Zbe Vrobinces.

The Anti-Corn-law gathering at Manchester has not disappointed ex- pectation. From all parts of the country men of influence and pro- perty were assembled to issue a combined declaration against the system of commercial restrictions, and especially the tax on foreign corn. Wednesday was the day of muster ; but the proceedings were adjourned, and did not conclude till Thursday night. The largest room in Man- chester, the Corn Exchange, was found inadequate to the accommoda- tion of half the number of those who desired to lie present. Seven hundred persons sat down to dinner, some of whom paid a guinea, and some thirty shillings for tickets, issued at first at three shillings and sixpence. Roman was made after dinner for several hundreds more, on payment of five shillings each ; those coining from a distance having the preference. The room was handsomely decorated ; and at the head of the table, where the Chairman and the more distinguished guests sat, was a screen on which were painted in large letters several mottoes- " The Total and Immediate Repeal of the Corn-laws ;" "A cheap Loaf for the People ;" " The Repeal, the Total Repeal, and nothing but the Repeal." Mr. J. B. Smith, Chairman of the Manchester Anti-Corn- Law Association, presided ; and near him sat Mr. Thomas Potter, Mayor of Manchester, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Seholefield, )'.."ir William Moleswor,b, Mr. Clay, Mr. Leader, Colonel Salwey, 3Ir. Brotherton, Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Walker, Mr. henry Marsland. Mr. Easthope, Mr. Fort, Mr. 'F. B. Hoblimawe, and Mr. Finch, all Members of Parliament. There were also present, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Ewart, Dr. Bowring, the I fonour- able James Erskine Murray, and gentlemen delegated from Edinbureit, Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, Preston, Leicester, Derby, Blackburn, Rolton,• Rochdale, Wolverhampton, 1-1 oil, and Nottingham. The Chairman announced, that letters, regretting inability to attend the meeting, and declaring opinions in thvour of a total repeal or exten- sive alterations of' the Corn-laws, had been rcetived from MeF.,rs. Grote, Dennistoun, Stansfield, Protheroe, G. W. Wood, Bust ell, llostie, J. Dunlop, Hidden, Charits Wood, rowon SVih, Raikes Currie, F. H. Berkeley, Strutt, Robert Ferguson, William Evans, J. A. Nerrag, Har- vey, 1.angdale, Kinnaird, Wallace, Phil limits, Ileamish, G. R. Phillips, Web, Lister, Monte, Luke White, Ellice, Parker of Sheffield, John- son, Swynten Jervis, Blake, Hawes, Wokley, Blaekett, Thornely, Rundle, Broeklehurst, Aglionby, Iltivsman, Ward, Baineir, Bewrei, E. B. Roche, Sir George Strickland, `iii. George Grey, Sir Peter Fleet- wood, General Sharpe, and : also from the Lord Mayor of London, Colonel Torrens, Mr. Ratliliene of Liverpool, the Mayor of Newcastle, and Mr. G. R. Porter, the writer on Stati The Chairman stated with regret, that severe indisposition alone pre- vented the attendance of Mr. Mark Phillips; whose heart, however, was with them, The following letter from Mr. Poulett Thomson accounted for his absence— "South Aualey Street, 15th January 1839.

" My dear Sir—I have delayed replying to your letter, inviting me to cline with time Anti-Corn-law Association on the 11:Id ion., becao.su I we unwillin, to decline the invitation at once, and therefore wished to ascertain whether it would lie possible for me to get down to 'Manchester on the occasion. I now, however, regret to say, that I an compelled to retinae myself the pleasure of meeting the gentlemen in whose name yon write ; as Mind the pressure of public business just before the mi...ting of Parliament, and the necessity of fre- quent attendance at Councils, render it impossible fir me to leave :Loudon.

"1 bug y on will convey the expression of my regret to the Committee.

"1 ani, my dear Sir, yours faithfully, C. 1'. Tutu The reading of this letter provoked both cheers and /asses.

The following letters from Lord Brougham and Lord Durham were

then read from the chair— "Grafton Street, 10th January 1839.

"Sit.--I am sorry that it will not be in my power to accept the honour of the invitation which I have just received to the Manchester dinner, to he behl upon the occasion of the opposition against the Corn-laws.

"My opinions upon this most important subject have been frequently de- clared m Parliament ; and I shall nut fail to thinly duty there when it is again brought forward. It is given out, I perceive, that those who could really help forward the question will only be likely to exert themselves if the country shall press them. I do not well understand this principle of public conduct ; but 111111 sure it will be the country's own fault if any ext.use remains for any one doubting what opinion generally. prevails upon this question, so universally interesting to all classes. " 1 have the honour to be, Sir, your faithful and obedient servant,

"To J. B. Smith, Esq. " Boo eOnAM."

• " Lon:loth 15th January ISA " Sir-1 regret that the pressure of public business, which detains me in Loudon, will prevent me from accepting the invitation to the public dinner at the Corn Exchange, which you have done me the honour to transmit to Ille. "My opinions on the subject to which that meeting refers have been laiig entertained, and decidedly expressed in Parliament. It was may belief in 1815, when I moved the amendment to the second reading of the Corn-law Bill in the House of Commons, that the measure was unwise and impolitic ; and sub- sequent experience has confirmed me in that opinion. I tun cant inced that the operation of the Corn-laws is as injurious to the agriculturist as to the manufacturer; and that their repeal would equally tend to the mutual advantage of both classes. 1 believe that ally diminution in the price of corn would lie more than counterbalanced by that increased consumption coital other articles of agricultural produce, which would be created by the extension of commercial enterprise, the fresh impulse which would be given to maufae. turing industry, all11 the great additional employment which would be con- sequently afforded to the labouring classes. " I have the honour to be, your most obedient servant, DunitAm." ",:f. B. Smith, Esq. Chairman, &c."

