The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-23 00:00:00

MR. BRIGHT'S "LARGEST MEETING."

THE neighbourhood of the Elephant and Castle
is by no moans the most quiet in the metropolis at
any time. The district is populous in itself, and,
so many suburban roads branch off at the point
that at all hours of the day much movement and
bdistle prevail. To the visitor at half-past 6
o'clock last evening the neighbourhood would
present something very much beyond the
ordinary excitement ; and, directing his steps to
the large building commonly known as Mr. SEGE-
°Ewes Tabernacle, he would ascertain the cause.
lie would have seen, from numerous placards in
the windows of the shopkeepers, and from others
borne by men in the streets, that a monster meeting
was to be held in the Tabernacle at half-past 7
o'clock on the subject of the Irish Church Estab-
lishment, at which Mr. BRIGHT was to take the
chair and Mr. Brut:anon was to address the audi-
ence. Surrounding the building he would find
long before the hour of meeting thousands of per-
sons anxiously seeking admission. Thick as
leaves in Vallambrosa they presented the
tickets which secured to the holders the
privilege of entry. But even with this
precaution—which amounted to a limitation
of the numbers present—there was considerable
confusion, and it was by no means an easy struggle
to get to the doors. It must not be supposed
that the formality of presenting a ticket was for the
purpose of filling the building with persons holding
the same opinions as the conveners of the meeting,
for they were given to all who came for them with-
out inquiry and without stint. No better proof
could be adduced of the interest felt in the pro-
ceedings of last night that so many thousand per-
sons should have taken the trouble toapplyforthese
entrance tickets. The doors were opened but a short
time when the immense spaosinaide began to fill ra-
pidly,snd the laggards who thought that it would be
" soon enough "to arrive when the proceedings
began, found themselves cruelly deceived. Several
thousands of this class were repulsed from the
thronged building, disappointed and dis-
consolate.

When the vast teem of . the Tabernacle was
paved with its blocks of human heads—when the
ample and spacious galleries, tier upon tier,
were occupied to the utmost extent of
their capacity— all distinctly visible in the
bright light shed from the clusters of
gas jets which serve as a kind of Corinthian capital
to the twenty columns which gracefully ascend
from floor to roof, the scene was one of rare
magnificence. The chairman of the evening, Mr.
BRIGHT, spoke but the simple truth when he stated
that his eye never before ratted on " so grand a
" gathering," and when he described the scene as
" a magnificent spectacle." It is estimated that the
Metropolitan Tabernacle can afford comfortable ac-
commodation to about 6,ooohearers. Probably 8,000
foundspaostositor steadiest might ; for though there
was no actual crushing there was dose packing.
When Mr. BRIGHT, accompanied by Mr. FALWO27;
M.P., Mr. T. B. Parra*, M.P., the Rev. J. A.
BYUROZON OM Mr. Bruaonom was unfortunately
unable to be present owing to an attack of
rheumatic gout), appeared on the rostrum which
serves the purpose of pulpit and platform in We
large edifice, there was a general uprising, a