Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/313

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PERMANENT GOOD INTENDED.
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patronage had been received from every quarter; and that in addition to the ordinary articles of dress, ornament and vertu, which composed merchandize of bazaars generally,they should collect articles of manufactures, British and models of mechanism, architectural designs, paintings and drawings, specimens of coins, minerals, birds, insects, and shells, manuscripts of celebrated authors, foreign, autograph letters of celebrated persons, philosophical instruments, &c. Mr. Gadsby then read an address,stating he objects to be aimed at, which thus concluded:—"To secure an abundance of food to the whole family of man, to give to industry the reward of fair remuneration, and thus to emancipate the country from the certain thraldom of pauperism and abject misery, are objects worthy of the ambition of the noblest, and the contributory labour of the best of our species." As one of the deputation, I felt it my duty to say something of the direction of the produce of this contributory labour. The enemies of free trade had sneered at the intention of the ladies as joining in a political movement, and were saying that it would better befit them to raise a fund for the relief of the prevalent and many benevolent persons were likely to look distress; more upon the means of present amelioration than to the removal of that which caused the suffering. I said: "There can be no doubt that the ladies who assist in this excellent work, when they endeavour to induce their friends to join this committee, and to obtain presentations to the Bazaar will find one difficulty. It will be objected that the proceeds instead of going to swell the funds of the League should be applied to the immediate relief of the suffering poor during the winter. But the object is not to rescue the poor for only a few weeks from their misery, but to give fair play to their industry, and enable them to procure a greater abundance of food permanently; in fact to do that which would enable the industrious man to sustain himself, and to secure for his class a benefit which will be