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    • ABKEST OP FEARGUS O'CONNOR.
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      Abkest Op Feargus O'Connor.

      ABKEST OP FEARGUS O'CONNOR .

      *" Northern Star Office, Thursday Evenin...

      * " Northern Star Office , Thursday Evening , quarter past ten Mr O'Connor has just been arrested upon the Speaker ' s warrant , and taken off in custody to the House of Commons .

      Second Edition. Friday Morning. Our Read...

      SECOND EDITION . Friday Morning . Our readers roll see , from our report of 4 he proceedings in the House of Commons , that Air O ' Connor was liberated , after ran . tual explanations between himself and the Honourable Member for Cirencester ; and that the House exhibited much satisfaction -at the manner in which the altercation was arranged .

      Ouward, And We Eongner! Backward And We ...

      Ouward , and we eongner ! Backward and we fall ! THS PEOPLE'S CHARTER AND HO SURRENDER

      TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS . My Friends , my Dear Friends , Toil "ill not expect me to attempt any description of my feelings for the last ten " days . It would be impossible—utterly and wholl y impossible—to convey to you the faintest notion of the state of anxiety and excitement I have been in for that period ; working hard all day , eating bnt little , and spending sleepless nights , but never once resorting to any artificial means to sustain me in the struggle . I declare to you

      that my thoughts for the last ten days would ] constitute a life ' s history . It has never been my practice to denounce the ardent and en « thusiastic too severely , while you and I have always been the great sufferers from their intemperance and folly . I can make every allowance for new and exciting circumstances , producing new and excited f eelings ; but while I am thus tolerant , I can in nowise consent that that which is dearer to me than life itself , should suffer damage , even from justifiable excitement .

      In health and appearance I am ten years olderthan I was ten days since , but I am twenty years younger in hope , because , while folly has had its fling , prudence has had its triumph . And with so much of a preface , I shall now describe the reality of the past , and map out for you the future . "When the announcement of our intention to hold a meeting on Kennington Common , and thereto form ; i procession to escort the National Will to the Senate House , was made , that announcement was allowed to pass unnoticed by the government for many weeks , and , now that we have triumphed in our moral strength , I assert , without fear of contradiction , that that intention would never hava been interfered

      with by the Government , but for the folly of some , the indiscretion of . some , and the treachery of some of those professing to belong to our ranks . However , the effect of this folly , this indiscretion and treachery , was evidenced in the issuing of a proclamation forbidding both the meeting and the procession . You may rest assured that tlieappearance of this proclamation imposed many hours of serious thought upon

      me ; and , after anxious deliberation , the conclusion to which I came was , that the abandonment of the meeting would be equivalent to the death of Chartism—that perseverance in the procession would have been f ollowed by the death of thousands and the prostration of the cause ; and I decided upon violating the law in defence of the Constitution and the cause of the people in the one case , and laughing brute force to scorn in the other .

      Had we surrendered the meeting , we would have had no channel through which to justify the abandonment of the procession ; but a meeting , out of which the procession was to be constituted , was the constitutional and legitimate tribunal to appeal to . We did so ; and to the honour , to the wisdom , and the prudence of that meeting , it not only consented to , but it approved and applauded , the policy . And so far from the boastings of the government , or the jeers of special constables , being able to eke a triumph out of oar prudence , our resolve sounds the death-knell of tyranny .

      Chartism—heretofore under a bushellaughed at by the Press , and mocked in the House of Commons , now finds a place in every newspaper , and haunts every man ' s -brain ; whereas , if Chartism had made a feeble resistancepto an armed force , the princip le would have been destroyed . The great , the mighty p reparations made by a strong Government , will prove its terror and your strength ; while your principles—the justice of which no man can deny—are now being extensively discussed by thousands who had never previously heard of them , and tens of thousands who previously mocked them . What they say is , " Is this the dead thing ? Is this the contemptible princi ple , which so '

      affrights the isle from its propriety , ' and compels the peer to handle the policeman ' s bludgeon ? There must be something in this Chartism ; I will inquire and investig ate . " Well , my friends , that ' s all we want—inquiry and investigation , for our principles will stand both ; and even up to this hour ( Thursday ) , I see the fruits of our victory in numerous letters of < x > ngratulation , and nnmerous appeals from the middle classes to be allowed to join . Again , suppose that oar ranks had been brought into collision with an armed force on Monday ; and suppose I had escaped the vengeance ' of tyranny—which is not only doubtful but improbable—how weak and contemptible I should be to-morrow night when I enforced the claims of MILLIONS '

      It was extensively announced on Saturday , Sunday , and Monday , in ^ newspapers and placards , that Feargus O ' Connor had fled , and left his dupes to their fate . But I sat in the centre of the front seat , in the post of danger , and smiled as we passed through the reserve of pensioners , and the body of foot and mounted police . And , my friends , my prudence did not fail me when I saw assembled upon Kennington Common such a sight as the human eye has seldom seen before .

      And now , in order to prove the truth *© £ the estimate that I have formed ^ of the "Press , and opinion , when Chartism is con-• oerned . and when the people are to be counted . I will give you a correct representation of the varying calculation as to our cumbers upon that day . A member of the House of Commons , sitting i' » . the Library , assured me , nith indignant passion , that he was on the Common , and that there were not 4 . 000 people . Sir De Lacy Evans—a military man—asserted , upon the authority of a brother officer—that there were not more than 35 , 000 , Same of the newspapers set us down at 8 . 000 some at 10000 , some at 15 , 000 , some

      , , at 20 . 000 , and one—the Mormag Po » t-s 130 , 000 ; and the Evening Sun—mark , the first paper to g ive the account up on the same day , and not influenced by the Government , the fears of old women , or the speculations ot the Stock Exchange—also states the numbers at 150 , 000—as a matter of course , each assuring its readers that there was a large reserve of the idle , curious , and flanked by companies of boys and children ; but you know the form of the ' ready reckoner" that 1 have published for the solution of such questionsit is , to add the several numbers given by the several papers , make a total of them , double Hand then von will be near the mark .

