Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/325

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PROCESSION TO THE HOUSE.
309

of man. The Rev. Mr. Burder, of Stroud, followed in the same strain; and several other speakers combined statistical details and impressive argument with great effect. As the meeting proceeded the feeling grew stronger and stronger at the refusal of the minister to hear an exposition of the condition of the people, and when Mr. Boultbee, of Birmingham, seconded by Mr Wilkinson, of Exeter, proposed that the deputies should proceed in a body to the House of Commons, there was an evident demonstration that Peel's refusal was considered as adding insult to injury. The Rev. J. W. Massie enforced the recommendation with impassioned and rousing energy, answered by a burst of enthusiasm, and the proposal was unanimously assented to, the whole body, which, although many had left, not anticipating such a movement, numbered about 500, proceeded two and two, arm in arm, along the Strand and down Parliament-street to the House, attracting much curiosity during their course. My companion in this progression was a worthy north country knight of rather cautious whig politics, but who strongly participated in the feeling of indignation at the long denial of justice to the suffering people. I told him that in coming from an interview with Jeremy Bentham, eleven years before, I had seen William the Fourth pass down that street to dissolve a Parliament which refused to pass the Reform Bill, and expressed my belief that the people would now, as they did then, overturn the resisting powers. Upon the arrival of the deputies at St. Stephens, they stopped on each side of the door opening into the lobby of the house, and application was made by the chairman for admission into the lobby, of at least a portion of the deputation. This, however, was flatly refused. The most urgent entreaty was used by many, but without the slightest effect, and the delegates were most rudely hustled by the police as they stood upon the pavement opposite the house, striving to speak to their representatives as they entered. While