may she long reign over an industrious people, unshackled by Corn Laws, or any other monopoly." The next, "The total and unconditional repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws," was received in a manner which proved that the assembled delegates were, like those whose guests they were, fully prepared to throw all compromise overboard. The report of the proceedings, and of the subsequent meetings, occupied nearly sixteen closely printed columns of my paper, then one of the largest folio; and those columns, thus devoted, contained as much matter as would fill several sheets of this volume. The speech of the chairman was short, hut to the purpose, and showed that he was worthy of the seat in parliament, which he afterwards attained. The same may be said of that delivered by the next speaker, Mr. R. H. Greg—afterwards one of the members for Manchester—who, however, spoke at greater length. He concluded by proposing, "The mover and seconder of the motion for the repeal of the Corn Laws, in March, 1838—Mr. Villiers and Sir Wm. Molesworth."—Mr. Villiers had entitled himself to the respect of Manchester before he had appeared in it, and now his appearance, at once intellectual and gentlemanly, the tone of his address, the knowledge of his subject, the closeness of his argumentation, his obvious determination to persevere in the course he had undertaken, and the hopefulness of his expectation that the struggle would end in victory, confirmed his hearers in their belief that he possessed high qualifications to be the leader in the parliamentary contest. Sir William Molesworth, although he excited less enthusiasm, spoke well, and gave evidence of a firm determination to bear his share in the movement. And then the worthy Mayor of Manchester, Thomas Potter, albeit unused to public speaking, came forward amidst the enthusiastic cheering to which his private beneficence and public spirit well entitled him, and, as a farmer's son and a Manchester merchant, denounced the Corn Laws as
