The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-12 00:00:00

THE CHARTISTS.

yesterday being Whit-Sunday, it ;a: expected that a
meeting would be held in Bishop Bonner's-fields prepa-
ratory to the grand demonstration which is announced
to come off there to-day. The weather was invitingly
fine, and the attractions of Victoria-park are at this
holiday time sufficient of themselves to attract a great
concourse of people. From some mysterious cause,
however, with which it is not unnatural to suppose that
the proceedings of the previous Sunday had some con-
nexion, there was an unusually small show of persons in
the fields and in the park yesterday, and the most per-
fect propriety and order prevailed. Not the slightest
attempt was made to get together a meeting, nor was
there any indication over the wide space of the great
storm which is expected to burst there to-day. Two
field preachers, who occupy the ground every Sunday,
appeared to have some difficulty in gathering their
usual congregation of about 20 hearers ; and, altogether,
nothing could be more unpromising for the cause of the
would-be Revolutionists than the general tranquillity of
the Bethnal-green district yesterday. About three
o'clock some little excitement was produced by the
presence of a large body of metropolita❑ police, who,
having marched to occupy different stations in the neigh-
bourhood of the fields, scattered themselves from thence
over the open space, evidently with the intention of pre-
venting any meeting from assembling. They seemed
well prepared to effect this purpose, for many of the men
carried by their sides a good serviceable-looking cutlass.
This sight of the weapons was not lost upon the by-
standers, who (lid not attempt to offer the slightest ob-
struction or annoyance.
To meet the anticipated demonstration of this day in
a peremptory and decided manner, and to guard ef-
fectually the public peace thus again openly threatened,
the authorities have caused the following placard to be
posted up in the different thoroughfares of the metropolis:
" NOTICE.

" Whereas large meetings of persons calling them-
selves Chartists have lately been held in the open air, in
and sear the metropolis, at which seditious and inflam-
matory speeches have been addressed to the persons
there assembled, such meetings have created terror and
alarm, and have caused serious disturbance of the public
peace, and have led to acts of tumult, disorder, and vio-
lent resistance of the law. And whereas certain per-
sons styling themselves members of the Executive Com-
mittee of the Chartist Association have declared their
intention to call together other large meetings in and
near the metropolis, on Monday, June the 121 b, whereby
apprehension is entertained by the peaceable inhabitants
of the metropolis that such meetings will be of the
same dangerous character, and will lead to the disturb-
ance of the public peace, notice is hereby given that such
meetings are illegal, and that all necessary measures
will be adopted to prevent any such meetings taking
place; and all well disposed persons are hereby cautioned
not to attend, bo present at, or take part in, any such
meeting.
"C. ROWAN, Commissioners of Me-
R. MAYNE, S tropolitan Police.
" Saturday, July 10, 1848.
" Metropolitan Police-office, Whitehall."
They have made the following arrangements with refe-
rence to Bishop Bonner's-fields, which it is expected will
be the chief point of excitement to-day. A body of
1,500 men from the metropolitan police force, and 100 of
the mounted police, will at an early hour occupy the
the fields, under the immediate command of Captain
Hay. He will prevent any meeting being held ; and if
an attempt is made to address the mob, the speaker will
immediately be taken into custody. For the more effec-
tual execution of these instructions a strong reserve of
the police will be armed with cutlasses, as they were yes-
terday. Captain Hay's force will be supported by a
squadron of the Royal Horse Guards (Blue), stationed
fur that purpose at Gardner's Barns, by a squadron of
the Life Guards placed at the Eastern Counties Railway
goods station, and by 600 of the Pensioners posted in
Bethnal-green workhouse.
At the west end of London the police will be in re-
serve at their different stations to the number of 2,500,
and will be in readiness to move at a moment's notice to
any point where their services may be required. They
will be supported by four battalions of Guards, and by
the 12th Lancers, who for that purpose have been re-
moved from Hounslow and stationed at Knightsbridge.
The truncheons of the civil power will no doubt be found
amply sufficient for the occasion, backed as they will be
by an immense body of special constables. To satisfy,
however, the doubts and fears of the timid, we may state
that the military force in the metropolis exceeds 10,000
men, and that the most complete and extensive prepara-
tions have been made by Government, not only to pro-
tect the great public establishments, but to strike a
vigorous blow at all this mischievous agitation by at
once suppressing the slightest attempt at a demonstration.
While these judicious measures have been adopted by
the Government, the heads of the Chartist body do not
seem to have abandoned their intention of meeting in
Bonner's-fields.
The following circular was extensively circulated
among them yesterday, and appeared in the Northern
Star, which is the organ of the party :
"Fellow Countrymen !—The Ministry have placed a
barrier between the people and the throne. There is
now no hope of your memorial being presented by a de-
putation to the Queen. We have already declined send-
ing your memorial to the Home Secretary, a course
which we think would be humiliating to us and insulting
to you. We have decided upon holding a great demon-
stration in London, which we hope to be allowed to con-
duct in a:peaceable and orderly manner. For the sake
of our political prisoners we shall use our utmost en-
deavours to secure a satisfactory termination to the pro-
ceedings on Bonner'-fields. We have .seen our friend
Ernest Jones in Newgate, and have the greatest satisfac-
tion in saying that we found him firm, cheerful, and un-
flinching. Fussell, Sharpe, and Williams, however, we
were not permitted to see. We have been this day
busily engaged, and shall be constantly employed until a
late hour of to •night, preparing bail, arranging a de-
fence committee for the metropolis, and preparing tor
the trials which commence to-morrow. Nothing shall
be neglected on our parts, and we call upon the country
at large to strengthen our hands in this important crisis,
by every means in their power to maintain our sacred
cause, and save our friends from the felon's fate. Or-

