A very large Protectionist meeting for the county of Devon
was held yesterday, in the Castle-yard at Exeter. Summoned by the High Sheriff on the requisition of 7,500 persons, it was attended by 10,000, including a, strong muster of gentry and a numerous party of Free-traders. As an amendment to the Protectionist resolutions, Sir Bourchier Wray moved an amendment for "relief" to agriculture; but he was hooted down. So was Lord Ebringt,on, who moved the adjournment of the meeting, as one dis- orderly and wholly irregular. Sir Thomas Dyke Acland tried to recall the agriculturists to the irresistible facts— Ile entreated them to consider whether, at the end of a struggle of thirty years in which struggle statesman after statesman, class after class, Parliament after Parliament, has proceeded in one direct line towards a gradual expansion of the efforts of every interest in the country, it is likely that either this meeting or any number of meetings will be able to turn back the tide to the extent desired by this petition. (Great confusion.) He went with them the full length of placing the agricultural interest on the same footing, but no higher, as that on which every other interest was placed. (Confusion, and shouts of" We'll have pro- tection!") Many other interests were protected to the extent of ten per cent: he would have the agriculturists put upon the same footing, but he should not re- commend them to ask for more. (Cries of" Tlae old protection r) He never saw a river ran up a bill yet. (Renewed uproar, which continued for souse time.) A thorough Protectionist petition to Parliament was carried.
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