The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-01 00:00:00

MEETING AT MARYLEBONE.

A public meeting was yesterday held in the y-a,rd of the
Marylebone Workhouse, for the purpose of petitioning
against the new Corn-law, and expressing a want
of confidence in the present Ministry. The
meeting was, however, • converted to a very dif-
ferent purpose. At an early hour the Chartists began
to assemble in-oterwhehning force from all parts of the
metropolis ; and at one o'clock, the hour appointed for
commencing the proceedings, they had obtained almost
exclusiVe possession of the platform and of the space
adjacent.
At one o'clock Mr. SA.NKEY took the Chair ; a Motion
to that, effect having been put, and almost unanimously
agreed, to.
Mr. SAVAGE then came forward to move the first re-
solution ; which was to the effect, that the distress,
the anguish, and suffering, to which a multitude
of our fellow countrymen-of the working class were now
exposed, were without precedent, and claimed the deepest
sympathy ; that this distress results mainly from a
want .of employment, arising out of our unjust
and • ruinous commercial regulations, which having
been passed for the interests of a particular
class, cramp and cripple the industry of the country ;
that the Corn-laws are the first and foremost of those,
ruinous regulations ; and that the meeting looked
upon those -laws as only one of a number of causes I
which affected in a still more deadly manner the
national prosperity ; that the people had nothing
to expect from 'the present House of Com-
mons and that the adoption of the People's Charter
was tile -only, remedy for the evils under which the
country was suffering.' Mr. Savage then proceeded at
some length to allude to the five points of the Charter,
which was based, he contended, upon the essential prin-
ciples of justice,, and the passing of which could alone
give peace and prosperity to the country.
Mr. lltraisE seconded the resolution moved by the
preceding speaker.'
Mr. FEAIIGtTS O'Coxston came forward amidst loud
cheers to address the meeting. He said that he wished
to express his approval of the speech of Mr. Savage?
and his dissent from his resolution.—(llcar.) He
could not approve of the, first part of that resolution..
which stated that the Corn-laws were one of the first
and foremost causes of the distress which prevailed in the
country. In his opinion all our evils were to be traced
to class legislation ; and the only remedy for those evils
was a full and free representation of the people.—
(Cheers.) He should'therefore move -an amendment- to
the resolution which had been proposecrto them, in which
all trien4s of the Charter and or free trade might concur.
Mr. O'Connor then read his amenampnt, which was to
the effect, that—" While the meeting _ expressed their
unqualified approval of. the principle of free trade, and
their desire to see the present Corn-laws repealed,-they
did not think that such a change could properly emanate
from the- present House of Commons in the imperfect
state of our representation, and that it could not, under
those circumstances, tend to the benefit of the people."
The amendment further recommended the adoption of
the Charter as the only means of doing justice to :the
people, and diffuSing prosperity throughout the land.
Mr. O'Connor then addressed the meeting at some length
in support of the amendment he had.thus moved.- No-
thing, he contended, was to be expected from the
present House of Commons. That --House ought
to be the heart of the land, but the heart was
now ossified—and the limbs were consequently
decayed and withered.—(Cheers.) The rich, in our pre-
sent anomalous position, had their luxuries and their
palaces, while the poor man had to go from the cottage
to the cellar, and from the cellar to the cold shelter of
the workhouse. The Whigs of the present day complained
of the working of their own Reform Bill, and it was mani-
fest that until the representation was placed on a-new basis
the people could expect neither prosperity nor justice.
A good measure could be passed by Parliament as it was
now constituted. The proceedings of that day would
be the commencement of a new movrment for justice to
the people. The present was not an unfavourable mo-
ment for a combined effort on the part of the friends of
justice and freedom. The middle class. es found they could
not do without the people; and the Queen was not so much
against
them as former Sovereigns ; but at all events
they could dispense with. her assistance—she was but
" number one," and she had no vote in addition.--
(Hear, hear.) No party should have them which was
not ready to grant them complete justice; and their cry
should be the Charter, the whole Charter, and nothing
but the Charter.—(Cheers.) Mr. O'Connor concluded
by moving his amendment.
Mr. RIDLEY seconded the amendment.
Mr. MACCONNELL spoke. in favour of the original reso-
lution, and Mr. SMART supported the amendment. .
Mr. SAVAGE stated, that it was a matter of compara-
tive indifference to him which resolution was adopted.
All that he wanted, was the adoption of the People's
Charter.

