Facsimile PDF - Online Library of Liberty

MAIVCHESTER STAT. SOC.--I1\.il UGURAL ADDRESS. 183
D voInme of a Manchester newspaper for 1842, end in the
early part of that year he will find in every page evidenoe of
IC the appalling and unparalleled distress" tu it was called
which then prevailed in the manufacturing districts of the
West and North. In some places, especially Paisley, the
population was ssid to be starving for want of employment,
and the Government was implored to send food. The Government
did not send food, but they did insist upon the repression
of serious disturbances which arose among an almost
desperate people. The bread riots, which occurred in this
city in the latter part of 1842, can hardly have escaped the
memory of all mho are here.
This, let me remind you, took place when the tariff WM
still published in the form of a book, with an index to the
very numerous articles contained therein ; when the arrangemcnts
of Providence for the supply of food were improved by
an ingenious sliding scnlo; when we nttempted to ropruss tho
industry of neigllbouring countries by an export duty on coal
and certain other materials; and promoted our own manufactures
by a general trd mlorcrn import duty on manufactures of
cotton, woollen, linen, iron, stc., varying from &5 to &SO per
5.100. It was the discontent and agitation arising during
those gloomy years which finally determined the country in
favour of free trade, and it is an extraordinary coincidence
that tho very year which has witnessed the removal of the last
trace of protection in the smnll corn duty, just repealed by
3fr. Loowe, should have brought an agitation, however limited
and contemptible, for a roversal of that great work.
rr.
For my part, when I consider how great are the
causes which have lately concurred to derange our trade, I
feel exoeedingly thankful that we have so easily surmounted
crises like those of the cotton famine, and the collapse of
1866. Our own transactions contain ample information to
enable anyone to understand our present position, and the
real causes of stagnation. I know no one who has ex.