      , Now I think that experience enables me to make a better guess in such cases than the Penny-a-liner , and my estimate of our numbers on Monday is rather under than over 400 , 000 ; and I tell you how I arrive at a con-

      Ouward, And We Eongner! Backward And We ...

      clusion—I carry in my eye a build ng which will hold a certain number , and I estimate the number of times that the number of persons would fill the building ; and I assert , without fear of contradiction , that the numbers present on Monday would have forty times filled a building capable of holding 10 , 000 . However , be the numbers what they may , the conclusion that you are to Jiawiis , that the Tress , being the mouth-piece of a faction , has an interest in proclaiming your weakness . However , thank G-od , they have been baulked of the delicious repast of counting the slain . So much for the meeting , whose obedience , whose prudence , and whose courage has repaid me for a long life of agitation—of persecution

      —and of suffering . And now to the consi deration of a still more important questionthe question of 7 . •«** - ""**' ^ .

      THE ILLUSTRATED WHIG TREASON ACT . That is the title I have given to the Government gagging Bill in the House of Commons , and as I stated there I repeat here— " It is treason against the Crown , treason against the Constitution , and treason against the People . " It is

      " A BASE , BLOODY , AND BRUTAL B 1 LLV —A Bill which , if passed into law , will assuredly create a revolution in this country—a Bill which the proud minister expected to be law on Tuesday , but which does not yet disgrace the statute book . Men of England , if the power of man can do it , I will scotch the monster until you have the power of proclaiming your horror , and evincing your constitutional opposition , —and its opponents are not few in the House of Commons-Fox of Oldham , Thompson of the Tower Hamlets , Osborne of Middlesex , Crawford of

      Rochdale , and several constitutional lawyers , are in the ranks of the Opposition ; and if . the Irish members , calling themselves liberal , presented a steady front , it never would be the law of the land . The effect of this Bill , if passed , will be to transport every man who speaks his mind " openly and advisedly , " or prints his opinions , if the Government can procure , within three days , a treasonable conspiracy or plot through hired spies and informers in one c ; ise , or if a Jury should come to the conclusion that the object of such speaker or writer was to lead to such an overt act , in the other case .

      Men of England , this comes from the "base , bloody , and brutal Whigs , " whose boast it is , that the constitution is BASED UPON THE BLOOD OF THEIR ANCESTORS , and these are the Reformers for whom your brothers burned and suffered death in 1832 . If this bill is passed , there is an end to the constitution of this country , and whether it passes or not , and however I may be mocked for my presumption and folly , it is my firm resolve to move the impeachment of Ministers for their treason to the Crown and the People .

      For God ' s sake , Englishmen , do not be foolisb , and say that you will not petition against this Bill , when I tell you that , by sodoing , you disarm your friends and arm your enemies . Petition b y day and by night , and send vour petitions to different Libgral members , so that all may be armed with popular power . Humble as I am , you see how my prophecy has been realised , that , from my place in Par

      liament , I would be able to give circulation to your opinions , your principles , and your strength , which I never would be able to do out of the House ; and if by my poor exertions , backed by your confidence , I have been enabled thus to circulate those princi ples , will you not now preserve every channel and ^ valve through which the national strength , is conveyed to a national representative .

      My friends , Monday has been such a triumph as has struck terror to the hearts of the enemy . Do not weaken it by inactivity—do not sully it by folly . And when you hear speakers telling an unarmed people to rush upon danger and to death , tell them that it is my intention to secure a great moral , a great social , and political triumph for all , and that , upon the banquet day , not one of Nature ' s children shall be missed ' from Nature ' s feast .

      Let me exhaust my energy , my means , and perseverance , and your patience and confidence , before you abandon the exalted position y ou now hold . I know how bard it is to offer p lacid counsel to starving men , but I know , if yon use the Easter recess with judgment , the battle , after that period , will commence with an opposition arrayed against the Government , to whose will it must bend and yield .

      There are now materials , ample materials , in the House of Commons , if properly disciplined , to hurl the despotic Minister from power , and to proclaim the National Will . If Young and Old Ireland would surrender their personal jealousies and feelings , and unite , as one man to fight their country ' s cause , and if the Li beral section of English Members would join with them , we have ample materials to fi ght the battle of Freedom in the House of Com .

      mons , and such a course is now about to be adopted . My f riends , as I will not be accountable for any man ' s speaking , or for any man ' s writing , but my own , I now announce to you that again I assume the office of Editor of the- Northern Star , and that , disregarding the mystery of the Press-gang , every word written by myself , shall bear my own signature . This is a safe precaution ; this is the manly course ; so that I will suffer Foit nons , and none shall suffer for me . I shall now confine my agitation to the walls of the House of Commons , as no constitution could bear what I have been in the

      habit of imposing upon mine , and I entertain the vain impression that you do not want to lose me yet . Next week I shall draw your attention to the means by which the present system may be upset , and the present Ministers hurled from office , in one week after Easter . And , having hitherto followed my counsels , and honoured me with your confidence , I am prepared to say , that you have no right to expect

      me to join in your rashness if you refuse to adopt measures which , by a peaceful and resolute demonstration of your will , maybe effected without violence or bloodshed . But , come what will , though death should be my portion , your admirable discipline on Monday has cenvinced me that your cause is worth living for , and worth d ying for . On Saturday next you shall have the developement of my whole plan .

      Ever your faithful Friend and Representative , . Feargus O'Connor

      Jgjaajiwja' -N ¦7p^T'Fflt-'' Tojrnj Wffi...

      JgJaaJiWJa ' -n ¦ 7 P ^ t'fflT- ' ' TOJrnJ Wffiiin iifift ffiwrmSw * ' m w ¦ ¦¦ trfl ^ r-y- -fffifrf ^ mirt ^ ^ - r f ^\ iim ^^ jnl ] rr «""'^ -- " ^^ - " « ' «^ " - '"»™ ' ™^ " nm . _

      And National Grades 5 Journal.. . \R . _...

      AND NATIONAL Grades JOURNAL . . . \ r . _ ^^¦ ^ ¦ ^^^ —• ii ^^ ii ¦ Mnn iMiii aare ihiih iii iii ¦ —

      ^^^Kbi^Fl——^M^W»F ¦ ^¦"^^^¦ W—^^^^^^^ ^™...

