was then seen that numerous important towns were ready to join in a great mutual effort. The assemblage, consisting of eight hundred persons, took place in the Corn Exchange, on Wednesday, 22nd January. The following members of Parliament and others were present, seated at the principal table:—
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C. P. Villiers, Wolverhampton. Josh. Scholefield, Birmingham. Peter Ainsworth, Bolton. John Fort, Clitheroe. William Clay, Tower Hamlets. Francis Finch, Walsall. Colonel Sawley, Ludlow. Col. Thompson, late M.P. for Hull Dr. Bowring, late M.P. for Kilmarnock |
Sir William Molesworth, Leeds. Henry Marsland, Stockport. John Easthope, Leicester. Joseph Brotherton, Salford. Richard Walker, Bury. J. T. Leader, Westminster. T. B. Hobhouse, Rochester. William Ewart, late M.P. Thos. Potter, Mayor of Manchester, R. H. Greg, Esq. |
At the table running down the centre of the room, reserved for strangers and delegates from distant towns,were:—
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G. Cookman, Mayor of Hull. The Mayor of Bolton. The Mayor of Lancaster, with Satterthwaite, Higgin, & Hinde. Hon. Erskine Murray, Edin. William Briggs, Esq., Leicester. R. Bradley, J. Sands, and Kelley, Nottingham. Coppock, Nelstrop, and Hudson, Stockport. Thomas Eskrigge, Warrington. |
Walmsley and Bolton, Liverpool. Weir and Johnstone, Glasgow. The Mayor of Leeds, with H. Stanfield, T. Flint, and Edward Baines, jun. J. and W. Walker, and T. and G. Wynn, Wolverhampton. Segar, Ascroft, and Barlow, Preston. The Master Cutler, of Sheffield. J. Spear Heron, Wigan. |
Letters were read from a number of members of Parliament, unable to attend, but expressing their approval of the movement. One from the Earl of Durham, who, in 1815, had moved an amendment on the Corn Bill then passed, excited enthusiastic cheering. The chairman of the Manchester Anti-Corn-Law Association, Mr. John B. Smith, was, appropriately, the chairman for the evening. The first toast was, "Our Queen, Duchess of Lancaster;
