1841.

[Ra

LI¥R OF UOBDEN.

fora?

during the recess, he will give way; if not, he will stick
to his sliding scale and the aristocracy. There is a rumo”
very industriously spread in London that we are going ¥
have a better trade. This is one in the chapter of acciden®
apon which Peel depends for an escape into smooth water
Now, as throughout the whole of the struggle, Cobde”
kept up the closest relations with the local leaders of the
movement in the north. One of the most baneful effects ©
the concentration and intensity of parliamentary life is that
members cease to inspire themselves with the more whole
some air of the nation outside. From the beginning to the
end of his career, Cobden cared very little about the opinio”
of the House, and hoped very little from its disinterestednes®
He never greatly valued the judgment of parliamentary
coteries. It was the mind of the country that he alway’
gonght to know and to influence. And though he had
proper confidence in the soundness of his own judgment, he
was wholly free from the weakness of thinking that B®
judgment could stend alone. He was invariably eager %
collect the opinions of his fellow-workers at Mancheste®
and not only to collect them, but to be gnided by them.
“It is quite evident,” he wrote to Mr. George Wilso™
towards the end of September, “that Peel has made up BP
miné to prorogue without entering upon the consideratio?
of the Corn Law. The business of the session will now
hurried on and brought to a close probably by the end of
the week. Under these circumstances I wish to know th
opinion of our friends in Manchester as to the course which it
would be advisable for the few Anti-Corn Law membe™
now in London to pursue. Will yon be good enough 8!
rnce to call together the whole of the Council, and consult
with se many judicious people as you can, and determit®
whether you think anything, and what, can be done ¥
promote the cane? The main question for you to decide i