      ^^^ KBi ^ fl——^ M ^ w » f ¦ ^¦ " ^^^¦ w—^^^^^^^ ^™;^^^™ ^ : L . - - \ m — nuwm — m-- -- - ^ _ ..., ., ,. „ .. . .. „ . ___ . _ . ~~ VOL-XI . No 547- LONDON , SATURDAY ; AP 1 UL 15 , 1848 . w . J ^ 2 ilE £ SlJi » - ±

      Halifax.—A District Camp Meeting Will Be...

      Halifax . —A district camp meeting will be held on Swilling Top HUI , near Bradahawdane , on Sunday , April 16 . b , at one o'clock inthe afternoon . Delegates from all parts ef tha district are requested to meet in the Association Room , Bradahaw-lane , at eleven o'clock in the forenoon , when business of great importance will be brought before the deleea ea . N . B . —Speakers from Bradford , Keigkley , Halifax , and other places , are expected to address the camp Dueling . A Meeting of the committee for the Frost Demon siration at Westminster Temperance Hall , wiltake place on Wednesday evening , at eight o'eioefc , at the Bee Hire , Castle Lane , Pimlioo , for -asetilement of accounts with Mr Wheeler .

      Sheffield —A magnificent Chartist c \ mp meeting will be held on Attercliffe Common , on Sunday , April 16 th , at two o ' clock in the afternoon . The Chartists of the undermentioned places are re . quested to attend ' . —Sheffield . Attercliffe , R'ther ham , Mn & bro , Darnall , Greasbro , Eclesfieldi Woodhouse . Thorpe , Hekky , andEaadswurih .

      To The English People. Thursday Night. M...

      TO THE ENGLISH PEOPLE . Thursday night . My Friends , I now sit down to put you in possession of what has transpired on this ( Thursday ) evening in the House of Commons , and I cannot do so more simply and plainly , than by giving vou the following : report of the proceed , ings from the "SUM ;" which , though very in . correct , will give you some notion of the tone and temper of . your deliberative assembly .

      When Mr Cripps had closed his insolent and audacious statement , and when I had replied , I left the House , and sent my friend , Mr Jones , there , with the following letter : — Osborne ' s H ) te ! , Adelphi , ;; J V . w ^ Tnursday evening . Sin . —My Yriend , Mr Jones , will hand you this ' ette : —he has my authority for acting on my befcaif . Your obedient servant , Fergus O'Connor . Mr Jones repaired to the House , and sent in his card twice to Mr Cripps , and received as an answer— "That the hon . member could not leave the House ' " It is but justice to Mr Cripps to say , that he was under a pledge not to do so .

      1 am now writing ADVISEDLY and temperately , and I assure you that such a brutal howl was never heard as that with which I was assailed when I rose to defend your petition from its assailants . However , a most dreadful onslaught has been made upon vou , and I had not ONE SINGLE SUPPORTER in the House , but 1 HAVE YOU , - and now for the result . 1 have resolved upon not submittinu ; your Petition , or your claims , to the House on

      Friday ( to-morrow ) , and for this simple reason , because by thu course I best serve your interests . I have been charged with falsehood by a Member ' of the House . I shall be with my Constituents on Easter Monday , and they shall judge between usj and the Aristocracy of this country will learn , meantime , whether constitutional liberty has lost or gained bv the base attempt to insult YOUR REPRESENTATIVE . Englishmen , I now leave MY CREDIT and YOUR CAUSE in vour

      hands . If I have been guilty of falsehood or deception , I am unworthy of yoar confidence ; if I have been insulted as your representative , I have taken the course which honour suggested to defend myself , and the country will acquit me and defend me . 1 have not obeyed the order of the House to attend , because tbe House violated its duty , and so did the Speaker , in tolerating language which , if used to any other member , would have been scouted . Yours faithfully , Feakgus O'Connor .

      Thursday/ , Apsis. 13. House Op Lords. —...

      THURSDAY / , Apsis . 13 . HOUSE OP LORDS . — Is tha Hotua of Peer * yest '; rd » y , the 'Propeny-tar and some other Bills obtained th © royal assent by commission , Inrd RKDESDits moved fur a return of the number of J-iults resident in this country who had registered under the provisions of tbe Act « f 1829 . The Marquis of L & ksdowsb moved ibe second read io £ of the Alien BUI , the provisions of which he ex plained . Af « r remarks from the Earl of Maihssbuht and the Duke of Richmond , tae Bill was read a second time . The Marquis of Linsdowng g : < re notice that be would mova the committal of the Bill on Monday night , and would then mave the suspension of the standing orders , to allow it to past through the remaining tages . Their lordships then adjourned .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Thursday , Aprii . 13 . NATIONAL PETITION . Mr Th 3 Bslky brought up the report of the Corn , mittee on Public Petitions , which stated that upon the 26 th of November last a committee was ap . poioted to report to the house the nurabsr of signa tares attached to all petitions presented to thai house , and chat they had felt it their duty to mako a special report to the house upon the subject of the National Petition , presented on the lOch of April , by the hon . member for Nottingham , signed by aubj ects of the British crown . The committee attached the ' utmaat value ta the rightof petitioning and to the exerciao of that moat impor'ant privilege by the subjects of this realm , and felt deeply the rje ' seaaity

      of preserving the due exercise of such privilege from abuse , and haying also a due reg ird to the impor . tanceof a peMtioa so v * ry numerously signed , had made that petition the subject of their present re « port . They felt bound , in the discharge of their duU , to represent to the houso that with respect to that petition there had been a gross abuse of that privi lege . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . member for Nettingham , upon presenting the petition , had stated that the petition was signed by 5 , 706 000 persons . Upon the most careful examination of the number ol signatures in the committee , with the assistance of thirteen law stationers' clerks , who acted under the superintendence of the various clerka Of the committee * , the number of aumaturos

      attached to the petition doas n < t . in the opinion ol the comm ' ttee , exceed 1 , 975 . 496 . —( Hear . ) It is further found , that a large number oftae signatures were consecutively written by the same hand . It was alsa obserred that a large Dumber of tbe signatures were those of persona who could not be supposed to have concurred in its prayer ; among those weivs the name ol her Majesty , signed Victoria Rex , tbe Duke of WellinetiL , Sir Robert Pee ) , Ac , & a . There was also noticed fc . large number of nsraea which were evidently fictitious , such as ' Pngnnse / ' Longnose , ' 'Flatoose , ' « Punch , ' 'SnookV , F . uM »; and also numerous obscene names , which the committe would not offend the house or it * dignity by repeating , but which evidently belonged to no human baing . fUeaf . hew . )

