hope that spring would bring some remission of the evils of which they complained had been most grievously disappointed; and, they now stood before him (Sir R. Peel) without alleviation and without hope. The population was literally perishing by thousands—they were absolutely starving—the patience of the suffering people was nearly exhausted, and a feeling and temper beginning to be manifested which was ominous and dangerous in the highest degree. The deputies were convinced that the time was not far off when they would not be able to provide food for a large proportion of the population around them, nor longer stave off the outbreak and confusion which would inevitably ensue. He believed that on the part of the Anti-Corn-Law League, that that was their last appeal, and their last attempt to avert those evils they so much dreaded. The peace of the country had been hitherto preserved by a last glimmering ray of hope, but when the deputies went back to their constituents, and told them that they had seen the Premier of England, and laid before him their state of wretchedness and misery, and that he gave them no promise and no hope, he (Sir Robert Peel) must be answerable for the consequences as for themselves they would feel they had discharged their duty, and it must then remain with the people to take their own course. They were well aware that with the present government, and with a large party in the legislature, the Anti-Corn-Law League was not in much favour; but there was one thing more to be deprecated by them than its existence, and that was its dissolution; for it seemed to him that nothing was more likely than that, hopeless of obtaining the demands of justice and humanity for an oppressed people by any influence they could exert, or any representations and appeals they could make, that extensive and wealthy and powerful association would cease to urge their own demands, and unite with that still larger class of the community who were striving
