form the Association was held at the York Hotel, on Monday, September 24th, and was attended by the following persons: Edward Baxter, W. A. Cunningham, Andrew Dalziel, James Howie, James Leslie, Archibald Prentice, and Philip Thomson. At this meeting the failure of former associations was attributed to the want of a popular foundation, and it was resolved that the subscriptions should be only five shillings, in order that all classes should be included as members. Some apprehension was expressed that persons not disposed to demand the total repeal of the Corn Laws might join the association, and destroy its hold on public confidence by asking for a half-measure, to which the reply was that the very name the Anti-Corn-Law Association, which meant an association against any corn law, would be a guarantee against any future change of its purpose. The meeting had just closed when Mr. William Rawson, afterwards treasurer for the League, arrived, having come hastily from Liverpool on purpose to be present, and found two or three members with whom he conversed on the object of the Association.
The second meeting was held on the Monday following, and was attended by W. A. Cunningham, Andrew Dalziel, James Howie, James Leslie, Archibald Prentice, William Rawson, and Philip Thomson.
Subscriptions had been obtained since the previous meeting from about fifty persons, and the small committee felt assured that their still feeble association would not expire until its great object should be accomplished. In my paper of October 6th, I said:—"We believe that what might be thought to be apathy on the part of the merchants and manufacturers of Manchester upon the subject of the Corn Laws, has arisen from there being no organization for the expression of their opinions. They have expected that the Chamber of Commerce would commence the movement, but that self-constituted body, having satis-
