The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-26 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM.

On Tuesday a chartist meeting was announced to be held
near this town, and at the time appointed many thousands
assembled, but in consequence of fears of being disturbed,
White, the leader, succeeded in drawing off a large body of
the persons assembled. Heading this party, he proceeded at
a rapid pace towards the ground at the Asylum, where the
meeting had been held the day previous, followed by about
120 of the police, under the command of Superintendent
Atkins. Finding themselves hotly pursued, the mob did not
attempt to occupy the ground at the Asylum, but proceeded
towards Handsworth, about a mile or two further, on the
borders. of Staffordshire, where the mob made for some waste
ground and brickfieids to the right of Hunter's-lane, adjoin-
ing the nunnery, a newly-formed establishment in this past
of the country. Here the multitude fairly tired out cattle to a
dead halt, and the police having been reinforced by a party
of military, the avenues of the road were guarded, and the
further progress of the mob was effectually cut off. The
police then charged the multitude, and dispersed them in a
few minutes ; in the melee, however, White, the leader of
the party, effected his escape.
Whiilst these proceedings were taking place in one quarter
of the town, the snob continued to increase in Duddeston•
row, and the police, stationed there to keep the ground clear,
Sound considerable diificuity in accomplishing the work,
their force having been considerably weakened by the de-
tachment which had been sent in pursuit of a portion of the
mob. In this state of things information was sent to the
public office, where the magistrates were sitting, that further
assistance would be required, and Col. Thom, the comman-
dant of the district, instantly placed himself at the head of a
party of dragoons, and galloped to the spot. On his arrival
1 he found that the snob had commenced throwing stones at
the police, and were fast pressing upon them. The appear-
', ance of the military, however, produced an instantaneous
change in the disposition of the mob, who immediately fell
back and cheered the dragoons and their gallant em-
it -sander. Col. Thom addressed a few words to the people,
a: ad advised them to separate, telling them that in case
o: f their refusing to do so, the Riot Act would be read,
at id prompt measures adopted to disperse them. This ad-
vice was followed by a considerable portion of the meeting,
bt it others, evincing an indisposition to move, the police were
or slued to charge, which they did with great success, using
th a flats of their sabres with much effect, and the ground
wl s cleared in a few minutes. Numbers of persons, how-
ev, !r, continued loitering about until dusk, but no attempt
wa a made to congregate in a body a second time.
] in consequence of private information received by the ma-
gistrates, a warrant was issued on Tuesday morning for the
api n.ehension of White, whose house, or lodgings, in Broms-
grc ye-street, was searched by the police, and a large quart-
tit3 - of papers and correspondence of a most seditious cha-
rac :er were discovered, clearly proving that the present
mol vent was long planned by White and his mischievous
assc .ciates. White was arrested on Wednesday along with
anot :her man of the name of Taylor, the former being charged
with inciting the people to violence, and the latter with having
prim ted a seditious placard. They were to be brought up
yests srday (Thursday,) for examination. The town is now
agais t peaceable.

SCOTLAND.
TB E COLLIERS' AND IRON-STONE MINERS' STRIKE.
We are glad to learn that, although the strike still con-
tinues in the Lanarkshire and Henfrewshire mining districts,
the idlt population are 'perfectly quiet, notwithstanding that
emissaries have been at work attempting to give the turn-out
a politic !al aspect, by introducing the question of the people's
charter as an element in the unhappy dispute, which at the
present time can only have the effect, as far as the men are
concern' Id, of alienating from them the sympathy of many
well wis tiers to their cause. We are also glad to learn that
there at e symptoms of amendment apparent, and it is
earnestly • to be hoped that all may he soon satisfactorily
settled. A private letter written from Coatbridge on Satur-
day last, by one who has good opportunity of observation,
says :—" There was unusual bustle visible among the work-
ing-classes 3 here yesterday, owing to one of the Dundyvan
Ironstone Works being at work. The men had lately an in-
terview wi th the proprietor, and it turns out that all hands
have agrees Ito go to work at 4s. per day ; but there are still
some little items unsettled. The rumour here is that the

refit will follow the example ; and it is to be hoped that by
the end of next week all will be restored to peace and good
order." In our publication of Tuesday last we inserted
.a
notice regarding the turn-out of the workers at the Campste
Alum. Works. We arc happy to observe that matters have
been adjusted.

