The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1839-05-28 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

FRED. FOSTER, J. KERSHAW, SHARSPEARE F. PHILLIPS, D. MAUDE,  C. J. S. WALKER."  GEO. W. WOOD, T. POTTER, The policy of this announcement, inasmuch as it showed a perhaps groundless degree of apprehension, and imputed an importance to the chartist gathering of which it was altogether unworthy, was somewhat questionable—for if it deterred a few from attendance at the race-course, it probably drew to it a larger number to gratify the curiosity which it was calculated to excite. It appeared, too, that the leaders of the meeting had had a previous interview with the authorities of the town, and had pledged themselves that no fire-arths, pikes, or other offensive weapons should be brought to the ground ; and it is due to the chartists to say, that whether in compliance with the orders of their chiefs, or from a wholesome apprehension of the interference of the military and civil bodies collected near the scene of operations, they came not only without arms, but for the most part without even walking sticks. The above placard, however, was scarcely posted through the town, ere the political council of the chartists, in order to contract its effect in thinning the meeting, issued the following :  " NOTlCE.—lnasmuch as several evil-disposed persons have, through the press, and by intimidation, endeavoured to deter the people from attending their duties at Kersal Moor Demonstration, the public are hereby informed that the boroughreeve and the authorities of Manchester, have pledged themselves not to interfere with the proceedings of the day, but to render every reasonable protection that may be required. By order of the political council, held at Kennedy's Lecture-room, 14, Redfern-street, Miller-street. JOHN TILMAN, Secretary."  Meantime, a large body of soldiers was quartered at Cheetham-hill, Broughton, and others were proximated in the neighbourhood : the civil force, augmented by auxiliaries, was also in readiness, and would have been employed in the first instance had occasion required. About eight o'clock in the morning, and from that time up to noon, numbers of carts drove towards the town and race-course, filled with country people from Eccles, Stockport, Hyde, Ashton-under-Line, Staley-bridge, Oldham, Bury, Ratcliffe-bridge, Leigh, Hindley, Wigan, &c., many of them doubtless to witness the " great demonstration," but many more to enjoy the recreations of the town, and the sports on Kersal Moor usual on Whit-Saturday,—a day which invariably draws from their abodes in the neighbouring districts thousands both of the manufacturing and farming population. This will account for the great, though by no means extraordinary, assemblage of persons congregated on the occasion. The streets of Manchester, towards nine o'clock, became much thronged, and the numbers continued to increase until half-past ten, at which hour the procession of the chartists, which had been gradually mustering at New Cross and Shude-hill, began to move onward to the moor. They were headed by Mr. Benbow and Mr. Butterworth, on horseback, who acted as marshals, and were accompanied by bands of music, and numerous flags and banners, many of them new. The order was as follows :  Green silk flag.—" Manchester Political Union.—Vote by Ballot Universal Suffrage, and Annual Parliaments."  Two white silk banners, bearing the rose and thistle; with green silk banner, bearing the harp and shamrock. Men twelve a-breast. Band, and drums and fifes.  Flag, with portrait of Stephens, and " Female Political Society of Ashton." On the other side, " God and the right." Females, cleanly dressed, four a-breast. Flag.—" Rights of Man."  Green fiag.—" Hulme and Chorltm." "Murder demands justice. Men four a-breast, with rosettes. Band. Flag.—" The Productive Classes." Do.—" European Branch." Political Society of Fustian Shearers. White flag.—" Vote by Ballot, Universal Suffrage, Annual Parliaments." Flag.—" The Men of Staly-bridge." Foresters' Band.  Flag.—He that is not for us_is against us.—Stephens for ever !"  Men four a-breast.  White fiag.—" For a nation to be free, it is sufficient that she wills it." Men four a-breast.