I 



15 



E. WoDEHOUSE, Esq., M.P., was called to the Chair, and 

 in opening the proceedings, said, if a knowledge of the subject 

 respecting which the meeting had been convened was required 

 in the chairman, he was not the person who should preside ; 

 but in common with every one present he felt that the culti- 

 vation of flax was a matter of deep interest, and therefore he 

 would not detain the meeting with any lengthened observations 

 of his own. He had taken the chair in obedience to Mr. 

 Warnes' wishes, and would call upon him to state his views. 

 (Applause.) 



• 



Mr. Warnes rose and said — I rejoice that the time is ar- 

 rived to which I have looked forward with so much anxiety. 

 I rejoice at finding myself surrounded by so large an assembly, 

 in number far exceeding my most sanguine expectations. 

 But, above all, I rejoice at beholding gentlemen, whose ad- 

 vantages of education, station, and circumstances, qualify 

 them so well to take a comprehensive view of those plans 

 which I shall have the honour of laying before them, and also 

 to afford that vigorous assistance which alone can ensure suc- 

 cess. Suffer not the obscurity of the individual addressing 

 you to serve as an excuse for withholding your sanction and 

 support. Remember that the greatest results have more 

 often followed the exertions of the weakest advocates, than 

 those from whom greater things were expected. Therefore, 

 at least for once, let it be said that a prophet has honour in his 

 own country. I stand not here to advocate any selfish claim, 

 but to lay before you ideas which have occupied my mind for 

 some months past, arising from the difficulties into which the 

 agriculture of this country is plunged by the alteration of the 

 corn-law and of the tariff, involving alike the interest of the 

 landowner, the occupier, and the labourer. Sir, we are ar- 

 rived at a crisis fraught with alarming consequences to the 

 community, such as render it the duty of every man who has, 

 or thinks he has, a remedy to propose, boldly to come forward 

 and declare it. Upon this principle I venture to claim your 

 attention for a short time. There are some things connected 

 with the late enactments over which we can exercise no con- 

 trol ; but there are others over which we most certainly can. 



