to the landed interest in the Commons, told the house that "the agricultural interest was now enjoying some little respite from the distress of past years, and all it asked was for peace and quietness, and that it should not be inconvenienced by legislative enactments of any kind. Peace and quietness! Oh, certainly; peace and quietness to the robber who retires to enjoy himself on the produce of his adroitness. "We have levied black-mail upon you. We are only now beginning to enjoy ourselves; why cannot you let us alone!" His lordship was contented with the share of the spoil which the law had awarded him, and he asked to be "let alone!" The three members for Manchester, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Philips, and Mr. Brotherton, did their duty upon the occasion, and Mr. Villiers delivered a speech full of spirit and truth. He regarded the rejection of the measure as the East-Retford of Corn Laws. "To reject this measure, would be like that preliminary folly which characterised those whom Heaven marked as its victims. He thought the rejection of the measure would really arouse that feeling which had been dormant too long on the subject of the Corn Laws; and he should, therefore, go to the division perfectly at ease, satisfied that nothing but good could follow from it. They who wanted to gain partisans in favour of the repeal of the Corn Laws could find nothing better suited to their purpose than the irrational opposition afforded by the landed interest to this measure, which was, in fact, the East Retford of the Corn Laws. (Laughter, and loud cries of 'Divide!') The rejection of such a measure as the present would excite a strong and general feeling of indignation against those by whom it was resisted." There were 150 votes for the motion, and 220 against it. Mr. Villiers' prognostication was well founded. The time was coming when men were to see that nothing was to be expected from even a reformed Parliament, without such an outward pressure as carried the Reform Bill.
