Vrobinces.
An Anti-Corn-law League meeting was held at Worcester, on Satur- day. A requisition, signed by Lord Southwell, Sir Edward Blount, Mr.
Robert Scott, M.P., and a hundred and sixty other persons, including some extensive landowners and farmers, had been presented to the High Sheriff, Mr. William Robins, asking him to call a county meeting to receive Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright: but he returned this laconic answer—" I have given this requisition my most anxious consideration, and I decline calling a meeting for such purpose." The Corn-law Repeaters, however, called a meeting themselves; and it was held in the Guildhall at Worcester. Saturday being market-day, the attendance was larger than the number which the building could hold, which is nearly two thousand persons ; passages and side-rooms being filled with listeners. Several landowners and farmers were present ; and Mr. Edward Holland, a landowner and formerly Member for the County, was called to the chair. Mr. Bright delivered a long speech, mainly directed to show the nugatory nature of " protection"; and Mr. Cobden one on wages, showing that it did not depend upon employers to fix the rates, and that they were much higher in the manufacturing districts— the districts of unprotected trade—than in the districts of protected agriculture. Mr. C. E. Handford, a County Magistrate, moved a reso- lution in favour of free trde. Mr. Stephenson, who seems to be a local leader of Chartists, and Mr. Oliver Mason, one of the same party from Birmingham, endeavoured to obtain a hearing ; but the meeting would not listen to them. The motion was carried with but seven dissentients. After thanking the Deputation and the Chairman, the meeting sepa- rated, with three cheers for the repeal of the Corn-laws, and three groans "for the common disturbers."
Last week, the Liverpool Anti-Monopoly Association held a meet- ing, numerously attended, at the Royal Amphitheatre, to receive Mr. W. J. Fox, a deputy from the League. The usual Free-trade argu- ments were mixed up with references to the pending election in Lon- don ; and the part of the proceedings which distinguished this from previous meetings of the kind, was the adoption of a resolution urging the electors of London to choose the Free-trade candidate.
Mr. M'Gregor of the Board of Trade, on his return from a tour in Scotland, where be has been fiqed and complimented, paid a visit to Manchester- " At our Chamber of Commerce yesterday," says Tuesday's Manchester Guardian, " Mr. M‘Gregor was received by the Directors ; when he was ad- dressed on their behalf by their Vice-President, who briefly dwelt upon the necessity of sound commercial principles obtaining practical adoption, and be- sides made pointed allusions to our restrictive policy in corn, sugar, and other essential comforts of life. He claimed a total exemption from duty for cotton, wool, and other raw materials, whereon both our labour and capital are largely employed. Mr. M'Gregor very fully entered into the enlarged views which he entertains of our commercial policy and legislation. Protective duties he would for ever annihilate, and would only permit customs-taxes for revenue purposes. He would greatly simplify our whole fiscal system, and from TEN sources he would raise the entire revenue of the country. His reception at the Chamber was most gratifying, and the Directors were highly-delighted with this exposition. After this meeting, Mr. M'Gregor dined at the Union Club; where he was entertained by a complete admixture of gentlemen of political parties, when every honour and respect for his opinions that this op- portunity afforded seemed to be most cordially tendered to him. During the intercourse which Mr. M'Gregor has had with our commercial world, he has most studiously avoided any implication of his own views with the policy of Ministers and the Board of Trade ; and he has distinctly stated, that he is only responsible for his opinions in his private and not in his official capacity."
At the usual quarterly meeting of the iron-masters of South Stafford- shire, in Birmingham Town-hall, on Thursday, it was mentioned, that in consequence of the improved state of the iron-trade, the colliers' wages would be raised to the rates prevailing before the last reduction. A further advance in the price of iron is expected. The improvement is attributed by the iron-masters themselves to the improved state of all other trades.
A public meeting at Llechryd, three miles from Cardigan, was held on Monday, to vote a loyal address to the Queen, to pledge those as- sembled to aid in preserving the peace, and to petition for consideration of local grievances; all of which was duly ratified by the meeting. One local grievance at Llechryd is the fishing-weir across the Tivy, which is said to prevent the ascent of fish in the river. It was stated that Mr. Gower held the weir on a repairing-lease for 551. a year ; but he was willing to give it up, and the owner, Mr. Lloyd, was willing to sell it for 5001., half its value. The chairman suggested a subscription to purchase it in the spring ; offering, if 4001. were collected, to make up the rest. The suggestion was well received ; and the Chairman, Mr. Lloyd, and Mr. Gower, were drawn home in the carriage by the people.
Another such meeting was held on Tuesday, at Cefn-y-Coed-yr- Allwyd, with similar result. One of the speakers, a Welsh farmer, remarked that Rebecca was everywhere : why?—because Rebecca was Poverty ; and the way to kill her was to give the people bread and redress their grievances.
Two men have been lodged in Carmarthen Gaol, on a charge of breaking into the house of Thomas Thomas, a farmer, assaulting him, and exacting 40s. Their associates have since assailed Thomas's house and burned it to the ground.
The Welsh Special Commission was issued and forwarded from Lon- don on Monday. It nominates Mr. Baron Parke, Mr. Baron Gurney, and Mr. Justice Creswell, as the presiding Judges. The trials will take place in Glamorganshire, at Cardiff ; it having been considered advis- able to try the prisoners at a distance from the county which has been the chief scene of the disturbances. The Judges are to meet on the 21st instant.
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