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Rh warmly attached to whiggism as associated with its former services to liberty, and therefore, looked favourably on the scheme of a moderate fixed duty, for which the late whig ministers would contend. The enthusiastic plaudits which burst forth on the enunciation of the out-and-out free-trade toast at once proved that the vast assemblage, comprising the most influential merchants and manufacturers of the district, were against any compromise of the great principle.Mr. Ewart was followed by Mr. Fox Maule, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Spiers, Dr. Wardlaw, Dr. Heugh, and Mr. Patrick Brewster, the only minister of the establishment who ventured to be present. On the following evening, a soireé, attended by sixteen hundred persons, served still further to strengthen the movement in the west of Scotland.

At this period the whole of the island from Cornwall to Caithness was in commotion. To given even a sketch of the meetings held would fill a volume. I notice only those which represented the opinions of districts. Of these was an important one at Birmingham, on January 27th, consisting of the principal merchants and manufacturers of that town, now thoroughly roused by the evidence of deep distress spread all around them, and of deputies from the populous towns in that neighbourhood, amongst whom were the following gentlemen:—From Wolverhampton: Mr. J. Walker, Mr. J. Wynn, and Mr. Walton; from Coventry: Mr. W. Edgar and Mr. T. Latham, with deputies from the Young Men's Anti-Monopoly Association, and the Anti-Corn-Law Association of that ancient city; from Dudley: Mr. Cook; from Kidderminster: Mr. Dodswell from West Bromwich: Messrs. Boyle, Brettle, Murray, J. Smith and J. Dark from Bilston: Messrs. Lovell, Dimmock, and Blew; from Walsall: Kev. Mr. M'Kean and Mr. J. Spicer; from Stourbridge: Mr. Scott, M.P. and Rev. Mr. Richards; from Coalbrookdale: Mr. Abrahams. There were also deputies from Darlaston and other places