The reading of this document was followed by great applause. The Chairman proceeded to say, that he had only a few hours ago had put into his hands a number of tracts, which showed the disposition of their opponents. They were almost entirely made up, he found, from the Quarterly Review, and intended for general distribution, with the view of counteracting the good sound doctrines which this League—(cheers and laughter)—had been successful in promulgating. He knew the parties who put them in circulation; he would not mention their names, but he would make them this offer, that as the League were delivering their tracts in all parts of the kingdom, if the monopolists would pay one half the expenses, the League would willingly disseminate the monopolists' tracts with their's. (Laughter and applause.)"
The Rev. T. Pottinger, of Bradford, and Mr. Bright, addressed the meeting, the latter in a strain of argument, eloquence, and energy, that excited the audience to enthusiastic applause. He began by giving the following account of the meetings which had been attended by deputations from the League:—
"I have not attended one of your meetings for four weeks; but I have had great pleasure in hearing of the progress which you have made. The room in which you met when I was last among you has, it seems, been found much too small for the numbers who weekly assemble to take part in your interesting proceedings; and you now occupy and fill this spacious building. (Hear, hear.) And from what I see to-night, and believe is about to happen, some time before long, probably you will have to remove from this room, and take possession of the immense pavilion which is now being built. (Applause.) I trust that if it should enter—I'll not say enter—but remain in the heads and hearts of the government of this country, to persist in the maintenance of the Corn Law, that we shall find, not 2,000 or 3,000 persons here assembled each week to denounce this law, and to hear of the progress of this cause, but that 8,000 or 10,000 persons will be found, in Manchester and the surrounding towns, each week to assemble in that pavilion, and to declare with their united voices that, whatever may be the opinion of men who are interested in the maintenance of this law, here at least are thousands who have resolved that it shall be repealed,—who, knowing perfectly well that they have justice and truth upon their side, are not deterred by the obloquy of the tools of a certain party, nor by the contumely that may be heaped upon them, nor by the frowns of the powerful of this
