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Rh never seen a concourse of people behave with more temper and propriety, and in a more becoming manner, than I have done at Manchester. People who live at a distance, imagine that when large multitudes of people are collected together, there is danger of disorder. There is no such danger at Manchester, I am certain. ('Flatterer.') Really, when so many gentlemen speak at once, it is difficult for one to know what they say. ('Stick to the Corn Laws; don't run off.') I have already stated that my opinion is, that a fixed moderate duty would be better than a fluctuating duty. (Mr. Prentice: 'Aye, but how much?') Mr. Prentice asks me how much. He asks me to go into the House of Commons as a fettered representative. I will not go there as a fettered representative. Gentlemen, I thank you very cordially for your kind attention."

The Anti-Corn-Law Circular, commenting on this speech, said: "This wretched shuffle cooled many of the political partizans of the candidate, and animated into violent hostility those supporters of liberal opinions whom the corporation question, and the alleged finality policy of government had formerly decided to take no part in the contest at all. Such poor evasion as it manifested could not possibly succeed with strong-minded men, such as Sir George was solicitous to represent. 'Stick to the Corn Laws don't run off,' was truly a home thrust. He was, forsooth, in favour of a fixed duty. 'Aye, but how much ?' Was not the answer very easy? Could he not have said at once 8s. or 10s., or 15s. or 20s. per quarter? Instead of this of this, he turns round, and says, 'Mr. Prentice asks me how much. He asks me to go into the House of Commons as a fettered representative.' No, he did not. He only asked his present opinion on the subject, which, considering that the Corn Laws have been twenty-four years in existence, that Sir George was long a cabinet minister and that he is now sixty-five years of age, he surely has made up his mind about them now, if he is ever to do so on this side of time."

The precept for. the election had been addressed by mistake to the Boroughreeve, the old manorial officer, instead of the Mayor, and though it was recalled, he insisted