London daily papers, then giving considerable attention to the expression of Manchester opinion, excited much discussion throughout the kingdom, and much curiosity was manifested to know the result of the renewed debate in a body that had been overtaken by the vice of old corporations—inaptitude to move—into which a new spirit had been infused, struggling for, but still doubtful of victory. The adjourned meeting, held on the 20th of December, was still more numerously attended than the preceding. A change in the designation of some of the members will be observed. In the interval, the first municipal elections under the Charter of Incorporation had taken place, and the great majority of the Town Council consisted of free traders. It was to be seen by that day's trial whether the Chamber of Commerce was or was not to be brought into unison of opinion and sentiment with the public and the new corporation, and whether the stand-still graduality of Mr. George W. Wood, member of Parliament, or the entire and immediate free-trade policy of Mr. Richard Cobden, alderman, was to prevail.
The President, who seems to have considered that as the main objections to his petition (for he acknowledged the paternity) had been directed to its concluding prayer, had prepared one, earnestly conjuring the honourable house that the existing Corn Laws might be repealed; but the use of the word "existing," still leaving the inference to be drawn that the chamber would sanction some other law, was unacceptable to the more decided reformers of commercial legislation. Mr. J. C. Dyer pressed for a decided declaration of opinion, and said that the moderators and juste-milieu men were mischievously obstructive to the introduction of a wise and just policy. Mr. Alderman Cobden reiterated his disappointment that the directors had not incorporated some of the facts that had been stated at the previous discussion, without which the arguments in the petition would have no more weight, however
