and on one day in every week, almost every newspaper in London had a page of report of spirited and admirable discussion in Covent Garden Theatre, spreading free trade argument throughout the kingdom and wherever a London paper found its way; while the diversity of eloquence and argument crowded the theatre with attentive audiences. I must content myself with giving a mere catalogue of those meetings.
March 20th, 1844.—The Earl of Radnor in the chair. Speakers: Mr. Lattimore, of Bride Hall, Hertfordshire, a tenant farmer; Mr. Hunt, another tenant farmer; and Mr. Cobden. The fallacies of the monopolists with regard to the benefit of the Corn Laws to farmers and farm labourers were most triumphantly demolished. March 27th.— Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., in the chair. Speakers: Mr. Gisborne, M.P.; Mr. Bright; and Mr. W. J Fox. April 17th. Mr. Cobden in the chair. Speakers: Col. Thompson, and Mr. George Thompson. Mr. Cobden announced that the council had determined on holding a great Bazaar, or Art Exhibition in that theatre. April 24th.— Mr. Villiers, M.P., in the chair. Speakers: Mr. W. Ewart, M.P.; Mr. Howard Elphinstone, M.P. and Mr. R. R. Moore. May 1st.— Lord Kinnaird in the chair. Speakers Mr. Ricardo, M.P.; Mr. Jas. Somers, a farmer from Somersetshire and Mr. Cobden. May 8th.—Mr. Warburton, M.P. for Kendal, in the chair. Speakers: Mr. Villiers; Mr. Gibbs, of Aylesbury, a farmer; and Mr. W. J. Fox. May 15th.— Mr. Bright in the chair. Speakers: Mr. Jas. Wilson of the Economist; Mr. Turner, a tenant farmer from Somersetshire; and the Rev. John Burnet, of Camberwell. May 22nd.—Major General Briggs in the chair. Speakers: the Rev. Saml. Greene; Mr. Geo. Thompson and Mr. W. J. Fox. May 29th.—Earl Ducie in the chair. Speakers: Mr. Edward Holland, of Dumbleton, a practical agriculturist; Mr. Cobden, who was introduced to the meeting by his lordship as their own
