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Rh longer represented the conservative opinions which he had held when elected for that place, and who, subsequently, stood side by side with Cobden, in the house and out of the house, during the five years there were yet to elapse before the prospective repeal of the Corn Law was obtained. Some good, perhaps, came of the blunder, for the probability is that had Cobden represented Manchester he never would have been the representative of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Manchester, however, had the credit, such as it was, of inviting him, but in his reply to the invitation he had said that he would not consider himself as owing any allegiance to whig ministers, who, at that time, seemed likely enough to be driven from office. This reply was too hastily interpreted into a refusal to become a candidate. The truth is that the free traders did not then know their full strength in the borough, and they too readily yielded to the wish of many influential persons that a member should be chosen who, while he was a thorough opponent of monopoly, would not be indifferent to the retention of the whigs in office, and to the usurpation of place and power by another administration, believed to be adverse to every political and commercial reform. The disagreement amongst the liberals on this point caused no diminution in the zeal with which the operations of the League were carried on. Its members were all united for one grand purpose; and, during the whole of the long struggle, there never was any difference of opinion on other points permitted to weaken the efficiency of their agitation.

In Manchester, Mr. Thomas Milner Gibson was candidate for the seat which had been resigned by Mr. R. H. Greg, and he and Mr. Mark Philips were opposed by Sir George Murray and Mr. Entwistle, tories and protectionists. The contest was a very energetic one on both sides, but it was a fair one; for in so large a constituency bribery was hopeless. At the close of the poll the numbers were: