Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/369

Rh not forget the workpeople who had raised this capital for him—he had their interest at heart. The power-loom weavers of Manchester called him their father—they were dying of hunger—they had the look of men broken down and driven to their grave by want—they kept coming to him in crowds—they were with him every day—they were getting worse and worse—something must be done for them. The people, thought government would do nothing for them; they could not see what the government was for, or what it was about; the people were starving, and it did not help them. He was a chartist now; he had joined the people, and he would continue to be an agitator till their condition was changed.

Mr. Brooks then handed Sir Robert a paper, showing the depreciation in value of 27 inch printing cloth, which he himself purchased. He bought it in 1834 at 9s. 6d. apiece; he now purchased the same cloth at 4s. 9d. a-piece.

W. Ibbotson, Esq., brought before Sir R. Peel the case of Sheffield. He said that about five-eighths of the Sheffield goods were sent to America, but that our refusal to take grain had well nigh destroyed that great trade. The population was mostly unemployed—they were literally starving, and something must be done for them, and speedily. The increase in the poor's rates was enormous, and still progressing. He believed that the repeal of the Corn Law was the only remedy, and that its adoption would immediately revive the trade and turn the tide in Sheffield.Without it, he was convinced that entire ruin must overtake that ill-fated and suffering town. He implored the government to act in this matter before it was too late.

Mr. Laurence Heyworth, of Liverpool, said that it was supposed that the distress of which they came there to complain was confined to the manufacturing districts, where there was machinery, and to some few trades connected with them; but he could show that the evil attached itself also to the great commercial towns. In the