be associated with the success of those measures, in the name of the man who, acting, I believe, from pure and disinterested motives, has, with untiring energy, by appeals to reason, enforced their necessity with an eloquence the more to be admired because it was unaffected and unadorned—the name which ought to be associated with the success of those measures, is the name of Ricahrd Cobden. Sir, I now close the address which it has been my duty to make to the House, thanking them sincerely for the favour with which they have listened to me in performing the last act of my official career. Within a few hours, probably, that favour which I have held for the period of five years will be surrendered into the hands of another—without repining—I can say without complaint—with a more lively recollection of the support and confluence I have received than of the opposition which, during a recent period, I have met with. I shall leave office, with a name, scarcely censured, I fear, by many who, on public grounds, deeply regret the severance of party ties—deeply regret that severance, not from interested or personal motives, but from the firm conviction that fidelity to party engagements—the existence and maintenance of a great party—constitutes a powerful instrument of government. I shall surrender power severely censured also by others who, from no interested motives, adhere to the principle of protection, considering the maintenance of it to be essential to the welfare and interests of the country. I shall leave a name execrated by every monopolist who, from less Honourable motives, clamours for protection because it conduces to his own individual benefit; but IT MAY BE THAT I SHALL LEAVE A NAME SOMETIMES REMEMBERED WITH EXPRESSION OF GOOD-WILL IN THE ABODES OF THOSE WHOLE LOT IT IS TO LABOUR, AND TO EARN THEIR DAILY BREAD BY THE SWEAT OF THEIR BROW, WHEN THEY SHALL RECRUIT THEIR EXHAUSTED STRENGTH WITH ABUNDANT AND TAXED FOOD, THE SWEETER BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER LEAVENED BY THE SENSE OF INJUSTICE."
These latter emphatic words are engraved on the pedestal of one of the statues erected to the memory of the statesman; and the thought will arise in the minds of multitudes who peruse them, that a still deeper debt of gratitude is due to those whose long continued and energetic efforts led to the recognition of an enlightened commercial policy, which has set an example to all the nations of the earth.
On the 2nd July, & meeting was held in the Manchester Town Hall of the Council of the League, attended not only by the resident executive body, but of members from all
