10 MARCH 1849, Page 1

While Mr. Disraeli's agricultural relief scheme was brewing, the farmers

had been summoned to great " aggregate " meetings in London, in response to the call for support of that quasi- Protectionist demonstration. But the support was curious. It was like that of mistrustful sailors, who fearing that the master means to lose the ship, but unable to supply one to take his place, set him at the helm with a pistol at his ear, thrust upon him a greater fulness of authority than he desires to be responsible for, and obey what he commands with a jealous fidelity. The ferment held a separate meeting on one day, and let fall various expres- sions winch indicated strong suspicions that the leaders of the Protectionist party are neither zealous nor sincere: there were demands for performances rather than professions, in the shape of an unyielding exaction of Parliamentary concessions to the agri- cultural interest, and especially to the tenant section of that inte- rest; and there were some allusions to the continued exaction of exorbitant rents in the teeth of falling prices. Even at the ag- gregate meeting, with the Duke of Richmond in the chair and several Protectionist Members of Parliament on the platform, this spirit of anti-landlordism was not quite concealed.

The assembled farmers demand repeal of the Malt-tax, which Mr. Disraeli repudiates. However, they could themselves accom- plish nothing more substantial than the passing of resolutions. They might, if they pleased, perceive that the want among their leaders is not either sincerity or zeal : the Protectionist Members have probably as much of either as men belonging to any sec- tional " interest" : what they want is power, especially intel- lectual influence. They can do nothing, because almost all the men who have the power of intellect which compels others to obey its dictates, have adopted other convictions on the subject of protection for agriculture ; so that the adherents to that exploded doctrine are, upon the whole, drawn from the softer and feebler parts of the lawmaking classes.