ganize, organiz3, and collect money for the defence fund.
Defend our holy and time-honoured right of public
meetings, to discuss grievances as we shall do. Respect
property. Be not aggressors. Let not our cause be dis-
graced by riots, nor throw back your cause by even par-
tial outbreaks.

" Defend your liberties and lives like men, and whilst
you keep the law on your side do not allow it to be
broken over your heads.
•' So long as we are at liberty we shall advise you
prudently, firmly, and with that determination which a
righteous cause alone can give.
•' We are faithfully yours, on behalf of the Executive,
" P. M. IPDOUALL.
'• JOHN M'CRAE."

At a late hour on Saturday the secretaries of the
Irish Confederate Clubs in the metropolis gave notice
to the Members to attend the Chartist demonstration
to-day.
Whether the demonstration will be confined to Bon-
ner's-fields is a matter of some doubt, it being cur-
rently reported that meetings will also take place at
other points of the metropolis. On all hands, however,
the authorities are prepared to give these peace-breakers
a hot reception, and they will be zealously supported by
the great mass of the population. Even at Croydon,
where a demonstration like that in Bethnal-green is ex-
pected to take place, ample precautions have been taken
by the magistrates to maintain public order.

MANCHESTER.
(From the Manchester Courier.)
At a full meeting of the borough justices, held in the
Town Hall this (Saturday) afternoon, it was resolved
that the Chartist meeting, proposed to be held in Ste-
venson's-square, on Monday next, would be an illegal
assemblage, and that it be not allowed to take place. A
proclamation, in accordance with this resolution is being
issued, of which the following is a copy:—
" Whereas great alarm has been excited in the minds
of the peaceable inhabitants of this borough by the fre-
quent and large assemblages of persons which have
recently taken place, and complaints have been made to
the Mayor that the business and lawful occupations of
the inhabitants have been greatly hindered by such as-
semblages, and breaches of the peace, and much tumult
have been occasioned thereby, and certain evil-disposed
and seditious persons have expressed their intention, at
various meetings and elsewhere, of arming themselves
with weapons for the purpose of resisting the law and
Government of the realm, and have attempted to excite
others to the same nefarious' acts;
" And whereas, a public meeting has been advertised
to take place in Stevenson's-square on Monday next, the
12th of June, at which persons have been invited to
attend in their thousands, which meeting would, under
existing circumstances, be highly dangerous to the
public peace and to the personal security of her
Majesty's peaceable subjects, and be therefore illegal,
whatever the avowed object of the meeting ;
" Notice is hereby given, that the mayor and justices
deem it their duty to prohibit the holding of such
meeting ; and all persons are hereby cautioned against
attending, or being present at, any large assemblage, as
they will bring themselves into peril, and incur the
the
tmheeapsuubrelisewpheaicche.may be adopted for
"ARMITAGE, Mayor.
the consequencespreservation
t of
"Town-hall, Manchester, June 9."
SUNDAY EVENING.

A Chartist camp meeting took place, as announced,
this day at Blackstone Edge. The meeting was called
for 12 o'clock, but it was half-past 1 before the pro-
ceedings commenced.
Blackstone Edge is a portion of an extensive range of