publications. The secretary then read a long list of subscriptions from every part of the country, and reports of the labours of the lecturers. The Rev. W. Thornton, of Stockport, addressed the meeting, and gave a distressing account of the state of the borough, and Mr. John Brooks in a business-like way, showed the mischief done to trade by the coffee monopoly. The Rev. J. W. Massie in the course of a speech of considerable length, and great eloquence, said:
"Because of the position that was taken by my brethren in Manchester, as well as myself, various assaults have been made upon our character, and various stratagems have been used to affect the interests and reputation of those who were the most prominent on that occasion. I do confess, however, that there never was an event in my own humble lifo, nor & circumstance in my history, as far as I now review it, that I could look upon with such perfect confidence and satisfaction, as the event that identified me with the movement of the Anti-Corn-Law League for the abolition of the Corn Laws. (Applause.) The very attacks which have been made, where my poor unworthy name has been singled out in that volumious article in the Quarterly Review, where I stood as the only 'Reverend' as they call me is the only 'learned,' as they sneeringly address me—and as the only something else, as they say when referring to the violent language which I am said to have used,—those are to me a distinction of more value than if the Quarterly Review had sent me a pound for every page, and crowned my head and Time with laurels and titles. (Applause.) I do think it is with the greatest propriety that the ministers of religion come forward, when there are such statements to be made as Mr. Thornton has made this evening, coming from Stockport. (Hear, hear.) I do think if the ministers of religion remain silent, whilst they in their official capacity are called to witness the things which he describes himself as having witnessed, they belie their profession, they dishonour their Christianity, they do injury to religion, and they are not worthy of the name of Christians."
The meeting was then addressed by Mr. Hudson, of Sabden, who said that a number of block printers in that neighbourhood, out of employment, had been for several weeks breaking stones for the highway, preferring the hard labour and small pay in that employment, to relief from the parish funds.
