The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-04-11 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

FERGUS, THE CHARTIST, AND HIS VERACITY.

Demagogueism is a trade, and a lucrative one, as many
lave discovered before Fergus O'Connor hit upon his
land scheme. It is, therefore, our duty to inquire occa-
sionally whether such traders are in possession of the ne-
cessary amount of capital to warrant the public in placing
confidence in them. Of course, when we speak of capital
as possessed by demagogues, we do not refer to money.
We want only sincerity and truth in such characters. We
can allow them to be deficient in money and brains, but
not in honesty.

Mr. Fergus O'Connor was very opportunely put upon
his trial, in the House of Commons, on Friday night.
wth respect to his nossession of that same virtue—
honesty. He had said, in a debate upon the character of
the proposed Chartist procession of yesterday, " I beg
the noble lord and the right hon. gentleman to be satisfied
that the parties who are getting up this demonstration are
not getting it up with any view to endanger the peace of
the country, or to violate the law of the land." He would
not on any account countenance the procession if he
thought that a breach of the peace could ensue. He was
a loyal man, attached to the institutions of the country,
and, in fact, a paragon of peace—a perfect quaker in po-
litics. The hon. gentleman, however, was unpleasantly
reminded that be bad attended a meeting in Cripplegate
on yesterday week, of parties who called themselves " the
Irish Confederate and Democratic Society." and at that
meeting had delivered himself of a speech, which was taken
down by a respectable professional man present, by whom a
copy was handed to Mr. Alderman Thompson, M.P.,
who subsea:lend), laid it before government. We give
the version of the speech, as reported to the house by the
honourable alderman :

" Mr. O'Connor said that he had just come from th? House
of Commons, where he had left them discussing the Jew Relief
Bill ; that it was a base Par;tament ; that it was of no use of
petitioning and praying any longer ; that they must do as the
Americans did—shake off the yoke; that it was better to die on
the scaffold than to perish from starvation • that the people of
Ireland would not be satisfied with a repeal of the union—they
must hare an independent republic; that moral force was suffi-
cient to put don n physical force ; that he hoped the meeting
would remember the 10th of April ; that it would be a glorious
day ; that he was for fair play to the Catholic priesthood, inas-
much as they were much better able than the Protestant to
assist them (the Democratic Society); that they, ought at once
to do awag with all titles. ax the breech had done; and that
they must put down Royalty, for it teas too great an expense to
the country."

The worthy agitator of course denied the correctness of
the report ! He had ever been an anti-republican, and
" had published article after article against the republican
form of government." And further, he stated that "he
was not for repeal, but for separation." Of course, the
separation of Ireland from her allegiance to the British
Crown can be accomplished without the slightest infringe.
ment of loyalty, or breach of law and order !
" He never did enrol himself as a member of any repeal as-
sociation. He had joined an association of the late Mr. O'Con-
nell, as an Irish volunteer, arid paid his guinea to buy a musket
and knapsack. (Laughter.) "

Most peaceable individual! His bail should certainly
have been accepted for the good conduct of his fellow pro-
cessionists. Mr. Morgan O'Connell, however, assured
the house that the story of the guinea, the musket, and
the knapsack was a piece of sheer fiction, which we can
well believe.

We cannot think that it is necessarLfor us to caution
any of our Liverpool readers against having anything to
do with a gentleman like this Mr. Fergus O'Connor. But
to one suggestion of his, made in another place—viz., in
the Chartist Convention—we must direct attention. This
trader upon the credulity of the working masses is reported
to have said that

" The people were drawing out the money from the savings
banks in Ireland as fast as they could. There was .e25,C00,000
in the savings banks, and a run upon them in England would
be more dangerous to the Government than any kind of attack
to which they can be exposed. (Loud cheers.) "

Anything more mischievous than such a run of the people
upon the Savings' Banks cannot be conceived—anything
more calculated to prolong the present prostration of
commerce and industry. No doubt if the hon. member
were asked what the people were to do with the money so
withdrawn, he would say " invest it in my land scheme ;"
and should any poor fool be duped into acting upon the
advice, his money would be little trouble to him for the
future. He might " run" upon Fergus for some time
before he got it.