MOVEMENT IN AIRDRIE.

SATURDAY.—Within the last two days, matters in the dis-
turbed districts of miners and colliers, have taken a new and
it is to be feared, more formidable aspect than any they have
yet assumed. It was generally expected, at the commence-
ment, that the question of wages and their own local
grievances, would alone occupy the attention cf the struck
miners in the neighbourhood cf Airdrie, Coatbridge, and
llolytown, and that so soon as their demands were complied
with, the workmen would return quietly and at once to their
employment. The result, however, of large meetings held
yesterday and the day previous, does not at all favour such
expectations. A public meeting of the coal and ironminers
friendly to the cause of democracy was held on Wednes-
day, in a field on the south side of the Chapel Street
road, Airdrie, granted for the purpose by the proprietor,
Mr. Adam Prentice. After an address from a Mr. Thomas
Roberts, delegate from Clackmannanshire, and at whose
instance, we believe, the meeting was got up, it was resolved,
" that in order to obtain the means of permanently improv-
ing their condition. the colliers and miners assembled, con-
tend for the people's charter, and that they use every effort
to induce other trades, far and near, to strike work on a
given day, and cease from producing a farthing's worth until
the charter is made law." At this meeting it is said there
were present nearly 3000 persons. It is described by eye-
witnesses as one of the largest meetings of the miners that
has yet been held, and one of the most orderly and peaceable.
From the statements of the delegate from Clackmannanshire,
it would seem that a similar resolution has been adopted at a
great many meetings in that conntry. This .meeting was
held in the fore part of the day, but there was another in the
evening at the same place, and a much larger one, composed
of different trades and the shop-keeping classes. It was
attended by a great body of the inhabitants of Airdrie, and it
is confidently stated that it could not contain less than 4500
persons. The person named Roberts, again addressed the
assembly, when a similar resolution was put and carried,
with the addition, that a communication be opened with
other towns and villiages, calling upon them to do likewise.
A committee was appointed to carry this part of the resolu-
tion into effect, when the dense mass quietly separated at a
late hour, the meeting having commenced at seven o'clock.
At another meeting, held at a place called Pottery Quarry,
near Coatbridge, at which 1,800 were present, and composed
almost exclusively of colliers, similar sentiments were uttered
and similar resolutions were adopted. At this meeting also,
which was called principally by the workmen connected with
the mines around Dundyvan, terms were proposed on behalf
of Mr. Wilson of that quarter, for the men connected with
his works, which came up to the men's expectations, with
the exception of the matter of a "lying week" in every five,
which the master insists upon having as formerly. The men
will only consent to allow him to retain three days of what is
called " lying money" in the month's pay. This, we under-
stand, is now the only ground of difference between Mr. Wilson
and the workers at Dundyvan. We regret to state that the other
masters and their workmen in the same position as before—the
masters expressing a willingness to grant a little, and the men
firm and determined to have all their demands fulfilled. The
military are still stationed at Airdrie, Coatbridge, &c., and
may be seen chatting with the unemployed, going in and out
of the houses of the inhabitants, and altogether on the best
of terms. There are not so many potato depredations,
however, although occasional liftings take place at some
distance from the towns. On Thursday morning, Mr. John
Wilson, farmer, Craigwalhan, about a mile and a half from
Airdrie, lost about a rood, of which immediate information
was given to the Sheriff, The depredations committed in
this way, it is understood among the farmers, will be de-
frayed at the expense of the county, and consequently, they
begin to be a little more careless as to the potato diggers.