The Anti-Corn-Law Circular, commenting on this speech, said: "This wretched shuffle cooled many of the political partizans of the candidate, and animated into violent hostility those supporters of liberal opinions whom the corporation question, and the alleged finality policy of government had formerly decided to take no part in the contest at all. Such poor evasion as it manifested could not possibly succeed with strong-minded men, such as Sir George was solicitous to represent. 'Stick to the Corn Laws don't run off,' was truly a home thrust. He was, forsooth, in favour of a fixed duty. 'Aye, but how much ?' Was not the answer very easy? Could he not have said at once 8s. or 10s., or 15s. or 20s. per quarter? Instead of this of this, he turns round, and says, 'Mr. Prentice asks me how much. He asks me to go into the House of Commons as a fettered representative.' No, he did not. He only asked his present opinion on the subject, which, considering that the Corn Laws have been twenty-four years in existence, that Sir George was long a cabinet minister and that he is now sixty-five years of age, he surely has made up his mind about them now, if he is ever to do so on this side of time."
The precept for. the election had been addressed by mistake to the Boroughreeve, the old manorial officer, instead of the Mayor, and though it was recalled, he insisted