The amendment and the original motion were then
put in succession, and the amendment was carried by a
vast majority.
This result was hailed with loud and repeated cheers
by the larger portion of the meeting.
Some further resolutions were, then passed, and the
va•t assemblage, which amounted to some thousands,
ser arated,

DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT
• LAMBETH.

(From our Evening Edition of yesterday.)
EXTENSIVE LOSS OF LIFE.

This morning, about twenty minutes before twelve o'clock,
a most extraordinary sensation was prodnced throughout Lam-
beth, in consequence Of the eiptosi ni of the extensive fire-
work-manufactory of Messrs. D'Ernst,. situated in Doughty-
street, :Lambeth-walk. The exp!osion was attended with a
noise resembling a park of artillery, and was heard for miles
sli,tant in every direction. The consternation that was occa-
siened 'was bernd description. Vast numbers of persons were
seen ranging from all parts to the scene of destruction. Soon
after the first alarm a body of the L &vision of police re-
paired to the spot, but were unable to appro.ich the building,
in which the fire was raging with terrible fury, a constant
succession of explosions taking place, froM the immense quan-
shy of fireworks and combustible materials which was kept on
the premises. Several engines shortly arrived, and played on
the burning mass. Fortunately the premises were detached
from other buildings, otherwise it is impossible to say to what
extent the calamity would have gone. We regret to say a
great loss of life has occurred upon the melancholy occasion,
as a number of men were employed when the explosion hap-
pened. It is, however, as yet impossible to say what is
the loss of human life ; the mutilated burnt remains
of two men were distinguished amongst the burning
mass, bat no one dare venture near the spot, as it was
well known an immense quantity of powder was kept on the
premises. The proprietor resides in the Lambeth-road, near
Bethlehem Hospital. He is in a very extensive way of busi-
ness, and supplies most of the places of amusement. At half-
past twelve o'clock, when the Reporter left, the fire was
raging with the utmost fury, and the firemen were actively en-
gaged in arresting its progress. It must be several hours before
it can be possibly ascertained what number of lives have been
sacrificed upon the occasion.
(A LATER ACCOUNT.)
A few minutes before twelve o'clock this day one of the most
dreadful events which it his been our duty to record for some
ears. past, has occurred at the firework-manufactory of
D'Ernst, situated at the bottom of Prince/-street, Lam-
teth,walk, and which has been attended, it is supposed, with
the hiss of eight or ten lives. From the confusi,n, alarm, and
anxiety at present exi-ting in the vicinity, no c. rtain informa-
tion could be obtained beyond th .t, every human being who
was on the premises, at the time of the awful catastrophe, was
launched into eternity. The premises which stood on an ex-
tensive plot of g ound, aro levelled to the earth, and in their
place an immense mass of ruins is only to be seen. At
the time mentioned the whole portii4t of the southern
part of the metropolis was thrown into the utmost consterna-
tion by two loud reports which shook the houses, while in the
immediate neighbourhood the furniture was displaced, and
which was thought to proceed from an earthquake. The
reports were instantly followed by a noise resembling
the 'discharge of artillery in rapid succession. The first
impulse of the inhabitants in the neighbourhood was to
rush out of their houses, when a sight, which can never be
forgotten, met their eye—it was that of the entire pre-
mises, enveloped in smoke and fire, rising in the air, and
with them the whole of the unfortunate persons at work.
To such a height did they ascend, as to r.nder the
mass of ruins visible to those who were passing over
the metropolitan bridges, and which descended as rapidly.
The instant they fell fire was seen to burst out from the aper-
tures, but owing to the prompt arrival of the engines
the flames were quickly got under, and then a sight pre-
stnted itself which harrows the imagination ; remnants
of human bodies were to be seen amidst the burning
ruins, and from it being knownthat all the men were at work,
every exertion - was made by the firemen and police
to extricate them ; by a quarter past twelve three blackened
masses, which once were living beings, were got out, but
so dreadfully • disfigured, as to render it almost impossible
to identify them, and at the time we write, two more
bodies were taken out. The general impression is that more
are still burned. How or by what means the accident
happened will be for ever a mystery, as none of those who
were within escaped to tell the cause. From the inquiries
which were made, it was stated there were four barrels of
towder on the premises at the time, besides other comlnstibles.
housands of persons are on the spot, as well as a large body
of the police. The mutilated remains recovered were taken to
the workhouse.

