The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-12 00:00:00

-?:.birV ilZbttion

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

THE MONSTER PETITION.

This petition, like the great demonstration got up
for Monday last, turns out to be a veritable hoax.
The number of signatures attached to it amounted,
according to Mr. Feargus O'Connor's statement, to
between five and six millions, and he claimed atten-
tion to it mainly on that ground. We under-
stand from the very best authority that so
far from the petitioners numbering five millions,
they fall short of two, whilst the credence
attaching to the veracity of the signatures, may be
judged from the fact that not only is the name of
Queen Victoria appended to it, but the Duke of
Wellington is attached nearly twenty times. Almost
every slang name known to Englishmen, such as
Snooks, Pug. nose, and other nicknames, figure
in thousands, and the very coarsest words,
of the most vulgar and disgraceful meaning, are
found in most unholy abundance. It is the duty of
the officers of the House of Commons to report the
numbers fixed to every public petition, and in the
discharge of their duty the above facts have been
disclosed. We learn that to such an extent has
the fraudulent system of affixing false names been
carried in this instance, as to render it matter of
doubt whether inquiry will not be absolutely requi-
site to prevent the House of Commons being again
imposed upon by hoaxes so heartless and yet so dan-
gerous as fraudulent petitions presented under cover
of great public meetings.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
HULL, 10 A.M.—All remains tranquil.
LEEDS, 9.59 A.m.—No signs of disturbance here.
YORK, 10.10 A.M.—All perfectly quiet.
LIVERPOOL, 10 A.M.—The town is perfectly quiet, and
business, which recent events had suspended, is resumed
with increased vigour. The great rise in funds gives
additional confidence.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
LAMBETH WATERWORKS.
Mr. BROTHERTON moved that Mr. D'Eyncourt
and Mr. Charles Pearson have leave to attend and vote
in the Committee on the Lambeth Waterworks Bill,
upon their signing the declaration required by the
Standing Orders, although such declarations were ❑ot
delivered to the Committee Clerk before the Chairman
had taken the chair.

The motion was agre,?d to after a short discussion.
Mr. R. YORK presented a petition from Royston, in
Hertfordshire, against the Bill for establishing diplo-
matic relations with the Court of Rome.

Mr. FEARGUS O'CONNOR presented a petition
from the National Convention against the Crown and
Government Security Bill.

Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from Liver.
pool, praying for the abolition of the attorney's certifi.
cite-tax.

Mr. BAINES presented a petition from a place in
Yorkshire, praying for an alteration in the laws of
settlement.

Colonel THOMPSON presented a petition from pen-
sioners resident in Glasgow, complaining of the five per
cent deductions from their allowances.
THIRD READINGS.

The following Bilis were read a third time and passed:
Clifton bridge Bill.
Leicestershire Lunatic Asylum Bill.
Magdalen Hospital Act Amendment Bill.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS.

The following reports were considered and agreed to:
—Dover Landing-Pier Bill ; Folkestone Waterworks
Bill.
SECOND READING.

The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act
Amendment Bill was read a second time, and ordered to
be committed.

Lord NEWRY presented two petitions from Newry,
praying for an alteration in the existing national system
of education in Ireland.
NOTICES OF MOTION.

Lord INGESTRE gave notice that to-morrow he
should move for a return of the number of special con-
stables sworn in, and the extraordinary expenses in-
curred by the Horse Guards for the purpose of preserving
the public peace during the last few days.
Captain HARRIS gave notice of his intention, in
Committee, to move the insertion of a clause in the
Crown and Government Security Bill.
LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL.
The committal of this Bill was postponed.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (IRELAND) BILL.
I❑ reply to a question from Sir G. GREY,
Mr. REYNOLDS said ho would postpone the second
reading of this Bill in favour of the Crown and Govern-
ment Security Bill, if the Right Honourable Baronet
would consent to strike out of his Bill the words " open
and advised speaking."

