Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/431

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BRADFORD.
415

Giles, Rev. C. Wicksteed, Rev. J. Cummins, and Rev. J. Fox. Mr. J. G. Marshall was called to the chair; and the meeting was addressed by Messrs. W. Aldam, Hamer Stansfeld, Dr. Bowring, Colonel Thompson, E. Birchall, R. Cobden, W. Busfield, E. Baines, jun., J. Bower, the Rev. J. E. Giles, and T. Flint. Before the meeting separated, subscriptions were announced to the amount of £765 amongst which were Messrs. Marshall & Co., £150, Brown & Co., £50, Maclean and March, £50, Wm. Pawson, Esq., £50, Edwin Birchall and Sons, £50, Wilkinson & Co., £50, Wm. Lupton & Co., £30.

The soirée, at Bradford, had a like animated character, notwithstanding the absence of some of the leading free traders, and the Temperance Hall was quite filled. The Bradford Observer, in reporting the proceedings, characterised Dr. Bowring's speech as sufficient of itself to give eclát to the meeting, and says that the Rev. J. Ackworth laid bare the sophistry which would throw discredit upon a minister for appearing in such assemblages. He was followed by Mr. Thomas Plint, of Leeds, who made a vigorous onslaught upon the fallacies of the protectionists. The other speakers were Messrs. R. Milligan, now (1852) member for the borough, W. Byles, proprietor of The Observer, William Busfield, M.P., Mr. Ackroyd, of Otley, Hamer Stansfeld, of Leeds, R. R. Moore, Rev. Walter Scott, and J. Russell. Amongst the subscription were H. Leah, £100, Milligan, Forbes & Co.,£100; R. and J. Garnett, £50, Titus Salt, £50, and Rennie, Tetley, & Co.,£50.

On the 6th December, a numerous meeting was held in the school room of the Independent Chapel, James-street, Blackburn, which was handsomely decorated for the occasion, After tea, Mr. William Eccles was called to the chair, and the company, including many ladies, was addressed by Mr. Edmund Ashworth, of Turton, Mr. John Brooks, Mr. Cobden, and myself, forming the deputation from the League, and Mr. Potter, of Darwen, who led the