History of the Anti-Corn Law League

by Archibald Prentice

HISTORY

OF THE

ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE.

BY

ARCHIBALD PRENTICE,

ONE OF ITS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,

AUTHOR OF

"HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MANCHESTER;" "A TOUR IN THE UNITED
STATES," &c.

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VOL. 1

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LONDON.

W. & F. G. CASH, BISHOPSGATE STREET.

1853.

A. IRELAND AND CO., PRINTERS,

PALL MALL, MARKET STREET, MANCHESTER.

To JOHN CHILDS, Esq.
OF BUNGAY, IN SUFFOLK,
A ZEALOUS PROMOTER, FROM EARLY MANHOOD, OF
CIVIL, RELIGIOUS, AND COMMERCIAL LIBERTY,
AND, WITH THE ABLE ASSISTANCE OF JOSEPH HUME
AND A FEW OTHER COADJUTORS,
THE SUCCESSFUL ABATER OF THE MONOPOLY
WHICH TRIPLED OR QUADRUPLED THE PRICE OF THE
BIBLE,
THIS HISTORY OF THE
DESTRUCTION OF ANOTHER UNRIGHTEOUS MONOPOLY,
IS INSCRIBED, AS A TESTIMONY OF SINCERE RESPECT
FOR HIS UNDEVIATING ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLE,
AND AS A MEMORIAL OF
FORTY YEARS' UNINTERRUPTED FRIENDSHIP
BETWEEN HIM AND THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

In my preface to "Historical Sketches and Personal Recollections of Manchester from 1792 to 1832," I said: "When I disposed of my interest in the Manchester Times, and retired from its management, after twenty-three years' labour as a journalist, it was suggested to me that as, for a considerable part of my life, I had taken part in movements for important purposes, a biographical memoir would be well received. The suggestion was natural enough from those who, having read my newspaper from the time they left school until they were men, taking an active part in public business, regarded me as their political teacher. My reply was, that there was nothing in the events of my life that would interest any one beyond the narrow limits of a local "School;" but, on farther consideration, I thought that some account of the progress of liberal opinion in such a place as Manchester, and brief notices of the part, however humble, I had taken in its formation, would be not uninteresting and not uninstructive to its inhabitants, and those of the surrounding very populous district; and that there and elsewhere the history of what had been done might be an encouragement further to do."

In that volume I endeavoured to show how the despised minority, patient and persevering, became the overwhelming majority, and how one reform, to be the instrument of obtaining other necessary reforms, was at length triumphantly obtained. It appeared to me, that to show how that instrument was used, and what part Manchester took in subsequent struggles for the repeal of the Corn Law, which ought to have been the first fruit of the Reform Act, would be fit occupation for the historian's pen; and when the second edition of the "Historical Sketches" was put to press, I began to prepare materials for their continuation in another publication. I soon found that the History of the League would, of itself require to be given at a length which would preclude the insertion of any of my personal recollections of Manchester, except such as would relate to events which led to the prominent part taken by this great town in the arduous struggle for free trade.

It may be an objection to my undertaking that it is too early to write a history so recently terminated; and certainly, an actor in the events recorded might look back, after a series of years, with greater calmness than he may be supposed to experience when he writes immediately after the heat of contest; but as Mr. Roebuck, in his History of the Whigs, remarks, "a contemporary historian is a witness as well as an historian—a witness indeed, giving his testimony under the best security for its accuracy; liability to instant denial and searching cross-examination."

A more serious objection may be, that an impartial history cannot be expected from one whose participation in the movement might influence his judgment to a more favourable one of those who determinedly opposed it, than either class deserved. To this my reply would be, that he who has been a partizan from a deep conviction of the humanity and justice of a cause, is quite as likely to be a truthful historian as one who, not having formed any decisive opinion as to the necessity of the contest on one side or the other, held aloof from it, and was utterly indifferent to its great results.

A more formidable objection presented itself when I first contemplated a History of the League—the difficulty of speaking of living men, its members, without incurring the charge of adulation; but, on consideration, I felt that while I confined myself to a faithful, plain and unambitious narrative of their labours, the charge could not justly be laid at my door. A restrospection of the whole circumstances of the movement rather inclines me to wonder why, during its continuance, I did not feel a higher admiration of the bravery, the knowledge, the prudence, and the patriotism of its leaders.

For any sins of commission or omission in this work I alone am responsible. I have consulted no one as to what I should put in or leave out, and no one has seen my manuscript but the printer. I have thus preserved the freedom which an author ought to enjoy when he is recording the actions of men, many of whom are his associates and personal friends, while they are freed from any suspicion of having assisted in the record of their own doings.

Manchester, 15th December,
1852

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

The first election for Manchester, in 1832, an emphatic assertion of free-trade principles—Mr. Cobbett and anti-slavery—Mr Mark. Phillips, Mr John Thomas Hope, and Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd—their cross examinations.

p.1

CHAPTER II.

