The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-04 00:00:00

SWEARING IN SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

A communication has been received by Mr.
Knox, from the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, requesting that every facility may be
afforded for the swearing in of special constables
for the preservation of the peace on Monday next ;
and for that purpose Mr. Knox will sit at the
Vestry-hall of St. George, Hanover-square, Mount-
street, Grosvenor-square, on Monday next, at ten
o'clock, as long as his services may be required.

It now appears that the Reform League have re-
solved to hold their proposed meeting in Hyde
Park on Monday evening next. Up to the last it was
hoped that this unwelcome decision would not have
been adhered to, partly from the dislike which—
truly or untruly—is said to be entertained to the
movement by some members of the League itself,
and partly it was hoped that the victory gained
for the cause of Reform by the vote of the House
of Commons on Thursday night would have pro-
duced a feeling of pacification. The League,
however, up to last night, took such a deter-
mined course, and so vehemently reiterated their
notices calling the meeting, that it is now certain
the attempt, at least, to hold it will be made.
Nearly all the proclamations issued by Mr. Walpole
and posted over all over London have been either
torn down or defaced. In some cases they have been
completely covered by what is called the " yellow
placard ;" in others this has been placed either above
or beside it. The pl Icard is a printed bill, bearing
the name of Mr. Edmond Beaks, on behalf of the
Reform League. It is not intemperate in its wording,
except in so far as it calls on the people to disregard
Mr. Walpole's proclamation, and to attend in thou-
sands and vindicate their right to hold their meeting
in the Park. This placard has been more extensively
posted throughout the metropolis even than the pro-
clamation itself. The credit of the agitation party
is thus staked on holding the meeting, and the Go-
vernment and the authorities are as firmly resolved
to prevent it by all means in their power. The mis-
take committed last year in closing the park gates
will not be repeated on this occasion. To have done
so at all is now admitted to be a blunder, as, unless
a large number of troops were employed, and em-
ployed with merciless severity, it would require al-
most an army to defend a circle so extended and
open from so many parts as the area of Hyde Park.
On Monday evening, therefore, every one will be
allowed free ingress and egress as usual. But it is only
fair to warn the peaceful and somewhat over curious
spectators that if they go there on Monday evening
they will go there at their own risk. In case of
any disturbance unfortunately arising, it is impos-
sible for the police, who may be ordered to clear
the Pat k, to distinguish between those who come
to look on and the roughs who are sure to come and
create a disturbance. Every sensible and well-dis-
posed person, therefore, will best consult his own
safety and the interests of the cause of order by ab-
staining from the neighbourhood of Hyde Park alto-
gether chat evening. We believe it is intended in the
programme of the Reform delegates to have a number
of distinct platforms or meetings from the centres
of which the crowd
_may be addressed, and it is with
these that the police are likely to have orders to in-
terfere. Any speaker persisting in continuing his
address after being warned will be arrested and
removed from the Park. The police arrangements
as to the disposition of the force are very properly
kept strictly secret, and, in fact, they can hardly be
said to be so much their arrangements as orders re-
ceived from higher authorities. It is enough, there-
fore, to say that a very large force of constables,
both on foot and mounted, exceeding in all 5,000
men, will be in the Park, commanded by their in-
spectorswt h
eth othersira 'Thomasa Commissioners superintendents.
e n r y
o afs t
11 Policee S
chief i
o cr bs a
iy lereat ht
eae there,
the metropolis. If any attack is madebupon the
police, or any attempt made to interfere with the
arrest of persons who may force this most unwel-
come alternative upon the Government, the police
will repel force by force, and endeavour to
clear the Park of all who disturb it. The
overpowering muster of constables which will be pre-
sent will make this a comparatively easy matter.
Only in case of a serious riot unfortunately arising
could such a strong force be insufficient. Even
for this, however, we believe the authorities are
prepared, and they will, if it be necessary to restore
order, not hesitate to apply for assistance to the
military in clearing the Park. All the Household
t troops
owill be kept to barracks next Monday
and ready to proceed at a moment's notice to the
scene of any disturbance. Additional military
strength will also be brought to the metropolis. In
case of any disorder occurring which the police might
be unable to meet, the mounted troops would be em-
ployed to clear the ground, and as this was cleared
the infantry would occupy it in line, with strict
orders to prevent any disorderly crowd entering
again. Of course, no atteaipt would be made even
for this purpose to employ the military, except on
the advice of Sir Thomas Henry, and that would
never be given till it was seen that the police were
not strong enough for their d'a:ies. In spite of the
large force of constables to be draughted into the
park, the police reserves over the rest of London,
though of course much diminished, are not so mate-
rially drawn upon as to leave the different neigh-
bourhoods without protection. We cannot, how-
ever, too urgently press upon all orderly people
to abstain from going into the park at all that
evening, or even going near it, as the lookers-on
would be just as liable to injury as the most fore-
most among the rioters.

THREATENED STRIKE OF OMNIBUS MEN.--We
have reason to believe (says the Whip) that unless a
petition, on the eve of presentation from the employds of
the Loudon General Omnibus Company, bo complied
with, a general strike among the conductors and driver;
will take place beforo tito end of the p4optli,