creasing physical sufferings of the labouring population, arising from the want of employment and the scarcity of food, are inimical to the progress of religion and morality ; and this meeting earnestly appeals to ministers of the gospel, and to philanthropists and Christians of every denomination, to lend their aid in the Effort to abolish the unjust tax upon the importation of the first necessaries of life—a tax which impiously thwarts the bounteous designs of Providence, who has prepared abundantly upon the face of the earth for the wants of all his creatures."
Carrying out the movement upon electoral boroughs, Mr. Cobden, Mr. George Wilson, and myself, were deputed to visit Wigan, where we were introduced to a numerous meeting of the electors, in the Commercial Hall, by Mr. J. S. Heron, one of the borough magistrates. Mr. Wilson gave a clear and distinct view of the mischievous operation of the Corn Law. I exposed the falsehood of the assertion that it had operated to the benefit of farmers or farm-labourers, and exhorted the electors that if any candidate offered himself who would not vote for its total and unconditional repeal, to tell him to go home and study political economy. Mr. Cobden argued for total repeal, and his familiar illustrations, home truths, and luminous expositions, brought rounds of applause at the conclusion of almost every sentence. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Roaf, in an eloquent and argumentative speech, and a resolution was passed, that the electors present pledged themselves that they would support no candidate who would not vote for the total abolition of the Corn Laws.
Various indications had been given during the session of Parliament that ministers were unsafe in their position, and rumours began to arise of a dissolution being at hand and as it could not be believed that they would resort to that step without passing some measure that would secure them popular support, much speculation took place as to what would be the election "cry." It was anticipated that,
