ten shillings a bushel in Scotland, dear bread; aye, dearer bread it might be had for three shillings than the people of any other and nine-pence a bushel in Eng- country!!" [Hear!] It was preland. In such a state of the cur-posterous to suppose that free rency of the two countries if he trade could be carried on at such owed a Scotchman one hundred a disadvantage to the industry pounds, he would take care to pay of this country. If there was to it in Edinburgh, as he could there be free trade (which he did not exchange it for 331. per cent., ac- think by any means necessary), cording to the currency of this coun- let it be free trade in every thing, try. The principles, in short, on and do not place the restriction which Ministers were acting for the where a restriction should last of regulation of the currency, and all be placed, on an article of nethe whole system which they cessary consumption [cheers]. But had recently adopted, would gra- independent of this consideration, dually, and one by one, strike he did not see the necessity of indown all the great and leading troducing these principles of free interests of the country. The trade at all. When he saw the tradesmen and manufacturers prosperity which this country arwere now enduring the severest rived at-when he knew that she distress, and were justly loud in had enjoyed an eminence in comtheir complaints against the mercial greatness over every other system. By the withdrawal of nation, not only for the last centhe small notes, and the substi- tury, but for the last four or five tution of gold and silver, the centuries-indeed from the time receipts of the fundhottier would of Cæsar, or at least from that of be affected, and by and by it Edward III.-and when he saw would come to the turn of the that prosperity and that greatness agricultural interests to suffer, were the result of a rigid restricand the farmer and landlord tive system of policy-he was at a would be involved in the gene-loss to see the wisdom of altering ral ruin. This led him to a it [hear, hear!]. He would make declaration of Ministers since it appear to the Meeting, what a the commencement of the present Session, that no alteration would be proposed in the Corn Laws. Yet the free trade principles were to be encouraged. This free trade, which was so much lauded, was nothing short of a humbug. To remove the restrictions of trade, and to continue the Corn Laws, was to say to the people of England, You may carry on a free trade with every country in every article, but in the most necessary of all-that of bread-but, whilst other nations have cheap, you must have

shallow man William Huskisson was, who thought he could improve our condition by such an alteration [hear, hear!]. Our commercial greatness hitherto was established by treaties with other nations by England, which nations were, to be sure, all very affectionate and loving to one another. Each,however, endeavoured to secure its own interests; and England, which always enjoyed a preponderance of power, made use of that power to secure to herself a superiority. She made treaties to be sure-but they were

treaties of this kind, "If you don't perfect equality, importing and agree to so and so, as I direct, exporting as much as one nation mind what will take place," &c. wants from the other for its con[hear, and a laugh.] England sumption and use [hear, hear]. had always the master-hand in This was the mistake, the fatal these negotiations, and she always error of Ministers, and for this used them for the security and error should they be held responestablishment of the ascendency sible. If they were to have of her commercial greatness. But adopted such principles, which, now, it would seem, all this is to he would repeat, were altogether be at an end. But these free-trade unnecessary, they should have principles were founded, forsooth, begun with a free trade in corn. on the presumption, that both par- Thousands and hundreds of thouties might be gainers. Now, how sands were now suffering the the dl, he would be glad to direst distress, in consequence of know, could both nations wiu? this folly of Ministers; and alHere W. Huskisson shows how though there were so many in the shallow a man he is. This would House of Commons who knew appear from a simple illustration, what he said to be true, yet up which any one present might came the 658 Members, and not easily understand, that transac- one word was said of the true tions in trade between individuals causes of the distress, although were very different from commer-there was a debate of the full cial transactions between nations. measure, of eighteen feet three Suppose a butcher at Kensington inches and a quarter in length, kills an ox, the sirloin stands him and two inches and a quarter in in seven-pence a-pound; he sells breadth. Yet, having read the it to me, who am a butcher also, whole, he could safely assure the at eightpence a-pound, and I Meeting, that there was not one again sell it to a gentleman at word of sense from the beginning ninepence a-pound. There both to the end of the debate, with the the butchers gain, because they exception of what had fallen from find a third party who is the con- Mr. Hudson Gurney, whose sumer. But it will be asked-speech was only three inches and Will not this hold good between a quarter in length of the whole two nations also? I answer yes, measure [applause, and a laugh]. if they can find a gentleman na- If he had a place in that House, tion to buy of them (much laughter he would expose the fallacy of and cheers]. The two tradesmen their bragging prosperity. He gain, because they find a consumer had no apprehension or dread of who gives more than the cost of going amongst them. There was production in the first instance, and no spell there no enchantment of sale in the second. But where [a voice from the crowd, "Yes, is the third party in the case of two there is an enchantment"]. Well, nations of France and England, he did not believe that there was, for instance? We export cottons he placed no faith in any enchantand other manufactured articles, ment which should overcome men and they import wines and other to prevent them from speaking articles into England, on terms of out there. He had understood O

