The third resolution was, "That this meeting hereby expresses its high sense of the invaluable services which the National Anti Corn Law League has rendered to the cause of free trade; and in order to enable the Council to make renewed and increased exertions for the repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws, a subscription, in aid of the great fund of £250,000, be now commenced." The resolution was moved by Mr. Henry Ashworth, of Bolton, seconded by Mr. Alderman Kershaw, and carried unanimously and with great cheering.
The Chairman then called upon the assemblage practically to back their words by their deeds, and becomingly set the example, on behalf of himself and partner, by giving a thousand pounds. The meeting hailed this spirited commencement with loud cheers, which were renewed with great vehemence when another thousand from Mr. James Chadwick, the gentleman who complained that, in the raising of the £100,000 fund, he had been allowed to subscribe only £500 instead of £1,000. From this time, for an hour and-a-half, cards were placed in the Chairman's hands nearly as fast as he could read them, from or on behalf of individuals subscribing their thousands, seven, five, four, three, two, and one hundreds, and smaller amounts. Twenty-three persons and firms gave in their names for £1000 each; twenty-five for £500; fifty-one for sums of from £200 to 2400;'sixty-one for sums between £100 and £150; and about fifty for sums of £50 each. The first pause in the proceedings was taken advantage of by the Chairman to call upon Mr. Cobden, who was received with almost overwhelming cheers. He said he was glad to witness the tone of the meeting, for there had not been the slightest reference to changes that had occurred at government head-quarters, like the shiftings of a pantomime. "We have not lost time," he said, by speculation on what this or that administration is going to do, but we have resorted to the much safer mode of depending only
