They were almost entirely of two types--those held by anti-slavery societies and religious bodies and those organized for, or by, working men.

An analysis of those recorded in the files of _The Liberator_, and in the reports sent by Adams to Seward permits the following classification[1203]: YEAR.

NUMBER.

CHARACTER.
ANTI-SLAVERY AND RELIGIOUS WORKING-MEN.
1860 3 3 - 1861 7 7 - 1862 16 11 5 1863 82 26 56 1864 21 10 11 1865 5 4 1 Many persons took part in these meetings as presiding officers or as speakers and movers of resolutions; among them those appearing with frequency were George Thompson, Rev.Dr.Cheever, Rev.Newman Hall, John Bright, Professor Newman, Mr.Bagley, M.P., Rev.Francis Bishop, P.A.
Taylor, M.P., William Evans, Thomas Bayley Potter, F.W.Chesson and Mason Jones.

While held in all parts of England and Scotland the great majority of meetings were held in London and in the manufacturing districts with Manchester as a centre.