The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-15 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM.

SUNDAY.—The people of Birmingham look on
quietly, as interested spectators of the commotions
by which they are surrounded. The disturbances of
1838 have acted as a sedative to agitation, and fortu•
nately their comparatively better circumstances offer
little inducement for the artisans and operatives to join
in* the quarrel of their mining neighbours. The
town and neighbourhood is daily visited by great
numbers of the colliers from the surrounding districts,
some begging, and others dragging in cart-loads of
coals, and, it is said, by some parties who have
watched their movements, that the begging system
has been extremely productive.
There was a report in Birmingham this morning,
that the colliiers at Foleshill, near Nuneaton and
Coventry, had, in imitation of their brethren in South
Staffordshire, turned out, and that there were fears
of approaching disturbances. There is, however, an
adequate military force in Coventry barracks, and
Weedon is not tar distant.

A battalion of the Foot Guards (800 strong), a
troop of the Horse Guards (Blue), three.field-pieces,
and a number of Artillerymen, passed through Bir-
mingham from London for Manchester this morning
at four o'clock by two special trains ; they would ar-
rive at their destination about eight o'clock.

SPREAD OF THE INSURRECTION.

(From a Third Edition of the Leeds Mercury.)
SATURDAY, SIX O'CLOCK, P.M.—As every arrival
from the west has represented the Chartist insurrec-
tion as not only continuing in all its formidable
characters in Lancashire, but as even spreading into
Yorkshire, our reporter left Leeds by the train at a
quarter-past ten o'clock this morning to visit the
places on the line of the Manchester and Leeds Rail-
way, between this town and Manchester. It will be
seen, from his report, which we have just received,
and from other information we have acquired, that
the turn-outs have to-day made their appearance at
Ilebden-bridge, at Mytholmroyd, and at Sowerby-
bridge, near Halifax, and that they are systematically
and determinedly spreading their course of intimi-
dation, with the view of embracing the whole kingdom.
We find that the movement is designated by the
Manchester Guardian as "really an insurrection,"
and as having for its object no mere question of
wages, but the establishment of a pure and unmixed
democracy, according to the provisions of "the
People's Charter."

In this opinion we fully agree : it is evident that
those who may embark in this mad and wicked enter-
prise are themselves running the greatest personal
risk, and are throwing the country into the dangers
of anarchy. They are putting all the interests of
peace, order, and personal and domestic safety at the
mercy of the violent, unprincipled, and profligate
men, who always push themselves into the front of an
insurrectionary movement. The issue no man of the
least reflection can doubt. The insurrection will be
quelled—for the insurgents are utterly destitute of all
resources and of all arrangements—but perhaps after
a great loss ,of property—which will just be so much
taken from the means of employing and feeding the
poor—and with the risk of far more tremendous con-
sequences, in the loss of life.
The following is the communication of our re-
porter :1-- " Todmorden, half-past two.
•" At Dewsbury all continues in a state of tran-
quillity. Not the slightest manifestation of a tumul-
tuous spirit has appeared. The general topics of
conversation are, however, the threatened descent on
Halifax' Elland, and the surrounding districts from
Todmorden, and the contemplated turn-out amongst
the colliers at Wakefield on Monday. They leave no
fear of a descent on Dewsbury, and even the most
distressed portion of the population show not the
slightest disposition to join the turn-out:7, should they
ultimately reach Dewsbury.
"At 'Wakefield everything hitherto wears a peace-
able aspect. The people entertain no forebodings ex-
cept those which arise from the rumoured strike of
the colliers on Monday next, which they are disposed
in general to look upon as what they term a mere
try -on .
"At Horbury and Ossett all is tranquil.
"At Huddersfield the people are everywhere in-
dulging fearful anticipations, and the populace are
talking over the Manchester and Todmorden affair at
every nook and corner. Nothing has yet occurred,
but the disposition of the operative classes seems to
run along with the popular, tumult. All the people
who have employment still continue at work, and, so
far as outward demonstration is concerned, all is
going on peaceably.
" At Elland numbers of persons were early on the
look-out for the rioters from Todmorden, and, not-
withstanding the peace of the place was somewhat
ruffled by the open declaration of the Todmorden
rioters, that they would arouse the people of that
place during the day, along with the people of Heb-
den-bridge, Mytholmroyd, Sowerby-bridge, and
Halifax, all fear had subsided before noon, the people
beginning to look upon the thing as mere bravado.
Yet the distressed part of the operatives are giving
loose to expressions of great dissatisfaction with their
quondam friends and pot companions. But these may
be said to be the only parties showing any inclination
to a rising, or that look favourably on the proceedings
at Manchester, Rochdale, and Todmorden.

" Halifax bears in general, perhaps, greater marks
of tranquillity than any place in the district. The
people have made no attempt at a public demonstra-
tion, and the great bulk of them are inclined to ridi-
cule any expression tending to favour the idea of the
Todmorden rioters arousing Halifax. Manchester,
Rochdale, and Todmorden, are, howevQr, much talked
about, and some of the very lowest class are enter-
taining the most favourable view of the riotous pro-
ceedings, and making loud protestations that the
Charter' must become the law of the land. They are
also expressing the highest approbation at the pro-
ceedi of the meeting of trade delegates at the Car-
penters'-hall, in Manchester, last night, which they
say has done much for the Charter. All the tnanu-
factories and workshops continue in full operation as
before the riotous proceedings commenced.
" Sowerby-bridge in the morning wore much the
same aspect as Halifax, except that being nearer Tod-
morden the riots are a more general and prominent
topic of conversation. About noon, however, the
people began to manifest more concern and dread of
the turn out in consequence of a rumour that the
rioters of Todmorden were within three or four miles
of the place.
.. _ _

" At Mytholmroyd a number of the rioters from
Todmorden arrived early, and they soon succeeded in
gaining great accessions to their ranks. By twelve
oo clock every inhabitant of the place was on the look-
out, men, women, and children, and by one o'clock
every factory and workshop was at a stand still, the
populace parading the streets in an irregular proces-
sion of six, eight, and ten abreast, numbering in the
whole from 2,000 to 3,000. The rioters not only
succeeded in stopping the factories at Mytholmroyd,
but also every one between that place and Lodmorden.
They in every case demanded the turn-out of the
workpeople. Every attempt at non-compliance was
met by the threat that if the workpeople refused to
come out, they would reduce the place to ashes. We
hear of no material damage done to property at
Mytholmroyd. A great meeting was announced for
two o'clock, and large numbers of people were on
the road between Todmorden and Mytholmroyd at
one o'clock to be present.
" Events similar to those of Mythohnroyd have oc-
curred at Hebden-bridge, Winters, Cowbridge, Spew
Hole, Bank, Calis Millealder Side, and Mythohn
Mills, to each of which places a detachment of the
rioters proceeded from Todmorden early in the morn-
ing; and a grand concentration of all their accessions
is talked of to take place at Mytholmroyd, for making
arrangements to penetrate the-whole of Yorkshire.
" I have only just had time to finish the particulars
sent; as I am proceeding to Rochdale at half-past
two, from which place I shall write immediately after
my arrival. I have made strict inquiries respecting
all the places I have alluded to, and I believe that all
the particulars may be relied on.
We learn that at Bradford, Keighley, and Biie
all is quiet this afternoon, and the industrious work-
men are at their respective occupations.
In Leeds all is perfectly tranquil, and we beli( ve
our townsmen have too much good sense to join iii
so insane and desperate a course as that by which
the cotton district is agitated.