text:  But did they augment the number of their friends? Not a person of the least political or personal importance could be prevailed upon to join their discreditable ranks; it remained as before:--Cobden and Bright--Bright and Cobden--Wilson Bright and Cobden--Milner Gibson Fox Bright and Cobden--_ad nauseam usque_; but like a band of travelling incendiaries they presented themselves with indefatigable energy in places which had never known their presence before