Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/394

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380
DEATH OF MR. MARSHALL.

selves here! As we have often said, there never was scarcity over all the earth at one time; and it is only from the absurdity—the wickedness—of man's legislation, that the superfluity of one portion of the globe does not supply the deficiency of another."

Besides the loss by death of Sir Thomas Potter, the free traders had now to regret that of another munificent supporter of their cause, thus noticed in the League of June 14th:—We have to announce, with sincere regret, the death of Mr. Marshall, of Leeds, whose eminence as a manufacturer was not more conspicuous than his energies as a patriot and his zeal as a philanthropist. By the honourable exertion of his industry and talents he acquired a princely fortune, and he employed it in establishments that have furnished comfort to thousands of operatives, and greatly added to the material wealth of the nation. Few manufacturers have more nobly illustrated the great importance of the capitalist to the labouring community: his great resources enabled him to work his mills during seasons of depression, and thus to save his men from those alternations of stagnation and suffering which have produced so much of misery in the industrial districts of England. Mr. Marshall was a zealous free trader, and a member of the Council of the League. Though for some time in parliament, he did not take a very conspicuous part in political life; but he was far from being an uninterested spectator of public events, and he was ever ready to aid largely and liberally in all efforts made to promote the cause of truth and justice. He has left behind him & large fortune, but, what is much more, he has left behind him an honoured memory and an unsullied reputation."

During this week a meeting was held in Wiltshire of a class of persons, for whose welfare, as well as for the benefit of the farmer, it was alleged that the Corn Laws were enacted and sustained. The Wiltshire Independent describes it as being "held at Upayon, a populous village in the fertile