discussion as to the acceptance of less. The declaration of 1839, that in elections the preference should be given to decided corn-law repealers, irrespective of their party designations, prevented the differences that might have arisen out of party predilections. No part of the funds of the body was spent in elections; the only assistance given anywhere being the enlightenment of the electors on the one great question by speeches or tracts; so that upon that point also conflict of opinion was avoided. That Manchester continued to direct the movement which had originated there, was, because Manchester felt itself purely representative, and constantly consulted its constituents. If the members of the Executive Committee of the Council, who met daily, felt any difficulty in their administrative duties, or had any suggestion to make of wider operations, they called into their deliberations the resident members of the General Council, a numerous body in Manchester; these again, in matters of moment, asked members from the surrounding towns in the presence of Lancashire, North Cheshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire, whose business brought them once or twice a week to Manchester; and, when still more important subjects were to be discussed, the council was enlarged by the presence of delegates from all parts of the kingdom. Then there was a strong desire amongst all to merge all minor differences for the promotion of the one great object; and great patience was exercised until every one had an opportunity of giving his opinion. The meetings were not for speech-making, but for consultation. Mr. G. Wilson, the chairman, invited all in succession to say what he thought of the subject under discussion; and thus the practical, strong, sound sense of the most humble and retiring delegate, became a contribution to the mass of thought upon which a final judgment was to be formed.
It was not to be supposed that men could meet so frequently to devise the means of undoing a great legislative
