d, and was adopting, for the benefit of all who became Chartists.
He anticipated great results from his scheme of labour palaces--denied
the propriety of being placed in the election returns as a feather in
the quill of Whiggery--was an earnest advocate for the amelioration of
Ireland, and still willing and determined to agitate for their cause.
He would go to parliament, and record his first motion for 'The people's
charter, and no surrender.' The meeting was conducted in a very orderly
manner."

As very considerable numbers of the working classes in Lancashire and
Yorkshire had been taught in Sunday-schools, and the Sabbath day was
much regarded in that part of the country, the collection of such a vast
concourse of persons from great distances, on a day so sacred, created
prejudices against the chartist confederacies even in their own
strongholds, which, irrespective of every other difficulty, ensured
their defeat. The agitation, however, did not come to a head during
the year of which we write, and it is unnecessary further to trace its
progress in this chapter.

This was not the only agitation which disturbed the equanimity of Great
Britain throughout the year. The Protectionists, led by Lord George
Bentinck, were active and acrimonious. Agricultural dinners and public
meetings gave opportunities for the most violent denunciations against
Sir Robert Peel, the government, and free trade. The manufacturers--the
creators of wealth, and who sustained so large a portion of the public
burdens--were represented as a selfish, callous set of men, eager only
to acquire riches, even at the expense of all other classes of the
community. They were described as disloyal and revolutionary, and bent
upon the destruction of throne and constitution. It would be difficult
to determine whether the orations at the protectionist groupings,
or those at the chartist gatherings were most characterised by class
invidiousness; nor could it be adjudged in which the less sound
views of political economy were enunciated. The eloquence greatly
preponderated on the side of the Chartists. Cotton was also quite as
patriotic as corn. The operatives declared that "the country" was ruined
by class legislation, and therefore desired that their own class should
thenceforward possess the legislative power. The landowners declared
that "the country" although not yet destroyed, was on the brink of
destruction, and must speedily perish amidst blood and ban