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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th August 1842, Edition 1 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      HOUSE OF LOKDS-Friday , July 29 . Tie Earl of Radxob . presented & petition from Dmfermiine in favour of a total repeal of the Com Lairs , Tee Kobls Earl said , in order to show his support ol the prsyar of the petition , lie besed leave to lay on the table of ifee Sense a BDl for the repeal of the duties on the importation of Corn , 'which he moved should be lead s first time and printed , and read a second time on Thursday . —Agreed to . 33 he Marquis of Clanbicabde moved that the order of "the day for the second reading of the SadbaryDisfntDchisf \ atnt Bill , and the hearing of Witnesses at the Bar , be discharged , inasmuch as , after a careful consideration of the whole matter , he -was persuaded that their Lordships would not be able to discuss the Bill duruis the present session . .

      After afew ¦ wordsfrom Lord BROUGHAM , the motion Was szreed to . . ' . - The report of spveral bills were then received , after Which their Lordships adjourned .

      Saturday , July 30 . Their Lordships met to day at twelve o ' clock . S ~ Y < rri ! bills were brought up from the Commons , and read a Bret time . . . ' Tke private bills on the table were forwarded a stage , and their Lordships adjourned until Monday . Monday ^ Aug . 1 . The Honse met at the usual hour and advanced the several Bills btfore them a stage in their progress .

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      HOUSE OF COMiiONS , Friday , July 29 . Mr . T . s . Dto combe presented a petition from I > z . M'BeGsiU and certain inhabitants of Daptford , complaining of the interference of the constabulary with the public meeting there ,- and gave notice that , on Monday , he should move that the petition of Dr H'DjesU and the inhabitants of Deptford be leferred to a select committee , with directions to report- the eviaenoe to tba House . On th = crder of the day being read for going into coHimitt ^ e of supply ,

      Mr . Bittt rose and brought forward the following m&Uon , of whica he had given notice : — "That an humble address be presented to her Majesty , praying that her Majesty will be pleased to give arrtetions that ttiere be laid before this Hcase an estimate of ~ the amount of money whieh will be required to satisfy the award siaae by the commissioners to whom it was referred tc < x&inine and adjodieate the claims of certain BrirLsh subjects , for losses sustained by the confiscation of thsir ships and cargoes by the Government of Denmark in the year 1 S 07 " Afttj some observations oa the subject , the Hon . il « ubtr siid at this pferiou of the session ha would not press his inaiion . and The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the subject wor-ld not be lost sight of , but every attention paid to ii fcy arr ^ siesty ' s Government

      Aiier m me observations from Mr . Williams , the Ht use trent into commitiee of supply , Mr . Greece in the chair . The &Tii vote was , £ " 0 . 000 tor civil cantteges&es . - 2 dr . "Williams strongly objected to sorns of the items included in t&isvote . Afiar a few words from Colonel SlBTHOUP and M ~ . P . JiiCLE . Mr . Hi jie , in reference to some remarks from CoL Sibtharpts , dilated upon the extravagance of the &overcm : ent respecting their allowances to ambassadors in foreign courts , and the £ 6 , 000 to thB Governor of North America . Sir G . ClaBke said that the £ 6 . 000 was caused by the late Lord Sydenham during the two years he was in office . Tie arrangements for the residing Governor-GsEerai T ^ -re based on a more economic footing . jdtet a ft-w werds from Mr . Ewart ,

      Lord P ^ lhekstos , in a long speech , defended the apjiokituifct of the diplomatic arrangements at the minor courts of Europe ; he was , however , very willing to abolish ai . y that were found to be useless . He had greatly reduced the salaries when be was in office , and they were quite as low as those of France , Prussia , and other countries . There was no government in the world " w hlch was better governed in this respect than ours . Dr . Bo wars g regretted that the ambassador at Conoccnticople was obliged to employ dragomans in communication with the Porte ; our diplomatis relations -were not on a proper footing there ; fur persons ought to be attached to the embassy capable of holding converse with the TurkB . _ Afi ; r a ihort conversation between Sir B . Peel and Dr . BoTST . VBZ .

