under obligations to the Queen who was said to have favoured their cause as one of humanity and justice, and three hearty cheers in her honour loyally closed the proceedings.
The cessation of active operations by the League was followed by a spontaneous act of justice and gratitude to its acknowledged leader. In a very short period the sum of £75,000 was presented to Mr. Cobden by the free traders of the kingdom. By a similar spontaneous movement, Mr, Bright, his friend and closest coadjutor in the great struggle, was presented with a splendid library.
The advice of Mr. Atkinson to "keep their powder dry." was not neglected by the free-traders. The registrations were strictly attended to, and before there was any seeming danger to the existence of free trade, Mr. Gobden was a member for the West Riding of Yorkshire; Mr. Bright for Manchester; Mr. Brown, and Mr. John Cheetham, for South Lancashire; Mr. James Heywood for North Lancashire; and the people's strength in the Commons had been considerably increased, when, six years after the conditional dissolution of the League, the usurpation of office by the Derby-Disraeli ministry threatened the safety of free trade measures. The League was revived, a £50,000 fund was asked for, and in a great proportion subscribed, and active operations were commenced and continued until the danger was over. Not one of the ruinous results prophecied, lave occurred from the repeal of the Corn Laws;and those who laboured for the destruction of those poverty-creating enactments, can now look with deep satisfaction on the improved condition of the great mass of the people, emancipated from a cruel subjection to class interests.
Manchester, 30th September, 1853.
FINIS.
