The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-26 00:00:00

SCOTLAND.

EDINBURGH, APRIL 24.
There has been a sort of barricade encounter on the
banks of the Clyde. It appears that the proprietors
of a saw-mill at Inchbank, situated on the margin of
the river, had lately built a wall to inclose their works,
and thereby blocked up an old-frequented road, used
by pedestrians from Glasgow, Partick, and elsewhere,
fcr upwards of one hundred years—a proceeding
which excited a spirit of indignation on the part of
those who were accustomed to enjoy a walk by the
banks of the Clyde in that direction, by the river side
down to Itenfrew. The result of this proceeding on
the part of the proprietors was the calling of a preli-
minary meeting of the inhabitants of Partick,
at which the question of the right of the
public to the use of the footpath in ques-
tion was discussed, and resolutions adopted to
have it vindicated at all hazards. Before doing any-
thing hastily, however, the meeting agreed to appoint
a deputation to wait upon the offending parties, to re-
present to them the nature of the encroachment and
the feelings of the public on the subject ; and three
persons were accordingly nominated to perform this
duty. The deputation represented the sentiments of
the public meeting, when they were told in answer
that the company had a right to the ground down to
the water's edge—that they would hold a discretionary
power as to allowing persona to pass ; further, they
I would close the passage at any hour they might deem
unseasonable. The result of this conference was re-
ported to a large meeting of the inhabitants of Partick
on Tuesday last, on the public common attached to
the school hause, and appeared to give general dissa-
tisfaction. The leading indivPualis in the meeting re-
solved to assert the right of roadway ri et armis, and
the resolution was no sooner made than acted
upon. The :multitude, to the number of about
1,500 persons, including men, women, and children,
having procured the services of the town drummer
and a wandering piper, marched in a body, through
the village to the inspiring strains of "The Camp-
bells are cornice," and thereafter went in procession to
the obnoxious dyke at Inchbank. Here they planted
a flag which had been obtained for the occasion on the
top of the wall, which was as readily taken down by
the proprietors of the mill and their workers, but
again rescued by the besiegers, who, having procured
a small log of wood, proceeded to use it as a battering-
ram, and in a short time knocked that part of the wall
to pieces, levelling it with the ground, so as to admit
of a free passage along the banks of the river. The
crowd then gave three cheers for their old pathway,
and quietly separated. Tee proceedings did not oc-
cupy more than a few minutes altogether, and seemed
to give the utmost satisfaction to those engaged in the
assault.
APRIL 2-5.
The elements have of late been singularly unfavour-
able for Chartist displays in the open air. Calton-
hill, the chosen place of assemblage, is a dreary spot
in an east wind, and when rain accompanies that
A'ulian scourge, Demosthenes himself would not find
six auditors. sst night was of this description, and
the threatened monster meeting resolved into thin
air, and the leaders marched off to a hall in the Old
Town, where few cared about following them.
Government has declined the aid of an armed con-
stabulary in Glasgow, as appears from the following
letter from the Home-office :

Whitehall, April 20, 1848.
Sir,—l am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to ac-
knowledge the receipt of the memorial of the special consta-
bles enrolled in the city of Glasgow, informing him that a
large body of the respectable inhabitants of that city are ready
and willing, if they receive the sanction of the government,
to form themselves into a Volunteer Rifle Corps, in order to
act in support of or in place of the military in preventing any
disturbances of the peace.
Sir George Grey fully appreciates the valuable services
lately rendered by the special constables in the city of Glas-
gow in the restoration and maintenance of public order, and
he has received with much satisfaction the assurance that
they will at all times afford their willing aid to the civil au-
thorities to repress disturbance.
He feels that such aid is most important, and cannot fail to
be of essential benefit; but while he would be happy tome an
arrangement made, by some voluntary organisation, for ren-
dering the service of special constable available to the tallest
extent at any moment of emergency, lie does not think it
would be expedient that armed volunteer corps should be
formed in large cities or towns for the sole purpose of repress-
ing internal disturbance.
Should any circumst.nces hereafter induce her majesty's
government to think that the public interests require the
formation of such corps, Sir George Grey wiil communicate
further with you on the subject.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
DENIS La MARCHANT.
R. Stewart, Esq., Acting Chief Magistrate.