many from the gripe of the monopolists, who, though few in numbers, still hold possession of the powers of government. The people must begin by returning members to Parliament favourable to the repeal of the bread tax. It is a remarkable fact, that in Lancashire, taking the town and country together, the supporters and opponents of an impost, the most destructive and fatal to our manufacturing property, should be so nearly balanced; that is, so far as regards the number of members returned. But Manchester being balanced by Liverpool, and the four county members being all tory, and of course supporters of the Corn Laws, the preponderance is greatly against the repeal of those laws. Whilst such a state of things exists, notwithstanding there are so many liberal men, and so great a number of Catholics and dissenters in this county, what is so natural as that Lord Melbourne should feel some doubts, whether the people of England are really opposed to the present restriction of the duties on corn under the sliding scale."
Early in August the price of wheat was 72s. per quarter, and rising in consequence of wet weather. It had been just half that price at the close of the harvest of 1835. The average price for the week ending August 24th, was 77s. It was high time to be up and stirring. Colonel Thompson, whose "Anti-Corn-Law Catechism," published some ten years before, had been much read, was again at work—had never, indeed, ceased to work through one channel or another—in the Sun newspaper, slaying, in his trenchant way, every fallacy that was uttered in favour of monopoly Joseph Sturge was urging instant action on the part of free traders; and newspapers which had only occasionally and gently hinted at the operation of the Corn Law, were earnestly pointing out the mischief which it inflicted. There was no longer faith that even a reformed Parliament would attack the grievous monopoly without a strong pressure from without.