      Upon tbe motion that the report do lid upon the table , Mr F . O ' Connor said , that it wonld be quite im posj ' lb ' e for any thirteen clerks to count , from the time tlie petition was printed , even 1 , 900 , 000 signatures , and he should therefore move for the appointment of a committee to inqui-e into thesubjeet . There was an old saying , ' that tho ? e who hid knew where to find , ' and be believed that if such abuses did exist , it no doubt was the act ot some of the government spies . —( Oh , oh . ) lie fully believed that the number of signature ) he bad represented the petition to contain was carrect . He would anpl j another test to the petition . The petition was con . tained in four or five large buidles , and it took him . aelf , assisted by four other persons to lift the largest of the bundles . { Oh , oh > _ He did not believe he should have any difficulty in obtaining a pp . tition upon the same subject signed by 15 , 000 , 000 , or double or treble that number .

      MrTflOHSLBY eaid that the petition was treated with all tbe respect which was due to one so numer . ously signed , and if he might take the liberty to apeak of an individual so humb ' e as himself , he would state that there were points referred to in that petition with which he cordially agreed , the vote by ballot , for instance . But the house would profaaWy remember what tho hon . member waa not aware of , that the committee of which ha had the honour to be the chairman , was appointed in the early part of the session , and entrusted to report to tho house the number of Denatures to each and every petition presented . It had been necessary to call in

      additional aid in order to ascertain the number of signa . tures to the petition . He bYlieved that that number had been ascertained with perfect certainty . ( Cheers . ) The hou . member had referred to toe weight of the petition as a proof of the correctness of his statement of the number of signatures to it . That petition had been weighed this mornin ? , and it had been found that the whole v , ( it together weighed oj cwt . The committee wo ? , he trusted , too well known to render any further statements upon the subject neoessarv . They considered that they ware only acting in conform !\ q with theif duty in laying the statement with respect to the petition before the house . ( Cheers . )

      Lord J . Rrjs ' iRLi . said ., that ha cave full and entire credit to the repovt of the committae upon the subjr , ob , andconsi «!< eied that it wm entitlad t \ t thafo . U « t credence- ( llear , hear . ) .... Th ? Bwl of AausDBi , and Seaa ** said , that amor , j tUa many faUohojia that had oaun stated wfr ' n respect to the meeting on Kinainjjton Common ° ' a Monday last , the greatest of . all he Jwlieved W ba-

      Thursday/ , Apsis. 13. House Op Lords. —...

      th ? prochmation that had baeni'sued by the Con rention . stating th it a glorious demonstration had taken place , and that a quarter of a million had as sem bled on Kennington Common . He was not there himself , but hehari been informed by thesa who wer « th it there were not 25 000 persons there . He believed hit that was an overstatement , and that there were no : more than 15 , 000 persons there . ( Hear , hear- ) Now , tro would asfe . vras , it to 69 supposed that the ountry would bo deceived by a set of men suoh as formed the Convention , when they dared to tell th © -- ™ such a falsehood ? In his Opinion , men who wou'd so sot were tbe greatest enemies of > he People , traitors to their country and their Queen , and re & eh to their Gad . ( Hear . ) that the

      Mv MwmicE O'Oj ^ skli . denied Irish Repeaters had taken anv oart in tho demonstration thiit had taken place on Kennington G » mmon , Sir R . II . Ingms believed th * t such . an expoflure as had now been imade ,. -not ,: only ? of . grows ^& gi $ ! r ^ ini \ 6 < £ tb ^^ . of . the " parties sieninsw ^ th'a - " petition " wniid at once co'ivinca the ' Legislature how . little faith it cmld place in eiich a petition . ( H ^ ar , hear . ) It was c \ ear , Jrotn all that had been stated , that the petition of which so much had been said , win not worth the paptr on which it was written . ( Hear . ) Ho thought those who had eo grossly exaggerated their statements with respect to the petition were the areatest enemies of the right of petitioning . ( Hear )

      He should not move any resolution on the subject , but he would submit whether , as a means of ensuring the value of pe iitioos some plana should not be adopted simitar to that which existed some yrara ago , ' of addin ? to the names , the residences and occupation of those signing the petition . ( Criea of ' Hear . 'J lie trusted that the government would state , either tonight or to-morrow , wha ? course they intended to adopt , in order to put a stop to suoh demonstrations as they were threatened with on Monday last —( hear , hear !—in order that they might not occur again , an" ! he hoped alio that ministers would do something for those who had so spontaneously come forward in support of the government and the peace of the ountry .

      M > - Cnippi said , after what had fallen from the honourable gentleman the member for Nottingham , and th < s reflections he had cast on th ? c immifee , he felt it tobe bis duly to get up and confirm what had already been stated by his honourable friend opposite . ( Hear , hear ) > Vh < n the honourable gentleman made the audaci' > m statement that this petition was signed by 5 706 000 persons —( derisive ciieeis)— -he wentfrdm his place to examine the petition atid compare i . with the population returns . ( Hear , hear . ) He wa ? not aware then that it was siened by women , but he bao sine * ascejiiiDCii that out of every 10 000 signatures that were attached to the peition 8 , 200 wero tb > seol womeHi ( C ' aeers arid laughter . ) He did not wish to thrownnbloquyand ridicule upon th » petition itself , but he did wish to ridicule , and cast obloquy anc derision upon the hon- gentleman who had made these monster statements . ( Cheers . ) Mr O'Coshob r-we to order .

