Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/50

 course attributed the distress to the want of paper money. Sir John Hanmer declared in favour of a moderate fixed duty, and at the same time protested against the "fallacy of protection!" Mr. P. M. Stewart, Mr. Colquhoun, Mr. F. Baring, and Mr. Goulburn followed, and at a late hour Sir A. L. Hay moved the adjournment of the debate. It was believed that Sir Robert Peel was waiting to reply to Cobden, and that Cobden was waiting to reply to Peel, and men looked eagerly forward to the encounter. In the mean time the Council of the League had transferred its sittings London, had resolved on having weekly meetings at the Crown and Anchor, and its lecturers were attending many meetings in the metropolis and its suburbs. There was nothing in the debate, so far, notwithstanding some important admissions, to give any hope that the agitation would not be long and arduous.