py
kr THE EDINBURGH Lid, 339

astination might produce a state of suffering that was 184
frightfu) to coutemplate, but bold precaution might avers Zr. 41.
Serious evils. If was no longer worth while to contend for
4 fixed duty. Let them all then waite to put an end toa
System which had been proved to be the blight of commerce,
the bane of agriculture, the source of bitter division among
“lasses, the cause of penury, fever, mortality, and crime
Mnong the people. If this end was to be achieved, it mush
bo gained by the unequivocal expression of the public
Olce,
The Edinburgh Letter was the formal announcement
that Lord John Ruseell had come round to Cobden’s pro-8ramme,
 the winning of Free Trade by agitation. Sir Robert
Pools conversion, as everybody lkmows, was very freely
puted both ab the time and afterwards to interested and
Bbitious motives. Ibis hard to nuderstand on what ground
the same imputation might not have been sustained in the
%ase of the corresponding conversion of Lord John. The
Obvious trath is that they were both of them foo clear
Sighted not to perceive that events had, at last, ghown that
Oohden and his friends were in the righi, and that the
time had come for admitting it. Lord John Russell's
adhesion made the victory of the League certain. Mr. Bright
happened to be on the platform at a railway station in Yorkshire,
 a5 Lord John Russell passed through on his way from
the north to Osborne. He stepped into the carriage for a
few moments. “Your letter,” said Mr. Bright, “has now
Made the total and immediate repeal of the Corn Law
evitablo; nothing can save it.”” The letter had in fact
fone no less thas this.
Immediately on its publication Sir Robert Peel summoned
his Cabinet, His view had been that Parliument ought to be
called together, on the awumption thet the measure of
tolisf which he wes or-nered fo intwodece would virsasily