      Lord pAiMEHSTOjf scid he had suggested to the " Universities the propriety of educating some youthH in orientd literature . In reply "to a question from Sir C . Napier , relative to the Spanish and Portuguese claimants , Sir Hubert Psel said they were in progress of BetBemellt . - . Captain PrcaBiDGE condemned the extravagance of some- if the items . A lon ^ desulto ry conversation took place between ssveraf Hon . Members , when the vote for ^ £ 70 , 000 was nltiniittly c&raad . Upon a grant of £ 10 , 000 for educational purposes being proposed , Dr . Bowring and Mr . Hume supported it-After some sbservationa from Mr . Cowpee and Mr . HOTTAilD .

      Sir . O Cosxell rose . He complained of the nsjust exclusion of Catholics from schools ; a great portion of the children of the Irish in this country were Catholics , whose parents had emigrated ; they were Very poor , and stood in need of gratuitous education . He adverted to the sdnuT-jble system which existed in New York , which put hli Ctirisnans upon an equal footing . He objected to the p \ i 3 . t because he thought it proper that the Catholic child should be educated in the principles of his own religion . Ti-te a £ Tr * d to . £ bi > : i 3-j Ui ihe payment of bills in South Australia Was then proposed . Mx . Jin as , objected t » this grant , on the ground of its fcxtri-vagasce , and the absence cf all information respiting it . The money would be better bestowed if it had been applied to the relief of the starving mannlaetorer . He hoped the House "would not agree to this vote .

      The Cha . ncellos of the Exchequer defended the grant on the ground that it was necessary to protect the migraBts . Mr . B . VTood condemned , and Lord Siaxlet defended the vote . Sir . Hv « £ thought that converting the loan into a gift was aa inenccment : the sum should be charged npon the ha » i of the colony . Mr . W iB . D would remind the Hon , Gentleman who spoke last that the land -wtrald be of little -worth if it were encumbered in this manner . No one -would iray in suca a case . Government would not be able to supply the r-quisite quantity of labourers , who were sent out to the colony , and for which the sales of lands paid , if these lands were in such a manner encumbered . The sura of £ 59 , 936 was then voted , after a division of 73 to 13 .

      On the Tote for tae army , navy , and ordnance service for Ctina being put , a very animated and amusing discussion took place between Mr . Htjhb and Sir C . N . &PiEfi . relative to promotions in the mry . The former objected to the number of officers in the navy ; "We had four thousand whea oae thousand -would be sufficient , the mass of them 'wera pensioneM . Whtn there were m many old officers who were doing nothing in the service , he did not thinV that young ones should be continually pushed on .

      S : r C . N a ? 1 eb could see no other way of getting rid of the old pensioners but by introducing some prussic acid amocg them . The gallant Commodore then allnded to Bc-ms ut 2 > ir . Home ' s nonsensical calls for reports , which rather ruffled Mr . Hum 9 , who , to the infinite amusement of ths House , read nonsensical to mean foolish ; f tos which , in true Dogberry style , he said the House mast " write ma down an ass . " Hoars of lauehrer f ^ Jowei the Hon . Member ' s rather touching epeech . The other estimates were then voted .

      The C 3 AT 3 . M . L 5 reported progress , and the House resumed . .- .,-Mr . Sharmak Crawfobd rose to move , in pursuance of i petkion from a large number of electors , and inhabitar-ts of the town of Nottingham , that a new ¦ writ be issued for that borough . The Hon . Gentleman said that rfc ^ people of the borough of Nottingham had comp ' iair-ed of their grievances , and he had been reguested £ - ¦> niOTe for a new writ for the borough . In a very argumentative speech , the Hon . Member contended for the expediency of providing remedial measures and uct for disfranchising the borough . Dr . Bg \ yri > -g seconded the motion . llr . Hl : me expressed his regret that at this advanced part of the Session nothing had been done to remedy the evil complained ot

      Sir B Peel said he had assented to the suspension of the writ in ths first instance , in order that inquiry might be made as to how the committee had brought in their report . It would be unconstitutional , therefore , to suspend the writs , for any definite time . B . t hoped s-me clauses would be introduced into thj Bribery BUI to effect this object He believed that . ii the Hqn . Gentleman had the power he would be a greal tjant . / Mr . HtrjtE replied . Sir 5 . Feel said thB Hon . Gentleman had accused lam of being the originator of all sorts of abominations Mr . Ht'ME reiterated his assertions . Mr . Ward said the Right Hon . Baronet , en Thursday night , had considered it expedient that the Bribeij Bni should have the support of the House of Commons and thty v ? ould stultify themselves if it did not pass It -would ka-re a Tery salutary effect ; for it would strife Si the root of the eviL He supported the motien .

