[34] Extracted from a very admirable speech by Mr Day of
    Huntingdon, (Ollivier, 1843,) and which we earnestly recommend
    for perusal.

* * * * *

The disgusting selfishness and hypocrisy of such men as Cobden and his companions, in veiling their real objects under a pretended enmity to “Monopoly” and “Class Legislation”—­and disinterested anxiety to procure for the poor the blessings of “cheap bread”—­fills us with a just indignation; and we never see an account of their hebdomadal proceedings, but we exclaim, in the language of our immortal bard—­

      “Oh, Heaven! that such impostors thoud’st unfold,
      And put in every honest hand a whip,
      To lash the rascals naked through the land!”

While we repeat our deliberate opinion, that the Anti-corn-law League, as a body, is, in respect of actual present influence, infinitely less formidable than the vanity and selfish purposes of its members would lead them to wish the country to believe—­we must add, that it is quite another question how long it will continue so.  It may soon be converted—­if indeed it has not already been secretly converted, into an engine of tremendous mischief, for other purposes than any ever contemplated by its originators.  Suppose, in the next session of parliament, Ministers were to offer a law-fixed duty on corn:  would that concession dissolve the League?  Absurd—­they have long ago scouted the idea of so ridiculous a compromise.  Suppose they effected their avowed object of a total repeal of the Corn-laws—­is any one weak enough to imagine that they would then dissolve?  No—­nor do they now dream of such a thing; but are at the present moment, as we are informed, “fraternizing” with other political societies of a very dangerous character, and on the eve of originating serious and revolutionary movements.  Their present organization is precisely that of the French Jacobins; their plan of operation the same.  Let any one turn to The League Circular of the 18th November, and he will see announced a plan of action on the part of this Association, precisely analagous, in all its leading features, to that of the French Jacobins:  and we would call the attention of the legislature to the question, whether the Anti-corn-law League, in its most recent form of organization and plan of action, be not clearly within the provisions of statutes 57 Geo. III., c. 19, Sec. 25 and 39; Geo. III., c. 79?  What steps, if any, the legislature may take, is one thing; it is quite another, what course shall be adopted by the friends of the Conservative cause—­the supporters of the British constitution.  It is impossible to assign limits to the mischief which may be effected by the indefatigable and systematic exertions of the League to diffuse pernicious misrepresentations, and artful and popular fallacies, among all classes of society.  That they entertain a fearfully envenomed