Both letters were received with cheers.

The first toast was—" The Queen, the Dutelless of Lancaster; and may she long reign over an industrious people, unshackled by Corn- laws, or any monopolies whatsoever." Drunk with much enthusiasm.

Then came—" The total and unconditional Repeal of' the Corn and Provision Laws," In proposing this toast, INIr. Smith drew attention to the evidence given before the Douse of Commons Committee on Agri- culture in 18:16, which proved that the chief reason why the English farmer needed protective dinies, was his stupid perseverance in the use of old and clumsy implements, and adherence to a bad system of culti- vation, which the more intelligent thriller of Scotland hall discarded-

" 11Ir. Smith, of DeWitt, w110 is well known to be one of the first ntechallic of this ccuotty, and also, perliap:, one of the first agriculturists of the age, having Gruel his attention to draining the land, statt.s that hy draining and sub-ploughing, Ile made some land abich was covered. with heath and pre- viously only worth an acre, worth •Ills. au acre. It was fratint that the &midi farmer produced one-third, one-fourth, and even a half more, on worse land, than the English farmer produced. :Ur. Smith was whether 11i8 plan was ever tie& in Englauil ; and lie replied that it hall ono two in- stances. What were the results? Ile stated that .1.11inirai Ffeniing hail adopted his plan with respect to same grass laud, which for twenty years hail been let fin. only 20:;. an acre. After draining mid improving it according to his pin, it was 1,:t drat Fleming hir ati acre. Mr. Lauri nce tlipliant, the !ileitil'icr fin Poi that lie m-. mm- a considi-ralle landirviivr, 1!,ai fm•ming in Engiiid etas unprolitade hi ofthe ignorance ofIle fariMog interest ; that t—ie v. ere thousands of acres of land in England yieliliog only one-fourth parr of tl.r pre:love which a 1. ry small amount of apiney. :mil a very little holintes aliplied to it, world quadruple. It seems to me, (,:aid Mr. ganith.) that the English thrillers are pn:tty touch in the same stole that a cotton- spinner would be in who should continue to work witit the machinery and pre- parations whirl, his grandfather mused. if such a stupid blockhead could be found, you would not certainly he surpriseti to bear hini complain of hard times, of the loss of capital, :old of his inakility to pay his rent, or of his being desirous to throw his taxes on other,shouldurs; but would you sympathize with such a rasa? Could vin be pct.-at:idea that it was trout of protection flint made Idia i..erI No such thing. Yin would ,mly, that it Was his obstinate

• licy in the is of alit choosy machint•ry tleit tras the cause of his

1 h:.tt• -A- yet ...Ids et before the I'ononit tee of the 110:1,:e of

Celw m ; 1,:it it appears to me to bring the ime:tion into

II al'e tcu O]lpr,..,stai 1,y a mooqtrcolc that das,.1..."s our coimi.ia and manitfacturrs, revers the la i n

v oar el 111i11:11S, reels With prostitutes. R11.1

1t'Iti; 11 eX1-1--.-s oat I;• I •I properties to the dagger of the assassin and the tiles of.. the . lull ha: what:' nhy, simply tee:lose the igni,ralit f.111,1t.r 5101 1,14 ill ils.,ng elm::-=y lilaehinery instead of new. 't4 as any own'. ty heaveil 111..sised. with sari ture .:11;..a a g.,i.,•rooio:i1 as this ? Shall such folly he contigocal ? No. Will you ..mt• 11:•!i ought to h4' pt••,' III I interpret your cheers : aml you Ji oaTiintically say that it might not. The only

laid is to let in cot:Teti:tin, and thereby stir np the

dultivss of that etas s of the c .,...onntity. Be the. ,.i vort Wi:1 Soon gee thus agricoltini-t ,ippe,simating to condition of time Scotch agri- culturisri ; and thus all parties relit be relieted."

-21fr. Greg, being called tensin by tlia Chairman to reply 11 the toast, rose amidst. much cheering. 'chore was. lie sei I, no necessity for a de- tailed expoAtire of the fall:toles of the Corn-kiw supporters i•ll hiS part; When CO10111.1 Thol111;stal, di,tim:itilied author of was present ; and hi) V. only briefly allude to the liordtin, thy, amount of the he;ation, dieeetly in:pn, • 11ty tlie Ct.:a-laws nit flu' coin- munity••--

