delivered a really effective speech. Joseph Hume seemed inspired with new hope and new energy by the sight before him, and gave the promise of fresh life in the redress of the wrong against which he had so long battled. I had experienced some difficulty in obtaining his promise to take part in the meeting. He had been almost hopeless of moving the indifference of the House of Commons, and did not think that his aid would contribute much to the furtherance of free trade. I reminded him of the good already done by the publication of the evidence brought before the Import Duties Committee, of which he had been chairman, laid before him a small neatly bound volume, and said, "The man who has been instrumental in reducing that book from three shillings to one shilling, ought not to despair of any thing; I had it yesterday from John Childs, as part of the results of the abolition of the Scotch Bible monopoly.[1] He smiled, and promised me that he would address the mooting; and I rejoiced to see the cordiality of his reception, and to mark the spirit with which he spoke. Joseph Brotherton made a good speech, which was well received. He wanted the vivacity which tells on such assemblies; but the plain common sense view of the question was taken, and his obvious carnestness made amends for any lack there might be of exciting oratory. Mr. Milner Gibson was more effective than I had ever heard him before; he was earnest even to fervour, and his speech, full of argument, well and very cleverly put, elicited repeated bursts of cheers John Bright, who had just returned from a manly and closely-run contest with a monopolist at Durham, was the last speaker; and his speech fully justified the approbation with which he was received; and he was repeatedly and enthusiastically cheered during his stirring address.
While the more prominent members of the League were
- ↑ See Tax on Bibles at the end of this Volume.
