xx) DRLAY IN BIGNING TH. . NVENTION. 785
delay which was unintelligible. “I am amazed,” M. Rouher 1860.
%id to Cobden, “that a country like England should allow Zr. 66.
8 great commercial question to be treated in this confemptaons
 way. Had it been Caraccas or Guayaquil or
Turkey, T should have understood it. But here is a Treaty
of Commerce between England and a nation of thirty-six
millions of people within two hours of its shores—probably
the greatest event in her commercial annals—and it does
Dot seem to create sufficient interest in the Government to
induce the President of the Board of Trade to remain for a
fow days at his post, or even to leave his address where a
despatch will find him.” He added that he had some reason
to believe that perhaps there would be no great regret in
Some quarters, if Cobden did not meet with too great success
in hig negotiations. Success might procure for him a
degree of influence that might, it was feared, possibly be
Wed against the Government.
Cobden suggested to M. Rouher that if they could only
Sign guch a portion of the tariff as was to come into operation
 on the 1st of October, they might at least publish the
Whole tariff, on the ground that the first portion was likely
to be the least satisfactory to the English man ufacturers,
nd it was unadvisable therefore to expose it to hostile
Criticism for a week or ten days before the rest could be
Published. When this was explained at the next meeting
of the plenipotentiaries, a rather disagreeable scene took
Place, Lord Cowley,” says Cobden, “jumped up from
his chair and, seizing his hat, declared with considerable
*Xcitement that he would leave the room, throw up all re-‘Pongibility,
 and leave the matter in my hands ; that I had
Undertaken to act without his consent, and in opposition to
hi instructions, etcetera. In vain M. Rouher explained that
he had acted on my personal assurance, and that what I had
“aid did not bind me as a plenipotentiary, and still less Lord

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