TE LIYE OF COBDEN. [omar

18582,

House from temporizing. We have everything to fear fro”
dolay. Popular enthusiasm cools, and the enerny being ™
power will be sharpening the sword with which to slay "3
as soon as we are off guard. Let no other question be mixed
up with ours. The country will not entertain other reforo®
nntil our question is disposed of.”
“ London, Feb. 28. ( , )—Further reflection, and the
perusal of Lord Derby’s speech, have confirmed me in mY
views. We must go for memorials to the Queen for a disso"
lation. We must mix up no other question with it, because
no other will interest the public till it is settled. We may
talk of Reform in Parliament, but I would have no resolutio?
excepting upon our own question. There should be one
resolution affirming our determination to renew the Leagu®
agitation, if necessary to maintain Free Trade inviolate; and
another expressing the wish of the meeting for the interest
of all concerned, to have the question for ever settled by a2
appeal to the country, and therefore praying the Queen t0
dissolve as soon as the forms of Parliament admit. I have
my doubts yet, whether Lord Derby will dare to go to the
country on the bread question ; but if he should, he will find
nine-tenths of the men, women, and children even in the
rural districts dead against him. There is no doubt as t0
the result of a dissolution. Free Trade is stronger in the
agricultural districts amongst the mass of the people, than
you perhaps imagine in Manchester. There need not be too
much sound and fury in our proceedings. The very appari
tion of the League will settle the question. In fact it is the
only thing that all parties at headquarters are afraid of.”
A couple of days after this letter, the Council of the
League met in their old quarters at Manchester. Crowds
from all parts of the country thronged into the great room
of Newsll’s Buildings, and as one familiar face after another
was recognized, the assembly became almost as animated ad

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