Sir GEORGE GREY intimated that he was not pre-
pared to enter into such a compromise.
Mr. REYNOLDS suggested then that Government
had better consent to the second reading of the Bill,
and leave it to be discussed upon going into Com-
mittee:'

Sir G. GREY said he could not consent to the second
reading of this Bill without previous discussion.
Mr. HAMILTON put it to his Hon. Friend whether,
looking at the feeling of the House, he had not better
postpone the second reading:
Sir R. PEEL also appealed to the Hon. Member to
postpone his motion.
Mr. REYNOLDS said he would have been justified
upon principle in persevering with his motion, but after
the appeals made to him from all sides of the House, he
felt that he ought to postpone the second reading of this
Bill.

Sir GEORGE GREY begged it to be understood,
that in stating, that he could :not :consent to the
second I-Ea/ling of the Bill he did not mean to convey to
the House that he was opposed to the Bill. The Bit!
was one of considerable importance, and he was anxious
that it should bo fully discussed before, it was read a
second time.— (Hear.)
Ultimately the second reading was postponed till
Monday next.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 12, lB4B.

these circumstances I should be ashamed of myself
if, when I see the danger approaching, I am so fettered
by Mr. Fox, so afraid of having Mr. Fox's words quoted
against me, that I will desert my duty, and will not
take those measures of precaution which I believe to be
necessary. That, Sir, is my answer to the Hon. Gentle-
man who asks me upon what principles we pro-
pose to proceed.—(Cheers.) I think that the
Hon. Gentleman has shown that he will not come
to the discussion of the Bill, and I think that he has not
fully understood the meaning of one portion of the Bill—
I mean that which relates to Ireland. The Hon. Mem-
ber has taken the trouble to read to the House at some
length the indictment framed against Mr. Muir.
That indictment charged Mr. Muir and his asso
elates with having used words calculated to excite
disaffection, and to alienate the people from the
constitution of this realm, and which were also of an in-
flammatory character. I should have thought, Sir, that
to transport a person for an offence of that kind, an
offence which must no doubt be very mischievous, did
not go beyond the offence of sedition, but would be very
oppressive and unjust at the present time. For my part I
have always been of the opinion that the conviction of Mr.
Muir and his associates under that indictment was very
•

,
.
md riueoaeralnnnitsethlo—e.sb, tct 41:: r)
using T There :isa,
g. however, no thatv ,
Lind
nvery n great
language
tending to excite to the levying of war against the cc un•
try or producing insurrection therein ; and it is the latter
winch must be the intent under the Bill which we now
propose, that must be the design of the words so spoken,
or otherwise these words are harmless, and cannot be in
operation in the least degree. The Hon. Member talks
of the atrocity:of condemning spoken words Does not the
Hon. Member knowthat there are even now cases in which
spaies'onrrsaidunssa may be brought forward on a trial for high treason,.
and in which the use of these words may be condemned
guilty
uov i
persuasion,
, oaorcf
et
ao to
mpo
II
:pi
arnno
(ovi evsehr at
lal treason?cetxofi t
ter,
eI
eat
ns i
treason,
on
us, traaantzeded,d
oebarye
pr onevroes.
of the authorities that " any person who by any advice
cure others to make an attempt against the King's per-
et
these
spokeneasl let he
words,
objections, objections
thel se,a'
fhye,i,ac
rh
willh( af vaet
phpeli beenapply
tmo beingatdhee l
a withw
respect'mis-
understoodjaenetlYctoirt yso,troa
statute-booknmt
dhi sart
publishes,e misreported,
wrbe,
od,
which,
toarrne spokenya treason,
nf,
abnuyt withperson
do not
r othersnoont
p lrei i
prints
n tts e
him inten-
tions—all
treason as it now stands. Perhaps the Hon. Gentle-
blame us because we introduce the same measure with
a milder punishment. There is now an Act
writing with the intent
tutonpiocsnanuntshne or levy any war, he may be found guilty of
high treason, andtaoneadwpriitniatel:y.ahipncuehwnihaspahicl,pcdeo.rThat is the law
of this country by statute, and Imwwihtositictlhhclihs aeosffkaefnt the
c,re
~
tohtahteros,nehipsersc:
iht ae lt lhye, r andit i 5
that fit
Honourable Memebdecrawp
fs"weh.andoreonar-lsadstipetbussebadpinionsdhwnheinssih: allies, should advisedly and with pre-
paration make, day after day, speeches seeing that the
news
he says, that these words should 5
will report every word
which
reporters of the ne papers are before him,whona he know
published by his other a ~ llie. and while
the one
are
of high treason and capitally exe-
cuted,shall be found guilty . d
guilty
only beifoun of sedition,
that the other can
bail,
and
equal to if not of greater malignity than thosew
probably be afterwards
go at large upon his
is fair or equal justice?
Member think that that
we are preparing such
Let the Hon. Member nut say that h
the
law w en reducing
unconstitutional changes in the .
penalty with
of the one offer ce we raise the .
penalty
point of
tried only for misdemeanour? Does the Honourable
and showing as great
fact offences equally flagrant,
Government and the
disposition to overthrow the .
that proof
country as the other. I readily admit
in the other. If
in the one case is more difficult than
respect to the other, considering them to be in
you have a book before you, and the proof that
consent of the author the words therein contained
been published, a jury must at once
were the words that the writer or authorintended to hyha the
ve
admit that those
publish. With respect, however, to words spoken,
there is not the same facility of proof, and therefore
I admit that the jury must require, and I have no doubt
would require fuller proof with respect to words thus
spoken, even if spoken with prepartion, than with respect
to words printed or published. These are matters

