tv] STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION ON REPEAL. 357

_ The characteristic of all Cobden’s best speeches was a 1848.
1st distribution of facts as the groundwork of his reasoning, Zr. 42
"Md this for its particular purpose was one of his best
SPeeches, No attempt was made at the time, nor has been
Made since, to weaken his striking statement of the conlition
 of the public mind. Even the Prime Minister was
%0t prepared for such an overwhelming force of opinion.
Towards the close of the session, when all was over, Peel met
Mr. Bright in the division lobby and had some talk with
hi, He had no conception, he said, of the intense feeling
* hatred with which the Corn Law had been regarded,
More especially in Scotland.
The first reading was carried by a majority of 837 to
240. Bug an acute observer gave Cobden what was perhaps
the Superfluons warning, not to allow the victory to throw
bing og his guard. The difficulties were stil! to come, and
they were very serious. In spite of the extraordinary
Position in which they had been left by the desertion of Peel
*0d all the rest of their leaders in both Houses of Parliament,
®Xcepting only Lord Stanley, the Protectionists were unniably
 strong. The bold and patient politician, of whom
_" then thought so lightly, but who was in fact the sustaini,
 genius of their group, has described the steps by which
®y found new leaders and a coherent organization. Lord
George Bentinck was not a great man, but then the most
Hextoron and far-seeing of parliamentary manceuvrers had
o far and was constantly by his side. Mr. Disraeli must be
ud to have sinned against light. His compliments to Peel
oe Free Trade in 1842 prove it. Lord George Bentinck
b "med some views on the merits of Protection by-and-by,
the first impulse which moved him was resentment
" betrayal, It is easy to say that the key to his action
8 incensed party spleen, but the emotion was not wholly
Yiscraditabe, One day be walked away from the House in