Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/334

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320
COVENT GARDEN MEETING.

but earnestly sought it out, and administered relief. In this respect, 'a warmer heart death ne'er made cold.'"

The final metropolitan meeting of the League before the opening of the great bazaar was held in Covent Garden Theatre, on the 10th April, Mr. Geo. Wilson in the chair; who, after alluding to the preparations for the Bazaar which would make it a very brilliant affair, even as a spectacle, said: "I am free to confess that, if the promotion of a collection for the fund was the mere object we had in view, a greater amount of money might be easily procured by a general subscription than we are likely to receive from this exhibition; but we want a more generally implied co-operation than the mere amount of money alone would imply. We want to see assembled in this theatre our friends from all parts of the kingdom, in order that they may converse together; that they may confer together; that they may become known to each other; that they may derive from such meetings and from what they will see here a new impetus, and carry to the extremities of the country a redoubled resolution to assist us in promoting the great object which we have in view. And then we have the pleasing satisfaction of knowing that the bazaar will not in the slightest degree interfere with any of those useful operations in which the League is employed. The lecturing in the agricultural districts will go on just as usual; the daily meetings of the council, in all probability, will be held just as usual; the attention to the registration will be proceeded with as usual. Our registration agents will visit the boroughs and counties just as they would if no such exhibition was taking place here. There is not a single wheel or pinion in the machinery of the League which will not be in the most perfect order, as much as if the supervision of the council were constantly directed to it, without the interruption—the supposed interruption—which will take place here. And then we shall see that for a fortnight successively we can sustain an interest in the free- trade