on,
uv. ] BASTIAT'S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 309

Tustic clothes and ‘homely umbrella, he had the air of an 1845
honest countryman come to see the marvels of the town. Zr. 41.
Bu there was a look of thought on his square brow, a light
0 his ful) dark eye, and a keenness in his expression, which
told People that they were dealing with an enthusiast and a
Man of ideas. Bastiat took the opportunity of being in
Paris 40 push on to London, there to behold with his own
676s the men who had so long excited his wonder and his
Admiratioy, He hastened to the office of the League, with
®0Pies of his book in his hand. “They told me,” he wrote
bo hig friend, ¢ that Cobden was on the point of starting
for Manchester, and that he was most likely preparing for
the journey at that moment. An Englishman’s preparation
Sonsist of swallowing a beefsteak and thrusting two shirts
to carpet-bag. I hurried to Cobden’s house, where I
founq him, and we had a conversation which lasted for two
houyg, He understands French very well, speaks it a little,
"0d T understand his English. I explained the state of
®Pinion jn France, the results that I expect from my book,
“0d 80 on,” Cobden in short received him with his usnal
Sordiality, told him that the League was a sort of free-Wasonry,
 that he ought to take up his quarters at the hotel
of the League, and to spend his evenings there in listening
to the fireside talk of Mr. Bright and the rest of the band.
A day or two afterwards, at Cobden’s golicitation, Bastiat
Vent down to Manchester. His wonder at the ingenious
Methods and the prodigious scale of the League increased
"0h all that he saw. His admiration for Cobden as a
Public leader grew into hearty affection for him as a private
frieng, and this friendship became one of the chief delights
°f the fo busy years of life that remained to him.
There had never been any anxiety among the men of the
Leagn to stir foreign opinion. “We came to the conlugion
 » Cobden eaid, *f that the less we attempted to