268 



them with every legitimate means of subsistence ; but never 

 till the present period was a member in the House of Com- 

 mons heard to revile British landowners for attempting to 

 advance the best interests of the nation, and to ameliorate the 

 condition of the poor. 



Mr. Cobden's attack upon the National Report was opposed 

 to every principle of patriotism, and contrary to sound political 

 knowledge ~a report fraught with information of the highest 

 importance to the state, holding out the prospect of " employ- 

 ment for the redundant population," and " a remedy for the 

 distresses of the people" — a report " submitted to the ordeal 

 of the strictest scrutiny,'' and which, if introduced to the notice 

 of Government at all, should have been accompanied with a 

 recommendation to serious attention — a report, the accuracy 

 of which, if Mr. Cobden doubted, he ought to have instituted 

 the inquiry challenged, when he would have discovered that 

 the growth of linseed, with box-feeding and summer-grazing, 

 was a far better method of promoting the "welfare of the 

 farmers of Wales, of Scotland, and of Wiltshire," than that of 

 " importing foreign beans, peas, and oats to fatten their cattle ;" 

 also, that a judicious and systematic introduction of the flax 

 crop would remove from the rural and manufacturing districts 

 all distress consequent upon the want of employment and of 

 adequate wages, because the demand for work would be sup- 

 plied, the labour-market cleared, and remunerative wages 

 insured. But the League are too well informed upon these 

 subjects to risk a discussion that would end in the overthrow 

 of their favourite scheme of ruining the landed interests of the 

 country. 



The original and chief pretext for free trade was the im- 

 provement of the condition of the redundant population, which 

 the manufacturers averred could only be secured by an inter- 

 change between British manufactures and cheap foreign bread. 

 But, no sooner were flax associations formed with the view of 

 providing employment for the people, and cheap provisions 

 from native resources, than the promoters were unjustly and 

 illiberally attacked by the Anti-Corn Law League. I say 

 unjustly, because the League attribute to the supporters of 

 the flax cause an intention of increasing the price of wheat, 