      The Speaker said ,, if the hon . gentleman wished to make any explanation upon his personal conduct , he must wait till the hsn . gentleman in possession of the chair had resumed his seat . ( Cheers . ) Mr Cripps proceeded to remark that the statements of the hon . member were unworthy of credence , and he hoped the poor people whom he had so shamefully deladed would now see , in its proper > i"ht , the character of the man they had dealt with . ( tle . sr , hear . ) Were these things to be tolerated while parlies who he could not say were immediately congested with tbe hon . gentleman —( cheers )—hot who availed themselves of the opportunities he placed in their way to ruin honest tradesmen at such places

      a * Cumberwell . ( Loud cheers . ) This petition termed with wickedness and obscenity , and there were words affixed to it that the lowest strumpet in the streets woald be ashamed of . iHear . ) Upon one of the sheets were written the word * we could M paid for no more , ' and had he been aware of the nature ef the signatures that were attached to it , ho would have objected to the petition being received at tho time it was presented . What is it to get 5 , 000 000 petitioners ' names ? They could get any number , definite or indi & iite , if they chose to adopt such a course . He hoped tbe house would not cast such a censure upon the Committee of Petitions as to appoint another Committee to inquire into the subject .

      Mr F . O'Cosmob said : Sir , 1 have three distinct duties to perform—one to the h mse , one to the Petition Committte , and one to myself . To the first . I reply , that it would be impossib ' e for me , or for any other man , to be answerable for every signature to so voluminous a petition ; that I have palmed no falsehood upon the house , nor do I believe the assertions of the hon . member for Cirencester ; to the Committee I r ^ p ly , that I never once charged them with any attempt to practice a deception , but that 1 did state the impossibility of the number of clerks , said to be employed , counting the signatures within the time specified . I have now , sir , without long under tbe it fluence of tbat excitement under which the hon . member laboured , discharged my duty to the house and to the Committee . Mr O'Connor then toft the house .

      Mr Abbl Smith said that he was present on Ken . nington Common en Monday , fiom brat to last , and * he could state most positively that never was there at , any time within the common more than fifteen thousand persons . The whole area of the common could not pr . ssibly contain more than ninety thousand persons ; ytt the honourable member for Nottingbam bad himself stated in the hoase that there was nit lass than half a million persons present . Colonel Sibtkorp said that as it had been said that his name wa * attached to the monstrous petition , he bee ? ed most emphatically to deny that he had ever signed the petition , or consented to have his name placed there . He would not so for have disgraced his family by acting in such a manner .

      MrHtMB thought that the hon , member for Cirencester has taken a vary improper course in theremarks he had made on the subject of the petition . Bethought that the dignity of the home would have been much better preserved If notice had been given of bringing the subject property before the house , fie expressed his deep regret that any honourable member should hare mad * use of ahJ'ibiBj ? like irritating language , lie believed that it was the rule of the house that every honourable member should be responsible tor the petitions which he might present , and that every party who attempted to impose in such a manner up- < n the house ought to be punished- ' -

      Mr It . Yobkb differed from the honourable member for Muntroae . lie thought the cause of truth was under great obligation to the member for Cirencester . ( Hear , hear . ) It was true he hadusedstrong lansjuase , but he thowjht he was justified in doing so , ( Hear , hear . ) Hv had made statements with respect to the honourable member for Nottingham , which he had ot course dented . Lord Castlkrbaoh rose to order ; he thoushtthat assertion ought not to be mad * with respect to the Stilt-nients of honourable memb rs , when hey were not present . There might be many persons who had a different notion of hono . ur to himself in that house , but be should think himself unworthy of a sett in it if ho brought charges and made statements against an hon . member when ho was not present .

      Mr R . YoitiiB said that tha honourable nivmberfor Nottingham ' s absence \ vas his own fault . ( Hear , hear . ) He had asserted , and he wouM assert again , that , tha statement made by the hon . member for Cirencester was correct . ( Hear . ) Mr B . Cochrank wished t » know from the noble lord at the head of the government whether he t ' lou ^ ht , after the discussion that had ta ^ en place that evening , it would be right or just to waste the wbo ! e of the evening to-morrow in discussing the question of the Charier , ( Dear . ) Lard J . Russell observed , that having stated some days a « o that it would be impossible to give Monday up f « r the consideration of the Chartist petition , and having proposed that its c moderation should be proceeded with on Friday , he certainly could not consider himself at liberty to depart from that arrangement . ( H' -ar . )

      Mr C . LiBHiNGTOK observed that the hon . member for Nottingham had stated that he had two points to explain , one of which he had explained there , and the other he said he should explain in another place . ( Heari ) Now , Lis doubt was , whether the hon . member , in his exp ' anation in another place , wr . uU not put a wrong construction upon what had taken p lace in that house that night . MrTJisBABlt thought It would V > e exceedingly rial , culous if they had , as appeared likely to be the case , a more serious meeting In that house than hud tali en

      place . on Kennington Common . ( Hear , heai . ) He thought that If the kon . gsntleniun made a statement grossly incorrect , and calculated to do mtsishief , it wa » the duty of hon . gentlemen to btlng U ncdat tha con-M < leraiion of the bousecslmly and deliberately . ( Hear . ) Tne hon . membo ? for Cirencester wMentltlud to praise tor the ssM he had disp layed in affot ding the houna in . formation upon the aulj-ctof this petition , but still he had indulged in tr fooedmg warm and unusual languaga , and he lUtroforo trusted the Speaker would interpose his authority to prevent the occurrence of unpleasant eve & te . ( Hear , hear . )

      Sir G , 0 » EY would bo sorry , because It would bo ildi . culous , if thii debate lodto a peroontl conflict between the two hon , members , bat really he had beard nothing to lead him t « that sanation , except ic was that the

      Thursday/ , Apsis. 13. House Op Lords. —...

      lion- member for Crenceater had spoken with a good deal of warmth . ( Hear . ) M " . R . Pubieu distinctly heard the hon , member far Nottingham state that there were three things for aim to explain , twd of which he should take notice of there , and the other he sbonld leave for another place . ( Hear . ) lord J . Russell said , under these circumstances he Should move that the hon . member for tfocttagbaia ba ii ) ien into cuitooy forthwith . . foe Speaker in calling' upon the hon . member for Cirencester to giv « him an as-nrnnce that he would not report to ulterior measures in thU matter , took occasion , to point out tho absolute necessity 0 / hon . - members hetng guarded in- the statements they made to the hovwe , pasticclavly bo far ob rolatad to thefr accuracy , ( Hear , hoar . )