which can be well considered in Committee. While we
think that all that part of the Bill which mitigates the
character of the offence of high treason to felony, and
its penalty from death to transportation, and that that
portion of the Bill-which extends the whole Act to Ire-
land should be maintained permanent, as we propose it,
we are ready to concede that those other parts of
the Bill with respect to open and advised speaking,
and, which is now, shall have oily a temporary operation.
—(Loud cheers.) For my own part I believe that
the enactment will be a right one, but that of
which I am most deeply convinced is that such
an enactment is necessary, if we mean to keep away the
danger by which we are threatened. The Hon. Member
has referred to precautionary measures which are pro-
posed to be taken against aliens. In a few days I expect
that Bill will be before the House, when I shall have
an opportunity of stating its objects, and the reasons
which have induced her Majesty's Government
to bring it forward. Thus much, however, I will say,
that any measures which are introduced now are intro-
duced under the deep conviction that the peace of this
country is worth preserving—(Lf ud cheers)—that the
institutions of this country—its monarchrand its cons ti•
tution—are not to be lightly given up, and the trust being
in our hands we will endeavour to preserve them intact.
Mr. HORSMAN said that there were many law
authorities on this question. He had heard with great
satisfaction the statement of the Noble Lord, that the
operation of the Bill would be, in its general bearing,
limited. The Noble Lord had quoted the authority
of Judge Blackstone. He (Mr. llorsman) would
also quote the authority of that eminent judge.
The honourable Member then went on to quote
authorities. The Noble Lord had said that the words
themselves were not to hold a party guilty, the words
must be attended with an intention " to compass or
design." He was perfectly confident that neither
the Attorney. General nor the Solicitor-General
would contend that these were sanctioned by
precedent; he believed that they would concede that
they were opposed to all precedent and to all law autho-
rity. In one of the most interesting books published of
late years—he meant the " Lives of the Chancellors,"
by a Noble and Learned Lord, one of the present
Cabinet—in the: life of Lord Eldon, the Noble and
Learned Author says that when that illustrious judge was
Attorney-General, speaking of the Treasonable Attempts
Bill,he opposedsit as extending the power of the Crown to
an unwarrantable extent, and the Noble Lord himself did
not hesitate to oppose thegranting of those powers. There
seemed within these few days to be engendered a state of
alarm for which he saw no warranty. In the year 1796 7,
when there was greater cause for alarm than now, and
when Mr. Pitt wished to obtain similar powers to those
asked for by the Noble Lord, Mr. Erskine raised his
voice against the concession of them. Mr. Fox, on the
same occasion, said that they had heard of popular in-
surrections and popular revolutions, but were these
owing to the freedom of popular opinion or the liberty
of discussion? No—they were opposed to these; and
he quoted the reign of Charles I. in proof, a period when
freedom of discussion was fettered by the severest laws.
He believed the effect of the recent violent speeches
made in Ireland and elsewhere had-been to call down
the indignation of the well-disposed upon their utterers.
People knew in this country that they could obtain
their rights, because they did not merely depend upon
Government' majorities, but upon public opinion.
(Hear.) But if public opinion was to be disregarded
