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 brickfields to the right of Hunter's-lane, adjoin-
ing the nunnery, a newly-formed establishment in this part
of the country. Here the multitude fairly tired out came 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 mele'e, however, White, the leader of
the party, effected his escape.
Whiilat these proceedings were taking place in one quarter
of the town, the mob continued to increase in Duddeston
row, and the police, stationed there to keep the ground clear,
found considerable difficulty 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
he found that the mob 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 com-
mander. Col. Thom addressed a few words to the people,
and advised them to separate, telling them that in case
of their refusing to do so, the Riot Act would be read,
and prompt measures adopted to disperse them. This ad-
vice was followed by a considerable portion of the meeting,
but others, evincing an indisposition to move, the police were
ordered to charge, which they did with great success, using
the flats of their sabres with much effect, and the ground
was cleared in a few minutes. Numbers of persons, how-
ever, continued loitering about until dusk, but no attempt
was 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
apprehension of White, whose house, or lodgings, in Broms-
grove-street, was searched by the police, and a large quan-
tity of papers and correspondence of a most seditious cha-
racter were discovered, clearly proving that the present
moment was long planned by White and his mischievous
associates. White was arrested on Wednesday along with
another man of the name of Taylor, the former being charged
with inciting the people to violence, and the latter with having
printed a seditious placard. They were to be brought up
yesterday (Thursday,) for examination. The town is now
again peaceable.

SCOTLAND.
THE COLLIERS' AND IRON-STONE MINERS' STRIKE.
We are glad to learn that, although the strike still con-
tinues in the Lanarkshire and It enfrewshire mining districts,
the idle population are perfectly quiet, notwithstanding that
emissaries have been at work attempting to give the turn-out
a political 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
concerned, of alienating from them the sympathy of many
well wishers to their cause. We are also glad to learn that
there are symptoms of amendment apparent, and it is
earnestly to be hoped that all may be 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 here yesterday, owing to one of the Dundyvan
Ironstone Works being at work. The men had lately an in-
terview with the proprietor, and it turns out that all hands
have agreed to go to work at 4s. per day ; but there are still
some little items unsettled. The rumour here is that the