this visittiou of rrovideuce should be

the means of placit,g upon a satisfactory footing The law
which regulated the importation of corn. Ile knew that
there were many of the most ardent supporters of a
change in the corn-laws who thought that he had been
lukewarm in that matter ; but to such a view of the
subject he could not subscribe ; inasmuch as he had never,
since he had been in Parliament, given •a single vote
which could be supposed for a moment to tend to the
support of the corn-laws. He bad never, in fact, omitted
an opportunity of voting for such a change in the law as
would be in accordance with his own views.—(Hear.)
Whilst speaking of measures for the settlement of the
corn-laws, he ought to state.his opinion that very great
exagueration existed on both sides
.of that particular
question. He believed that the agriculturists enormously
over- rated the advantages which the system of protec-
tion gave them, whilst the abolitionists over-rated the
cheapness which would be obtained under a system of
free trade. That there would .be a diminution in the
prices on the average there could be no doubt ; but he
believed it would not be to the extent which many sup-
posed, and that we should still be exposed to great and
serious fluctuations in the market, was, he thought, un-
questionable, If there had been exaggerations as to the
effect upon prices, however, he believed that there had
been none with reference to the injurious effects of the
law upon the commercial industry of the country.—
(Cheers.) The greatest man in matters of finance—the
man who had studied it more and understood it better
, perhaps than any other living man—the present Prime
Minister—had stated that it was impossible for any man,
calmly considering the currency question, and looking at it
in all its details, not to be aware of the deep importance
that it was to every man, woman, and child, throughout the
empire. In fact, when tricks were played with the cur-
rency, they trod on ground dangerous to the commercial
man of the greatest resources, but death to the poor
man who depended on a small pittance for his daily sup-
port. The uncertainty which characterised the present
corn-laws affected, in like manner, every man's income
throughout the empire.—(Hear, hear.) Let them take,
for example, the whole course of exchanges regulated
by the foreign trade. Suppose that there were fourteen
millions of bullion in the Bank; if we had a free, steady,
trade in corn, that bullion, on which the note circulation
of the country mainly depended, would not be affected
at all; but when we fur months, sometimes for years,
altogether excluded the importation of corn, then when
a crisis came like the present, which forced us to send
for corn to every part of the globe, we had no means of
raising the money at once to pay for that corn from our
own property, and bullion must in consequence be drawn
from the Bank. The result was, that those who managed
the Bank became alarmed, accommodation was refused,
interest rose, and every commercial transaction in the
country was liable to be disturbed.—(Cheers.) His
strong opposition to the sliding scale arose ratherfrom that
cause than from any great effect which he believed its
abolition would produce on the price of corn.—(Hear.)
Entertaining these views, and sincerely thanking them
for the kind attention with which they has listened to
his address, he begged to second the resolution.
Mr. 13ASTAAD then briefly recommended the adoption
of a un-morial in accordance with the resolution, which
was agreed to.
Three cheers were given for Mr. Divett and for free-
trade; and a vote of thanks having been passed with ac-
clamation to the Mayor, the meeting separated.

MANCHESTER.
A great and interesting meeting of the Anti-Corn-law
League was held, in the Free-trade Hall, Manchester, on
Wednesday night. The greatest excitement prevailed
for several days previously, on the part of the public, to
get tickets of admissiou, and many persons came a dis-
tance of twenty er thirty miles to be present. When the
usual supply of tickets was exhausted, every gentleman
known to be connected with the Council was applied to
for the exertion of his personal interest on behalf of the
applicants ; and many gentlemen we know in this posi-
tion denied themselves the gratification of being present,
and gave up their own tickets. Under these circum-
stances it is scarcely necessary, to say that the hall was
crammed ; the doors, in fact, had to be closed against the
multitudes who besieged them, nearly ten minutes before
the time announced for the proceedings to commence.
At twenty five.minutes atter seven o'clock the Chair-
man, George Wilson, Esq., took his place on the plat-
form, accompanied by Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P. ;
J. Bright, Esq., M.P.; T. M. Gibson, Esq., M.P. ; J.
Brotherton, Esq., M.P.; W. J. Fox, Esq., and other
gentlemen, and amongst upwards of five hundred other
persons of respectability and influence on the platform,
we observed the Mayor of Salford, General Briggs,
Alderman Walker, Mr. W. R. Callender, the President
of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. Bazley), Mr. W.
Rawson, Mr. 11. Rawson, Mr. Edward Grundy, of Park-
hills, Bury; Mr. D. Ainsworth, Mr. W. Bickham, Mr.
S. Lees, Mr. S. P. Robinson, Mr. W. Evans, Mr. Alder-
man Potter, Mr. T. B. Potter, Mr. Alderman Lockett,
Mr. Thomas Bright, Mr. J. T. Crook (Liverpool), Mr.
J. B. Smith, Mr. S. Matley, Mr. Samuel Nicholls, Mr.
B. Syddall, Mr. George Sale, of Atherstone ; Mr. 0. S.
Leavitt, of Louisville, United States ; Mr. G. C. Crook,
of New York ; Mr. R. P. Livingston, Mr. Alderman
Burd, Mr. Chadwick, Rev. Dr. Massie, and Mr. J. A.
Royle.