if speeches made in public were to render the utterers
liable to transportation—a great change in the con-
stitution of the country could not fail to be the result.
He regretted that the Government had thought proper
to introduce measures which even Pitt, in the zenith
of his power, dared not pass, and Lord Castle-
reagh, in the height of his unpopularity, had not
the courage to propose. It was indeed a matter for ex-
treme regret that the Government had deemed such;ti mea-
sure necessary for the unhappy country of Ireland.
There never was a time in the history of the country
where they had• less cause for alarm, beeanse the great
mass of the people were not desirous of any great or
sweeping change.
Mr. MARTIN rose to move as an amendment, that
" open and advised speaking" be left out of the
clause. He did so, because he believed the pre-
sent law stringent enough, and because he
wished to see it maintained. A written libel had
been always made a criminal proceeding, but spoken had
not; but they would be under this Bill. The 36th
of George 111. made a written libel a criminal proceed-
ing, but spoken words only a misdemeanour, unless
repeated more and more. All the great writers—
Blackstone, Coke, Hale—were of opinion that this dis-
tinction should be made between written and spoken
words. And were they, in 1848, to enact a more
severe enactment? A speech could only be delivered
to a limited number of persons, for the human
voice would not extend to many; but written words
might extend to vast numbers Montesquieu said
words often admitted of more significations than one,
and if they were to be made punishable as treason, he said
there would be an end of not only liberty, but its shadow.
He put little reliance upon repeated statements; and he
did not think there was an lion. Member in that House
who would undertake to repeat the words delivered by
another, nay more, the sentiments. (Hear.) But
suppose they had to deal with a panic-stricken
jury, sitting last Monday. (Hear, hear.) How
could they depend upon the liberty of the speech ?
How, then, were they to prosecute ? He gave the
Government full credit for having short-hand notes taken
of the speeches of persons who were rendering themselves
liable to prosecution; but ho had no faith in short-hand
notes, and the moat eminent judges on the bench were of
the same opinion as the Learned Judge. He appealed to
the Attorney-General if this were not so.—(Hear„)
A Learned Judge had endeavoured to pat an end to
legalised short-hand writing, because he had been so
repeatedly misrepresented in his charges to juries
How, then, if this were the op mien of the
Judges, could they depend upon such testimony ? He
would suggest that the offence of speaking "open and
designedly" should be rendered a misdemeanour, and
that it should not be rendered a bailable offence, on the
understanding that the person should be tried in a month.
—(Hear, hear.) He would follow the Noble Lord at the
head of the Government to the "last gasp with truth
and loyalty," but he entreated him to follow the example
of Pitt in 1795.—(Hear;)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said if parole evidencer
could not be relied upon at all, why let the punishment
be light indeed.—(Hear.) But he s
gone further, and in his zeal for the liberty of
the people, proposed the abolition of all punish-
ment for sedition.— (Hear, hear.) If the sugges-
tion of his Learned Friend ws'
p
re-
spect to the trial of such offender
would have to be appointed, as the,
a sadopted with s
courtsecia
commissionsl
did not
sit
,)nce a month.—(Heur, hear.) The punishments for
felony and misdemeanour were nearly,t the same— ,
imprisonment and forfeiture of goods. . Mr.

