kruptcy,
unless the landed interest had again the power to make laws of which
the Reform Bill had deprived it, and unless agricultural produce was
"protected," by legislatively enhancing its price for the benefit of the
producers. "A fair day's wages for a fair day's work," and the state to
have the responsibility of securing it to the liking of those who
made the demand, was as much the principle of squires as of operative
cotton-spinners. Lord George Bentinck was a Fergus O'Connor for "the
country party," and Fergus was the Lord George Bentinck of the labouring
town populations.

The public demonstrations of both these parties were often very
unfortunate, in consequence of mismanagement by those to whom the
getting up of these affairs were committed. These occurrences tended to
lower both Chartists and Protectionists in public estimation, as various
witty publications lampooned the prominent actors, and exposed them to
overwhelming ridicule. The most signal opportunity afforded to the wits
in this way was by the Chartists. On the 25th of October they announced
a great public dinner to be given in London to eighteen members of
parliament, whom they alleged had been returned to the House of
Commons by their influence, and to represent their opinions. When the
dinner-party assembled, not one of the eighteen honourable gentlemen
appeared, nor did it transpire that even one had given any acceptance of
the invitation! Fergus O'Connor was an exception from the application
of these remarks. He was there as a matter of course, and elaborately
puffed his absurd land scheme, by which so many were afterwards ruined.

The anti-slavery party were in many respects active, notwithstanding the
home incidents which occupied the public mind. It was necessary to
watch the conduct of government in reference to the recent enactment
concerning the sugar duties, and also their general policy in regard to
the sugar question, and the West India interest. The conduct of the
West India party was suspicious, and required the vigilance of the
anti-slavery men; and the coalition between that party and Lord George
Ben thick added another motive still for watchfulness. Many of the
anti-slavery people turned their attention to India, and were supported
by gentlemen of influence, military and mercantile, in efforts to rouse
public interest in the resources of India, and the adaptation of
these resources to English requirements, rendering the importati