LATEST PARTICULARS—SEVEN O'CLOCK.
About four o'clock, after considerable exertion on the
Part of the police and firemen on duty, the bodies of all
the unfOrtunate persons who lost their lives by this
tmelancholyer 'catastrophe were extricated from the ruins ;
names and ages (as nearly as could be ascertained
in the confusion which prevailed) were as follows :
Dlr. D'trnst,
aged
Eufactory ;rs. years, the owner of the ma-
admpshire, his sister-in-law,
: bout the stimtekeage_ jenrilAn Whiting, aged 32, who
worked on
Lged abont eighiLren:sesn: and. an errand boy,
As
soon: named George Tebbit,
Has Stanley.
shells could
le procured from the Lambethas
workhouse, they
NI ere removed there toupawatiot the
e result of the
Coroner's Inquest.
however,om
hich we write, no circumstance':
I aye transpired by which the origin of tie
me-
lancholy event could be ascertained, neither could.
there be any accurate calculation made as to the
amount of the property destroyed. -It-Was stated to the
reporter by a person name 1 Wall, who worked in the
Lion brewery, opposite where the explosion
occurred, that- the unfortunate lad Tebbit passed
through the brewery with a piece of tinder-lighting in
his hand ; and upon his being asked the hour he re-
plied twenty minutes to twelve, and walked into Mr.
IYEkist's manufactory. About ten minntes afterwards
the first explosion took place. Three of the bodies were
found amidst the mass of ruins, and the fourth was
found in a garden about twenty yards from the premises,
Into which it had been driven over a hngh wooden paling,
Crowds were thronging every avenue. leading to the spot,
and nothing but the gable end was left standing.

We regret to announce the death of the Hon.
Elisabeth Carpent .r, widow of Captain the Hon. Charles
Carpenter, and mother cf George, third Earl of Tyreonnel,
who died on service in the Russian 'campaign of 1812, and.
also of John Delsval, fourth slid present Earl of. Tyrconnel.
This
Whiahly rospeeted lady died on the 23d February, at Bow-
nes
age of 73.3, estmoreland, of a pulmoaary coniplaint, at the advanced

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, Fib. 28.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool-
sack shortly after Five o'Clock.
PRESBYTERIAN MARRIAGES. -
Lord STRAFFORD presented several petitions
from various places in the North of Ireland, praying for
an alteration in the law relating to Presbyterian mixed
marriages.
1 Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Antrim
to the same effect.
Lord BROUGHAM presented similar petitions from
Langan and the county of Armagh, and from some place
in Antrim. -
LAW OF MERCHANT AND FACTOR.
The Earl of RIPON gave notice of his intention to
bring in a Bill for the regulation of transactions between
merchants and factors.
CORN-LAWS.
The Earl of MINTO presented a petition from
Roxburghshire, praying for a total repeal of the Corn-
laws. He begged to state to their Lordships that the
petition was signed exclusively by farmers.
The Earl of CLARE presented a petition from the
Chamber of Commerce of Limerick, praying that the pro-
posed scale of duty for oats might be increased. The sub-
ject was a most important one to the city of Limerick, the
quantity of oats exported from that town to England
having been nearly doubled between the years 1821 and
1841.