      I * rd Pax jiebstox aid he had hoped that the writ Would not have been issued until the Bribery it Elections Bin had passed into law . The wrii was then issued . On the motion that the report of the Canada Loan Bill be'lttonght npv , Hr . Hi W £ 8 complained of the want of information mpeotin&ifc .

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      The chancellor of the ExcHEquEH Baid , the bill wis adopted in consequence of a pledge given by the government to the Canadians . After a few words from Mr . French the report was received . "' . ¦ ' .. On the question that the House agree to the resolution , ¦¦ _ .. Mr . hitob expressed his objections to the grant ; and Bald he should divide the House upon it The House then divided— For the resolutions , 89 ; against them , 8 : bidjority , 80 . The orders of the day were then disposed of , and the Hense adjourned at one o ' clock .

      Saturday , July 30 . The Speakee took the chair at twelve o'clock . The report of the committee of Supply was brought up , and the different votes agreed to . The St A&iph and JBangor Preferments Bill was read a third time . The report on the Lunacy 33 U 1 was received . The Militia Supply Bill went through commmittse . The order of the day being moved for going into Committe on the Newfoundland Bill , Mr . O'CoDEel ! xose to move the following amendment : that the committee be postponed for three months , to enable a communication to be had from the parties interested . His sole object in postponing the measure was to have an opportunity of enquiring more minutely

      into the state ef that colony , and the grievances of which they justly complained . The constitution of that colony had been annihilated , sot because the inhabitants had been guilty of a breach of the peace , but solely because the majority of them were of the Roman Catholic faith ! ( No , no ! from the Chancellor of the Exchequer . ) He wished for a postponement , in order to enabie the Honse to investigate the whole subject This bill would have the injurious effect of abolishing thBtwohouses of legiBiaXTxre in feat island ; and this ¦ was , no doubt , the intention of the Noble Lord . A deserving and loyal portion of her Majesty ' s subjects ought not to be oppressed . The Hon . Member , in a long and eloquent speech , contended that the constitution of Newfoundland had worked well , and that the bill cusbt not to be pass » d .

      Lord Stanley opposed the motion of the Hon . and Learned Member , principally npon the ground of expediency ! The Noble Lord ' s speech throughout afforded a good illustration of the old Tory rule— " to make the worse appear the better reason l " After some , discussion the motion -was negatived , and the Htiuse adjourned .

      Monday , Aug . 1 . The House met at the usual hour . New writs for Southampton and Belfast were ordered to be issued .

      - THE LATE DISTURBANCE AT DEPTFORD . Mr . T . Du > COMBE said , that in pursuance cf the arrangement of tbe B ' ght Hon . Barontt , the Home Secretary , hs begged now to call the attention of the House to the two petitions he presented on Thursday last , containing a very serious and grave complaint that the liberty of the subject and the rights of the people of this country had been violated at D .-ptford on ¦ Tuesday last , and he thought he could show that the police of this Metropolis , sanctioned by the magistrates had violated the law , and that the doctrine laid down by the Bight Hon . Qantlemau with respect to the power of constables to prevent public meetings waa contrary to the law of this country , He thought he could aiso prove that , in asking the Hause to agree to this motion

      * to refer those petitions to a select committee of this House , he ha-i suffijient precedent for such a proceed-. ine . The following waa ths account giveu by Dr . ¦ M-Djuall in his pension : — ?• That he was invited by : ¦ several householders of the tonn of Deptford to attend t s public meeting on th » evening of Tuesday , the 26 th ; day of July , 1 S 42 , for the purpose of taking into con-• sideration the existing distress of the country ; that he ; complied with the invitation , and on arriving at the j place of meeting , in a chapel in the High-street , asceri tained that the meeting "v&s not constituted ; that he i received information that public discussion was invited j-and hia presence required ; that on reaching the chapel-I door considerable confusion prevailed ; that he entered , ; and on proceeding to the platform requested leave to

      ; . speak , promising to us « his icflaeace , as a public man , i to quell the commotion ; that be snccee ; led in doing so , ¦ and finally ltft the meeting-h * ms = in company with ! several of the gentlemen on the platform , and under i -the impression that an adjournment was carried ; that ; finding the peopla assembled within a space in the i Broadway , marked out by snnk pjsts , separating it i from private property and thepuv > lic way , he inquired ; whether meetings had been held there , or if it was ' public property or used as a market-place ; and on being answered in the tffirmative , he then , on being , invited , proceeded to address the assembly . Your . petitioner urged -npon the people tbe importance of allowing all parties- in or out of doors , a fair opportu-; nity of expressing their sentiments . He demanded ' a