Justice Foster laid it down that the speaking
of words against the Crown was an overt act, and might
be punished accordingly.—(hear.) He thought the
words should be retaine.l, though they might not be
made permanently applicable—indeed such was not the
intention of the Government.
Mr. MARTIN explained that he did not say that
parole evidence could not be trusted.'
Mr. M. MILNES read the words cf Mr. Justice Foster,
and said the words read by the Attorney-General were
those of Mr. Attorney-General Follett, which, however,
he did not make out to the satisfaction of the House.
Mr. AGLIONBY supported the amendment.
Sir F. TIIESIGER wished, in the first instance, to
correct his Honourable, but not Learned Friend, the
Member for Pontefract (Mr. M. Milnes). The words
stated by his Learned Friend, the Attorney-General,
were tho words of Mr. Justice Foster, and not
those of the Attorney-General Sir W. Follett.
Having said that he wished to correct the statement of
his Hon. and Learned Friend the Member for Pontefract
(Mr. Martin). The indictment under this clause would
be not for words spoken but for compassing and imagin-
ing the different objects specified in the clause.—(Hear.)
Ile regretted that the Government had given way
as they had done, and consented to make those provi-
sions temporary, which he thought ought to have been
made perpetual.—(Hear, hear.) He thought the Go-,
vernment, by the course they had pursued had destroyed
all the vigour of the Bill merely for the sake of appeasing
the opposition to this measure.— (Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. HUME and the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL in explanathm of the word " compassing,"
Mr. P. WOOD supported the view taken by
the Attorney General of the word used by Mr.
Justice Foster. He should, however, be sorry
to see the Statute-book of this country stained with
the making of speaking a felony equal with writing.
—(Hear, hear,) He thought they ought to be careful
how far they altered the law, for by doing so they
might treats a sympathy in a wrong direction.
For these reasons he should vote for the expunging of
the words.—(Hear.) He was greatly rejoiced that her
Majesty's Government had conceded that the provisions
of the Act in the respect alluded to by the Noble Lord
at tha head of the Government should be only temporary.
Mr. M. O'CONNELL had no faith in the statements
of the Noble Lord or the Government, that the povisions
of the Act with respect to speaking would be only tem-
porary. A fair trial could not be had in Dublin.
Mr. GROGAN rose to address the House amid loud
cries of " Divide, divide," and withdrew, amid which the
Hon. Member sat down without uttering a word.
Mr. MOWATT then rose to address the House and
was received with loud cries of " Divide, divide," and
" Mr. Grogan, Mr. Grogan." The Hon. Gentlrman
gave way, and.
Mr. GROGAN addressed the House, denying that it
was impossible to have a fair trial in Dublin.--(Hear,
hear.) If the Hon. Member who had just spoken
thought such was the case, he bad better more the
insertion of a clause in the Bill, providing that
the trials should take place in London.—(Hear, hear.)
p r
Sir o
After some observations from Mr. H. GRATTAN,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that the Chairman
• should report progress, amid loud cries of " Divide." •
Mr. REYNOLDS believed that juries in Dublin were
y
impartial as long as they were not empannelled for poli-
itmicpalarpit it, trlpriooyss purposes, r
udt.
Tghr e
eGs .
s.
GREY that the moment they were so their
esumed, and the CHAIRMAN reported
said
o'clock t
hatlie proposed that the House
should sit at twelve
eedßtiolLthetoa- morrowdptii
on ot of spu re ohc eae
cdo withur
se
Mr.
twelve 14U
t h emCno mi mu ilstft eEe
obonj
eteht
. 01,e
oNe
ift
.Z
Members
a so b jecHouse sitting at
haded to adoption
othert
euties to perform
than attending —(s a iieparr'o hear)
timer)
tAodddiesedostos
this,
hedid not
ttthhe linlukotbs.vva this was
such a question as this.
Mr. PEARSON suggested that the amendment should
be printed, and further time given to consider it.
Mr. BRIGHT thought that a longer period ought
to be given to the consideration of the measure. The
discussion that had already taken place had changed
the opinion of many Members with respect to the Bill,
and even those of Ministers themselves.
On the question being put that the House resolve
itself itself into Committee on the Bill at twelve o'clock
to-morrow,
Mr. MOWATT moved, as an amendment, that the
House do now adjourn to Monday next.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. FAGAN, at two minutes to six o'clock, rose
to second the motion amid much laughter.
The hour of six o'clock having arrived during the
Hon. Member's speech, the house adjourned.
The effect of the rase will be to postpone the Com-
mittee on the Bill either to a late hour to-morrow
night or till Friday, and the House will not meet to-
morrow till the usual hour.