The Earl of CHESTERFIELD presented a petition
from Derbyshire in favour of the Ministerial measure
for an alteration of the Corn-laws.
Lord BROUGHAM presented petitions from the con-
gregation of New Methodists of some town in the West
Riding of Yorkshire ; from Canow, from Brighouse,
from the Wesleyan Methodists of Sunderland, from some
place in Durham, from Mark in Fifeshire, and from the
corn factors and bakers of Montrose ; all praying for
repeal of the Corn and Provision-laws.
. Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition from Perth,
with a similar prayer.
COUNTY COURTS.
Lord BROUGHAM wished to bring under the atten-
tion of their Lordships the subject of a Bill which lie
had on a former occasion the honour of laying on the
table of the House. With that Bill. great progress had
been made 17 their Lordships passing in it into a law.
He was now inchiced to again bring forward the subject,
on account of a Bill having been laid before their Lord-
ships by his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Cotten-
ham), the object of which was the establishment of
County Courts, or such an improvement in County
Courts as would in a great degree have the same effect
as he (Lord B.) should have expected from his Bill.
It was with the view of reminding his Noble and
Learned Friend and their Lordships of the great success
which had attended that measure, and how very near it
was being carried into a law that he was now induced to
trespass on the House. His Noble and Learned Friend
proposed to increase the jurisdiction of the County
Courts in all actions of debt, from 40s. and under to
20/. His (Lord Brougham's) - Bill, which their ,
Lordships had nearly passed into a law, con-
fined actions of debt, and in the nature of debt, to 20/.
It gave jurisdiction also to local courts in all actions
of contest, assault, and battery, slander, seduction, and in
measures of arrest • also all personal actions of toll, &c.,
in which the sum did not exceed 50/. That was a measure
much more extensive than the one introduced' by his
Noble and Learned Friend. He (Lord Brougharo
also • meant to give by his Bill, as his Noble
Friend did, jurisdictions in • cases of bankruptcy.
He proposed to give by this Bill a voluntary jurisdic-
tion to any extent, and also to establish courts of re-
concilement. He thought the latter especially an ex-
ceedingly important addition. On the Continent the
system had prevailed to a great extent, and was found
to be highly beneficial in its operation. In Denmark,
where these. Courts were in full operation, the number
of cases settled in the Courts of Reconcilement com-
prised two-thirds of the whole number, being 22,000
out of 31,000. With this explanation, he had
the honour of laying the Bill before the House. It was
nine years since a measure of equal extent was discussed
by their Lordships. He never remembered a more
strenuous and formidable opposition than that measure
received from his Noble Friend ; and though the Bill
was rejected by those who weri present at the debate,
and who consequently were the best judges, there was
but 'the barest possible majority. He hoped he should
be more successful now than he had hitherto been.
The LORD CHANCELLOR had a Bill directed to
the same object, which it was his intention to lay on the
table in the course of a few days. It was for their Lord-
ships to say which of the measures should be adopted, or
whether they would amalgamate the whole.
Lord CAMPBELL trusted that before the present
Session was concluded, some arrangement would be made
for the establishment of Local Courts.
Lord HAWARDEN presented a petition from Tippe-
rary against any alteration of the Corn-laws.
The House then adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. 28.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.

- PRIVATE BILLS.
The.following Private Bills, were -respectively read a
second time—the Cottenham. Inelosure, • Clee Inelosure,
Cottenham Drainage, Surrey and Sussex Roads, South
Eastern Railway, Granton Pier, (Bristol)
Bridge, Bristol Boundary, .sOiiiliwirk.-Instproyement
(No. 1.), Leicester Sinall Debts, CWin UVD..and Blaina
Iron Company, Cambrian Iron and ..Spelter Company,
and Stalyliridge
.Gas Bills.. .