tineau's mistake arose from the frequent denunciation of landlord selfishness in taxing the whole community to keep up rents; but there was, even from the beginning, a distinction drawn between the interest of the landlord and that of the general agricultural body.
We return to the meeting Mr. James Kershaw having expressed his trust that, whilst remembering their particular interests as spinners, calico printers, as merchants, as manufacturers, or as farmers, they would never forget the interests of the working many, proposed "A cheap loaf for the people," which was responded to by Mr. Leader, who, believing that the Corn Laws were reducing the manufacturers to ruin, and the working classes to starvation, and not seeking any injury to the agricultural interest, pledged himself to use every effort to obtain their repeal. Justice was then done to a veteran in the cause of free trade, and the grateful task was appropriately assigned to another veteran of a kindred spirit. Mr. J. C. Dyer proposed "The health of the author of the Anti-Corn-Law Catechism—Colonel Thompson." The gallant colonel was not known as a public speaker. Six years before he did not believe that he could ever be a public speaker. He was a candidate for the representation of Preston after the passing of the Reform Bill, and all that Dr. Bowring and I could say as to the necessity of his going to address the constituency was unavailing, such was his belief that he was unable to speak before a great mixed assemblage. I was told that his friends had, with great difficulty, persuaded him that he had the power of writing things worthy to be printed. He now proved that he was capable of uttering as well as writing pithy argument, and of slaying fallacies as trenchantly by speech as by pen. "The Glasgow Anti-Corn-Law Association," called up Mr. Johnstone, afterwards member of Parliament for Kilmarnock, who was amongst the first who attained a seat there after the agitation, mainly for the advocacy of free-trade principles.
