The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-10 00:00:00

there being great difficulty in the vast numbers
getting on the Common. At last it was sugges ed that
they should enter by the opening made by the former
procession, and that suggestion was acted upon. First
came the Chartists of Whitechepel, headed by a small
banner, with a Chartist motto. Then came those of
the Brick-hue district, and then those of Finsbury.
With regard to the latter, a more respectable looking
body of men, we should say, never assembled at a
public meeting, but after them came a pack
of the most disreputable looking ruffians ever
seen. There were the usual Chartist banners,
ascribed with Chartist mottoes, and pales surmounted
with caps of liberty. Tue majority of the pro-
cession wore tri.coloured rosettes and ribbons, and in
about the middle of it there was a large tri-coloured
flag. This was followed by a flag bearing the inscrip-
tion, "We eau, if we will, be free." Then came one
which bore the motto of the French Republic,
" Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," in very large chisrac-
ters, and underneath it, said, " What is Life without
Liberty ?" finishing with "The whole Charter, and
no surrender." Next in order was "The Emmett
Brigade," and a body of the Irish Cut,fiderates.
That body was headed by a green banner, with yellow
edges, the Irish harp being in the centre ; and when
this emblem made its appearance on the Common,
the most vociferuus shouts of " Erin-go-Bragh," and
" Republic for ever," were uttered. The members of.
the National Convention new apps 'red, in vans, drawn
by the horses employed on the O'Connorville estate;
and, on seeing Mr. Feargus O'Connor in the front,
the crowd received him with loud cheers. The van
proceeded on to the Common, and was drawn round,
so that the entire assemblage should see the delegates.
A van followed, carrying the national petition, and a
banner announced that it bore 5,106,847 signatures.
At this moment the scone on the Common was a
most extraordirary one ; there could not have been
less than 100,000 persons piesent, of which perhaps
one-third were in ready Ctartists.
When about the centre of the Common, the van
stopped, and an inspector of police came up and inti-
mated to Mr. (Molnar that his presence was re-
quired before the commissioners of police. Mr.
o'Coneor at once got out of the van, and made
the best of his way through the crowd, and when it
was un di. retool that he st as in custody, there were cries
of " The police ;" " A rescue ;" but no rescue was
attempted ; and the delegates in the van exhorted the
crowd tube tranquil, as Mr. O'Connor would be back in
a few minutes. Mr. O'Connor proceeded with the
officers, hut soon after returned, and, addressing the
crowd in front of the common, said they need not be
alarmed, for he was set at liberty by the police, who
had made a communie ition to him. This was much
cheered. lle then mounted the ran, when it trans-
pired that he had undertaken to guarantee that no
breach of the peace should take place. __ _

It was moved by Mr. Clark, and seconded by Mr.
Adams. that Mr. C. I preside over the mewing
This was unanimously agreed to.
The Chairman said,—Men of I.ondon, this is one of
the most glorious sights I ever had the pleasure of
witnessing. This is a meeting which must make the
heart of every true patriot heat with exultation,
showing as it does that tie people of
this country are all in favour of the common rights of
humanity. (Cheers.) For myself, I can say that I
thank you for the confidence you have reposed in a
working man ; and I am glad that the working classes
begin to see that they can do their own w,•rk
themselves. I nee d not ask you to conduct sowYelves
with propriety, for upon your peaceful demeanour,
yet firmness, depends the success of one of the greatest
causes ever advocated by man. Mr. O'Connor and
others have come here determined to do their duty
towards those who seat them. (Hear, hear.) In
that van before yea is a petition, signed by nearly
six millions of people, and if this is not a
successful confirmation of the fact that we really
represent the people, I do not know what can be so
considered. (Hear.) Mr. O'Connor will now address
you; and I will introduce to you your true friend,
the champion of your rights and of the common privi-
leges of humanity. (Cheers.)
Mr. Feargus O'Connor then addressed the meeting
at great length, impressing upon them the ne-
cessity of perfect tranquillity, and continued :
Mr. O'Connor : Well, then, my friends, the peti-
tion shall be taken down this afternoon to the House
of Commons by the executive, and you will not ex-
pose yourself to be shot at by the armed forces guard-
ing the bridges. I will present and support your
petition boldly, and I will die on the floor of that house
ere I will consent to see it abandoned. If I stand
alone, I will oppose Sir George Grey's treasonable
bill, and will protect your interests, for, large
as my family is, I do not wish to ie:e one mis-
' sing from the great and glorious feast we have
in store. (Cheers) By my God, I love you better
than my life. I think I have sufficiently proved
this by giving you so bountifully of my
life and money ; and when, a few days since, your de-
-1 monstration was laughed at, and supposed to be
an impracticable thing, I gave up the whole
of the profit of the Nnrthern Star, in order that you
might have sufficient funds to carry out your
objects to the fullest extent of your wishes.
On Friday next the discussion takes place on
your petition. For God's sake, do not da-
mage the cause by intemperance and folly. Now
then, my children, you who think that your executive
and your convention have done wisely and bravely,
hold up both hands.
This was done accordingly, the utmost unanimity
prevailing.
Mr. O'Connor: Now, then, let it be decided whe-
ther her Majesty the Queen has better troops than
my men, and whether commands were ever more
readily obeyed without a fugleman. Once more I
beseech you, hear your father, friend, and leader. If you
sec a man breaking into a shop, don't hand him over to
the police, but forthwith knock him down. Don't
let it be said that we are thieving Chartists. I.et
every man amongst you now take off his hat, and
bow to the Great God of Ifeaven,—thanking him for
his goodnese,—and solemnly promising not to violate
the law. _ . .

This cert mony, it is but fair to say, was performed
with an apparently reverential spirit, and without the
least show of frivolity.
Mr. O'Connor thanked his friends for the patience
with which they had heard him, and till back com-
pletely exhausted.
Mr. Ernest Jones followed, and entreated the
meeting to adopt and strictly act upon the advice
of their best friend and leader, Mr. Feargus O'Connor.
(Shouts 'f" We will.')
Mr. O'Connor again presented himself, and asked
the people for authority for him now to wait upon
Sir George Grey, and to tell the right hon. baronet
that the people were determined not to come into
collision with any other armed force, police or
military, and that they were resolved to keep
the peace inviolt.te that day. At once a forest of
hands were held up in approbation of Mr. O'Connor's
suggestion, and Mr. O'Connor withdrew on his mission.
Mr. Clark moved the adoption of a petition to the
House of Commons, praying the unanimous and igno-
minious rejection of the measure introduced by Sir
George Grey ostensibly to provide more efficiently for
the security of the crown and the government of these
realms.
Mr. Kydd seconded, and Mr. Reynolds supported
the motion, which was carried, and the meeting, after
a futile attempt to interfere with it by a person
named Spere, was declared dissolved.
The five huge bundles comprising the petition and
its signatures were then deposited in two cabs, and
conveyed, in the charge of the executive committee, to
the House of Commons. The cars were dismantled
of their trappings, and removed to a neighbouring
stable. The vast assembly then quietly dispersed, and
in half an hour there were not a hundred people
left on the Common.

BLACKFRIAR'S BRIDGE.
By ten o'clock a considerable crowd hnd collected
in Farrinedou-street and New Bridge-street, and at
the point where Fleet-street and Ludgate-hill join
this line of street. The stable-yard of the Rose Inn,
in Farringdon-street, had previously been occupied
by a body of cavalry. Though the gates bore
the announcement of " These premises to be let
on lease," the people were well aware that not a
particle of the interior was empty, and a throng