Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/432

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416
ACCRINGTON AND BURY.

way to the subscription, by putting his own name down for £50; and then followed Mr. W. Eccles, for £50, J. and W. Pilkington, for £50, Joseph Eccles, for £50, T. and B. Eccles, for £50, other smaller sums swelling the amount to upwards of £400.

On the 12th December, Colonel Thompson and Mr. Paulton, attended a numerous meeting, at Accrington, the Rev. J. Harbottle, in the chair, and subscriptions were made to the amount of £350. On the 14th, Mr. Bright and Mr. Moore visited Belper, in Derbyshire, and resolutions were passed, approving of the plans of the League. Messrs. W. G. and J. Strutt had previously subscribed £300, at the Midland Counties' meeting, and Messrs. Geo. Brittle Co. had paid 100 to the Metropolitan Association. On the 12th a meeting, called by the Lord Provost, was held in Glasgow, James Oswald, Esq., in the chair. The O'Connorites endeavoured by clamour and great violence of language to disturb the meeting, but some of the most riotous having been removed by the police, the resolutions in favour of the plans of the League were carried almost unanimously. A similar disturbance was attempted, at Preston, on the same week, on the occasion of a visit from Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright, but it only delayed the subscription for a few days without diminishing its amount.

On the 19th December there was a tea party at Bury, attended by 800 persons, E. Ashton, Esq., of Lime-field, in the chair. It was addressed by Dr. Bowring, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. John Brooks, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Edmund Ashworth, and Mr. R. R. Moore. Amongst the subscribers to the £50,000 fund were Mr. R. Walker, M.P, £50, R. Ashton, £100, Walker, Smith & Co., £100, Thomas and James Wrigley, £50, Edmund Grundy, £50, J Grundy, jun., £50. When the subscriptions had got down to 5s., a working man rose, and said such as he could not give half-crowns, but if a box were sent round they would give what they