that Col. Johnstone, who stood near delusion of the Ministers was not him, was not in the House on the the worst of all. How many first night that Parliament met. thousands of persons (who have All he would say was, that he dis-since been ruined) believed in the believed in those charms,and would statements of Ministers respecting pledge himself, that if he got into the flourishing condition of the Parliament, he would, in the country? How many who did space of one month, make the not know what was the real state ears of Ministers tingle in such a of the nation, and who did not way as they had never tingled know or believe that Ministers before [cheers]. Before he con- would state anything that was not cluded, he begged to refer the true, entered into wild and venMeeting to what had fallen from turesome speculations which they Mr. Prosperity Robinson in March would not otherwise have done 1824, when he was recommend-[hear, hear!]-purchased Stock ing those measures to the House upon credit, and entered into a of Commons, on which he variety of enterprises into which pledged himself the permanent the bragging of Ministers had prosperity of the country rested, allured them [hear, hear!]. Albut which had been productive of though many had been ruined by such calamitous results. "See the rash speculations into which (said he) how happy we are-see they had been thus induced to the prosperity of the country, and enter, the evil was not over; for see what we, the Parliament, the calamity yet would overtake have done for it." Let this be an others who had permitted themanswer to those slanderers (mean-selves thus to be deluded. Up ing us who disapproved of those to so late a period did this delumeasures, and insisted upon the sion prevail, that even on the 8th necessity of Parliamentary Re- of last June, at a public dinner form), His argument was this. given in Norwich, at which the The premises were, first, that the Mayor presided, and which was country was in a state of prospe-attended by the Aldermen, and rity; 2dly, that it had been all the sages of the city; amongst brought to this prosperity by the the toasts given on that occasion Small-note Bill! the conclusion was one to the following effect: from which was that Parliament "The Right Hon. F. Robinson, had rescued the country from its and Thanks to him for the prodistress, and raised her to this sperity which his measures have pitch of prosperity; and that we, diffused throughout the country." the Reformers, were the slan- This was the toast given only on derers for venturing to suspect the 8th last June, and they all that this very Parliament was not knew what a very different aspect composed of the wisest men in from one of prosperity. What a the world [cheers]. Yet have contrast to the sentiment contained we lately seen this very Mr. Ro- in that toast, the City of Norwich binson condemn those very mea-presented now! The Mayor who sures which he then so strongly gave that toast was since gazetted eulogized, and which he (Mr. C.) as a bankrupt [hear, hear, hear!]. as strongly condemned. Yet this He did not say this through any

