longer an abstraction-justice to all classes, from the highest to the lowest, is the surest guidance of legislative enactments, as it is the amplest resource of national prosperity."
The London election occupied the attention of Manchester also, and at a great meeting held in the Free Trade Hall—every meeting there was a great meeting—and, after a report of progress by Mr. Wilson, the chairman, and a good speech by Mr. Benjamin Pearson, Mr. Cobden adverted to the necessity of securing free-trade representatives for all the great towns by attention to the registration, and especially for London. He referred to a recent adhesion to the cause of free trade: "I hope that such a manly example as has been set by Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd, in London—for most manly it was in a gentleman of his reputation, and of his notorious wealth, to join the League at the very moment that it was suffering under the opprobrium attempted to be fastened upon it by a millionaire of the city—a most manly act it was of Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd at that time to throw himself into the ranks of the leaguers; and, I say, I hope the example of such men as my Lord Fitzwilliam and Mr. S. J. Loyd will be followed by others nearer home, in Manchester. I can make allowance for, and can duly appreciate the causes which may deter gentlemen of influence, gentlemen to whom parties look up, whom a wide circle respect and follow in every movement; I can make allowance for the caution with which they may hesitate to join such a body as the Anti Corn-Law League; but I put it to them, whatever their political opinions may be, whether the time is not now come that they can with safety and propriety join us as a body, and whether we have not given them guarantee sufficient by the prudence and the caution, and, I will say, the self-denial with which we have carried on our proceedings; that they will run no risk, whatever opinions they may have on other subjects than that of free trade, of having those opinions in the slightest degree offended, or
