The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-11 00:00:00

THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER.

Last night a public meeting was held at the Assembly
Rooms, Theobald's-road, for the purpose of making arrange-
ments for the collection of the National Rent, and the support
of the People's Charter.
At eight o'clock Mr. TOOMY took the chair, and express: d
his hone that all whom he addressed were convinced of the
necessity of carrying into effect the principles of the People's
Charter, and particularly of Universal Suffrage. He hoped
the time would soon come when, if the people could not get
the elective franchise, they would not go for soldiers.
Mr. M'CoNNEee then moved the first resolution, expressive
of their support of the principles of the People's Charter. He
hoped that it was not necessary for him to explain to them
what the principles of the People's Charter were. They
were all aware how inefficient was the present mode of
registration, and how sickening was the present system of
legal squabbling before the Revising Barristers. Universal
Suffrage would put an end to that. A House of Commons,
elected by such a constituency as the right of Universal Suf-
frage would create, would soon make the other two branches
of the Legislature listen to it, and would tell them that in
opposition to the wishes of the people their voices would be
but as the whispers of an infant against the thunders of hea-
ven. —(Cheers.) It was said, indeed, that the working-
classes were not fit to enjoy the elective franchise. He hoped
they would demonstrate their fitness for the enjoyment of the
franchise by the efforts which they would make to obtain it.
Mr. WATSON seconded the resolution. To prove to the
meeting the absurdity of the present system of registration,
he would mention to them his own situation with respect to
the franchise. Some time since he had been connected with
an esta'elishment which many of them, lie had no doubt, knew
well—the Hall of Science. From his connexion with that
he obtained the right to his franchise. However, his con-
nexion with it had ceased, and now he could not register be-
cause he had not been a sufficiently long time in his new habi-
ta:ion to entitle him to vote. Thus his fitness for the fran-
chise of course remained the same, yet by the trifling circum-
stance of a change of residence he was disentitled to vote.
Was not this an absurd system of registration ? He hoped
that it would not long be submitted to.
Mr. CHARLES WESTERN moved a resolution to the effect
that the working classes would best show their sincerity in
the cause by contributing as largely as their means would ad-
mit to the support of the National Convention.
Mr. Mot= had great pleasure in seconding the resolution
just proposed, because he was ambitious to serve the cause in
which they were engaged, either to receive their pence as
they entered, or as a speaker to urge them to contribute. It :
was unnecessary for him to allude to the objects for which they
were assembled. They were met again to knock at the door I
of corruption, and the fault would be theirs if they failed in
procuring the restoration of their just rights.—(Cheers.) He
begged leave to enforce upon their minds, that if they wished
to be as successful as the Irish people they must also be as
energetic and determined.

