Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/130

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
114
A POPULAR SPEAKER.

rating majority. We have not time to inquire, said the majority. No time to inquire, said the Lords on Monday; but on Wednesday they "did not sit." No time to inquire,said the Commons on Tuesday but meeting at four o'clock on Wednesday, they adjourned at six. The following Lancashire and Cheshire members voted for inquiry:

P. Ainsworth
J. Brocklehurst.
J. Brotherton.
William Fielden.
John Fielden.
Sir P. H. Hesketh.
John Fenton.
John Fort.
Charles Hindley.
Swynfen Jervis.
General Johnson.
Henry Marlsand.
Mark Phillips.
C. Standish.
F.S. Stanley.
C. P. Thomson.
George Wilbraham.

The following voted against the motion

W. Boiling.
J.Blackburne.
C. Cresswell.
W. T. Egerton.
Sir P. Egerton.
T. Greene.
T. Grimsditch.
Viscount Sandon.
E. J. Stanley.
Lord Stanley.
Bootle Wilbraham.

The cabinet ministers in favour of the motion were:—Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Lord Morpeth, and C. P. Thomson. On the opposite side were:—Mr. T. S. Rice (now Lord Monteagle), Lord Palmerston, and Lord John Russell.

The desire to be present during the debate, and to decide on ulterior measures should Mr. Villiers' motion be defeated, added considerably to the number of delegates. On the following morning there was a numerous attendance at Brown's Hotel, including many of the most prominent of the free traders in the metropolis. Many who had hoped that inquiry would not have been denied, loudly expressed their indignation. Others, who had not anticipated the success of the motion, and had seen before them a long contest, were nevertheless excited by the contempt with which the house had treated their petitions, and formed fresh resolution to persevere into the end.

"Among the hopeful speakers," says Miss Martineau, "was Richard Cobden. There was no cause for despondency, he said, because the house over the way refused to hear them. They were the representatives of three mil-