HISTORY
OF
THE ANTI CORN LAW LEAGUE.
CHAPTER I
OPENING OF THE FREE TRADE HALL.
The beginning of 1843 saw workmen busily engaged in erecting the Free Trade Hall, which, intended to stand for two or three years, by which time it was supposed the Com Law would be repealed, remained standing, often used, until 1853, when the defeat of the Derby-Disraeli ministry, and the avowal in both houses of Parliament, that the principles of free trade were fully recognized there, gave assurance that agitation on the question was no longer necessary. It had been determined that the weekly meetings of the League should be continued at Manchester until they could be held with greater national effect in Exeter Hall or in one of the great metropolitan theatres, and on the 5th January the Corn Exchange meetings were resumed. The Rev. Dr. Hewlett, of Coventry, who was the first speaker, declared that he felt it bis bounden duty to oppose every enactment that interfered with the communication of the Giver of all good to all mankind. The Hon. C. P. Villiers, who was most enthusiastically received, followed, and ably vindicated the constitution and proceedings of the League from the charges brought against them by the monopolists, who were now following the very