WEST DERBY UNION.-ANNUAL ELECTION

OF GUARDIANS.

Yesterday was the last day for delivering in the voting-
papers for the election of the Poor Law Guardians for
West Derby Union. There were smart contests in three
of the Townships, and considerable interest was attached
to the proceedings in those localities. We subjoin the
results in the contested wards:—

EVERTON. TOXTETEI PARK.
Richard Shaw.... 366 Thomas Lloyd .... 11371
Mr. Edwards ....191 Wtn. Mountfield.. 1261
~Taylor. l9l J. Appleby llBB '
}selected.
Rd. Miller
M. Jones
Jno. Sheppard
W. R. Jones..
Jas. Semple .
Geo. Haworth
WEST DICKEY.
Thomas Roberts.... 793
John Peers
Thos. Jeffries

R. M. Beckwith

In Everton Township it will be observed that there was
a tie between two of the candidates, and the Poor Law
Commissioners have been apprised of this circumstance,
and asked what steps require to be taken in consequence,
in the event of the scrutiny which is now taking place
giving the same result.
In West Derby Township the three gentlemen elected
are all conservatives, and the result of the election has
given very general satisfaction.
Mr. John Sheppard is the only conservative guardian
elected for Toxteth-park, and as he has ever been inde-
fatigable in the discharge of his onerous duties as Chair-
man of the Board for six years, and as a member for eight
years, we are extremely gratified to find that he will still
be able to give to the Union the benefit of his intelligence
and practical information. We understand that Mr.
Sheppard attended last year upwards of fifty meetings of
the Board, and his conduct as chairman has always been
characterised by the greatest urbanity and most exemplary
patience. We hope to see him once mtire in the same
position.

THE IRISH MEMBERS NOT MEMBERS FOR

THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Although members of a united parliament, the present
representatives of Irish constituencies appear to have a
very imperfect idea of the nature of their position and the
duties which devolve upon them. With all the intellect
of which these gentlemen boast as the peculiar character-
istic of Irishmen, they appear unable, or unwilling, to
grasp the merits of any question which can be called a
national one. Their attention and sympathies never
travel beyond Ireland ; but in all questions directly affect-
.ing that country they claim, not the deference which is
due as being naturally a little conversant with their own
affairs, but a sort of right to deal with them exclusively.
tFi
oo For i s
an English
regarded
servke t
ft speako
presumption upon an;
and lrish
to
voteues-
a.ainst a majority of Irish members upon such a question
is ground sufficient to establish a grievance upon.
The unanimity which the gentlemen in question re-
cently displayed in imposing a property and income tax
upon us will be in the recollection of most of our readers,
as well as the fervour with which they rejected the honour
of a similar visitation for themselves. On many other
questions we have observed a similar feeling displayed of
perfect willingness to impose burthens upon England, and
a very contrary disposition when their own affairs are to
be interfered with; but the first time we remember to
have had it openly claimed that Irish members have the
exclusive right to deal with Irish questions was on Friday
evening, in the course of the debate on the Landlord and
Tenant Bill. The measure in question, which is a minis-
terial one, of course, has been met by an almost universal
protest from the Irish members of both sections. It con-
tains too little of the appropriation principle for the demo-
cratic section, and too little for the landlord section. The
ordinary course would be to endeavour to make some-
thing out of it in committee, or else to withdraw it alto-
gether. But a committee of the whole house might pos-
sibly regard the question involved in such a measure in an
English light, and with English feelings; and it is, there-
fore, at the solicitation of Irish members, to be referred to
a select committee, where Sir W. Somerville tells us that
it " may be considered fairly and fully by a number of
Irish gentlemen ?" Of course, English gentlemen are
quiteincompetent to deal with such a question.
We should not have adverted to this subject but that
we conceive it necessary to inform the Irish members, of
all sections of politics, that legislation on Irish matters
can no longer be allowed to be conducted in this style.
Great Britain is deeply interested in the settlement and
removal of the social evils of Ireland. She cannot re-
main indifferent, as she is accused of being, so long as it
is upon her keeping that the pauperism which those evils
create are thrown. The question at issue between the
landlords of Ireland i.nd their tenantry and the poor is
peculiarly of interest to the people of this country. It
may be a difficult question to settle, and the intricacies to
be unravelled may at present be familiar only to Irish-
men. With patience, however, we presume they may be
mastered by English minds; andwhenthe full light of
day is once thrown upon the evil it will be in a fair way
to be removed. It has been hushed!up long enough.

EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES.—At a meet.
ing held on the 7th instant, Captain William Soutter, late
master of the Bidston, of Liverpool, was examined, and
found duly qualified for a first-class master's certificate.
STEALING A WATCH.—At the Police-court yesterday,
Margaret Roberts, Catharine Roberts, and Sarah Walker,
women of abandoned character, were sent for trial at the
assizes, for stealing a watch: from a man in the street.
On Wednesday, Mr. Daniel Neilson was re-elected
chairman of the Stock Exchange in this town, and Mr.
James Mill was appointed vice-chairman. The committee
was very much changed.
LIVERPOOL DOCKS AND DOCK WAREHOUSES.--Mr.
Abernethy, the surveying-officer appointed under the
Preliminary Inquiries Act, sent to take evidence on the
Liverpool Dock Bill, has reported in favour of warehouses
round the existing docks, and against granting immediate
powers to proceed with the proposed new docks. With
regard to the proposed purchase of land from the Earl of
Derby, Mr. Abernethy is of opinion that, as compulsory
powers are taken in the bill as regards all other owners of
land, the public interest requires that the clause referring
to the purchase from Lord Derby should be compulsory Lac?,

GENERAL TRADE REPORT.

Monday Night.
The unprecedented fall in the value of nearly every de-
scription of marketable property since our last is most
dispiriting. We had become familiarised with the daily
reports of European changes and disasters ; but the
Chartist and Repeal movement, although ample precau-
tions have been taken by Government and the various
local authorities to prevent any breach of the peace. has
produced a temporary panic which may only be dispelled
by the failure of the intended demonstration. Rails
have suffered to an alarming extent, as will be seen
by our quotations. Cotton was cheaper to-day than
ever previously known in Liverpool, Fair Boweds selling
at 4d. per lb. Consols, which have been down to 80 dur-
ing the week, took a slight advance on Saturday to 80i to
801, and closed to-day at 80i to 1. Gold continues
to flow into the country, and the Bank of England is
placed in the unpleasant position of an unwilling purcha-
ser of an unprofitable commodity. Insurances were
effected on Friday at Lloyd's and the insurance offices to
the amount of about £200,000 for gold imperials or half
imperials en route or advised to be shipped from St. Pe-
tersburg.

There has been a greater amount of stock sacrificed, and
a more considerable fall in shares, during the last than in
any previous week. The sales in London have been im-
mense, chiefly on country account, and our market has
been freely supplied with stock of all kinds all week, but
without the pressure of stock felt in London. On Satur-
day, in London. this pressure was very great, and there
were not buyers for one-tenth of the stock offered, and
almost any bid being taken. This was said to arise from
the alarm in the country excited by exaggerated state-
ments of the intended meeting to-day. The fall in the
principal stock since this day week has been,—in London
stock, from 125 to 119 ; shares, 2to 1 par ; Midland
stock, 97 to 91 ; shares, 61 to 8 dis. ; Eastern Counties,
134. to la ; London and Brighton, 29 to 261 ; South-
Eastern and Dover, 221 to MI. A telegraphic dispatch
from London yesterday afternoon, of the failure of the
Kennington Common meeting, caused the market here to
close decidedly firmer, and many selling orders were with-
drawn.