" I will mime itch y• coe- i eii i,i ammints to et)

nand flea the inerei,e pr:eia ia ! • • ri,ini-naly laws roily amount to 1.",. .:11iirtt.r, it of cigii •,•••:1, for other purpoi.-; lie vaiiitim.d. by flue t•.!.i. v•i'l ni•chppz, 21) millions of tavalliin inipastrt li,•••ii the rest Or , .17111111,1:AV :-.‘• the Corn- laws. But it he 20 millians, as 00111e Oth, rs say —for we must rumen-00,T Ilia it is cot rncrely coin, hut file ilole produce of evert ■•,leter or 150 thisis not the ereatest part of Ili; it is :ail- the worst elf-:t resolting from this taxation

flat timmu l is dear. A none' worse I believe to be this—that it hes act !tally

coital igereil oar and oar commerce, alai that in etulangt ring both it hai.feadan:;:rred the prosp.,ritv of the empire. It is ■plite its ar, although many gentlemen do not railways It, OF it its pump a: that wherc we will not buy we cannot: :all. If we will not take these pt.:situ:thins which other canaries 11OVe to ; r u.. it: they c mum t talus 0111.,i; if we will not taLe their eaill tit-e.;■er. ■11..y ,•.!111111t take t■or iliaantlicturcs. If they c...dout Ire clothed w'til t tiO'y arc of ii...•cessity drlvea to maim- fitct tire foe themselves.-

III 1814, a fixed fluty of 20s. might perhaps have been italicised. Ni

much ihjury, aie,1 the landvmmers would e continued to enjoy high prices; btu how— • . . . . duty ofe!ls. a toreear not to be &Tow LI, I y oflik. f/ rpet1/10. is not to Is. Nethi:-.:: 1 .1 a total and immediate repeal can :slue nil- which 1 e,:e Lave ler■..!' ,,1•11

fm-

pending. Nothiag lot I! 111-'4' reih,t/ pr, •,...71. thee ',rho are still our cast milers 'canning our rieah•. N; ',in, will prevent the, enrols whom the Corn-laws bare &ready ral,eil up liolit kaamd mg our executors."

—Mr. Greg proceeded to i!I:1 the to 111111111filet tires!

and commerce were readieg a letter from Sir Samuel

irling, who had for :-miee. hatin rest lent in the Grand Dinelly of

Baden ; in whitili hetoria..i.rt -anted respecting tie iirogress of the Germans in :lie i.mele•' ut seerr. Nvoollens. cott011S. and.

hardware. We p.'iv■ in (..Xtr ft! letter-

" In the lamitiful ear iy of the .t."s- a few miles from this. (Corlsrolie.) nets 11■1V 11111110N 118;11.1,i-

W0011011 el,(! :ill all the fiery known in 1 On this river there arc 1.1140 011 the S31110 rtuel- --; it factory bre, just commenced winking, mr.i..11:2-s io•-• ■ I finiSliell. It liar bet.11 tt-.1 at ex-

aithourit all 1 1 ;111

pense Mil:rob:11:1Y mm! :ore 1 ,1;; : anil there is a large sal plus capital. It will employ 1..2Git hands. 'ft ,• , • •• as made at Aluiltoustal. F timid,: to our precious lure rcspectitig tli • ev; of machinery.] and the 1.-,1s-li!:hls tilted up bya Manchester or Bolton b:.::•., I forget which. very large spinintig-s-s'• ' ohp..:'mot cud:lied at Ingslearg. in 13a va via, about

one day and a hall from this ; e are in conteroldatitia in every of trade,"

—Mr. Greg mentioned that tin important branch of his own. business had been entirely destroyed by foreign contpetition- " The house with which I myself am connected, had, in COMIVIUMCC of foreign competition in a particular article, been compelled to breuk up two hundred looms in one of our establishments last year, and we are about to break up two hundred more looms iu another establishment this year. The article to which I then alluded was the article of velveteen. I have here with me a sample of a most beautiful velveteen made at Moscow. It was before the operation of the Corn-laws an article of trade with 'Litman, of an enormous extent ; it is now reduced to nothing. In the year 1833, the export of vel- veteen to Russia was 284,000 yards ; in 1834, 315,000 yards; in 1835, 307,000 yards ; in 1836, 23,000 yards ; and in 1837, 8,000 yards. Our exports of this article to all other ports of the world were, in 1833, 8,000,000 of yards ; 1334, 7,500,000; in 1835, 7,300,000 ; in 1e36, 5,800,000; and in 1837, 4,600,000 yards. The export of our manufactured goods to Russia is, infect, gone. Iu 1820, we exported. to Russia 13,200,000 yards of manufactured cotton goods. In 1837, we exported only 847,000 vards. To give some idea of the extent of the re- duction of the exports of the cotton manufacture of the country at this mo- moment, I may state, that one-third of the amount of cotton manufacture of England is consumed at home. Another staple article of English export, nan- keens, is entirely gone. This is now supplied uvholly from Switzerland. Lave also a specimen of German production. It is a most beautiful fabric of cloth, and is made at Kremlitz. A gentleman is present who has been to that country, and who can state that the present price of this article at Kremlitz is 15s. a piece. The patterns brought to market this day of English manufac- ture, were 17s, 6d. a piece. The German patteru exceeds the English in beauty and in the execution of the work. It is true there ie a great deal of labour iu both samples; still the Germuns have the superiority ; and, if so, it is very clear that we merely enjoy a trade in this article until the Germans think fit to break it up."

