furnishes gratuitously elaborate reports to the whig and radical papers of the metropolis and the provinces; and it gains their editorial assistance by the community of its opposition to government, and still more by the lavish purchase of the papers containing the reports of its proceedings. Two or three years ago, Acland and Smith were its itinerant orators; this year Cobden and Bright are its travelling agents. Then the former were kicked out of agricultural towns, now the latter address large audiences therein without interruption, and, we fear, with applause; then the farmers were indignant, now they are listening; then the landlords were, comparatively speaking, active, now they are quite supine; then there were few men of wealth or respectability, without the circle of Manchester and its satellite towns, subscribers to its funds, now our Jones Loyds, and Raikes Curries, contribute to its rent; then it raised 50,000, now it is demanding 100,000; and those who were then ashamed are now proud of their membership. * * * County meetings or agricultural petitions against the present law must strengthen the League; we last year warned the farmers that by their adoption of Earl Stanhope's excitement against the sliding scale of 1842, they were playing into Mr. Cobden's hands; and we now repeat the advice we then gave them; that in union to support the present Corn Law and the present ministry alone is their safety. If the present law cannot be maintained, substantially all protection is abandoned; if the present cabinet cannot be sustained in power, that law cannot be maintained. In expressing dissatisfaction with ministers, farmers are lessening the power of their only friends; in assisting to overturn the present cabinet they are striking away the plank beneath their own feet. In Mr. Cobden's triumph there is ruin to the conservative party. Will not, then, the rapid progress he has lately made recompose its differences and reunite its ranks in earnest and cordial support of government? The League triumphant, 'other alterations,' said Friend Bright lately, ' will quickly follow!' Who doubts it? The aristocracy? The fundholder? The Church?"
Here were admissions from the paper whose pride it had been to enjoy the confidence of the agricultural classes! The Herald was about as ready as the Times to acknowledge the existence of the great fact. The confederacy was powerful; it had inherent power; its ultimate success was certain, unless some impossible event occurred; its leading men were sincere, determined, of indomitable perseverance, and of incessant activity. Nothing then could obstruct the course of such men but to rally round Sir Robert Peel