The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by stating
that the present was the most important meeting ever
held, and ,proceeded to discuss the merits of the con-
tradictory statement respecting the intentions of the
Government. As regarded the result of the registration,
he stated the following to be the gains of the frce-traders
in the counties named :—North Warwickshire 106;
Buckinghamshire, 328, or 5 per cent. on the whole con-
stituency; East Gloucester, 271, leaving them a majority
of 201; East Somersetshire, 574, or 6 per cent. on the
register; South Cheshire, 669; East Surrey, 553, or 9
per cent. on the constituency; North Staffordshire, 942,
or 9 per cent.; South Staffordshire, 936; North Cheshire,
899, or 14 per cent. on the register; Middlesex, 1,520;
West Riding of York, 1,271; North Lancashire, 1,492;
South Lancashire, 3,084; making a total gain of 143,731
in the counties which the League had attacked. This
announcement wal received with loud cheers by the
meeting.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON was the first speaker. He said
that in the whole course of his life .he never attended
so important a meeting. The people of old had secured
the liberty of the press and of themselves, and they
were again met under the protection of that liberty to
demand a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws.
They were met to proclaim to the world that the
industry of England was no longer to be enslaved. It
was the industry of the manufacturers of the country
which contributed to the wealth of the landowners, and,
therefore, they (the people) ought and shall have free-
dom of trade. The present was a time of more than
usual importance. Sir Robert Peel might or might not
bring in a Bill to repeal the corn-laws, but, be that as
it might, the people of the north had a duty to perform,
and they must not lack in their determination to wipe
away the cursed corn-laws. They must demand it in a
tone not to be mistaken. The people must stand by Sir
Robert Peel, and wring from the monopolists that mea-
sure of justice to which they were justly entitled. He
(Mr. Gibson) knew many thinking agriculturists who
had given up the whole question, and were agreed that
the time was not far distant when the protection to corn
must be abolished, and that Sir Robert Peel was deter-
mined to stand or fall by that measure. He (Mr. Gib-
son) had frequently in his place in the House of Com-
mons cautioned the country gentlemen not to lead their
tenants astray by holding out to them the hope that those
laws would be maintained, and now that the question
had been conceded, he (Mr. Gibson) wondered how they
could meet their unfortunate dupes. He then proceeded
to advise the meeting not to trust any Minister, but con-
tinue their exertions until the object was obtained, and
sat down amidst loud cheers.
Mr. Fox then addressed the meeting at great length,
but, owing to the press of matter, we can find room
only for the conclusion of his speech. In 1815, said he,
there was a sort of instinctive blind outbreak against the
passing of these corn-laws; there were riots; blood was
shed in the streets; the people struggled, like blind
Sampson, and like blind Sampson were sent back to toil
in the prison-houses for the benefit of their task-masters.
—(Loud applause.) But the lancet of knowledge has
couched blind Sampson's eyes. There is wisdom to
direct the guidance of that strength; and thus put forth,
where is the power that shall stand before it? It is
coming; we know it is coming; be you but firm, unre-
laxing, unbending in every exertion, in every legal and
peaceful exertion that may promote the good cause. New
allies are announced every day. They are all coming in,
but it is somewhat misnamed to call this leading. Much
has been made of Lord John's Russell's name as the
Liberal leader, because twenty years' consideration has
led him to the point which the intelligence of the coun-
try had arrived at so long before. We welcome him
gladly. I believe he was one amongst us because the
cry was so loud and strong ; being made a little louder
and stronger, it may bring us another Liberal leader in
the person of Sir Robert Peel. And raise it to its loudest
pitch, and we may have that great Liberal leader, the
Duke of Wellir.gton in our ranks.—(Applause and
laughter.) While we remember all this, let us never
orget who they are that have done this, and who in the
day of triumph should wear the laurels.—(hear.) Great
as may be the political advantage, the advantage in Par-
liamentary tactics, of these eminent names, that is all we
can plead for them ; the work has been done, the
chariot of free-trade has been driven within sight of the
goal ; and Russell, Peel, and Wellington at best are
only yoked to it to drag it along the few remaining
paces to its final destination.—(Applause.) It is fan
honour for them that they do that • and I hope they will
put their shoulders to the yoke kindly, and not let it be
a moment longer on the way than is absolutely neces-
sary.—(Applause.) But trust them not. Lord Jobn
Russell may not have the power, and the Duke of Wel-
lington may not have the will, and Sir R. Peel, having
played the monopolists a slippery trick one way, may
play the free-traders a slippery trick another way.
Trust in yourselves under the guidance of that power
which ever smiles propitiously on the true, the just, and
the right. There is a piece of advice which was given
some time ago, with no very charitable intent, perhaps,
to the Orangemen of Ireland—" Trust in Providence,
and keep your powder dry. (Laughter.) We don't
use gunpowder; our weapon is of a very different and a
much more ptent description. Bayonets cannot pierce
it—balls cannot level it, Opinion is a power which no
form of physical force, multitudinous or military, can
eventually prevail against.—(Applause.) But means
must be employed ; and I say to you, as was said to the
Orangemen—" Trust in Providence, and keep your
names upon the registration ; trust in Providence, and
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Mr. COBDEN—After these splendid orations, I think
I should only mar the effect of our meeting by de-
laying you for a single moment longer. We meet here,
I think a larger meeting than I have ever had the pleasure
of witnessing before, and I am sorry to say that many
hundreds are outside storming the doors. We have had
an invitation to go outside and address an anti-corn-law
lecture to them in the street.—(Cheers and laughter.)
And, gentlemen, it is the same whereTer we go, Within