—He had received interesting letters from America, which he would not read ; but it was important to put the meeting in possession of some of the facts stated therein-

,' Gentlemen, I have sonic very interesting letters from America, which I shall not now detain you by reading. I will merely state this—that in the year 1814 the people of America consumed 100 bales of cotton. Last year the consumption was nearly 300,000, entirely the growth of the short period which has elapsed since the year i814. She now stands, in point of consunmtion, where we stood in the year 1816. Sixteen years ago, Lowell, the Manchester of America, was a desert. Its foreets echoed no sound but that of the cataract. It now spins and mantilla:tures 40,1.040 bales of cotton per annum. There is a concentrated water-power, untottatingto 3,000 horses' pwer, which equals one- half of the water-poaer of Great Britain, which is applied to the cot ton manu- facture, and to one-sixth of all the :ttaan power au applied. In 1835, America exported 2,800,000 dollars worth of cotton goeds ; in i836 and half of 1;:37, she exported 20,0130 bales of her cut tjn man nfact ores round the Cape of Coed Hope to India and China, and 34,000 hales to the markets of South America. Neither is it in the cotton manufhet are alone that site is advancing. In 1835, she land 17,000,000 of sheep and lantl,s; in 183S, 20,000,000 ; tvIneh, at 316. per head, would. give 60,1100,00011.s. of wool, the whole of which is mantel:salved there. It is stilted in the Altera:au reports, and it is a fact which can he testified by many of those ;rho are pre:seta front the di:, m ct I am about to atlas: tu, that the inferior woollens are seal us cheap in New York as in the eluth-lulls of Leeds."

—It was said by their 'opponents, if the prospects of trade are so bad, why do you persist in building new factories?—

" That certainly is a poser. I know :lot whether the explanation which I shall give may be considered the right cue, but I flail answer the question to which I have reliared by asking another. 13 it not a fact, that the professions of the law, the church', and meals:ale are already quite full, and yet persons are found still to flock to them—mmr, flint those who are engaged in such profes- sions, end who have therefore the best epportunity of seeing how overstocked they are, stilt bring up their children in the same pursuits ? Da not other mann- facturers be ides the ' 'Mon ntaltu!itetarers persevere in following those occupa- tions which they find at ■ proll 1)”;:s not the farmer, does not the labourer,

do so? lbws nut time can't p;rAst itt investing his money in the Three per

Cents., though it riey yield him no return ? The real question is, what is the fundamental cause of all this ? It is, that there is no room for all to expand. It is, that there is a straight jacket ple,:ed on the body politic which prevents

its free and healthful action. Want been the benefit of theme abominable

laws to the agricultn:::1 labourer The Stu/Oaf:1 of this looming that ono itundmd,and lifly..ycars ago, the 11C,ottrer Iva. bet ter mill by thirty per cent. Has the fainter been hent.flied? I quote the Stassesai again, which says this morning that suecegmc reties of ilirmeers have, one after the other, been swept into the Gazette. Have theme laws benefited the hindholders themselves? if you go through the country, and ash who are the owners of the tine mansions which arrr-t the mind on pv.s:,!ng through Em4land, you will be told ' It is Spire Such-a-one ; but he is gne. to France to economize.' By a return from the Prefect of Police of Paris, ten years :,go, I see thnt there were at that time 35,000 Englishmen resident in that city, of whom 0,600 were artisans—the latter of whom were not likely to do us much good. This number drew 3,800,C00/. out of the country. Nov if there was such a number at that time,

and that such was the expenditure in France alone ten years ago, it is not too

much to suppose that them are new 70,0110 resident in Italy, France, and Switzerland; and that they abstract from the country 8,000,000/. Ifew many landlords must be thus taken off their beautiful estates, and how large is the sum thus taken away from the country in the shape of the Corn-law tax ?"

—Mr. Greg concluded by proposing, "the health of the mover and seconder of the motion in March 18:3S for a repeal of the Corn-laws, Charles Pelham Villiers, Esquire, and Sir William Molesworth,"

Mr. Villiers delivered an admirable speech. He said that the oppo- nent 3 of the Corn-laws stood is the position of men who only descended into the field of agitation after having resorted to every source to which reasonable men could appeal, in vain—till ruin stured them in the face on one side, and despair of redress of the other. The conduct of the Legislature last session must remove all doubts as to what was to be expected from it when relieved from the pressure of external excite- ment. The manner in which the argument on his motion was con- ducted—the coefident and cot aemptuotts silence which preceded the overwhelming vote—must satiefy any man that agitation was necessary.' The rejection of the hill for gyindiug foreign wheat in bond, was an act of selfish and wanton legislation, and the result of the increased confi- dence which led 300 Members at u civic faiest to pride themselves on the rejection of his motion, and to pledge themselves to maintain their monopoly-

" Could any man doubt, who did not believe you to be the least spirited and most =servile of men, that, after such events as 1 have described, you must take that redress into your own hands which you have failed to procure by any other means? That moment, I thank God, has arrived ; and I congratulate you—I

might almost say the world—on the spirit and determination with which ' you • are availing yourselves of it. Them is no mistake in the meeting which is now assembled. Let no one doubt its earnestness, or question the success of the cause which it is collected to support. Can any man believe that you have left

your homes'and renounced your usual occupations for the idle purpose of agita- tion; or that you, who are interested above every other class in the stability of our institutions—ay, more than those who waste what you produce—that you who feel most sensitively any shock to credit, would jour in giving an impulse to the general excitement, it you did not believe that any evil was more tolerable than the one which you seek to remedy ? And can any man doubt of success, when he reflects on the combination which you present of intelligence, wealth, and character, and who calls to mind what you have done in former times, wben the lords of the soil attempted to make inroads on your property ? I say it is impossible to question your success, or to calculate the blessings of such result."

