Almost simultaneous with this movement of the south-western counties of England, was one of much importance in Scotland. On the 11th of January, a conference, or synod, or convocation, was held in Edinburgh, consisting of ministers of the gospel, deputed by their congregations, each accompanied by two laymen. The ministers of the Established Kirk of Scotland had not been invited, for it to be expected that men whose stipends varied with the price of corn would join in an agitation to reduce their own incomes. The Free Kirk was not then in existence, but things were drifting onwards towards the great disruption, and the more independent members of the establishment were too deeply engrossed with their own ecclesiastic affairs to take much part in the anti-corn-law agitation. To the ministers of the Secession, Relief, Independent, and Baptist Churches, 670 circulars were sent, and 494 answers were received. It appeared that 459 of these ministers expressed decided opinions in favour of the total repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws, and the establishment of an entirely free trade in corn about twelve were in favour of a small fixed duty, or gradual abolition and the remaining thirty-three did not answer to the question. It was not a little remarkable that not one member out of the 494 expressed an opinion in favour of the existing Corn Laws. With regard to the opinions of the people, 431 of the ministers stated that their congregations were nearly unanimous in approving of the total abolition of the Corn and Provision Laws, and Free Trade,and only three stated that the people were not nearly unanimous. Of the remaining sixty, about fifteen stated that their people were either in favour of gradual abolition or a fixed duty; and the others omitted to answer the question. Not one minister stated that a majority of his congregation approved of these laws.
The chairman, the much respected John Wigham, jun., a member of the Society of Friends, disposed of the sliding
