Mr. T. Woolley, 185 times; Mr. W. Bickham, 474 times; Mr. W. Evans, 444 times; and Mr. Henry Rawson, 258 times. In an early part of the agitation, Mr. Wilson, who gave almost his entire time to its business, had been pressed to accept a salary of £500 a year, which he declined. He had afterwards been urged to accept £1000 a-year, which he also declined, and never received a farthing of remuneration for his unceasing labours. He concluded by moving that Mr. Wilson be requested to accept a sum of not less than 210,000 for his invaluable services. The motion was seconded by Mr. Smith, and supported by Mr. Brotherton, M.P., Mr. Biggs, of Leicester, now M.P., and myself, and carried by acclamation.
Mr. Rathbone of Liverpool, seconded by Mr. Biggs, moved; "That the members of the Executive Council of the League are entitled to the warmest gratitude of the League and of the country, for their high-principled, laborious, and most successful labours during the seven years of our constitutional agitation; and that a committee be appointed, consisting of Joseph Brotherton, M.P., and such gentlemen as he may associate with himself to determine on some suitable testimonial to those gentlemen out of the funds of the League." The resolution was carried unanimously. (The testimonial took the shape of a tea and coffee silver service, of 240 ounces, to each of the gentlemen whose names had been read by Mr. Cobden after Mr. Wilson's.) The chairman then said: "As no other gentleman has anything to address to this meeting, it is now my duty to say that the Anti-Corn-Law League stands conditionally dissolved."
An air of grave solemnity had spread over the meeting, as it drew to a close. There were five hundred gentlemen who had often met together during the great contest, and, notwithstanding their exultation over a victory achieved, he feeling stole over their minds that they were never to meet again. Mr. Cobden reminded them that they were
