they are interested upon this point. (Laughter.) You then, when you go forth from this house and return among them, make yourselves, each man and woman, a missionary for the truth; and see how long it is before you combine such a force as friends and enemies shall equally admit to be irresistible. (Cheers.) It has been intimated to me that we have some unexpected aid to-night; I, therefore, who am old in your service, will not detain you, but will make way in order to afford you a taste of what is new. (Loud cheers.)"
The gentleman who was to give "unexpected aid," was introduced to the meeting by Mr. Cobden, who said:—"I find myself unexpectedly sitting beside a gentleman who, in times past, has been a consistent, but, I hopc, an amicable opponent of our good cause—a gentleman largely connected with agriculture; one who himself farms, I believe, 3,000 and odd acres of land; one who, as an agent, in connexion with many of the largest landed proprietors in the kingdom, has upwards of 200,000 acres under his charge; and who is also, in bis own person, a landed proprietor. I allude to Mr. Houghton, who was examined before the Parliamentary Committee in 1836; and who has been since, I believe, an active opponent of free trade. Now, I am happy to say, that Mr. Houghton has maturely reconsidered the question, and that he is prepared tonight to address a few words to this meeting; and to explain to us, and, what is of far more importance, to the country, the grounds upon which he has seen reason to alter his views in reference to the Corn Laws. Allow me now to introduce Mr. Houghton, for the purpose of making a few remarks."
Mr. Houghton, on coming forward, was received with enthusiastic plaudits. After the cheering had subsided, he said:—" Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, it has been said by one of our greatest men—
'All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.'
But little did I ever expect that it would fall to my lot to