—Let it be remembered, how much was effected by energy and per. severance against Slavery-

" The difficulties are far less with regard to the Corn-laws. Here there is no question of race or of contentment under moral degradation ; we at once see on one side a wrong inflicted on our fellow subjects and fellow Christians—men of time same colour and race as ourselves—and on the other the pecuniaryprefit of a few. It is for this reason that I am of opinion that we should insist on being heard, and not allowing the question to be shuffled off as it has hitherto been. We must come to book with the landlords. We will give them a fair hearing; but we claim the same for ourselves ; and satisfied with that condi- tion, we invite them to the proof of all they allege."

—On the question of injury to foreign trade, Mr. Villiers could speak from personal knowledge— "I have myself travelled in countries where manufactures have made the greatest progress. And I maintain, that if any person should attempt to ques- tion the fact, he must deny the evidence of his own senses. I allude wind- pally to those States by which the German Commercial League has been formed; and whatever nifty be thought of the wisdom which these persons have shown, I doubt hesitate to say that the practical operation of that agree- ment is to establish a vast workshop in that part of Europe for twenty-seven millions of people who were formerly satisfied with the supply from this coun- try, but who now promise to become our muscat formidable competitors. Now, I venture to affirm, that time tariff imposed on our goods is solelv owing to the restrictive duties imposed on their produce. I say that it could not be sus- tained unless we had continued our tax. And I venture to predict, that if we continue it we shall not only have raised a tariff, but we shall include within the league all that are left of our valuable customers. If that flirt eanuot be denied, the landlords are strictly responsible for all the evils which follow the loss ; as they have forced manufacturers into existence, it now depends Upon us whether they shall prosper. We have enabled them to conquer every obstacle, including want of capital, and we have driven artisans from our shores. The advantage by which they are enabled to rival us successfully is the low price of provisions. And if you ask them what they think would be the effect of the repeal of the Coo-lanes, they acknowledge that it would raise the price apse- visions and increase the demand. of labour. Now these arc just the two things most fatal to their proeperity. It was most candidly admitted to me, that their workmen were less skilled than ours; and that if they were obliged to pay them higher wages titan they did at resent, thee could no longer compete with us, but must withdraw their capital from mantdacturee. I was also interested in observing how well they understood (how for better than some in this coun- try) the question of the Corn-laws. Thee made many inquiries as to the excitement which seemed growing up on the subject. They seemed to have a distinct notion of the comparative effect of a fixed duty and of a total repeal; and among the public men with whom I conversed, one said to me, A jiae.d duty of ten shillings is e.earilg what would suit Its; but a repeal the Corn-hors would be fidal to our prospects.' Their reasoning was perfectly intelligible. They said there is great discontent in the Northern provinces ; that the tixed duty would allay that disconteut ; but that the repeal of the Corn-laws would be ruinous, by raising the price of provisions. These were the views of not one, but twenty, whom I met, and who were most anxious in their inquiries as to our proceedings at this critical period."

—Some friends, who would be thought very wise, recommended a corn- promimme—

" Gentlemen, I could nut venture to recommend such a course, lest I should be thought a traitor to the cause. This mode of proceeding, which ire have nor adopted, hes been furced upon us. We were told that nothing would be

done unless there seas an extended agitation. lf, then, we are powethd enough by such means to do any thing, we have power to do every taillike I say, then, that we have nothing to do but to go on upon a sound principle, and claim every thing that we are entitled to. I consider that time question is now in your hands ; and whatever course out may thiak it prudent and trim to adopt

with reference. to the proceedings m Parte:me:a, we who are here will feel it to

be our bounden duty to submit to it. I give notice that I will again bring this question forward. (*Lord cheers, and cries of "Bravo ") Gentlemen, I beg of

you only to deliberate and consider what is the best method by which you are

most likely to attain success ; and 1—who have no personal object in this, and nothing Whatever in view but its success—I say, that whatever be the course that you direct, be assured that you will not find a more willing or a more ready servant than I shall be, in whatever way you think may poor and humble abilities can be useful." (Loud and continued cheers.) Sir William Molesworth was cordially welcomed. He complimented Mr. Villiers on the extraordinary- ability of his speech ; and said that, for himself, he carne not to speak, but to listen, and to learn, from the highest practical authority, facts wherewith, on another occasion and in another place, he might assail the upholders of the Corn-laws. Ile recommended perfect union on this the greatest of all present questions, whatever opimons on other subjects its friends might entertain ; and that nothing else should be thought of or discussed till it should be placed out of danger.

" You, gentlemen of Manchester, have been accused, by your Representa- tive in the Cabinet, of having been fainthearted and lukewarm in this great cause during times when others were struggling in vain in your behalf. Whether this accusation is well founded or not, I will not pretend to say. Certainly I do not renwmber, when I had the honour of last seconding my friend Mr. Villiers, to have Lira time influem ir.1 voice of that Representative. Nor even the preceding year, when I supported my friend Mm, Clay, did lie less silent]. favour an alteration in the Corn-law. Are these to be considered proofs of your want of zeal ? If en, it appear.; to me that you have now made ample amends, by seizing with signal promptitude the proper moment for action, and by selecting with thesoundest judgment the best course to be pureued. The

example you have set has been followed by Glasgow, Liverpool, and the great city width I have the honour of representing ; and I trust the other towns of Great Britain and Ireland will imitate you, both in the collection of subscrip- tions and in procuring petitions to Parliament. Every petition should con- tain the prayer to be heard at the bar of the House of Commons. Indeed, I consider it impossible to overrate the importance of obtaining permission to

give evidence against the Cony-law; for .then, so clear a ease agamstit could be made out, and one supported by such unquestionable testimony, that few who attended to the question would be able to deny the justness of our com- plaints, the extent of our grievances, or honestly refuse redress." • Alluding to Mr. Ward's letter, on the mode of dealing with the People's petitions, he paid that gentleman a merited compliment for his perseverance in other labours undertaken by him ; and anticipated the same success from his resolution to obtain a hearing for every peti- tion, which had attended his efforts to obtain authentic division-lists on every vote of the House.

