GREAT FACT.  Upon this phrase they have lived ever since—­till somewhat roughly reminded the other day, by Mr Baring, that “great facts” are very “great follies!” Now let us once more ask the question—­would all these desperate and long-continued exertions and sacrifices—­(all proceeding, be it ever observed, from one quarter, and from the same class of people—­nay, the same individuals of that class)—­be requisite, were there any real movement of the public mind and feeling against the Corn-laws?  Are they not requisite solely because of the absence of any such movement?  Nay, are they not evidence that the public feeling and opinion are against them?  And that, perhaps, they will by and by succeed in rousing the “stubborn enthusiasm of the people” against themselves?  Where has there been called one single spontaneous public meeting of any importance, and where exhibited a spark of enthusiasm, for the total repeal of the Corn-laws?  Surely the topic is capable of being handled in a sufficiently exciting manner!  But no; wherever a “meeting,” or “demonstration,” is heard of—­there, also, are the eternal Cobden, Bright and Wilson, and their miserable fellow-agitators, who alone have got up—­who alone harangue the meetings.  Was it so with Catholic Emancipation?—­with the abolition of Negro Slavery?—­with the Reform Bill?  Right or wrong, the public feeling was then roused, and exhibited itself unequivocally, powerfully, and spontaneously; but here—­bah! common sense revolts at the absurd supposition that even hundreds of thousands of pounds can of themselves get up a real demonstration of public feeling in favour of the object, for which so much Manchester money has been already subscribed.

      “’Tis not in thousands to command success.”

If the public opinion of this great country—­this great enlightened nation—­were really roused against the Corn-laws, they would disappear like snow under sunshine.  But, as the matter now stands, if their dreary drivellers Cobden, Bright, Wilson, Acland, W.J.  Fox, were withdrawn from the public scene in which they are so anxious to figure, and sent to enjoy the healthy exercise of the tread-mill for one single three months, would this eternal “brutum fulmen” about the repeal of the Corn-laws be heard of any more?  We verily believe not.  “But look at our triumphs!”—­quoth Cobden—­“Look at our glorious victories at Durham, London, and Kendal!—­our virtual victory at Salisbury!” Moonshine, gentlemen, and you know it;—­and that you have spent your money in vain.  Let us see how the matter stands.

I. Durham.  True, Mr Bright was returned; but to what is the House of Commons indebted for the acquisition of that distinguished senator, except the personal pique and caprice of that eccentric Tory peer, Lord Londonderry?  This is notorious, and admitted by all parties; and these causes will not be in operation at another election.