THE IDEA OF

HE LFAGUR,

149

brinciples of trads, Such a society might enter into 1889.
Correspondence with similar bodies abroad, and so help to mr. 35,
dmend the restrictive policy of foreign governments, while
8 home prizes might be offered for the best essays on the
orn question, and lecturers might be sent to enlighten the
“ericulturalists, and to invite discussion upon a subject
Which, while so difficult, was yet of such paramount interest
% them and to the rest of the country. The hour for the
Partial application of those wv ideas bad now come.
Before the month of January, the Manchester Anti-Corn-Law
 Association was complete'> organized, and its pro-Sramme
 laid before the pulic. Te object was declared
to be to obtain by all legal and cor titutional means, such
38 the formation of local associations, the delivery of
lectures, the distribution of tracts, i? the presentation of
Petitions to parliament, the total and immediate repeal of
the corn ang provision laws, Cobden was appointed to ba
¥ member of the execoutive committee, and he continued in
that office until the close of the agitation.
In the February of 1839, as Cobden geily reminded a
great audience on the eye of victory six years later, three
of them in a smell room at Brown’s hotel in Palace Yard
Were visited by a nchleman who had taken an active part in
advocating s modification of the corn laws, but who could
not bring himself to the point of total repeal. He asked
what had brought them to town, and what it was thas they
Wanted. They had coms, they said, to seek the total and
immediate repeal of the corn laws. With an emphatic
shake of the head, he answered, “You will overturn the
monarchy ag soon ag you will accomplish that,”* For
the raoment it appeared ag if this were really true. Me.
Villiers moved in the Hongo of Commons (Feb. 18), that a

* Coben's Politionl Writings, i. 83.
* Coliden's Broanlina i. RAK