POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
The metropolis of the Anti-Corn-law agitation, Manchester, is the scene of increasing activity in preparing to push the subject in Parlia- ment. A meeting of the various Anti-Corn-law Associations of the country was convened at the rooms of the Manchester Association, in Newall's Buildings, on Thursday. The meeting was called by a cir- cular, which stated that the proceedings would be merely preliminary, and that therefore no one need be put to the inconvenience of coming from a distance. The attendance, however, was so much more nume- rous than it was expected to be, that the meeting adjourned to the spa- cious Corn Exchange. Amongst those present were Mr. Charles Vil- liers, M.P., Mr. Brotherton, M.P., Mr. R. H. Greg, M.P., Mr. J. B. Smith, Mr. Edward Baines junior of Leeds, Mr. Rawson, and several of the well-known members of the League. The speakers do not seem to have been very profuse. In a short address, Mr. Villiers intimated that the agitation of the subject had had an influence in high quarters : speaking of the progress of the cause, he said-
" Gentlemen, since I last had the pleasure of addressing an assembly in this extensive and intelligent district, our cause has greatly progressed. I should not have despaired of it had it stood still where we then left it but there are signs of its progress. I believe the truth of the evils of these laws have reached the recesses of power, and the strongholds of monopoly are beginning to be shaken." (Loud cheers.)
He announced a new Committee of inquiry on an important branch of the question : he was arguing against the supposed effect of repeal in lowering wages-
" Now, as I see that there is some doubt about this, and that many people really think that wages would fall if provisions were more abundant, there is actually an inquiry to be instituted upon the meeting of Parliament upon that subject ; and our friend Sir William Molesworth, the Member for Leeds, has agreed to move for a Committee to inquire into the connexion between the price of food and the rate of wages. (Cheers.) And I do hope that every working-man who has an opinion to give upon this subject, and who feels an inclination to give evidence, will come forward. (" Hear, hear! ")
The proceedings of the day were interrupted by a Chartist named Linnie, whom the Chairman at first stopped, as he was not a deputy ; but eventually the meeting consented to hear him. His speech is not reported ; but it is said to be irrelevant. The following resolutions were carried without opposition-
" That this meeting recommends the Council of the National Anti-Corn-law League to invite by circular the deputies from all the Anti-Corn-law Asso- ciations of the kingdom to assemble in London at the time when Mr. Villiers shall bring forward his annual motion upon the Corn-laws." " That in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that the deputies, at their approaching visit to London, should wait personally upon the Members of the House of Commons, to ascertain their views upon the Bread and Pro- vision laws."
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