A very numerous meeting of the Anti-Corn-law League was held
at their rooms in Manchester, on Thursday evening. The great attraction was an address from Mr. James Silk Buckingham ; who enlarged on the general question, and on the capacity of the United States to supply this country with corn. Although the weather was adverse, the room was. crowded to excess. In the course of the evening, Mr. George Wilson, the chairman, and Mr. Cobden, reported progress. Cards of subscribers to the new League Fund have already been taken to the amount of 5,3421. It had been said that so far from being able to raise 50,0001., the League might as well try to raise 100,0001.: Mr. Cobden said, the Council began to feel that the money raised would be likely to 'exceed that sum ; some said they might raise a quarter of a million. One of the Society of Friends had told him the other day, that the largest sum ever raised at once in the Anti-Slavery cause was 7,0001. The kingdom had already been divided into districts, and to a great extent supplied with lecturers and tracts. The League were about to print a million copies of each of their prize-essays on the Corn-laws ; one of them by a Scotch tenant farmer, paying 1,5001. a year rent. The Reverend Mr. Shepherd of Bury and Mr. Joseph Brotherton addres- sed the meeting; and, with Mr. Buckingham, received a vote of thanks.
Previous page