The speakers who succeeded Sir William Molesworth were the 'Mayor of Manchester, Mr. Brotherton, and Mr. Holland Hook. Mr. Hoole, who is termed a Conservative in politics, said he had never altered his opinion on the Corn-laws-

" He had been brought up painfully—if he might so speak—as a labourer ; lie first was a working man, getting his bread by the daily labour of his own bands; he had since become a master, employing ninny hundreds of his fellow men, who were depending, in some degree, upon his management and skill for their daily subsistence. He had suffered from the operation of the Corn-laws ever since their being enacted until now. He suffered from them when he was a servant, Mid he suffered. from them now that lie had become a master and a merchant. He therefore most decidedly concurred in the declaration which had been made by his respected friend Mr. Greg and others, that the manufac- tures and trade of this country could not possibly be sustained unless these laws were abolished. He was not an inexperienced novice upon this question. He had been engaged either as a servant or as a master and a merchant ever since the Continent was open to British enterprise, in a most extensive foreign business ; and if it were not that he was afraid of unne- cessarily occupying the time of the meeting, he could enter into details, and produce facts -before them, that were within his own observation and experience, and that were irrefragable, which would clearly demonstrate that if the Corn- laws were not speedily repealed, they would be the ruin of the manufacturing interest of this country. It was well known what his opinions were upon many questions ; but on the present question he entirely concurred iu the opinions expressed by the gentleman who last addressed that assembly."

—He had expected, and the people generally had expected, a repeal of the Corn-laws from the Reform Act ; but they had been bitterly dis- appointed— " He had been very much surprised to see some observations made in certain newspapers to this effect, namely, that the people had not called for a repeal of these laws. It was the rich manufacturers only, they exclaimed, who called for that repeal. But what did they into made these remarks require ? Were they not content that the masters, who were the tree representatives of the people—who employed the people, who paid them, ay, and as Mr. Greg bad truly said, who had continued to pay them within the last two years out of their capital to a certain extent—were they not content that the manufacturers, who had the same interest as -the people in this matter, should agitate it ? Were not the masters the first to foresee the coming storm—the first to feel the quskings of the foundation ? What was it that these writers wanted Did they really wish to have the subject soberly discussed, as it was now being discussed ? If so, their object was answered. Or did- they want another Peterloo ? (Loud cheering.) Was that the way in which this great question was required to be argued ? Were the men to be urged on by their own dis- tress—were they to he left to themselves, till, seeing their children perishing for want of fiaul, they at length slu,1:',1. come with uplifted hands and threaten destruction both to property, and life ? Was that, he ['gab' asked, the way in which the Corn-laws were to be repealed? He hoped, he trusted not. Nay, he was sure it would not be so."

Mr. Clay's health having been proposed, that gentleman addressed the meeting. He dwelt particularly on the injury the Corn laws in- flicted on the agricultural interest— He declared his complete and solemn conviction, that if there were one class of the British people that had, beyond all others, vital and permanent interest in the repeal of these unjust and Impolitic laws, the landholders were that class. It was from the manufacturing and commercial greatness of this country alone that the soil of England derived a value so far above the value of any other part of the earth's surface. To what but the miraculous extension of our com- merce and manufactures is it owing, that the owner of some two or three thou- sand acres of the soil of England had a revenue that the princes of other lends might envy? Insane, indeed, on the part of the landholders, would be the policy by which that commerce and those manufactures should be endangered. But he would hope for better thin,,as, and trust that, powerful as the landowners were in the Legislature, they would be moved equally by reason and by patriot- ism to relinquish a monopoly as useless and even dangerous to them as it was oppressive and odious to their fellow countrymen.

Alderman Kershaw proposed " A Cheap Loaf for the People." Mr. Leader rose, by appointment, to reply to the toast. He referred to Mr. Hoole's remark that the People had been disappointed in the Re- form Act- " Can you wonder that you have not any relief from the Corn-laws, when the People are denied to have a voice in the representation of the country, so that they might remove those laws which press upon the country. (" Hear, hear, hear I" and a cry of "No polities.") Oh no ; of course not. I can assure you that it is very far from my intention to say a word of politics, which might interfere with the great object of the meeting, which I consider of paramount importance. It was speaking of the working classes which chiefly induced me

to make the remark. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction amongst the working classes. There is a great deal of organization, a great deal of in- telligence, and a great deal of determination amongst them ; but I have been given to understand by Mr. Scholetield, that, in Birmingham especially, there Is the disposition amongst them not to join with us in the agitation of the repeal of the Corn-laws. If there be such a disposition, 1 an heartily sorry to hear of it ; and I trust that they will see their error, get rid of this disposition to stand alone, and join with us heart and soul. I cannot see any good reason why they should refuse to join with us ; for, supposing that we succeed—and from what I have seen in Manchester I am sure we have every prospect of succeeding—but supposing that we succeed, then the very first men to profit by it would be the working classes ; and supposing that we fail, what an ummswer able argument that would be for the working classes for demanding a change in the representative system. (Cheers.) I hope, then, that the working classes will join heartily with the manufacturers of England!"