I The CorroN MARKET has been in a very drooping and
languishing condition to-day ; sales only 2,500 Bales, at
* below the quotations of Friday last. By the Packet's
accounts we have plenty of Cotton on the way, and our
manufacturers have a guarantee that we shall have cheap
Cotton as well as cheap Corn, but the question is, how
cheap ? We throw this out if supply and demand are
solely to regulate it ; we say it may go lower than ever it
did, and then comes the question can America afford to
`keep it or send it at such ruinous prices. We are not in
a situation to hold it for them, and if they send it in it
must go at the market value of the day, to the ruin of
our heavy advancers-we hope to the restitution of our
Commerce to a sound and healthy condition.
The COLONIAL MARKETS remain very quiet and prices
continue to decline. The sales in Sugar to-day are 250
hogsheads B. P. to the grocers.-No inquiry for Mo-
lasses.-Rum-very flat ; buyers operate with much cau-
tion ; the tendency of price is downwards.-Coffee is still
very much depressed ; holders are anxious sellers, and
would accept further reduced rates, but the trade are not,
in the present state of affairs, disposed to increase their
I stock.-There is no life in the Tea market; the few sales
that have been made are in favour of the buyers : common
Congous may be quoted 4d. per lb. lower.-There con-
tinues a brisk demand for Saltpetre ; 600 bags 5 8 re-
fraction fetched 355. per cwt.: there are also several
inquiries for the article to arrive ; 325. is freely of-
fered.-Dyewoods continue to be in .very limited request.
-Regarding the indigo sales in this town, on Thursday,
Messrs. Laing and Bruxner report that "the whole went
off rather better than might have been expected under
existing circumstances. The total quantity amounted to
542 chests, viz., 440 Bengal, of which about 130 were sold
at 3d to 4d under our last February rates; the remainder
consisted of Kurtiah, chiefly bought in at full prices."-
The London markets appear every week more depressed.
Importers spew an increasing desire to realise, and the
dealers, aware of this, have been most reluctant pur-
chasers, though goods have been offered them at a decline
of Is. 6d. to 2s. per cwt.
The TIMBER TRADE here is at present very dull,
very little business having been done for the last
week, except by auction. The sales took place on the
6th and 7th inst., they were well and respectably attended,
and the business done was fully equal to expectation.
1008 logs Quebec Pine sold at from 12d. to 15d. per foot, 184
logs Quebec Red Pine at 18id. to 19d. per foot, 162 logs Quebec
Oak at from 194 d. to 221 d. per foot, 27 logs Elm at 17d- per
foot, and 48 logs Ash at lld to Ind. per foot, 5645 pieces Que-
bec Deals and Battens, sold at from 48 ss. to-410 per standard,
by private. A cargo of St. John Pine, of fair quality, averaging
19 inches, has been sold off the quay at 174 d., with Stowage
Deals at lid. per foot of two inches.-In Furniture and Fancy,
Woods there has been an active business, though the,meeting
had a remarkable character in having no buyers whatever for
the Continent, and for many months the demand from Ireland
has nearly ceased. Of Honduras Mahogany 201,915 feet, sale
measurement, were sold at from 3(1. to 121 d. per foot, St. Do-
mingo 301 logs sold at from 34d. to 2s. lid. per foot, City St.
Domingo 440 logs were sold at from 4.1 d. to 2s. 9d. per foot,
Cuba Mahogany 378 logs were sold at from 44d. to 35. lid per
foot.-Satinwood: City St. Domingo. The small import of
middling quality just received was sold at 81d. per foot. A few
tons small Bahama Yellow Wood was sold at-. 44 per ton.-
Cedars: Havana. Owing to the entire fallingoff in the demand
for export, 29 logs only were sold at from 41d. to 6d. per foot,
as in size. Pencil, of middling quality only, was offered, and
90 logs were sold at 18d. per foot-Bird-Eyed Maple: 64
Planks, fresh, were sold at from 41d. to sd. per foot, exhaust-
ing the stock here.-Rosewood: 82 Planks fresh Rio were sold
at .416 16s. 8". per ton, average, and 61 Planks refuse at
.4'9 155. per ton average. Two parcels Bahia were sold together,
236 Planks at the respective averages of .47 10s. and .48 7s.
per ton.-Zebra wood could only be sold to moderate extent,
say 13 Planks at .4 7 per ton.-Lignumvitte : 150 tons Sicily St.
Domingo were sold for shipment at .48 158., per ton. A few
tons Cuba were sold at .45 per ton.-Coeuswood : The parcels
offered at auction were withdrawn, but in the past week 36 tons
Cuba were sold at 47 2s 6d. per ton.-Partridgewood : 40 tons
were so'd at £3 10s. per ton.-Tulipwood : 2 tons good quality
were sold at .420 per ton.-Black Ebony : African Billet Wood
was sold at 412 per ton.-Lwneewood spars: Fresh imports,
say 841, were sold at from 35. to ss. 3(1. ,each, and 466 Spars,
not fresh, and inferior, at from Is. 4d. to 3s. each.
The Scotch Pig Igor; market continues in the same de-
pressed state. Large parcels, intended for shipment to the
Continent, have been forced upon the market in Glasgow.
Prices are very nominal, but may be quoted 40s. to 41s.
for No. 1 at Glasgow.
There has been nothing stirring in the Coax trade
since Friday, if we except Indian corn, that being the only
article in which much business has been transacted, and
prices have suffered no further depression. The English
and Irish markets are rather drooping. than otherwise :
but, at the same time, we have no serious difference to
report in prices. The weather, although wet has prepon-
