[FROM A KNOWN AND VAL1,1:a) CORRTISPO]DENT.] Man chester, 2 r
4th January 1839.
DEAR SPECTATOR—The papers will have informed you of the speeches de- livered at the meeting which took place hem yesterday. There are several filets, however, which probably they will not notice, and which perhaps the reporters bad not so good an opportunity of observing as myself. The meet- ing was one of the most numerous of the kind I ever attended. All present seemed to have but one idea ; and that was the total, and unconditional, and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws. This sentiment, whenever uttered, was received with applauses the most enthusiastic ; and the Members of Parliament present appeared to be in greater or less favour in proportion as their public conduct had been more or less directed to this object. No one dared even to hint at the propriety of a fixed duty. All notion of such a compromise was scouted ; and the wealthy merchants and manufacturers, who filled time room, scouted deeply impressed with the conviction that their property was now in imminent danger from foreign competition, which nothing but an immediate repeal of the Corn-law could avert, and to obtain which all differences of poli- tical faith should be overlooked for the present. My remark, that no other subject but time Corn-law was thought of, re- quires this modification, for strict accuracy—a very strong display of political feeling was manifested at the mention of the name of Lord DunnAm. It was the more remarkable, as a letter from Lord BROUGHAM, which bath previously been read, bad been received without more than the usual signs of approbation with which his name is generally greeted. When, however, the Chairman stated that he had a letter to read from Lord Dunnam, there was one of the most enthusiastic bursts of applause 1 have ever heard—loud and continuous cheer- ing for several minutes ; the cheering gradually subsiding, and again bursting forth ; thus marking most plainly what the hopes and expectations of the meeting were with regard to Lord DultHAM. I conversed with many of the most leading men present on time subject ; and they told me that they had no conception that than was so strong a feeling in Lord DURHAM'S favour, and said that it could not entirely refer to his opinions on the Corn-law, as those opinions were not generally known, (his letter had not been read,) and the absurd article in Tait bad, by proposing to overlook Lord DtatitAm's opinions on the Corn-law, misled many persons.
The speech of Mr. VILLIERS was most excellent, and made a great im- pression.
I have just returned from another and still more remarkable meeting than that of yesterday. I have been present at the deliberative assembly of the Delegates from the various towns, convened to consider what course they bad best pursue for the purpose of attaining the object for which they have assem- bled from the remotest parts of the kingdom. To-day there was it slight de- bate on the question of a fixed duty; which served only to show the una- nimity of all present in the determination not to be satisfied with any thing less Ann a total and immediate repeal. Many, indeed, contended they had a right to compensation for past injuries. The meeting of to-day was fitr more interesting to me than that of yesterday : yesterday 1 only heard Members of Parliament, whom I had often heard before; to-day, the spokesmen of each delegation were called upon to express the opinions and feelings of their con- stituents. And admirably many of them s_p_oke; especially the Chairman Mr. SMITH, end Mr. GREG and COBDEN, Manchester, and Mr. WEIR from Glasgow..`
Anothercorrespondent, writing from Manchester, assures us, that so far from a disposition to allow a duty, even of the smallest amount, on the importation of foreign corn, " opinion is rapidly shaping itself into a
demand for a bounty on imported corn, as in the time.of William and Mary, for seven years, of five shillings a quarter, as being necessary to i
enable the commercial interest to recover their position in Europe."
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