CHARTIST CONVENTION.

(THIS DAY.)

The members of the Conference re-assembled this
morning at nine o'clock; Mr. M'Grath in the chair.
The minutes of preceding day having been read,
FOREIGNERS IN THIS COUNTRY,
Mr. CLARK drew attention to a conversation which
took place last night in the House of Lords, between the
Duke of Beaufort and the Marquis of Lansdowne, with
reference to a junction between the foreigners at present
in London, and the body calling themselves a National
Convention. Thus, it would be seen, that a Bill had
been proposed to expel all foriigners from this country.
He would call their attention to one of those, known by
the name of Prince Albert, who not long ago refused to
pay his poor-rates, and recommend her Majesty's Mini-
sters to begin by expelling that illustrious personage.
TUR PROFITS OF THE " NORTHERN STAR " NEWSPAPER.

Mr. FUSSELL brought forward a resolution which—ho
thought would be carried unanimously, " That the Con-
vention most respectfully decline the generous offer
made by Mr. O'Connor, to devote the profits of the
Northern Star to support the delegates, during the sitting
of this Convention." He felt assured that every district
would cheerfully support the delegates they had sent to
do their business.

Mr. ADAMS would second this resolution. The men
of Glasgow weuld repudiate such an arrangement.
Mr. CtiFFAY proposed that they should receive the
offer of Mr. O'Connor for the space of three weeks.
No seconder appearing, Mr. Cuffay's amendment fell to
the ground.
_ _

Mr. Linney and other members indignantly rejected
the motion, that they should be dependant on any man.
Mr. DoNovAN thought that the Convention ought not
to refuse the offer of Mr. O'Connor in the present em-
barrassed state of their finances.
Mr. M4GRATII said that he did not think that it
would be right to receive the whole of the weekly profits
of the Northern Star. lie had no objection to receive
anything in the shape of a donation from that gentleman.
He thought that if the people did not support the Con-
vention, the sooner they returned to their constituents
the better.

The resolution was then agreed to unanimously.
RESIGNATIoN OF MR. &BRIEN.
_ _

A DELEGATE P'i'hed to know whether the Chairman
had received any official information of the resignation of
Mr. Bronterre O'Brien ?
The CHAIRMAN was understood to answer in the
negative.

IMFEACIIM}NT :OF THE MINISTERS.
Mr. WILKINSON, one of the members of the committee
appointed yesterday to draw up the form of impeach-
ment of the Ministers, stated that the committee .had
agreed that they would not draw :up the petition and
impeachment until they had received the legal advice of
Mr. O'Connor upon the subject. The committee thought
that if they had the benefit of the suggestions of Mr.
O'Connor, the impeachment could be drawn up in such
a formal manner as to be at once acted upon by the
House of Commons.

EXCLUSIVE DEALING.
Mr. JONES brought up the report of the deputation
appointed to attend the meeting at Lambeth, and stated
that ho had moved a resolution at that meeting, which
was unanimously agreed to, to the effect that no Char-
tist should deal with any member of the shopocracy who
had enrolled himself as a special constable.
Mr. APGRATII deprecated any attempt at passing
such a resolution.
Mr. CUFFAY thought that the Convention ought not
to be squeamish upon this subject. In consequence of
his having been out of work for some time he had con-
sented to Mrs. Cuffay going out to do a few days' wash-
ing—(Laughter)—but at one of the places at which she
was in the habit of charing she had been asked if she
was the wife of the Mr. Cuffay, of the Convention, and
was then told that her services would not be required in
the ensuing week.

EXPENSES OF THE DELEGATES.
Mr. LUNN moved the appointment of a committee of
seven persons to take into consideration the payment of
the expenses of the several delegates.
The motion was agreed to, and the committee ap-
pointed.

