populous district; and that there and elsewhere the history of what had been done might be an encouragement further to do."
In that volume I endeavoured to show how the despised minority, patient and persevering, became the overwhelming majority, and how one reform, to be the instrument of obtaining other necessary reforms, was at length triumphantly obtained. It appeared to me, that to show how that instrument was used, and what part Manchester took in subsequent struggles for the repeal of the Corn Law, which ought to have been the first fruit of the Reform Act, would be fit occupation for the historian's pen; and when the second edition of the "Historical Sketches" was put to press, I began to prepare materials for their continuation in another publication. I soon found that the History of the League would, of itself require to be given at a length which would preclude the insertion of any of my personal recollections of Manchester, except such as would relate to events which led to the prominent part taken by this great town in the arduous struggle for free trade.
It may be an objection to my undertaking that it is too early to write a history so recently terminated; and certainly, an actor in the events recorded might look back, after a series of years, with greater calmness than he may be supposed to experience when he writes immediately
