Osborn's statements and arguments. Colonel Thompson followed, and his racy remarks excited much applause. Mr. Beacon proposed petitions to both houses of parliament for the repeal of the Corn Laws, which were carried with only two dissentients.
On the following Saturday, Mr. Cobden and Mr. Moore met the farmers on the Barrack Field, Guildford, Mr. R. D. Mangles, M.P., occupying the chair. Mr. Cobden addressed the meeting for two hours, after which Mr. Maydwell attempted to reply to him, but not at all to the satisfaction of the farmers. A number of questions were put to the two free traders, and then a resolution in favour of the repeal of the Corn Law was put and carried almost unanimously.
These victories, in county towns, on market days when crowds of agriculturists could attend, were alarming to the landowners, and every effort was made to make a successful stand against the triumphant free traders. It had been known that Mr. Cobden and his fellow-labourers were about to visit Essex, Their exploit was said to savour rather of courage than discretion, and many a prophecy was hazarded as to the amount of the majority by which the free traders were to be defeated. Wherever else Mr. Cobden might have triumphed, in Colchester, at least, the protectionists were secure. In other places the champions of free trade might have succeeded; here they would in all probability shrink from the contest, or if they appeared, it would only be to retire discomfited from an honest agricultural population. Advertisements were inserted in all the county papers calling upon the farmers to attend.
The local agricultural associations marshalled all their forces. The clergy of the county canvassed eagerly on behalf of those Com Laws by which their income was measured. Sir John Tyrrell himself, at a dinner given at Maldon but three days previously, declared that "it was a great question on which they were to go to the meeting at
