mayors, magistrates, preservers of the peace, and members of both houses of the legislature, who have contributed to our funds, and who have also sanctioned our proceedings, and are included in the attack,—I deny it. (Prolonged cheering.) And, lastly, in the name of two thousand ministers of religion, (Loud and reiterated cheering,) who have left their sacred calling that they might lend their aid in obtaining bread for the hungry, and clothing for the naked, and who are included in the attack,—I deny it. (Renewed cheers.) And, finally, I hurl back the calumny upon whoover may choose to utter it, as a most atrocious, most wilful, must audacious falsehood. (Loud and long-continued cheering.) The hall, during this emphatic repudiation of the charges against the League, presented a most extraordinary scene of excitement, and it was not till the expiration of some moments after the chairman had taken his seat that it subsided.
The meeting was then addressed by Mr. Henry Ashworth, of Bolton, Mr. Thomas Bazley, Sir Thomas Potter, Mr. Benjamin Pearson, Mr. Alderman Callender, Mr. Jno. Bright, and others, and the following address was carried unanimously:
"TO RICHARD COBDEN, ESQ., M.P.
"We, the undersigned, your fellow-townsmen, inhabitantş of the boroughs of Manchester and Salford, desire to express our deep sense of the invaluable service which, during your residence amongst us, you have rendered to this town, and to the interests of our country.
"We more especially regard your untiring labours in the sacred cause of freedom of industry, as entitling you to the gratitude and confidence of all classes of the population of this empire; and we have rejoiced to witness the appreciation of your exertions recently manifested by the people and the municipalities of Scotland.
"Elected by the honest suffrages of the people of Stockport, we feel that you have been equally the representative of the dearest rights and interests of all your countrymen; and in tendering you our hearts support, we do it in the full conviction that we are but giving expression to the sentiments of millions whose voice is too rarely heard in the legislature of this empire.
"We have seen with indignation the attempts made by the monopolists, and their organs of the press, to heap slanders upon the man who has been so powerfully instrumental in denouncing the injustice of that legislation which has brought this once flourishing country to the verge of ruin; and we can understand that the distinguished position in