      I hearing for an archbishop or a chimn 3 y-sweep , ' ' a ; landlord or a labonrer , ' ' a shopkeeper or a scavenger . ' ! He explained that he came there from no factious no-: tives ; that he was as much opposed to aristo ! cratic government as the Corn Law Conference ; that he was an enemy to monopoly , and considered j ' the corn laws to be one of tbe many gigantic : evils which oppressed the' poor ;• and after : having advised legal and p ^ acefnl agititation , he was ' about to explain the principles of the People ' s ! Charter , when Superintendent Mallnlieu and a party of I police rushed into the meeting , and up to the plsce j where he stood , and that tfce superintendent cora-¦ manded your petitioner ' to come down or be knocked | down . ' That he demanded the authority of the Bnper' intendenl ; and received for answer that , he acted on

      ' his own rejponsibiity . He then requested leave to I di £ &ers 6 the multitude , and this he was tbe more | likely to do as he was under the recognisance in 4500 ., ; for something that had occurred elsewhere . Dr . M'Djuall wished to slo home , bns the po . iceman wouid not allow him to go in . tbe direction of his house , and he was immediately arrested . The persons about re-. monstr&ted -with the po'ricenrsn ; and he was then carried off to tha police office . Good bail -was offered , but refused ; and , when his friends said they would take him some distance from the town , so as to prevent any disturbance , the inspector said that , if they would lay -down £ 1 , 000 , he would not accept it as bail . Nothing would satisfy the inspector but that this political offender , as he called him , Bbouid be retained in the

      Station honse , and there -was he locked up , and left to remain all night and until eleven o ' clock on Wednesday , in a small cell , having an offensive privy in it and unglazed window and crawling vermin . No common felon , no miscreant could be worse treated than was this individual for merely attending a meeting legally constituted . The nfcxt day he was taken up before a magistrate ; but , in the meantime , he had a ^ ked for means of communicating with his friends . -That was refusod him , except in the pesence of the police . He could not prepare evidence without allowing his witnesses and line of evidence to be known to the police witnesses against him , and under that heavy disadvantage -waa he hurried into Court . He asked what was the charge against him ? On the police sheet it was

      entered thus : — " For attending an unlawful meeting , and using seditious language ; " but the . magistrate ! called npon him to give bail , himself in £ 50 , and two | sureties in £ 25 , for having created a distuibance in the ; chapel—nothing about an unlawful meeting or using j seditious language . Dr . M'Douall said he had summoned ¦ some respectable persons living atDsptford to show that \ there was no riot , but the magistrate , Mr . Jeremy , said i he might call 2 , 000 persons if he pleased , but that I would not influence him ( Mr . Jeremy . ) He then asked ! tbe inspector for a copy of the charge , but that being | T * fuEed , he appealed to the magistrate , and the magis-! ttale said ke EboaJd have it , but on repeat ! ig biB ap-| plication to the policeman Mallali « n , tbe answer was , , " I Bhail not eive it you . " On tbe next day about

      4 , 000 of the inhabitants of Deptford assembled and got up the other petition which he presented last Thursday , complaining that the constitution had been violated by the police at the time in question . He ( Mr . Dnncombe } maintained that since the days of Castlereagh and the passing of the S : x Acts there had never been so flagrant a violation of the liberties of the subject as this proceeding at Deptfoad . He then referred to the opinion of Mr . Justice Bayley in the case of Hunt at tbe York ass zes , in which he quoted Mr . Serjeant Hawkins to show that unless there was reason to believe that a meeting -would give rise to a breach of tbe peace it was not an illegal meeting . He wished to know if there was anything illegal in the inhabitants of Deptford meeting to discuss their

      grievances ? The Right Hon . Baronet would find some difficulty in establishing that the meeting in question was of an illegal character . He would ask what was the use of the Six Acts , which were brought forward for the purpose of putting down the seditions meetings , of isi 9 and 1820 ? if the constables had this power , what was the use of the Seditious Meeting Bill , which was opposed by the Right Hon . Baronet opposite ? The meeting was legal and peaseable . Was it right that any policeman and constable skould have the power of going to a meeting and be competent to decide whether the language used by the speakers was or was not seditious ? Was it right that constables should be allowed to declare that they -would be snpported in the exercise of their authority by the magistrates and by the