      Mr Cbipps would readily give the Tcauired assurance , but . at the saTjo tlraa be begjjeji to be ^ jnOarstopd . that be , wa ^ iin ^ era ir ^ ish ^ bip af ^ tedi . • ^ ' •«' - . :-. >; :,. ^ ^ '> ' -A ^ r ^ f ^ w ^» r . ' iffpJ & 4 or 4 CAS * x . M ^«^« , i % ^ v 2 l $ lr ;| JS &)» c &^^ degree feel surprise ^ at the f . etlngs ' of tbo boa . member , who was a member of the committee , Bat he trusted thttt the hon . msmhvc would at once get up in his place , and TRgmth & tne h && usid language vsuteh had given , offinoe te any hon . member . Mr Cnippj said , that he certainly deeply regretted hav-Injj made use of noy language which mig ht be considered unparliamentary . Tho CnAKCELtoa of the Excheqoeb suggested that some restraint should be put upon the hon . member for Cirtssct'Rtcr , In order to prevent his leaving the house ( n hh present excited state . The motion was then agreed to , that Mr ' F . O'Connor her 0 'ifiMed to attend in bis place forthwith .

      MR , F . O'CONNOR—SEB 7 ING THE ffOTICE . the Sevj < utit-at-A . rn \ 4 advanced to tha table and intU raa'ed thai the order to attend the house had been served on the hon , member for Nottingham ( ilr F . O'Connor . ) The messenger who served the notice was then called to the bar , and in reply to questions , stated that ho served the notica upon tho hon . member personally , at \ be fffios of the NoMHBtts Sim , at twenty minutes before seven o ' c ' ock . Did he make any answer?—He asked me what the constqaencis would be if he dii not attend . I told him I did not know . Tb <» meBBBnger bavioff withdrawn ,

      Sir G . Gbev * ald—I consider it my duty , in consequense of tha statement jun made b y the messenger of the house , to move , in accordance with tbe invariable pricttco of this hous .-, when one of its members has an order served npon him rrqilring bis attendance forthwith , and declines to comply , that Feargaa O'Connor , B-q ., tho member for Nottingham , having boen ordettd to attend forthwith in his place , aud hnvloe neglected do so , he ha taken into the custody of the Sergeant at A . rrafl . MR , FBAftGOS O'CONNOR IK CUSTODY :. The Ssrpeant-at-Arms ( L Td Charles Rasas 1 ) here nppr . iuchod the Speaker , and announced that Feargus O'Coannr . E q , was now in custody . SlrG . Giunr moved that Feargus O'Chnnor , E-q . be discharged out of cu » tody of the Serjeant-at-Arms , in order that he might attend in his place in tbe honao forthwith . The motion was pot ond agreed to , and in a f ? w siconds Mr O'Connor entered the house .

      Th « Speakee , then addressing Mr O C -nnor said—I am sHvea to undo / stand that an expression fell from jou b-fore you left the house this evening , which I , unfor . innately , did not bear , or I should then'have noticed it , which has led the house to suppose that you intended to taka hostile etcps against a member ef this houso in cons ' . quince ot words spoken by him ; and I hope that you will now assure the house that such was not your intention . Daring your absence the hon , member for Cirencester has expressed his regret that any expreesi n sh-uld have ftdlon from him at aitunparliamentary ; but as yon were not hero at the time , I think it only dae to yr , u to call upon the boa . member for Cirencester to re . peat wh at he has said In your presence . ( Hear , bear . )

      Mr Cripps had no hesitation in cotnpljing fit * the r . quest of the Speaker , and acknowledging that he bad spoken with warmth . When he heard tha conduct of th * committee impugned , and the report said to bo capable of contradiction , In ea extraordinary a manner , by tbe Bon . Member for Nottingham , ho bad certainly been curried away by his indignation . If—s » id tbe Hon . Member for Cirencester—if I exceeded , in any respect , ihe line which , as a member of Parliament , I ought to observe , in any thing I said , I deeply regret it , as it is the first time in tbe course of my life that I have been butr-iyid into such a difficulty , or that a slngls word 1 have said has been in any way called into question is to l » s gentlemanly benrini : | He » r , Var . )

      Ma O Connor observed that be had said , before ho left the hous , that he had three duties to perf rm—one towards the h . iuse , one ton arils the committee , aad one towards himself . As re ? arded the house , lie said ho hoped it would not bo believed that ho was a party fr > any attempt at delusion ; as to the committee . , so far from casting any reflection upon it , he had expressly statud . as plainly as a man could speak , that there was no reflection whatever could be cast upon it ; and , without further observation , he then lef . the houce . In that house , in times past , he had witnessed some tcmuestuons scenes , and out of that house ho had led a life likely to lead him into collisions ! with others ; but never in that house had he uttered a word which reflected upon the private personal character of any member- —( cheers *—and if his ch-wicter irere so impugned , he . 'hould not , he considered be

      worthy to hold a seat in th-it house if he did not in some way resent it . Hut now his honour was satisfied , the lion , gentleman having said that , if he had used words unbecoming for one gentleman to use towards another , he regretted it . fie w 18 not capable of Josterinjany resentment , or of allowing an ill feeling ; of any kind to rankle in his breast . ( Ch ' . ers . ) He had n » w to perform a higher duty to himself , and to the persons who haJ signed that petition . After ivliat had taken place that night , he should abandon thcmolion of which ho had given natiee for the morrow . ( 'Doud cries of hear hear . ') He would leave the merits of the petition between'the government aud tha country , and between the gove . nment and those who hap signep it , but he would state one thing fairly , freelo , and frankly , that , however it might be said to be tke duty of a member of that house to scrutinise eveiy potion to be presen . ed , it

      was uelerl y Impossible in nil cases to perform that duty . It would have been morally and physically impossible for him ( dr O'Connor ) to have scon all tbe signatures to tho petition presented on Monday , so as to be answerable ior them to the house , He could not , therefore , possibl y hare averted what had happened . With roiprct to the hon . inomber for Cirencester , ho was glad that he ( Mr O'Connor ) had not been led in a similar manner by the oxcitemsnt 0 / the moment . The hon . member had now performed his duty as a cenileman and as a member of Parliament j and ho would , therefore , cheerfully repeat that the hon . member was in an error . when he supposed that there had been any intention on his < Mr O'Connor ' s ) pai t to east jiny imputation an the committee . ThohoB . member concluded by expressing hi hope that what had occurred would placetvve intercourse t > f hon . members ou a better and more gentlemanly basis . ( Loud cheers . )

      , The conversation respecting this : affair then ceased . The adjourned debate incommlltie , ou the Crowu and Government Security Bill , was fixed for Friday , at twelve o ' clock . Mr Faoam ' s motion for a committee of tho whole house for Tuesday-next , on the subject of ministers money in lr < -lau < l , was , uftor a debute , vejected by & majority of 7 i , the 149 to 73 . After some other business had been gone through tho huuse adjourned .

