The Anti-Corn-law Delegates assembled yesterday afternoon at Man- chester, in
the great room of the Corn Exchange ; which was filled by a body. of the most influential and respectable inhabitants. Mr. R. H m . Greg, the absence of Mr. Smith, (who is suffering from a domestic calamity,) presided at the meeting. Resolutions were passed, stating, that by the refusal to hear evidence against the Provision-laws, Parliament had virtuolly closed its doors against the manufacturing and commercial population; that confidence in the wisdom and justice of Parliament was thereby impaired ; that the votes of some Members, supposed to be inimical to misgovernment and injustice in every shape, against Mr. Villiers's motion, had excited regret and astonishment, but that the opi- nion of the meeting on the conduct of those legislators would be sus- pended, until their votes on the substantive motion of Tuesday. next were known. The Ministry had the honour of a separate resolution- " That the Statesmen who undertake to administer the affairs of this com- mercial empire, ought to bring to the responsible task not only a comprehensive knowledge of its interests, but also a decision of character adequate to the due application of their principles in all great emergencies. The repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws being a measure admitted, not only by its advocates, but by its opponents, to be of the most vital importance to the empire, canuot with justice or safety be made an open question by any Administration. This meeting nevertheless beheld with regret, that upon the late division on Mr. Villiers's motion, the Queen's Ministers declared their neutrality as a Cabinet upon this great national question ; thereby abandoning the exercise of one of its most important functions."
Finally, it was resolved that the Delegates meet again at Brown's Hotel, Palace Yard, London, on Monday next, empowered to adopt whatever ulterior measures they may deem conducive to obtaining a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws.
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