manner in which he had introduced the delegation to Sir Robert Peel.
Other deputations sought and obtained interviews with Sir Robert Peel and his colleagues in office. Public meetings had been held in Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Huddersfield, Halifax, Lancaster, Bury, Bolton, and Salford, and gentlemen had been appointed to proceed to London to represent to ministers the alarming state of the country. No sooner, therefore, had Sir Robert been released from the disagreeable importunities, and the stern warnings of the Conference delegates, than those additional deputies came to disturb the quiet which he evidently sought. He was waited upon, by appointment, on Monday, July 25th, by the following gentlemen Mr. Pawson, mayor of Leeds, Mr. Holdforth, of Leeds; Mr. Alderman Chappell, Mr. Alderman Brooks, and Mr. Robert Gardner, of Manchester; Mr. Ashton and Mr. Brook, of Huddersfield; Mr. Ackroyd, of Halifax; Mr. Biggs, of Leicester; Mr. Henry Ashworth, of Bolton; Mr. J. Walker, of Bury; and Mr. Holland Hoole, of Salford. Sir Robert received them standing, in which position he and they remained during the whole conference, which lasted two hours. The Premier was addressed by Mr. Pawson, Mr. Holdforth, Mr. Chappell, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Walker, Mr. Henry Ashworth, Mr. Brook, Mr. Ashton, and Mr. Ackroyd. At the end of Mr. Ashworth 's very bold and effective speech, the following brief colloquy took place:—
"Sir Robert Peel: You will admit that I have diminished the protection to agriculture more than has ever been done within six months at any rate?
"Mr. Ashworth thought it was only a nominal alteration which had been effected by the Corn Laws; a duty of 13s. had been substituted for 23s., and six feet of water might drown a man as well as six yards. Neither would the tariff be very beneficial to the poor man; out of twenty-two millions of articles that it embraced, sixteen millions were left untouched; and the six millions worth that it did effect would not assist the starving operative. Did the poor man care for French boots and shoes, cosmetics, silks, and perfumery?