| THE NATIONAL TESTIMONIAL. 413

fave retired from public life last August, had not some of my 1848.
Wealthy coadjutors in Lancashire forced me to continue ab my Hr. 42.
Post, and had they not compelled me to leave to them the cares
“ry private business. It is owing to the knowledge which
ty neighbours in Lancashire have of the sacrifices which I
have incurred, that the subscription has been entered into ;
"4 1 wish you to be in possession of the facts, because you
"6 the man of all others whom I should wish to possess
the materials for forming a correct knowledge of the motives
Which compel me to take a course that jars at first sight
M our notion of purity and disinterestedness.” ?

I is not necessary to enter into a discussion of the pro-Prioty
 of Cobden’s ace tonca of the large sum of money,
tween seventy-five und -ighty thousand pounds, which
Were collected in corr rawon of his services to what
ie subscribers count great public cause. The chief
leaguers anxiously discassed the project of a joint testimo-“al
 to Cobden, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Villiers, all three to
b included in a common subscription! But nobody could
%Y how the fand was to be divided. It was then discussed
Tether as much money could be collected for the three as
O Cobden individually, aud it was agreed that it could
Wot, for it was Cobden who united the sections of the Free
Trage party. He had undoubtedly sacrificed good chances
Private prosperity for the interest of the community, and
% would have been a painful and discreditable satire on
human nature if he had been left in ruin, while everybody
®ound him was thriving on the results of his unselfish
Uovotion, It is true that many others had made sacri-Bees
 both of time and money, but they had not sacrificed

} To Goo. Gombe. Joly 14, 1846.
o The Lesgne had slready voted a present of ten thousand pounds
Hr. Goorwe Wilson, their indefatigable chairmen.