t the agricultural interest being the paramount
interest in this country, to depress that interest would be injurious to
the entire community; that suddenly to adopt free trade in corn must
produce that effect, and that, therefore, it is the opinion of this
meeting that a moderate fixed duty upon the importation of foreign grain
is the one best adapted to the present position of the agricultural
interest and the welfare of the country."

This resolution was seconded by Mr Langston, M.P., but this gentleman
gave way for

Mr Bright, who, upon presenting himself, was received with load
cheering. In an eloquent address he clearly demonstrated that the only
way in which the corn laws could benefit the farmer was by making food
dearer, which could only be done by making it more scarce. That the
advantage of such high prices invariably went to the landlord in the
shape of rent, in consequence of the immense competition for farms,
arising from the increase in the agricultural population, and the
difficulty of providing for them in commerce and manufactures, owing to
the depressed condition to which they had been reduced by the operation
of the corn laws. High prices could only be obtained by the farmer from
the prosperity of his customers. In reply to the resolution of Lord
Camoys, the honourable gentleman stated, that with regard to agriculture
being the paramount interest of the country, there could be no doubt in
every country there must be land for the people to live on, and so far
it was the paramount interest; but he denied that anything like half the
population of England were engaged in agricultural pursuits. The
agricultural interest would not be depressed, nor would the community be
injured by free trade. He would put it to the meeting whether they would
have a low duty or no duty at all. (Loud cries of "no duty.") A fixed
duty of 6s. would raise the price that amount, and the whole would go
into the pockets of the landlord. The honourable gentleman concluded his
address amid loud cheers.

Lord Norreys next spoke in favour of the existing corn laws, attributing
the distress under which all classes at present laboured to the
over-production of the manufacturers.

Mr Langston, M.P., having replied to his lordship,

Mr Henley, M.P., addressed the meeting at some length, in favour of the
present restrictive duties on the importation corn. The honourable
member concluded by observing that he had attended the meeting b