Another free-trade candidate wanted—Mr. C. P. Thomson—the contest—return of two free traders—results of general election—opening of Parliament.

p. 18.

CHAPTER III.

The new House of Commons—not-the time plea—apathy of 1834—the Wellington Peel administration—agricultural distress—the abundance and prosperity of 1835—Richard Cobden.

p. 34.

CHAPTER IV.

An Anti-Corn-Law Association 1836—symptoms of coming distress—state of trade in 1837—failures—death of William IV.—general election—Mr. Villers' motion 1838—wheat doubled in price.

p. 49.

CHAPTER V.

Origin of the Manchester Anti-Corn-Law Association, September, 1838—Dr. Bowring's speech—Mr. G. Hadfield—the seven members, and the Provisional Committee—Mr. Paulton's lectures.

p. 64.

CHAPTER VI.

Protracted discussions in the Chamber of Commons—Mr. J.B. Smith—Mr. R. Cobden—repeal of all protective duties demanded.

p. 78.

CHAPTER VII.

Large subscriptions to the Association-imputation of selfishness—O'Connor opposition at Leeds—public dinner of free-trade members of Parliament.—meeting of delegates—council appointed.

p. 90.

CHAPTER VIII.

Delegate meeting in London, February 1839—Sir Robert Peel’s adroitness—Cobden as a speaker—chartist outrage—delegate meeting at Manchester—Mr. Villiers’ motion.

p. 107.

CHAPTER IX.

Establishment of the League, March 1839—The Anti Corn-Law Circular and tracts—the League abused—retirement of Mr. Poulen Thomson—election of Mr. R. H. Greg.

p. 124.

CHAPTER X.

The campaign for 1840—erection of a pavilion—meeting of deputies there—list of deputies—free-trade banquets—the delegates in London—interviews with Melbourne, Peel and Graham, Russell, Labouchere,and Baring—Mr. Villiers’ motion—important resolution.

p. 141.

CHAPTER XI.

Starvation in Ireland—report of committee an import duties—Leaguers itinerating—M. Fred. Butipth defence of English ladies—petitions and publications.

p. 160.

CHAPTER XII.

Campaign of 1841—the Walsall election—retreat of the Whig candidate—vituperations of the Whig press—lesson to ministers, and their probable fate—agitation directed on Parliamentary boroughs.

p. 175.

CHAPTER XIII.

Meetings in Manchester—the import duties—the Bible on the Corn Law—Mathew Henry.

p. 190.

CHAPTER XIV.

Proposal of an eight shillings’ duty—the League’s address on total repeal—the whig budget—O’Conner chartists and physical-force—Dr.Sleigh’s mission—where farm produce goes.

p. 200.

CHAPTER XV.

Want-of-confidence motion—ministers defeated—the election—Cobden returned for Stockport—why not for Manchester?—religous movement originated.

p. 222.

CHAPTER. XVI.

Conference of ministers of religion—its commitee and its address—Carnarvon convention.

p. 235.

CHAPTER XVII.

Meeting of Parliament—ministers out-voted in the Lords—defeated in the Commons And their resignation—new ministry—renewed agitation—the land tax fraud exposed—deepening distress—the seige of Bolton.

p. 253.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Meeting of 120 delegates—resolutions and mode of working—Welsh conference—Midland Counties' conference—Cobden on machinery—ladies committee—appeal to the Queen—protectionist abuse.

p. 272.

CHAPTER XIX.

Campaign of 1842—West of England conference—conference of ministers of the Gospel at Edinburgh—a farmer on high price—conference at Birmingham—great bazaar at Manchester

p. 286.

CHAPTER. XX.

Meeting of Parliament—meeting of the League conference and list of deputies—entire repeal demanded—procession to the House of Commons—Peel meeting the delegates—deputation to Lord J Russell—resolutions of the delegates—meetings in the country.

p. 302.

CHAPTER XXI.

Sir Robert Peel's new sliding scale—Mr. Villiers’ motion—Mr. R. Cobden's speech—heartless merriment—names of the minority—suffrage movement—the new Corn Bill passed.

p. 317.

CHAPTER XXII.

The new tariff—dear bred and distress—Mr. Wallace'smotion—Palace Yard meetings—details of deep distress in all parts of the country.

p. 333.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Delegation to Sir Robert Peel—addresses of Mr. P. A. Taylor, Mr. Ridgway, Mr. J. Brooks, Mr. W. Ibbotson, Mr. Laurence Hey worth, the Rev. Mr. Bouner, Mr. Edmund Grundy, Mr. Whitehead, the Rev. Mr. Lowe—Sir Robert Peel's reply—other deputations to ministers.

p. 346.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Formidable turn-out, August 1842—its character Mr. Bright's address—the sound of a musket not heard—Mr. Cobden on the turn out.

p. 370.

CHAPTER XXV.

Series of League meetings in Manchester, from September to the end of 1842.

p. 390.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Series of meetings in various parts of the country attended by deputations from the League—the authors amongst the farmers—position of the question address to the citizens of London.

p. 410.