The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-28 00:00:00

THE FORTHCOMING REFORM DEXONST.RATION.

DIZETTATION TO THE HOME SECRETART.
Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the
organization committee of the forthcoming trade and
friendly societies' reform demonstration waited on Mr.
Walpole, at the Rome-office, for the purpose of asking his
sanction to the enrolment of special constables from the
trades, for the demonstration, and to ascertain the exact
duty of the police on the occasion. Sir Richard Mayne was
present at the interview.
Mr. GEORGE Porren, who wag the spokesman of the
deputation, stated that the trades and other or-
poised bodies in the metropolis, being anxious
that the demonstration which they intended to hold on
Monday next 'bailie reflect credit on them as working.
men, and be onsflibieh the government would respect and
recognise as worthy of the objects which they desired to
attain, had sought an interview with Sir Richard Mayne,
as chief commissioner of police, to ask him to facilitate the
progress of the procession, and to help them to keep away
the roughs and bad characters Who abound in all large
towns, but more especially in this great city. Tbe com-
mittee then stated what they would repeat now, namely,
that the working-men would take measures for their own
preservation, but that it was necessary, for the pesos of
the metropolis, to guard against the ill-disposed
persons who were present at all great gatherings in London,
such as the opening of parliament by the Queen, Lord
Mayor's Day, or the entrance into the metropolis of some
royal personage. Sir Richard Mayne stated he could not
assist them, in fact he (Mr. Potter) might say the chief-
commissioner positively refused to interfere in the matter,
but informed thew that if they sent him the programme
of their arrangements, he would see whether he could
facilitate the procession. They, as the committee, felt the
responsibility which would attach to them in connection
with the forthcoming demonstration, and consequently
regretted the decision of Sir Richard Mayne on the occa-
sion referred to. The committee, therefore,vrished to know
whether the Home Secretary would allow the swearing in,
or arrange for the swearing in of 1,000 artisans of London
as special constables, and by that means give them a posi-
tian without which they eoeld not make the demonstra-
tion what they wished it to be. Without some precau-
tion of that sort it would be impossible to guard against
people who would attend the demonstration for the pur-
pose of creating a disturbance. The committee of the
trades and societies generally would regret as much as the
government themselves any damage to property, and would
not even wish to see a window broken on the occasion of
their meeting. They did not yet know where they would
meet. They had an offer from her Majesty's government
of a place of which they did not approve, and which he
hoped they would not be obliged to have.
Mr. JENKINS said the working men of London would,
for the sake of their cause, act peaceably at the forth-
coming demonstration, but they wished the government
to co-operate with them in their desire to maintain public

Mr. kfmrrwri.r. said that at Leeds, Manchester, and
Birmingham, the police authorities had given every
facility to the parties arranging the processions. At
Birmingham the police commissioner rode in his carriage
at the head of the procession, while the superintendent
and the force under him assisted in preserving order.
They had mentioned that fact to Sir Richard Mayne, who
told them that he was not bound to follow the example of
the police commissioners in the places referred to, and
that he had no power whatever to act in the matter. He
(Mr. Hartwell) thought it was only fair that the govern-
mast should now do for the working men of London what

