Mr. Greg, and others. At the Friday's meeting it was announced that Lord Melbourne would receive a deputation from the delegates next day—their object being to inform him that the condition of the country was very different from what Mr. Wood represented it to be. On Saturday the chairman reported what had been said to Lord Melbourne on the condition of the country, and a number of members further broke down the statements of Mr. Wood, and the conclusions therefrom adduced by Sir Robert Peel. Mr. Wood was present, and endeavoured to convince the delegates, that, notwithstanding what he had said, he was as anxious for repeal as any of them were. At Monday's and Wednesday's meetings, further arid ample proof was given of the injury inflicted by a restrictive commercial policy; and reports of the proceedings appearing in most of the London papers, did much to promote free trade opinions in the metropolis. Men in "the house" might sneer at the parliament "over the way," but the opinions of the greater assemblage were fated to fall before those of the smaller.
In a week from the Tuesday on which Mr.Wood made his unfortunate speech, the constituency of Kendal, of which he was the representative, and the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester, of which he was the president, had spoken out very plainly. On the Saturday, a public meeting was held in Kendal, and resolutions were passed, strongly condemnatory of his conduct. The following Monday was the day appointed for the annual election of directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Mr. John Edward Taylor, of the Guardian newspaper, moved, and Mr. William Read seconded the following list agreed upon by the directors:—
John Anderson.
W. Atkinson.
Alexander Bannerman.
Samuel Fletcher.
William Harter.
Thomas Bazley, jun.
Richard Birley.
William Gibb.
J. C. Prescott.
George Sandars.
Leo Schuster.
