called to the chair. The speaking was mainly on the means of influencing members of the House of Commons, members of the and especially of administration who, returned by large constituencies, might receive instructions from their supporters. I copy the resolutions which were passed, to show the spirit with which the delegates met their first defeat:—
"Moved by Mr. Young, of Mary-le-bone; seconded by Mr. Johnstone, of Glasgow, supported by Mr. Edmonds, of Birmingham:—
"That the refusal to hear evidence against the Corn and Provision Laws, in the manner best calculated to expose their pernicious tendency, thus virtually closing the door of Parliament against the manufacturing and commercial population, is calculated to impair the confidence of the nation in the wisdom and justice of the legislature. Evidence collected from all parts of the kingdom, by the delegates, since their last meeting in Manchester, proves, beyond their former knowledge, that these laws are exercising a most pernicious influence upon manufacturing and commercial industry; whilst, at the same time, without benefiting the landowner, they are shown to operate most injuriously upon the interest of the cultivators of the soil, and especially upon that numerous class the distressed agricultural labourers."
"Moved by Mr. Marshall, of Leeds; seconded by Mr. Sturge of Birmingham, supported by Mr. Flint, of Leeds, and Mr. Taylor, of London:—
"That, whilst the thanks of the country are due to those members of the House of Commons who supported the prayer of the delegates, this meeting has seen, with regret and astonishment, among their opponents the names of certain of the people's representatives who have always been esteemed inimical to every species of monopoly and mis-government. Whilst calling on their fellow-countrymen to suspend their opinion of those legislators until they shall have recorded their votes upon the substantive motion, shortly to be submitted to the House of Commons, the delegates earnestly hope that, on that occasion, every friend of freedom will be found advocating the right of the people to procure the first necessaries of life, in exchange for the! produce of labour, in the cheapest markets in the world."
"Moved by Mr. Cobden, of Manchester; seconded by Mr. Holland, of Liverpool, supported by Mr. Weir, of Glasgow:—
"That the statesmen who undertake to administer the offices of this commercial empire, ought to bring to the responsible task, not only a