Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/22

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
8
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.

meeting I think I scarcely ever beheld. And was a meeting of a kind which they have not often had in Scotland; it was a tea party, and there was a groat number of ladies present; and it was said by many that that meeting would be found more influential in its effect upon the people of Glasgow, than was the meeting of the week previous. From Glasgow we came to Hawick, in Roxburghshire: there, in a very small towa, near 500 people were assembled at a tea-party and meeting. The Hon. John Elliott, who is brother to Lord Minto, and also brother-inlaw to Lord John Russell, was there, and he expressed himself in favour of total repeal. (Loud applause.) From Hawick we came to Newcastleupon Tyne; and there we had, I have no doubt, the largest meeting ever held there upon the question of free trade. It was a tea-party too, though somowhat unusual on this subject, and a great many ladies were present; and whether I refer to the meeting, or to those on the platform, It was the opinion of all that there never had been assembled, to their knowledge, in any room in Newcastle, upon any political question, * body of individuals who were so likely to influence the opinions of the town and neighbourhood."

Mr. Bright's speech communicated to the meeting much of his high determination and hope of ultimate and not distant triumph. He was followed by the Rev. E. H. Nolan, and Mr. Norton, of Lincoln. At the conclusion, Mr. Bright said he deeply regretted to learn that Mr. Cobden, who had just returned from Bristol, had lost his youngest child during his absence from home.

The Free Trade Hall was now finished—ready for a series of meetings for nearly four years, unparalleled in the history of any country, for numbers, unity of purpose, determination, enthusiasm, and that constant hope of success which was founded in a deep conviction of the justice of the cause for which all this agitation and all this long course of public instruction was required. The description of the Hall is thus given in the Manchester Times of January 31st.:

"The site of the Hall is St. Peter's Field; and it is bounded on two of its sides by Peter-street and Windmill-street, the front and principal entrances being from South-street. The back of the building abuts upon the New