      Security Of The Crown, A Bill Fob The Be...

      SECURITY OF THE CROWN , A BILL FOB THE BETfER SECURITY OF THE CROWN AKD GOVERNMENT OP THE UNITED KINGDOM . [ Njte , —The words printed In italics ave proposed to bt > inserted in tho Committee , } Whereas by an act of the parliament of Great Britain passed in the thirty-sixth year of the reign ot his late majesty Kin ? George IM , intituled , ' An Act for the Safety and Preservation of his Majesty" ^ Person and Government against treasonable and seditions Practices and AtteropAs , ' it was among other things enacted , ' That if aay person or persons whatsoever , after the day of the pasttinz of that act , during the natural life of bis . . said Majesty ,, and un'il tbe end of the next se .-sion of Parliament after the deraise of the Crown , should , within the realm or without , compass , imagine , invent , deviseor

      in-^ tend 3 eath o ? destruction , «? any b . > dily harta tendinsf to death or destruction , ,, Baaim or woundiag , imprisonment or restraint ot the person ofi his said Majesty , bis heira or successors , or to deprive or depose him or them from tl »& style , honour , or kingly name of the Imperial Cw , * rn of tbia realcs , or otnny other of hia said Majesty ' s dominions arcountriea , or to levy war against his said Majesty ^ his heira a & d successors , within this realm , in ord & r by force or constraint fo compel b , im or tbem to . change his or their measures or councils , or in order to put any force or constraint upon , or to intimidate or bverawe b & th houses or either House of Parliament , or to mora or stir any foreigner or stranger with force to invade this rralm or any other of bis said Majesty ' s dominions or countries under the obeisance of his said Majesty , his heirs and successors , and SUck cosnpaaaSngs , imaginations , inventions , devices , or intentions or anv of tbem should

      express , ' utter or declare , by publishing any printing or wrjting , or by ary overt art or deed , being legally convicted thereof , upon the oaths of two lawful and credible witr . es c & noon trial or other . wise convicted or attained by due cours ¦; of Jaw , thon every such person or persons so ns afon said offending Bhonld be deemed , declared , and adjudged to be a traitor and traitors , and should suffer pains of death , and also lose and forfeit as in cases of high treason . And whereas by an A . « st of Parliament past m the 57 'hycar t / ftbe same reign , intituled , 'An not to make perpetual certain parts of an act of the 36 h y « ar « f hia present Majesty' 9 person and Eovesusu ;

      Against Treasonable And Seditious Practi...

      against treasonable and seditious practices sad attempts , and for the safety and presarvation ef the > puraoB of bis Rojal Ilfghseaa ' tbe Prince Regent against treasonable practices and atterapte / all th « hereinbeforerecited prnvir-ierisof the said act of the 36 th year oihia said Majesty ' s reign which relate to ( 7 \ the heira ' and successors of his said Majesty , the > X sovereign of these realms , were made perpetual . V And whereia doubts are entertained whether tbg ^ provisions so-made perpetual were by the last-re- \^ cited act extended to Ireland . \ And whereas it is ex pedient to repeal all such pro- v ^ visions made perpetual by thelast-reoited act , as do ^ i not relate-to offences against the person of theseve- \ s reign , and to enaofc other provisions instead thereof , M applicab ' e to . all parts of the United kingdom , and ^ to extend to Ireland such of the-provisions of the sai

      acts as are not hereby repealed . Be it therefore enacted , by the Queen ' s 511095 . \ Excellent Majesty , ' . by and with the advice and con- ^ v , sent of tbe Lords spiritual and temporal , and Com- ^ N ; mons , in this present parliament assembled , and by " \ the authority of the same , that from snd after tbe > passing of this act , tho provisions of tbe said act of k ] the 36 ih year of the reign of Kine George 111 ., mads i perpetual by the said act of the 57 chyear of the same * I reign , save such of the same as relate to the com- r passing , imaginlne , inventing , devising , or intending V death or destruction , or any bodily barm tending to- r \ death or destruction , maim er wounding , imprison- K menfc or restraint , of the person of tho heira and ^ v succes-orsof hisaaid Majesty King George III ., and \ S the expressdaz , uttering , or declaring of such com- \^ passings , imaginations , inventions , devices , or

      intentions , or any of them , shall be and the same are herebyrepealed . ' ¦ . . ' :-:.-Aa 4 ^^<@ o ^^ tot < irsiqrv :, 7 Qraon or persons ^^ f ?^ sftgp % d # of ^^ fjja & OTg ; . of fcbia acS ^^ I ^^ Jg ^ S ^ | r ^^^® ri # S ^^ MBa ^ ftVcd » pftas ; iioiUBiiinjeb mveht £ devis <» » ' oV intend to deprive or depose our most gracious Jady the Queen , her heirs and eacefS * Bow , fmm the style , honour , or fbyal name ofthe Itnperial Crown of this realm , or of any other of her Majesty ' s dominions and countries , or to levy war against her Majesty , her h * irs and successors , within any part of the United Kingdom , in order by force or constraint to compel ber or tbt-m to change her oif their measures or counse ' s , or in order to put any force Or constraint upon , or to intimidate or overawe

      beth houses , or either house of Parliament , or tomove or stir any foreigner or stranger with force to > invadethe United Kingdom , orany otberher Majesty ' s dominions or countries under the obeisance of her Majesty , her heirs and successors , and such cornpassings , imaginations , invention ? , devices or mtentvor . 8 , or any of them , shall express , uttf r , or declare , by publishing any printing or writing , or by open and adviiod speaking , or by any ov « rc act or deed , shall be r'eemed guilty of felony , and every person so offending , being convicted thereof shall be liable , at the discretion of the court , to be transported beyond the seas for the term of his or her natural life , or for any term tint leas than seven y « arg .