derated, has not produced any unfavourable results ; and
the cold winds at present prevailing may be regarded as
a seasonable check to vegetation, fears having been enter-
tained previously of premature luxuriance. The total
arrivals since last market day have been 3,116 qrs. wheat,
290 qrs. barley, 300 qrs. malt, 4,230 qrs. oats, 2,400 qrs.
beans, 2,960 qrs. Indian corn, 1,620 loads oatmeal, 1,830
sacks flour; and the only imports of any amount have
been 1,400 qrs. Indian corn, and 970 brls. corn meal, to
Ireland. We learn from Preston that that port is quite
alive with extraordinary importations of grain from Ire-
land.
There has been little doing in the lursit PROVISION
TRADE since our last. The few shipments of New But-
ter which have come in from Waterford, Cork, and Limer-
ick, excite little attention, and sales progress very slowly ;
quotations for old Butter are in a great measure nominal.
Bacon and Lard in limited request, the latter article
lower in price. The following are current prices in
Liverpool to-day :-
Butter:-Waterford, 100 s. ® 104 s. ; Wexford, Carlow, 88s. 9
89s. ; Belfast, 88s. ® 925.; Ballymoney and Coleraine, 86s. ®
89s. ; Banbridge, 84s. @ 88s. ; Newry and Dundalk, 80s. ® 828. ;
Dublin, Carlow, 84s. ® 88s. ; Sligo, 80s. ® 86s. ' • Londonderry,
82s. @ 86s. Bacon .-Long Middles, free from bone, new, 568.*
605.; Short Middles, 58s. e 605.; American, 405. to 545.
Lard :-Fine Keg, 60s. @ 665.-Arrivals in the week ending
April 18th :-Butter, 2394 Firkins, 723 Crocks; Bacon, 76
Bales; Hams, 10 Hhds. ; Lard, 5 Kegs.
AMERICAN Beef maintains former quotations, and it
is in good demand; the highest prices have been obtained
for best qualities, of which late imports have entirely
consisted. Prime Mess Pork is still scarce and much
wanted : Strips are also inquired for, but inferior quali-
ties only are in the market. The demand for Bacon has
improved, and prices have considerably advanced for
Western. The dealers have no stocks, as they are
generally impressed with the belief that the article will be
lower, and this in the face of a great deficiency of Irish
in the London Market, and improved rates realising there
for American. Hams and Shoulders are scarce, and have
sustained full prices. There has been a reduction in the
inferior and soft qualities of Larctof fully ss. per cent. ;
hut firm quality, in kegs, has supported late rates. Of
Cheese the stock is small in compass, and consequently
top prices are obtainable.
Cheese-Fine, 48s to 50s per cwt. (duty paid) ; middling, 42s
to 465; ordinary, 39s to 41s. Beef,-1.1.5.-Prime Mess, per'
tree. 3041 b. (free), 85s to 92s 6d; ordinary, 76s to 83s, old 60s to
68s; extra, India, family, &c., 97s to 1055; ditto, per half bar-
rel, 30s to 35s ; -Mess, per barrel, 2001 b., 50s to 565; ordinary,
40s to 40s, old 36s to 40s;- prime, 34s to 365. Pork-U.S.-
Prime Mess, 608 to 755, old 485 to 56s per barrel, 2001 b., (free) ;
prime, 405 to 458, old 38s to 40s; mess, family mess, &c., 58s
to 665, old 4Es to 525. Bacon-Eastern, 50s to 568 (free); wes-
tern, 46s to 50s ; shoulders, old, 22s to 26s per cwt. Hams-
Dried, old, (duty paid,) 20s to 505 per cwt. ; in salt, (free,) 38s
to 455, old 26s to 355: Lard-Fine, in kegs, (free,) 468 to 50s
per cwt.; fine, in barrels, 438 to 455; ordinary to middling, 40s
to 425; inferior, and grease, 358 to 38s. Butter-Fine, none;
Canada, none; grease, (free,) 405 to 45s per cwt. Soda Biscuit,
(duty paid,) 30s to 35s per cwt. Pilot Biscuit, (duty paid,) 15s
to 208 per cwt. Apples, (duty paid,) 20s to 308 per barrel.-
Imports from 23d March to sth April :-Cheese, 66 casks, 1232
boxes; Beef, 335 tierces, 36 barrels ; Pork, 357 barrels; Bacon,
1528 cwts. ; Hams, 53 casks, 12 loose ; Lard, 2675 barrels, 4567
kegs, 1 case.
Most of the commercial advices from the continent
contain announcements of disasters. At Berlin several
banking-houses have failed, amongst whom are Messrs.
Veit, Brothers, and Co., A. Busse, and Co., and L. B.
Cohn. At Breslau, Messrs. Schreiber and Co., are men-
tioned, and at Cadiz Mr. F. A. Conte, also a banker.
At Hamburgh the feeling on 'Change is of the gloomiest
kind. From Vienna the accounts are of a similar charac-
ter. The drain of specie having been kept up by the con-
- start sale of stocks in the Vienna market for foreign ac-
count, a decree had been issued prohibiting its export.
Meanwhile ducats had risen 24 to 26 premium, stocks and
shares having at the same time experienced a rapid de-
cline. Accounts from Paris mention a rumour that M.
Achille Fould, of the firm of Fould, Oppenheim and Co.,
was about to assume the office of finance minister. The
Paris and Lyons Railway are said to have completed the
sale of all the Rentes which they held (and which were
purchased at 82), and the knowledge of this circumstance-
as the stock has been sent on the market at intervals dur-
ing the last fortnight-had some influence in imparting
a comparative firmness to the stock-market. The Bank
of Discount at Brussels, although in active operation, has,
it appears, not satisfied general expectation, and it is com-
plained that the administrations have hitherto not af-
forded its customers the extent of assistance which the
'circumstances of the period warrant. The Amsterdam
act:muds state that business on the Bourse was better.
The Frankfort report mentions that business 'was ex-
tremely dull. The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris
Bourse on Saturday at 37t., the Five per Cents. 53f.

