Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/288

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CHAPTER XVIII.

DELEGATES AT MANCHESTER.

The change of ministers had not daunted the resolution of the League; the prorogation of Parliament, without inquiry into the condition of the people, only strengthened the determination that both houses of the legislature should be compelled to listen to their complaints, and to find a remedy for their sufferings. On Wednesday, the 17th of November, a meeting of one hundred and twenty delegates, from various parts of the kingdom, was held at Manchester, Robert Hyde Greg, Esq., in the chair, to consider the means which should be taken, previous to the re-assembling of Parliament, to promote the repeal of the Corn Laws. Amongst those who attended, in addition to the delegates from the towns in Lancashire, were Colonel Thompson, Mr. Francis Place, Mr. P. A. Taylor, and Mr. James Wilson, from London; Mr. Joseph Sturge and Mr. Wm. Scholefield, from Birmingham; Sir Joshua Walmesley, Mr. Laurence Heyworth, Mr. C. Holland, and Mr. C. E. Rawlins, jun., from Liverpool; Mr. Edward Baines and Mr. Harrier Stansfield, from Leeds; Mr. Dixon (the late mayor) and Mr. Sheffield, from Carlisle. The whole tone of the meeting was encouraging, as giving evidence of unconquerable resolution and of unabated confidence in ultimate success. Besides passing the resolutions sub-joined, the meeting entered fully into the arrangements