Applause,—and Clack doomed by an overwhelming majority; whereupon his supporters made their way to the waggon, agreed with him that the meeting was not worth addressing, even if he _had_ been allowed to speak; and carried him off on their shoulders to fish for popularity in the streets of Manchester, while the meeting conducted its affairs as well as it could without him. So ended that matter, except that somehow Clack and his party were forestalled in their return into the town, and the walls everywhere presented, conspicuous in white chalk, the phrase which still rang in their ears, “Law and Concord! No Clack!” An extraordinary number of little boys too seemed to have taken the fancy to mimick the action of weaving, with arm and foot, crying at the same time “Clickity, clickity, clack, Lay him on his back! Clickity, clickity, clack, Away let him pack!” Far more decorous was the meeting in their rear, while the queries were dismissed, each in its turn. “The case of Ann Howlett being admitted by all parties to be a hard one, (her contract being for wages which would not support her,) was her breach of contract sanctioned by the Union?” Shouts of “No; we would have helped her to perform it!” “If this breach of contract had been sanctioned by the Union, was it thought lawful revenge for the committal of Ann Howlett to waylay the carrier and strip his cart?” Groans, and shouts of “No revenge!” Some one near the cart having spoken to Allen, he put the question,— “Supposing this attack to have no connexion with Ann Howlett’s affair, does the Union sanction forcible attempts to prevent work being carried into the country?” Answer, “No. Law and Concord for ever!” “If the men abide by the law, and the masters are found disposed to concord, will the Union be disposed to concession?” Mixed cries, the most distinguishable of which was, “Stick by the Union! The Union for ever!” Mr. Wentworth and Allen exchanged nods, as much as to say, “You see”—“Yes, I see.” “Supposing the Union to be preserved entire, are its members disposed to any concession in respect of wages?” Cries of “Equalization!” “An equalization is, as the Committee knows, indispensable; but the point on which the Committee has not yet received your instructions is whether that equalization may be fixed below the highest rate, _viz._, that which Elliott is now giving?” The answers were at first hesitating, then confused, so that no one prevailed. “Don’t press for an answer yet,” said Mr. Wentworth. “I may tell them something which may help their judgments.” Way was made for Mr. Wentworth, and he presented himself to speak.