Summary of American commercial intelligence :
The prices of cotton at the departure of the Herrmann,
on the 21st inst., ruled a per cent. per lb. below those
current at the time of making up our market for the Hi-
bernia March 7. Since then the Cambria's very unfa-
voura'l advises have materially depressed the market,
and a further decline of 3 to 4 of a cent. was immediately
submitted to, sa that the range is now 4 to 4 lower than
at that date. The transactions for the past three days
have been to a fair extent, averaging nearly 1,500 bales
per day, without any further change in prices, thlugh
yesterday the market was rather quiet. The receipts of
cotton at all the shipping ports are 1,535,549 bales, against
1,395.376 to the same dates last year; an increase this
season of 140,173 bales. The total foreign export this
year is 223.313 bales more than last—say 49,540 increase
to Great Britain, 89,375 increase to France, 41,301 increase
to the north of Europe, and 43,097 increase to other foreign
forts. The shipments from southern to northern ports
are 888 bales more this season than last ; and there is a
decrease in stock of 14,425 bales.
Price of cotton at New Orleans :—middling fair, 74 and
; fair 74.
The market for Western Flour has continued very
heavy, and, although the stock is believed to be reduced
to 40,000 or 50.000 barrels, yet, such has been the reluc-
tance to purchase. except for the supply of immediate
wants, in view of the opening of river navigation, that
Prices have not been sustained. The market for wheat
was a little easier for the buyer.
The iron market was not very active, but prices of all
descriptions were well supported.
Freights to Liverpool and London were without change.
We have to report sales of bills on London at 84 to 94
per cent. premium.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
(BY EXPRESS.)
MEETING AT KENNINGTON COMMON.