CARDOE, in proposing the next resolution, which was
expressive of indignation on the part of the meeting at the
conduct pursued by Government in ordering the apprehen-
sion of Mr. Stephens, and a determination to support that in-
dividual in his misfortunes, said that Mr. Stephens had been
apprehended because the Government hoped that they
might cause a partial outbreak, in order that they might be
furnished with a pretext for crushing the present agitation.
—( Cheers.) It was stated by the Government Papers that
there was no agitation now in existence, because the metro-
polis was comparatively tranquil.—(Hear, hear.) Now he
would ask why did London exhibit the apathy which it did
at present? Why, simply for want of organisation. The
whole of the kingdom was organised, but they required such
a system of organisation in London as that five or six hun-
dred thousand persons might be brought there in two or
three hours.—( Cheers.) By this means they would succeed
in striking more terror into the Government than they could
possibly accomplish any other way.
Mr. ROGERS seconded the resolution, which was the nput and
carried unanimously.
Mr. DAVIS begged the favour of a hearing for a few mo-
ments. He said he was a stranger to most of them; but he
considered it the duty of every man to advocate truth and
justice. It was impossible then that they could approve of
all that had been done and said by Mr. Stephens.—( Hem.,
hear, and uproar.) Mr. Stephens was not, as many of them
supposed he was, their best friend.--( Great clamour, and cries
of " Turn him out.")
The CHAIRMAN and Mr. CLEAVE severally requested that
the meeting would hear Mr. Davis.
Mr. DAVIS resumed. If what he was stating was false or
erroneous, it could do their cause no harm ; but if, on the
contrary, it was true, they wore bound to listen to it and con-
scler if.—( Hear, hear, and hisses.) He would repeat, that
Mr. Stephens, by seeking to involve the people in scenes in
which they were sure to encounter the strong arm of the law,
aas not pursuing that course that was likely to benefit the
people, and he was therefore not entitled to their confidence.
—( Cheers and hisses.)
Mr. CLEAVE next presented himself to the meeting, and
was warmly received. He said that when the gentleman who
preceded him told them that the Whigs had done good in
connexion with the slave question, they should have believed
him, for twenty millions of pounds sterling was no bad thing
for those who got a share of it.--(Cheers and laughter.)
From the official statements, however, which had recently
reached this country from the West Indies, it appeared that
the measure of emancipation had not turned out to be that
which the people expected.—( Hear, hear.) He was sorry
that he could not congratulate the meeting on the reception
which they had given that evening to a difference of opinion.
If everything that had been stated of Mr. Stephens, even
to his prejudice, were true, still his (Mr. Cleave's)
conviction regarding him would be the same.—(Loud
cheering.) Much allowance should be made for his perhaps
over-heated language, looking at the distressed and perse-
cuted state of tho population by which he was surrounded, and
in whose behalf the strongest sympathies of his nature had
been excited.—( Cheers.) It was the duty of every man--
of those who approved of Mr. Stephens' conduct and those
who opposed him—to act in the coming trial as became
Britons, and to get him such fair play as even the present
rotten forms would allow,—(Cheers.) There was little
chance of a fair trial i but if any difference of opinion existed
whether Mr. Stephens was right or wrong they should not
prejudge the case before it went into a Court of Justice.—
( Cheers.) Great sacrifices were not required at the hands of
any individual, it was only necessary that every one should do
something and then their cause would b 3 triumphant.—
(Cheers,) Let them not carp at poor Ireland; if they watched
narrowly the conduct of that country it would make them fol-
low her virtuous example, and shut their mouths concerning
her for ever. Allusion had been made to a certain individual
with a hom they had frequently acted in the common cause, but
he was afraid that latterly selfishness had become predominant,
and that the cause of the shopocracy and middle classes was
more an object of his solicitude than the condition of the "poor
frieze jackets."—( Cheers and cries of " No, no.") Mr.
Cleave continued to address the meeting at considerable length
forcibly urging them to give their warmest and most hearty co-
operation in carrying out the principles of the People's Char-
ter, and concluded by an earnest appeal in behalf of Mr.
Stephens.
Mr. DWAINE felt bound to express his dissent from the
speakers who had preceded him. He was altogether opposed
to the principles and sentiments of Mr. Stephens.—(Cheers
and hisses.)
Mr. IRELAND next addressed the meeting, and said, that
with reference to the assertion that had been made, that phy-
sical force had never conferred any advantage, he would ask
what good had ever been attained without the fear of physical
force ?—( Hear.) He did not wish, nor was it the object of
the meeting to enter into personalities. Mr. Cleave had told
them that a paper called the Charter was forthcoming, which
would be an efficient organ of their sentiments. He hoped
that it would be so, but he begged to remind them that
thoto was already an efficient organ of their principles—he
meant the Operative newspaper, for which he proposed three
cheers.—(Cheers.)
The meeting shortly after separated.
DREAD

_FOE CASE OF BURNING. Last evening
a Coroner's inquiry was instituted at the Charing-cross
Hospital on the body of Sophia Haviland, aged eight
years, who was burnt to death. It appeared in evidence
that the parents of the deceased child, who resided at No.
7, Yates's-court, Carey-street, went out on Saturday night,
leaving the deceased in charge of a woman named Ste-
phan:, who was in a state of intoxication. During their
absence from home, which was about a quarter of an hour,
tl'e woman (Stephens) requested the deceased to put some
sticks of wood on the fire. Deceased replied that she must
not, as her mother had forbidden her to do so. The wo.
rnan, however, insisted, and in doing which her clothes
caught firs. Deceased, who was dreadfully burned, was
conveyed to the hospital, where she died. The woman was
found lying on the floor of the apartment stupifled, and
was given into custody. She admitted that she had taken
" drop too much ;" but said she did not remember a word
about the accident. Verdict, " Accidental death," with a
request that the Coroner would reprimand in the most
severe manner the woman Stephens.

ALARNI OF FIRE IN CHEAPSIDE.—Last even-
ing, at half-past six o'clock, the inhabitants of Cheapside
were disturbed by an alarm of fire, which appeared to be in
the rear of the premises of Mr. Taylor umbrella maker.
The whole street was enveloped in a thick smoke, and a
large mob assembled. Several engines soon came rattling
along Chcapside, and the water-plugs were started. It was
some time, however, before the site of the fire could be cor-
rectly ascertained. The firemen inspected every house in
Queen's Head-court- a most crowded place ; and the in-
habitants there wore in great terror, a shower of fire falling
in the narrow court for some time. It was at last discovered
that the fire proceeded from a chimney in the house of Mr.
Minninm, surgeon, in the rear of Pancras-lane. A con-
siderable tune elapsed before it was got under, and all busi-
ness in that part of the City was for some time suspended.
A young woman named Brown was yesterday
charged at Lamhoth-street with having decoyed childrou
away frcuu borne, for the purpose of stripping th.-,ln of heir
clothes. The case was clearly proved, a, it was t
sus-
pected that the prisoner has bees a party to numerous
other robberies of a similar d.z,seription, which have recently
occurred in that district, she was remanded for a week.
At Guildhall, on Wednesday, a gentleman suc-
cessfully resisted the payment of costs in a case which was
decided against him for the balance of a fare, by pleading
that the cabdriver-had not the cheek-string in his hand