they did for themselves in 1848.
Sir RICHARD Blavxe expressed a desire to remove a
misapprehension which he said was entertained by the
deputation. When he told them he had no power to
interfere, it was in reply to their request that half of the
streets through which the procession would pass should
be kept clear, and that the traffic in the side streets
should be stopped.
Mr. HARTWELL said the committee did not of course
presume that Sir Richard Mayne would allow the idlers
and roughs of London to do as they liked. Rut at the
starting of the procession and on its arrival at the place
of meeting there would be confusion which would im-
part disorder to their proceedings, end in that case the
services of the police would be valuable.
Mr. W.tLre.LE said if Mr. Hartwell, in speaking of the
assistance of the police, meant the prevention of any ob-
struction to traffic, he begged to say that such az occur-
rence would be guarded against. He wished to inform the
deputation that their application for special constables
could not be granted on the ground that they expected
disorder, and he should like to call their attention to the
act of parliament on the subject. The honourable gentle-
man read the act of parliament, which was, in substance,
that where it should be made to appear to two or more
justices of the peace, upon the oath of one credible wit-
ness, that tumult, riot, or violence had taken place or
might reasonably be apprehended in any parish or town-
ship for which the justices respectively act, they should
he of opinion that the ordinary officers appointed for pre-
serving the peace were not sufficient for that purpose, or
for the protection of the inhabitants or the security of the
property in Any such place, then and then only they may
appoint special constables. It was not in his
power either to withhold or grant such a measure,
if any persons should merely represent that a breach
of the peace was likely to occur ; and, in the second place,
if he were to entertain the assumption that anything of
the kind would take place they might think he was pre-
judging their conduct at the demonstration, and doing
what he had uo doubt they would not like him to do.
Mr. PorrEn called the attention of Mr. Walpole to Sir
Richard Mayne's statement in reference to the responsi-
bility of bringing large numbers together. and wisind to
explain that the committee were anxious it should be
publicly understood that they did not take the responsi-
bility without appealing to him (Mr. Walpole) and Sir
Richard Mayne fur assistance. If, as was the case at the
demonstration last summer, roughs formed themselves in
bodies, and broke windows and committed other
acts of violence, the result would be prejudicial to
the bona fide working men of London. They appre-
hended something of that sort would occur again,
because where roughs and blackguards assembled in bands
on a short winter's day, no one knew what damage they
might do. The committee did not want to go before
justices of the peace, but they thought the Home Secre-
tary might give the assistance which had been given at
the demonstrations in the provinces, where there had been
no damage. The working men of London could not an-
swer for the roughs, and they had thought it was the duty
of the Home Secretary to assist them. If any violence or
disturbance took place it would injure the cause of the work-
ing men, inasmuch as it would leave them open to the
taunts of the tory press and others, who would say that
the roughs belonged to them.
Mr. WALPOLE add he had thought the visit of the de-
putation was specifically upon the point whether special
constables would be sworn or not. The latter
observations of Mr. Potter had reference to •
different application, namely, the assistance of the
police to prevent disturbances, not consequent upon the
arts of the processionists, but upon the acts of those
who accompanied them. He did not see from all the
information which Mr. Potter had given him that he
(Mr. Potter) or any other person could go and swear to
an apprehended tumult at the meeting. It hail been
intimated by the committee to Sir Richard Mayne that he
(Sir Richard) would be made acquainted with the pro-
gramme of their proceedings. in order that he would have
the opportunity of arranging such measures as would ap-
pear to him, or in consultation with him (Mr. Walpole)
advisable to prevent obstruction to traffic in the streets.
The inevitable result of the gathering together of large
bodies of men, the consequences of which had been pointed
out to them by Sir Richard Mayne, was the congregation
of numbers of what Mr. Potter called roughs. The go.
vcrnruent had no objection to the meeting, but they
could not help warning those who promoted it that
consequences might occur leading to disorder or obstruc-
tion, or danger to property, in all of which cases it would
be the duty of the police to interfere. He did not think
more than that should be asked. As soon as they had
determined upon the kind of programme for the day of
meeting, Sir Richard Mayne would take precautions, and
it would be for the benefit of the deputation as well as for
the benefit of the metropolis that as little obstruction
should take place as possible. The police would take care
the processionists were rot unnecessarily interfered with,
and it would also be their duty to put an end to any dis-
turbances that might occur. Ths trades would also be
expected to assist the police in preventing disturbance.
Mr. PortEa, on behalf of the trades, promised that they
would give every assistance to the police in preventing
obstruction or disturbance.
Mr. WALPDLE said if the deputation acted on that
promise he for one apprehended no disturbance.
Mr. HARTWELL said he would send Sir Richard Mayne a
pro;remnie of the procce,lings, as requested.
The deputation then thanked Mr. Walpole, and with-
drew.

At a meetitv, of the Trades' Demonstration Committee,
last evening, :ft the Brougham-hall, Fleet-street, Mr. G.
Potter, who was in the chair, reported that himself and
others had waited upon Lord Ranelagh with respect to the
Beaufort-house Ride-grounds, Old Brompton, and that
gallant nobleman had oonsente.l to allow the proposed
meeting on the :;rd proximo to be held in the grounds of
Beaufort-house. The announcement was received with
loud cheering, and the chairman added that he had given
his lordship, in his own name and that of the committee,
the required indemnPy against damege to his property.
It was then resolved that the meeting be held in the
grounds so kindly given by Lord Ranelagh, and that the
secretary write a letter to Lord John Manners, thanking
his lordship for the offer of Primrose-hill, but informing
him that the committee had secured a private ground in
which to bold the meeting. The programme was then
considered and adopted, and ordered to be published. All
tickets issued for the Ashburnham-grounds will be ad-
mitted to Beaufort-house grounds, and no person will be
allowed to walk in the procession or enter the grounds
unless provided with a ticket, which are sold at 2d. each,
to defray the expenses of the demonstration. The com-
mittee then adjourned, with three cheers for Lord Rene-
lagh and thanb to Lord John Manners and Mr. Waloole
far their courteous treatment of the deputation who had
waited upon them.

CRTIITAL PALACIL thirs SHILLING DAT.
TOMO; Nov. Adadadoos On payment, 601 ; ditto
by season tisks4e, 942. Total visitors. 1,543.