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158 adjourn, and the motion became a dropped order. It was easier for the supporters of monopoly, whig and tory, Lord John Russell and Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Labouchere and Sir James Graham, to let the discussion thus drop than to meet the arguments of the free-trade advocates. Curious enough that those obstructives should, in a few years more, be contending which amongst them were the best free traders!

The delegates met at Brown's Hotel, on Saturday, the 4th of April, when the following resolutions were passed: "That the efforts of the deputies to obtain a vote of the House of Commons, on the question of the Corn Laws, having been most unexpectedly thwarted by the success of our opponents, in prematurely putting an end to the debate on Mr. Villiers' motion, without any decision on the merits of the question, it is expedient to request Mr. Villiers to bring the subject again before the House as early after the Easter recess as possible."

"That the delegates are not discouraged by the result of the late debate; that they derive new determination, as they find new motives for exertion, in all that has occurred; that they feel their various arguments are unanswered—their cause strengthened—their confidence in ultimate triumph unabated; and they pledge themselves to one another, and to the nation, not to relax until the mighty grievance, under which the community is suffering, be removed."

"That, dissociating ourselves from all political parties, we hereby declare that we will use every exertion to obtain the return of those members to Parliament alone who will support a repeal of the Corn Laws."

The last resolution was not passed without deep deliberation. Many of the whigs in office, before the passing of the Reform Bill, had been opponents of the Corn Laws, and it was believed that they continued to be favourable to free trade, although, during their continuance in office, they never found the fit and proper time practically to exhibit their attachment to its principles. There was a belief that in the struggle to destroy the landowners' monopoly the whigs would lend a friendly hand; and there was great unwillingness to embarrass an administration of