From an early hour yesterday the neighbourhood of
Kennington-common had every appearance of some ap-
proaching event, and straggling groups of individuals
assembled, discussing what would be the probable result
of the meeting. The shops remained unopened, and the
windows of the Horns Tavern were closely shut up, which
gave rise to a rumour that it was in the occupation of the
military; but it is not likely that there was any truth in the
report. At half-past ten there were, perhaps, from 30,000 to
40,009 persons present. About this time, a procession,
which was formed in Peckham-fields, and consisting of
the Chartists of that district, arrived, beaded by a
man carrying a large tri-colour flag, the colours being
arranged like those of the French republic. In this
procession, there might have been about nine hundred
individuals; and when they arrived at the Common
two of the leaders suggested, as the readiest means by
which they could enter the Common, that a portion of the
railing surrounding it should be pulled down. This was
no sooner hinted at than down the railing came, some
half-dozen costermongers performing the feat, to the great
exultation of the mob around, and amid the cries of " How
about the police."
A procession of the shoe-makers and boot-closers of
Finsbury now arrived. by the London-road, and formed
into ranks on the south side of the Common.
Mr, Commissioner Mayne arrived on horseback about
this time, and throughout the morning numbers of gen-
tlemen, mounted, were reconnoitering.
At eleven o'clock it was announced, with some cheers,
that the great procession, in which the delegates to the
National Convention were, was in sight, and a ge,neral
rush to meet it took place. When it arrived at the com-
mon some delay took place, but at last the procession was
arrived.

It proceeded with the usual chartist banners, inscribed
with chartist mottoes, and poles surmounted with caps of
liberty. The Irish confederates were present, and the
convention appeared in vans with Feargus O'Connor in
front. A van carried the national petition, and a banner
announced that it bore 5,106,847 signatures.
At this time 100,000 persons were present, of whom
about a third were Chartists. At the centre of the
Common, an inspector of police stepped up to Mr.
O'Connor, and told him he was wanted before the Com-
missioner of Police, but he soon returned, being only
required to guarantee that no breach of the peqce should
take place.
Mr. O'Connor then addressed the assemblage, as did
one or two others, and a motion was carried 4igainst Sir
George Grey's bill.
The five huge bundles comprising the petition and its
signatures were then deposited in five cabs, and conveyed,
in the charge of the executive committee, to the House
of Commons. The cars were dismantled of their trap-
pings, and removed to a neighbouring stable. The vast
assembly then quietly dispersed, and in half an hour there
were not a hundred people left on the Common.