"My dear Mr. Baines,-I perceive that you are about to have a meeting at Leeds to promote the qualification of electors, with a view to further the objects of the Anti-Corn-Law League.
"You will probably remember being present upon an occasion when, amidst very strong surrounding inducement, I forebore from pledging myself to the entire extent of those objects. All that has since intervened, all especially that is now occurring, a fellow feeling with my old friends in the riding (although I less than ever anticipate any probable renewal of a political connection between us), and a sense of what has been effected by the Anti-Corn-Law League to advance their great end, alike combine to put an end to all further doubt or reserve on my own part, and I write this without concert or consultation with any one else. The contribution I enclose your immediate purposes is of very trifling amount; it would not be easy to foresee what calls may not be made upon any of us in the course of the ensuing year; but I wish to record in the most emphatic way I can my conviction that the time is come for a final repeal of the Corn Laws, and my protest against the continued inaction of the state in the present emergency-Believe me, dear Mr. Baines, yours very faithfully,"MORPETH.
"Edward Baines, jun. Esq."
With the certainty now that, if ever a whig administration came into power, it must come with an unequivocal adoption of free-trade principles, much speculation arose whether Peel, either with the desire of retaining office, or with the more statesmanlike desire to rescue his country from, not an impending, but an already inflicted calamity, would have the courage to do that which his political opponents were promising to do; and the continuance of Cabinet councils led to the belief that he was struggling with his refractory colleagues for that purpose. "It was in the midst of the second series of consultations," says Miss Martineau, "that an incident occurred which startled the whole kingdom, and gave the newspapers plenty to say:
