plummets hitherto will sound, questions deep enough.—which it were better we did not name, even in thought. You are forcing us to think of them. The utterance of them is begun; and where will it be ended think you? When now millions of one's brother-men sit in workhouses, and five millions, as is insolently said, "rejoice in potatoes' there are various things that must be begun, let them end where they can."
Mr. Cobden was not put down, not weakened, not lessened in public estimation; strengthened and encouraged rather. The League deputies were in London, and the first of their renewed metropolitan meetings was held in the Crown and Anchor on the Wednesday after the melancholy scene in the House of Commons. Mr. Hamer Stansfield, of Leeds, was called to the chair, and expressed his warm indignation against the attempt to affix a stigma on the name of Richard Cobden. Mr. Cobden's reception was with rapturous cheers which lasted for several minutes. After expressing his astonishment that he, a member of the Peace Society before he was known as a politician, and who conscientiously believed that it was worse than useless to take human life even for murder, should be accused of instigating to assassination, he went on calmly but forcibly to represent the duty of London joining in the peaceful and peace-preserving agitation. He was followed by Mr. Bright, still described as of Rochdale, whose powerful speech was interrupted by an announcement that a meeting had been formed in the body of the house, formed of the crowds which could not gain admission to the hall. A deputation having been appointed to address the additional assemblage, Mr. Bright resumed his speech, and claimed for the League the credit of having preserved the peace in an alarming state of affairs in the previous year, and said that to such outbreaks the country would always be liable so long as the Corn Laws existed, but that if they were repealed there would not need to be maintained a soldier