The Chairman said, that their subscription-purse already contained 5,000/. ; but there was no reason why the sum should not be raised to 20,000/. He would therefore send the subscription-book round the table ; and in the meanwhile call on Mr. Dyer for a toast. Mr. Dyer spoke briefly on the ignorance and selfishness displayed in Parliamentary legislation on the subject of trade, and proposed the health of "The Author of the Corn-law Catechism, Colonel Thompson." Colonel Thompson rose to address the meeting ; and was received with much applause. He commenced his speech thus-

" Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it is the first time I ever presented myself before an assembly of this kind, in a country of which it was once said that her merchants were princes : but I am afraid that the time is now come when at least many of them, if princes, arc living upon their hereditary revenues. We need not look further than to our own houses and families to see how by no imperceptible degrees we have been brought down from great wealth to less, and from wealth at all to poverty. Which of us is there who has not seen some relative thrust into that hell of the trading community—the bankrupt list ? Who is there that has not had sonic brother, cousin, or friend transport- ing himself to Van Diemen's Land, perchance because this country was made too hot to hold them? Can we doubt the connexion between the effects and the cause ? Does it not thrust itself upon us ? How, them are we to remove the cause One year ago you were weak, now you are strong. There are fluctuations in all human affairs; there have been in yours. Show yourselves not feeble in the day of your success. You will not be unjust; but do not have to blame yourselves hereafter that you let slip the moment of your power. Make, then, no feeble compromise. Those who desire much, must ask enough. Meet your adversaries with the demand why you should not serve them as they have served you for three-and-twenty yeses. They have oppressed your with taxes, which have deprived you of the just produce of your labour. Why should you not put some tax upon them, I ask? I counsel you to ask them that question. Make them answer it, at the very least ; and if they keep silence, or make no answer that you shall deem an equivalent, then see how you have been able to put them down by the pure force of justice alone. Why should you not demand something like a tax on home-grown corn ? Ask what they have to respond. Go further, and ask why the arguments with which they have confronted you should not be turned against themselves ? They say it is good for the manufacturers to have rich agriculturists to buy of them : why not good for agriculturists to have rich manufacturers to buy of agricul- turists? Are you so weak, so feeble, so uninstructed, as not to know that when the agriculturist says, Give me 80s. for a quarter of corn, instead of 40s., then 1 will expend kts. on you in manuflestures instead of 40s.,' he does really sass Give me two bales of cloth instead of one for a quarter of corn. " —He recommended that the example of the profession to which he be- longed, (but of which he was not the oldest or ablest present,) should be followed. lie would say, Go among your men, stick by them, and pre- vent their joining the enemy. He knew the reasons whirll actuated the poor men, because he had been much in the way of hearing them- " Three or four years o, the politic committee of the monopolkts sent depu- ties amongst them, and they have not vet recovered from the influence winch was then exerted over their minds. First of all, they were told, 'If you re- move the tax on corn, there will be an immediate influx of the agricultural la, bourers into the manufacturing districts.' Now, let me suppose that there was an exclusion of agricultural produce from your megniticent town tier the sake of benefiting those who grew corn in plots and gardens within its walls. For one man who might lose employment by patting an end to so obvious an injustice, would not ten be provided with a comfortable subsistence through the increase in manufactures :+ The other argument urged upon the minds of these men Seas, If corn falls, must not wages foil also ; and when corn rises, do not wages rise ?' Now, where did the -heads come from which could con- ceive that this was an argument ? Was it to be expected that the least-educated man should not be able to reply to such an assertion, How can vro have as much corn out of half as out of the whole? and if we open our gates to fo- reign produce, and thus render corn cheap, more must come to he eaten by the numerous classes, or it must he left uneaten, which will not do the idlers any service." It' corn rises,' say the monopolists, so do wages.' Ay, hat not so so fast as corn. If corn tolls, wages fall.' Yes, but not so 1114 a: corn. By such reasoning might you bring over the minds of those to whom I have re- ferred, and induce t tient to quit a line of conduct not only embarrassing to us, but destructive to themselves. If you, the middle classes, as you are some- times called, succeed in removing this burden without receiving any aasistance from those beneath you, in what a helpless and desperate situation will the working men be placed ! They know I have always endeavoured to promote their interest, and in doing so, have disregarded every other consideratim but the advancement of whatl believed would secure their welfare. And if my advice had any effect, I should urge them to desist from any disapprobation which they may at present entertain of our proceedings, for they will must as- suredly discover in the end that we were in the right."'

—He understood that their lion said he had roared five years ago : is it not time he should roar again ?-

" You must bring him to the point ; and if you have no success, my feelings, for one, would be so bitter, that if I had time and opportunity and power, I should he glad to help, with My own band, to stick a p' into the name of the Member for Manchester."

—There was another source of reliance which he would point out— they should engage their " witches" in the controversy. It could not fail to strike woman's clear and pure intellect, that she is deeply con- cerned in a question which relates to the subistence of her children, and the maintenance of all the charities of life.

The Chairman announced, that to afford an opportunity for the at- tendance of the vast numbers who had been shut out, it had been re- solved to adjourn the meeting to the next day at five o'clock ; when there would be a dessert, at which time Members of Parliament and De- putations from the various towns would be present.