      And be it provided and exacted , That nnthinjj herein contained shall lessen the force of , or in any manner nffect anything enacted by the statute passtd in thp 25 h vearot King Edward the Third , intituled « A Declaration which OffVnces shall he adjudged Treason . ' Provided also , and be it enacted , That if tbe facts or matters alleged in an indictment for any felony nnder thi- » act shall amount in law to treason , sucl * indictment shall not by reason thereof be deersed void , erroneous , or defective , and if the facts or matters proved on the trial ol any person indicted foe felony nnder tb s act shall amount , in law to treisnn , such person shall not by reason thereof be entitled to be acquitted of such felony ; but no person tried rot such teiony shall bo afterwards prosecuted for treasoa upon tbe same facts .

      And be it enacted , That in the ca ? e of every felony punishable under this act , every principal in the second degree , and every accessory before the fact , sball be punishable in tbe same manner as the principal itt the first degree is by this act punishable ; and every accessory after the fact to any ouch felony , shall on conviction be liabls t <> be impris >» ed , with or without hard labonr , for any term not exceeding two * years . Andoaitsnaofed , Thatlhisaofc may be repealed or amended during tho present a & jsion of P arliament »

      Route Of The Missionaries Appointed To A...

      ROUTE OF THE MISSIONARIES APPOINTED TO AGITATE THE KINGDOM PREVIOUS TO TH & MEETING OF THE " NATIONAL ASSEMBLY . " MRTATTERSALL . Sunday , Manchester ; Monday , Bury- Wed * nesday , Rochdale ; Thursday , Burnley ; Friday Blackburn .

      MR 8 HAW . Sunday , Leeds ; Monday , Bradford ; Wednesday , Barnsley ; Thursday , Wakefield ; Friday , Skivcoat Moor , near Halifax . MESSRS EDMUND JOiNES AND SMITH . Sunday , Birmingham ; Monday , Bristol % Tuesday , Merthyr ; Wednesday , Swansea ; . Friday , Liverpool . MESSRS WILD AND' BOLWELL . Mondajv Cheltenham ; . Tuesday Bath ; Wednesday , Exeter ; Thursday , Plymouth ; Friday , Totness .

      MESSRS DONOVAN AND DIXON . Monday , Norwich ; Tuesday , Ipswich ; Wed * nesday , Bury ; Thursday , Colchester ; Friday , Braintree . MESSRS "WEST AND LINNEY . Sunday , Stockport , Mr West ; Sunday , Bilston , Mr Linney ; Monday , Macclesfield ; Tuesday , Northampton ; Wednesday , Leicester ; Thursday , Nottingham ; Friday , Birmingham . ERNEST JONES , DR ilUNTER , JAMES ADA . MS .-Monday , Aberdeen ; Tuesday , Dundee ; Wednesday , Edinburgh ; Thursday , Glasgow f Friday , Paisley ; Saturday , Greenock .

      MESSRS MARSDEN AND BUCIiBY , Monday , Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Tuesday , South Shields ; Wednesday , North Shields f Thursday , Sunderland ; Friday , Newcastleupon-Tyne .

      Election Of Delegates To The National As...

      ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY . The following are the places ai which elections are to take place for Members of the * National Assembly . Particulars . ' will he for * warded to each of the Secretaries , in the places named , as to the mode ol ? election , and the extent of the District for which each of the places above named is to b & the place of election . ENGLAND . 5 To . of Cauiitieo . Ddleitatea . Flaaea of Bltction , Berks 1—Reading . Obe > hire 3—stockuort ,. Macclesfield , Hyde * Derbyshire 1—D ^ rby . Cornwall 1—Truro . Cumberland 1—Carlisle Devon 3—Exeter , Toiness , Plymouth . Durham 3—Durham . North and Senttt Shields * Subderland , and Bishopflwearmoutb . Essex I—Colehtsrer . Gloueestee 2—Gloucester ; Cheltenham . Kent 2— Maiditono , Brighton . Lancaster 12—Manchester , 2 . Silf ' ord I ; Ashton , I ; ltouhdale . 1 ; Warring * ton * 1 ; Preston , 1 ; Bolton , 1 j Busy , 1 ; Blackburn , 1 ; Liverpool , 2 . lincola 1—Uo « iacastlo . Leicester 2—Leicester . Middleasx 8-Lnadon , . Monmouth l—Ne * port . Nort ' alk l—Lji-. n . Northampton 2—Nuruiampton , Peterborough-Ntijfclmmuerlsnd 1—NewcaAtle-upf-n-Tvue . Nottingham S—Nottingham , a ; Mansfield , 1-, Ox ' ord 2-Oxford , Banbury . Southampton 3-IsIe of Wight , Southamptt a * Portsmouth . Staffed 3-lhnley , 2 ; Dudley . Suffdk 1—Ipswich . , „ . . Warwick 4-Coventry . 1 ; Warwick , 1 ; BietninHUHn ., 2 . Westmoreland 1-KendaJ . . Wilts a-Deviz . 'S , Swindon . Worcester 3—Worcester , Kidderminster St urbridge , Sorlislusa IO—Lecds 3 ; Sheffield , 2 ; Bradford , 1 ; Halifax , 1 ; Hull , I ; lluddsrsfield , 1 ; Kughley , 1 ; Barnsley , 1 . MeplhyrTjdTil 1—

      SCOTLAND . ' Edinburgh and Leith , 2 . Aberdean , 1 . Arbroath , Forfar . Montrose , fo \> 1 . Dunfermline—F . f «« liv < e , 1 . Dandc * , Cupar At-gus , dio , 1 . Falkirk , Stirliag , Tillicouitvyj A ^ a , &• :,, 1 . Glasgow , 2 . Paisley , 1 , Greenock , ! . - ; -J •!' Du «] frifg and Surrounding Towrs , X . * ftr & . Grieff , an £ Aurhtertirder , X . : £ . „ IRELA 2 W- & - ~

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 15, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_15041848/page/1/