The Anti-Corn-law League had one of its largest meetings on
Thurs- day, in Manchester Free-trade Hall, to hear addresses from Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. W. J. Fox, and Colonel Thompson. The subscriptions in Manchester were reported to amount to 20,2801.
A strange scene occurrod at another meeting in Manchester, to pro- mote the subscription for Mr. Oastler's liberation from prison. Mr. Busfield Ferrand told an anecdote of Alderman Brooks, as illustrating the inconsistency and selfishness of Free-traders He said that the Alderman was introduced to him, in the House of Commons, as one of a deputation from Manchester, with a request that he would vote, in Committee on the new Tariff, against the reduction in the duty on coffee— Mr. Ferrand raised his hands ; but Mr. Brooks said, " I'll tell you how it is: these gentlemen and myself have speculated largely in coffee. If Sir Ro- bert Peel reduce the prices, they must necessarily lose a large sum." "What I" said Mr. Ferrand, "this from a champion of the Anti-Corn-law League, the apostle of free trade, the man for doing away with all protective duties! " "God love you!," returned Mr. Brooks, "we are all for ourselves in this world."
Subsequently, Mr. Brooks came in, and declared the statement to be false : he wished Mr. Ferrand to vote, not against the reduction of duty, but for the further reduction of the duty on foreign coffee. Mr. Ferrand stuck to his assertion, not seeming to perceive the distinction ! And he was supported by his noisy sympathizers in the meeting; who would scarcely hear the accused Leaguer.
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