Mr. Johnston, delegate from Glasgow, Dr. Bowring, and Mr. Ains- worth, M.P. for Bolton, then addressed ihe meeting. Mr. Ainsworth said-

" I had hoped that the honourable Member for Kendal, who is, I understand, appointed to second the address t the Crown, would have attended this meet- ing, in order that he might have stated expressly his opinion of such an intelli- gent meeting as this upon so and important a question as the Corn -hoe& 1 should have requested him out only to exiwes, his sentiol.ults in Parlifonent, but to have declared his sentiments as to this vast tis.o ably to her Majesty's Ministers. I have hitherto given a fair support to her 3Isjeste's oyentinent ; but I confess, unless 1 see them take u'' this ipnvoion inn thir and honest way, and in an independent manlier. I shall feel bound not to give to them that honest and independent support which I have hitherto done. -Representing, as I do, as very large constituency, 1 feel it to he my duty fully :Ind tirly to state my sentiments; and 1 trust that on every occasion, I shall be found to sup- port every measure haring a tendency to remove those laws. I shall not at this hoar enter into details ; but if wily the one half of the arguments we have heard to-night be correct, there k. 1 consider, :Oman nt ground for us to go to Parliament to demand the utter abolition of flue:0 most ol;jectionable laws."

Mr. Ewart was loudly called for ; but it was agreed that the adjourn- ment should take place ; it beimg then half-past eleven.

The room was again crowded on Thursday afternoon ; when the principal speakers were Mr. Poulton the lecturer, Mr. Ewart, and Messrs. Wynne, Plint, Rawson, and Ashworth, (the delegates respec- tively from Wolverhampton, Leeds, Nottingham, and Bottom) Mr. Erskine Murray, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Prentice, Mr. Weir, and Dr. Bowring. The speeches reported, with the exception of Mr. Ewart's, consisted chiefly of a variety of details proving the rapid progress of the Continental manufactures. Generally speaking, the facts men- tioned were to the same effect as those with which the reader is now familiar. Mr. Ewart took up a new point ; saying-

" Gentlemen, I confess I should like to see a Government In this country which would stake its future existence, setting aside all future plans and re-- forms on the two vital questions which concern the prosperity, the happiness, and the peace of this country : one of those is free and unrestricted trade in corn, mid the other the universal education of the people'. It appears to me, gentlemen, .hat in future times, and even in the present, any Gov'ernment which stakes its existence on measures so intimately interwoven with the welfare of the community, would deserve well of the nation; and command its support. It might be swept back front the helm of Oevernment, but it would arise again, and speedily regain its power and irdluence. Like the giant in the fable, when

smitten to the earth, like the earth and the gent community over which its principles extend, it would again spring back from the earth with renovated

vigour, mut borrow that strength from its very 611, which had been for a mo- ment only wrung from it by the superior power of it too influential adversary. I see not for my own part how any 'Ministry can long continue ut the hetet of affairs without boldly meeting the all-important question trhielt COITIOS as this evening. Will my Lord Melbourne meet this question 1 think he would do %Veil to do sn. Supposing lie does not, 'trill or will riot Sir Robert

Peel meet this question i' We kuow-that Sir *Robert Peel has been what is

called an \ pedicucy Minister; and an Expedienev Minister is not, perhaps, the vers. Ii shiest character which Can be CO:in:IT:4 upon a political man. I

trust gat the present (lovernment will show 4.1-it they are something. even beyond E v•,. ;die !icy e rs ; but we urns" this, that even On, Kr. ped . ienag r is 6,Ilvo• than a IJo-unth:pri 1./.;iln;thwthi,,, I do not believe that the prt,ent Ministerq Call go on a.,ing I believe that the popular impul,e, which tom declares spriugieg from this great centre in Man-

chester, and developing itself throughout the manufinctoring districts, and all over the land--I believe that in the five of that agitation, no Minister can con- tinue to go on doing nothims."

Colonel Thompson proposed the health of the Chairintm, Mr. Smith, in complimentary terms. Mr. Prentice psoposed Mr. Weir's health ; but the Sun, to whose columns we ore indebted for this sketch of the second day's proceedings, does not report Mr. Wu pr's speech in reply.

"God save the Queen" was sung icy the company, all standing ; and .then the assionbly broke up.

A meeting of the :\Ienthers of Parliament and Delegates, present on Wednesday, was held on Thursday morning, at the York Hotel. Reso- 'tidbits were passed, recommending petitions to Parlioment front all parts of the country, praying fbr leave to be heard by counsel and to

present evidence at the bar ; that a Ceutral ilinard of Delegates should assemble in London, part of whose duty would be to obtain tine services

of Members of Parliament to procure the " immediate and total repeal of the Corn-laws ; " and that agricultural, as well as other capitalists, should he invited to aid in the good work. ty pathy with the priva- tions of the humbler arising from the dearo...sa of food, was also ettrite:itly tli,etts,loit aro:A. ;Is to thy insertion of

"immediate;' Me. riot, Leech:, wishing it to 14. heft out; but ulti- mately, the words •• lams:Sit:1e and total " were unanimously adopted. It was agreed that the Delegates should determine wimther. >Ir. Villiers

should move a repeal of the Corn-laws, in the first instance, or for lclnVe to be hear I at the bar and that the Delegates sho:ild assemble in London, the doy before the meeting of Pariia:nett.