5 NOVEMBER 1842, Page 8

There is nothing of much importance in the papers today

; but the report of the Anti-Corn-law League's weekly meeting, on Thursday evening, comes in to give an appearance of political activity. Apropos of a letter from Mr. Robert Wallace, insisting on the necessity of pre- paring for early Parliamentary discussion, Mr. Cobden somewhat ab- ruptly changing his recent tone, made an onslaught on Sir Robert Peel-

" It appears that there is no intention of calling Parliament together earlier than the usual period. The responsibility of this must rest wholly upon the Government ; I should say, rather emphatically, it rests wholly with Sir Ro- bert Peel. Now, during the last session of Parliament, very great allowance was made, very great forbearance was exercised towards Sir Robert Peel by the Opposition, because it was felt by the independent part of the Opposition, that any very strong attacks made upon him would be misconstrued by the country, and thought to be rather unfair, and to be playing into the hands of the Whigs who had preceded him. Now, it is quite clear Sir Robert Peel can be entitled to no such forbearance in the approaching session. He is now responsible, at all events, for not having the present state of the country diligently inquired into instantly by the Parliament. Ile has it in his power to call the Parlia- ment together this sleek if he pleases ; and as he fails to do so, Sir Robert Peel will be chargeable, when Parliament meets again in February, with the protracted sufferings of the people during the winter. What his object may be I cannot pretend to divine. I believe him to have been without a plan from the beginning of his Government." Mr. Cobden related a little mysterious romance of contemporary history- " An elderly gentleman called upon me on Tuesday, having the appearance of a country gentlemen ; and he put this paper into my hand, accompanied by a bank-note= A landowner, possessed of several farms, subscribes 100/. to the Anti-Corn-law League fund. It is a money question, and the money speaks for itself. The subscription shall be repeated, if requisite.' I never saw the gentleman before—probably shall never see him again. He did not wait for any conversation. I tried to have a little talk with him as to his views on the Corn-laws as affecting his interests; but I could get nothing from the old gentleman but this simple remark—. It is a question of money, it is a question of money ; and the money speaks for itself.'" The Leaguers cheered the eccentric old gentleman's pleasant dictum and both his notes, and voted him their thanks. Mr. Rawson proposed to frame and glaze the note ; but Mr. Cobden intimated that it would be spent in canvassing and informing 2,000 electors. Addresses were delivered by the Reverend W. H. Bonner of Bilston and Mr. Bright of Rochdale ; and the meeting separated.