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356 full acquaintance with it in consequence of his situation as chairman of the board of that union. He (Sir R. Peel) was well acquainted with their distress through the excellent report of the poor law commissioners, in February last. Since that time to the present the distress had continued to increase, and the means of relieving that distress to decrease; the ratepayers were in a very distressed condition, and such was the difficulty of obtaining funds, that some of those the best acquainted with the financial condition of the union could not see how it was possible to raise funds necessary beyond the present quarter; and if the board should be obliged to suspend relief, the consequences would be lamentable. He had had an interview with the poor-law commissioners since he came to town, and he had told them these things. The Mayor of Stockport had stated that he, as the chief magistrate of Stockport, would not hold himself responsible for the peace of the borough if relief was not speedily afforded. He had occupied the situation he held with the view of aiding the poor and poor ratepayers, and should for the present continue to hold it, except the want of funds should cause the operations of the board to cease. The expenses of the poor for three years, ending March, 1841, was £3,100 per year. This year it would, according to present appearances, be upwards of £9,000. The opinion prevailed that he (Sir Robert Peel) could immediately relieve the distress, and if he would only announce his determination to repeal the Provision Laws, that announcement would stay the plague; and it was the opinion of well-informed persons in his neighbourhood that relief would immediately follow. The mills only partially employed would be fully so, and those now standing would soon be at full work—prosperity would gradually increase, and it would cause them speedily to forget their sufferings.

Mr. Edmund Grundy, of Bury, said he regretted the pressing necessity which had given rise to this interview,