- Mr. F.O'CoNNon,(whose entrance was loudly cheered)
congratulated the committee on the result of th meeting
held on Monday. Ile was glad that they did not sully
their cause by language about a collision with the au-
thorities. The present Government if they had once
fleshed their sword, or tasted the blood would have
gone on from step to step, until they had involved the
country in one bloody reign of terror. The Bill now
before the House would have the effect of causing any
person fur openly speaking his mind in this Convention
to be transported for life. He declared in his place in
Parliament yesterday, that if the Bill were passed, he
would immediately declare himself a Republican. He
would oppose the. Bill, to his death ; and if it were
passed, be would certainly move an impeachment of the
Ministers, in spite of the " Oh, oh's," and laughter of
the House. no advised the members of the convention
for the future to be wily as serpents, cunning as
foxes, mild as lambs, and brave as lions.
The Hon. Member then retired. Shortly after his
absence,
Mr. WILKINSON said that he had submitted to Mr.
O'Connor the legality of the resolution for impeaching
her Afajcsty's Ministers, and had been told to let the—
matter drop, as it was his intention in histhe country
Par-
liament to-day to move their place in impeachment.
M
xd
er. J . HARNEY then
let(t the broughtAt.a forwuuasrdal motion
hoouurn.y aon the
to be
subj of imultaneous mee
h. eTldheect
cupounstoGe(n)otdionFraiddiaoyuin

AFTERNOON SITTING.
At the re-assembling of the delegates this afternoon,
Mr. M'Grath in the chair,
The CHAIRMAN stated that he had received a vast
number of letters 'giving accounts of public meetings
held at Lynn, Livecpool,, C"theroe, Southampt,oniAin-
bury, North Shields, Carlislevand other places, at which
unanimous resolu'ions were passed pledging themselves
to support the Convention.
Mr. HARNEY said he had to state a fact concerning
the conduct of the working men at the Deptford dock-

yard, which had been overlooked entirely by the re•
porters who had given accounts of the uproarious
lo)alty of persons in the employ of Government.
These men, he said, unanimously refused to act as
special constables on Monday last.—(llear.) The Times
had suggested today that. the whole of the working men
who gave their assistance on that eay to preserve the
peace in case of an outbreak should be treated to a,
" blow out " at the expense of the aristocracy.—(A
laugh.) But instead of giving the working men a feast
once in a hundred years, the Convention intended to put
them in a position to have a good feast every day.
The motion of Mr. Adams, that it be an instruction to
the committee, that the number of delegates to be elected
for the different districts throughout the country should
depend upon the extent of the population, irrespective
of anything else, was then brought under discussion.
A great number of delegates spoke upon the subject,
some alleging that the suggestion of Mr. Adams would
have no good effect—that the preaent Convention was
quite sufficient to represent the working classes—that it
was all moonshine to have electoral districts, and increase
the number of delegates; and that if the Government
happened to pounce upon them it would only have the
affect of bringing a greater number of Chartist
delegates into trouble. Others, that if they wished
to act upon the democratic principle, they
should not attempt to narrow their sphere of action, but
increase it, and that if they were desirous that the Con-
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district principle, it would be absurd to call this
a National Convention. It was observed by as other
that it would be advisable to have a partial selection, so
that such places only might be fixed upon as would: turn
men true to the Charter.
Mr. GRAHAM proposed an amendment, that the towns
mentioned in the schedule which had been drawn up,
should seed delegates to the National Assembly, and at
the same time, every other district containing a suffi-
cient population should be at liberty to send a delegate
if the people desired it.

Mr. JO ES suggested that, in the event of the Govern-
ment refusing to make them any concession, the Con-
vention should issue a manifesto to the people, calling
upon them, by virtue of their will, to send delegates to
a National Assembly. He wished every town in the
kingdom to send a delegate that wished to support the
Convention.

Mr. ADAMS said he had proposed the motion in order
that they might ascertain the real opinions of the people
of this country. They would only sacrifice themselves
and the Charter if they placed themselves in a position
which was not backed by the majority of the people;
but if they had their support they might defy the
strongest Government which ever existed in the country,
should their rights be withheld.
The amendment was then put but negatived, and the
motion of Mr. Adams was declared to be carried.