disrespect to that gentleman, he had done for the last fifteen or whose individual loss he regret- twenty years. What he had ted; he only mentioned it as an heard from Mr. Cobbett that day, instance of the calamitous conse- convinced him. that he was not quences which an undue confi- only (what they knew him to be), dence in the delusive measures a powerful writer, but a powerful and boasting representations of speaker, and that he was as capable Ministers entailed upon the of giving a viva voce expression of country. He had done his his opinions as a written one utmost to arrest the calami- [hear, hear]. He (Mr. H.) apty-he had forewarned them proved of the principles he had of the calamity, and as his warn- that day advanced, and would be ing had been disregarded, al-glad to contribute his mite to the though he deplored the evils that subscription proposed to be raised befel the country, yet, as distress for sending him to Parliament did prevail, it was satisfactory to [cries of Bravo! and cheers]. find that it only fixed its fangs in But they should not appear the that quarter in which it ought bigoted disciples of Mr. Cobbett, [hear, hear!] In conclusion, he but his sober and rational sup(Mr. C.) begged to thank the porters on rational grounds. For Meeting for the Resolutions to this reason he wished to call the which they had come, and for the attention of the Meeting, and of kind attention with which they Mr. Cobbett, to a pledge which had heard him. [Considerable ap- he (Mr. C.) had made to the plause followed the delivery of electors of Honiton in June, 1806, this address]. and repeated by him to the electors of Hampshire in the year Mr. Hunt was here loudly 1812. If he would now 'repeat called for, and with some diffi- it, he (Mr. H.) would do all in his culty procured standing-room in power to send him into Parlia the well of the wagon, close to ment." never, as long as I the Chair. He apologized for his live, either for myself, or for, or late appearance at the Meeting, through the means of, any one of which was occasioned by his at- my family, will receive, under any tendance at the Freemasons' Ta- name, whether of salary, pension, vern, where the Meeting was ap- or other, either directly or indi pointed, by advertisement, to be rectly, one single farthing of the held. He had hastened to Lin-public money. This declaration coln's-Inn-Fields, however, on he (Mr. H.) had himself made, learning that it had been adjourn- when he stood a contested eleced there, and regretted that he tion for Westminster; he had had not arrived in time to hear made it also on the occasion of the Resolutions and speeches, as standing two contested elections be supposed there had been for Bristol; and as it had been speeches and Resolutions fa slight made by Mr. Cobbett, he now laugh]. He had only heard a called on him to confirm it. -It part of the speech of Mr. Cobbett, was the more necessary, as it was to which he had listened with the not men of talent that were so same admiration of his talents that much wanted in Parliament, as

men in whom the people could | done [cheers]. The situation of place confidence; and a declara- a Member of Parliament in adtion of this kind was, in his opi-dressing the House, was one often nion, greatly calculated to conci- encompassed by considerable difliate that confidence [hear, hear]. ficulties. So he felt it to be. It To ensure it, however, it was ne- was because he thought that the cessary for the person seeking it, talents of Mr. Cobbett were emito pledge himself not to meddle nently qualified to render service with the public money. "That to the public interests in Parlia is the man for my money" [cheers].ment, that he came forward on As to Mr. Cobbett's talents, there the present occasion to support could be no question; they were, him [applause]. Loud cries from he would repeat, most powerful; all parts of the Meeting, "the and they were of the greatest ver- pledge, the pledge," "Cobbett, satility also; for he could write as the pledge." well upon one subject as the other Mr. Cobbett again came for[murmurs of disapprobation]. He ward, and said, that what a man would say, that Mr. Cobbett was swore in 1806 was surely binding a man of transcendent talents, and on him in 1826. It was the greatif he would repeat the declaration he (Mr. H.) submitted, he should est act of self-degradation that a man could commit, to repeat an have the best support he could oath which he had already sworn. render, to place him in Parlia-There his oath was, and there it ment. But such a declaration would continue, as strongly bind was a necessary preliminary [re-ing on him now as then. He newed murmurs]. Mr. Hunt here turned to Colonel Johnstone, who hoped, therefore, the Meeting stood beside him, and said, "Iliation as that of calling upon him would spare him so great a humiperceive Colonel Johnstone is very to repeat an oath which he had desirous that I should make a short speech. I should be glad tion was made without any exalready sworn. This explanato hear from him, who is so anxious to interrupt me, why it is that be pression of approbation or diswho is in Parliament, does not ad-pleasure from the Meeting. vocate there those principles, Colonel Johnstone then proposed which he comes here so strenu-a vote of thanks to Sir Thomas ously to support [murmurs and Beevor, for his conduct in the applause]." Chair.

Colonel Johnstone here came for- Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., in ward and said, that he could not returning thanks, begged to expretend to those talents which plain to the Meeting, that the reawould qualify him to take an ac- son of his not meeting those gentive part in the discussions of tlemen who were assembled at the Parliament. His constituents had Freemasons' Tavern was, that he selected him to represent them, as made an effort to procure admisthey believed he would always sion, but, from the crowded state give a conscientious vote in Par- of the Freemasons' Tavern, he liament. That he had promised found it impossible to reach the to do, and that he had always room. He regretted the disap