The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-05-03
2 urtaer Details of the Foreign News.


ing account OF the great Chartst movement
Of the day preceding:
The metropolis ?. scented yesterday scene
OF unusual excitement and alarm. The de-
termination announced By the members of the
Chartist National Convention to hold their
meeting and procession in defiance of the law
and the constituted authorities-the military
preparations, almost unparalleled for extent
and completeness, made by the Duke at the
head of the army to put down any insurrec-
tlonary attempts that might be made-and the
remarkable unanimity with which the middle
and higher classes placed their services at the
disposal of the Government-had each in turn
contributed to interest large numbers OF the
population in the results of the days proceed
ings and to increase the general feeling of I'M
defined apprehension with which the inten-
tons of the Chartists were regarded. The
weather was exceedingly favorable for the de-
monstration no obstruction was offered by
the police to the trades and other professions
which left the Middlesex side of London for
Kensin gton- common; free thoroughfare was
permitted to all who wished to take part in
the public meeting; and yet, instead OF the
800 600 persons who were told would assem-
bic upon Aensington common, and proceed
thence to the House of Commons, the most
liberal estimate OF the number OF persons
within view at ore time at Remington COM
mon does not reach $4,000, and ought not
probably to exceed 10000. U
Our description of the events OF tne day
will perhaps most fifty commence with The
proceedings of the Chartist Convention. The
delegates reassembled at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning at the Literary and Scientific 1nsti-
tute, John street, Fitzroy Square.
4 Int bn
had received a written communication from
the Police Commissioners of the metropolis,
stating that the national petition would be al
/ lowed to be taken to the House Of Commons,
| but that no procession would be permitted to
take place through the streets Of London
/ rhe delegates left the hall with Mr.. Feargus
/ O'Connor at their head, and took then place
in the ear prepared for them
5If. O'Connor and the principal members OF
the Convention were loudly cheered By the
crowd assembled outside the Institute as they
took their places in the car q large and strong
( bulb vehicle drawn hy six hJrses, sufficiently
! lsl@a 10 contain upwards Of 80 persons. The
dal Gates car was preceded by another car OF
!, ,aoaa1ao kiss6i- 5aIafsaa - eoDve9 TIE nations
al petition, and dtaWn IS four horses. Bsth
cars 1n3 been expressly constructed Tor the
occasion, and were eaily paiDted ami decorated
with aags, banners, and notices lpon
large banner, ct the head of the first car, III
the Gaa1tist colors Of alternate red, white and
areea. were inscribed the 'six points OF the
| PEOPLES Charter, viz universal suffrage, an
nual Pa.liaments, vote by ballot, no property
qualification, payment Of members, and equal
electoral districts,
The second car was followed by Chatist on
foot, eight abreast amounting to about 200
persons when the procession LETT John street,
but whose numbers received considerable &C
ceasions as they marched onWards Proceed
ing down Tottenham courtyard and by St.
Giles Church, where considerable number
of the women Of that locality had assembled,
the first car stopped before the Chart'st Land
Company's Office. Here a short delay took
place while the national petition was being
brought out and lifted upon the first car
| The petition was rolled up into five huge bun
dies, resembling bales of cotton in Size and
placed upon platform appointed to receive it
on the car. This having been accomplished
amid the cheers of the crowd, the procession
was again put in motion, and slowly advanced
along Holborn. Most OF the shops at the
western end of Holborn were closed: but, as
the procession approached Holborn Hill, the
shutters of very few were up, and no alarm
appeared to be felt. The windows OF the
houses throughout the line of procession were
generally filed by spectators, mostly women,
but with scarcely an exception, no marks of
sympathy were exhibited in the objects of the
procession.
The cars reached the bottom of Holborn
hill in safety and here crowd were assem-
blek who cheered the delegates. The shops
in Harrington street were for the most part
closed. A large concourse of persons swelled
the procession at the intersection of Ludgate-
hill and Fleet street, and the spectacle when
it arrived upon Blackfriars bridge, had become
very imposing. The narrow thoroughtare had
compressed the crowd into vast moving
mass, and the shifting sunlight of an April
day gave increased effect and animation to the
scene. BY judicious arrangement, strong
body of Chelsea pensioners were drawn up on