& Hoyle, J. Hoyle & Son, Callender Bickham & Cross, Eccles Shorrocks & Co., Sir Thomas Potter, Jas. Wrigley, A. & J. S. Buckley, Jas. Kershaw, Alex. & Saml. Henry, and Oxford Road Twist Company. There were thirty-one subscribers of £100 each.
Mr. James Chadwick, of Eccles, had told me before the meeting that ho would give £1,000. I begged that he would not, because we wanted twenty subscribers of £500 each, and could not expect to have so many if he began with so largo a sum. "Well, well," he said, "mind if another fud is required, I shall have another five hundrod ready." A correspondent of The League says: "Mr. Cladwick's speech was a fair representation of the spirit that animated the meeting. He is a homely, business-like, prudent man in appearance, and I was very much struck with his style of dealing with the Corn Law. I have no idea of paying other people's marriage settlements,' said he, and then, as if checking himself in tho outsot of a speech with the mental remark of 'pooh! pooh! what's the use of speechifying?' he threw to the chairman a bundle of bank notos, with the words 'There's my £500 for the League!' and sat down. I have heard Brougham, Canning, and all our best orators, but never heard a speech that produced the effect of Mr. Chadwick's. It would be impossible to describe the excitement that followed as successive contributions were handed in, varying in amount from £500 downwards. One subscription, from Mr. Robt. Ashton, elicited a burst of applause. I have heard of an interesting description of the scene when that munificent gift was promised to the League. Mr. Brooks called upon Mr. Robert Ashton a few days ago to ask him to attend the meeting, He found him sitting with his lady, and solicited his subscription to the fund. 'I gave you £100 last year, and shall give you £200 now,' was the answer. Give him £500, Robert,' was the quiet suggestion of the lady; and Mr. Ashton, who is worthy of such a wife, at once assented.
