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In his "Cobden et la Ligue," M. Frederic Bastiat, in reference to the object of the originators of the Anti-Corn Law movement, says: "Certainly there needed more than ordinary courage to face such an enterprise. The adversaries to be combatted were in possession of riches, influence, the legislature, the church, the state, the public treasure, the soil, places, and monopolies; and they were walled around by traditional deference and veneration. But the aspect of these difficulties did not frighten the founders of the League. After having looked them in the face and measured their strength, they believed they had strength to conquer them. The agitation was decided upon, and Manchester was the cradle of the grand movement." The preparations, in the commencement of 1839, for the struggle with so much and so long-continued power, showed that the free traders were fully aware that no ordinary sacrifice of time and money and labour would be required to give them any chance of victory.

On the 10th of January, 1839, a meeting was held at the York Hotel, "to consider the proper mode of carrying forward the proceedings of the Anti-Corn-Law Association in a manner commensurate with the magnitude of the obstacles to be surmounted, and worthy of the object for which it has been established." Mr. Holland Hoole, a conservative, on being called to the chair, said he stood