      Secretary for the Home department ? Were the people thus to be exposed to the caprice of any constable who might think proper to interfere with the progress ot a publio meeting ? He had it in his power to show that there were precedents for the inqoiry he asked for . He could not suppose that the Government weuld refuse its sanction to so reasonable an inquiry . Oa the 11 th of Julyi 1833 , a meeting took place in Coldb&th-fieldB . A public intimation was made that tbe meeting could not take place—that it waa illegal ; a notice waa given that any person who attended the meeting did so at his peril Notwithstanding these public intimations the

      meeting took place . The police interfered , confusion ensued , and several lives were lost . It was said that the disturbance was altogether attributable to the unjust interference of the police force . When tibia subject was brought before the notice of the house , what did Lord Althorp say ? Teat Noble Lord himself moved for a committee to inquire into the conduct of the police on that occasion . The Right Hon . Baronet opposite ( Sir J . Graham ) was a member of the then Government , and consented to the inquiry , and the only Hon . Member of ths House who demurred to the committee was the member for Kent . What did Lord Althorp say is reply to the Right Hon . Baronet the

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      member for K * nt ? The Noble X , otd . Bald that Blnce the formation ot the police force their conduct bad been most praiseworthy ; but that everybody under the control of the Government ought to be closely watched ; and that it was necessary , in order to « atisfy the publio , to grant a committee of inquiry . On anotii * occasion Mr . Cobbett moved far two committees Of ttt ^ fiOase tO inquire into the conduct ef the police , who &H ' -been employed aa they had recently been employed in Ireland , as spies . These motions were carried , and that too daring the existence of a Whig admtatetr&tion . . He thought that the petitioners had great reason to complain of the

      conduct of the police . Their complaint had been made in moat respectful language . That complaint could be substantiated by the evidence of a number of respectable inhabitants of Deptford . They were willing to come forward to prove that the police acted in a most disgraceful manner , and that the demeanour of those who attended that meeting was most peaceable . He did not think tha tithe law could support the police in such unjust exercise of authority . He hoped that he had made out a prima fade case for a committee of inquiry . He begged to move that the petition which he presented to the Honse on Thursday last be referred to a select cominittee of the House .

      The motion having been seconded and put from tbe chair , _ Sir J . Gkaham expressed his regret that he felt it his duty to detain the House by resisting the motion of the Honourable Member for Finsbury . In the first place , he would direct the attention of the House to some facts which h » d been made known by Mr . Jeremy the magistrate . The most important fact which could be brought under the consideration of the House , and one upon which tbe whole of the question rested , was that which related to the character of the meeting at which this disturbance took place . The Honourable Member for Finsbury had termed it a peaceable meeting . He ( Sir J . Graham ) would state the faota of the ease . The metting , which had taken place in the open air , was

      only a condnuar . ee of that which had baen held in the chapel . The meeting was called for the purpose of healing & lecture , which was to be delivered by one of the Anti-Corn-Law delegates . The trustees and the clergyman had invited Mr . Thompson to deliver a lecture on the subject of the Corn Laws . It waB an unfortunate circumstance that the chapel should have bean Bekcted for that purpose , but he did not lay any particular stress on that fact . Directly the meeting waa convened a large influx of people took place , and the meeting , wkich was originally for the purpose of discussing the operation cf the Corn Laws , became very different In its character . A . large number Of strangers , Chartists , rushed Into the chapel . The greatest confusion immediately ensued . A rnsb . was made by the Chartists towards tbe platform , where the trustees and the cler&yman of the chapel were situated , and it was proposed that the chairman should give way and a labouring man be nominated in his place to

      preside over the meeting . The confusion was Increased when tbe attempt was made to displace the chairman . Dr . MDmall took part with ttie Chartists . The tun ; ult whfch followed baffled all description . Women fainted . One of the trust * es made his escape , and brought in the assistance of the police . When they made their sppcarance . a shout was made by the rival party to attack ths police , and in order to excite astrong feeling against that body , allusions were madeto a disturbance which had taken place in Kentish-town , when a severe straggle took placb between the populace and the police , and wbich terminated in the loss of human life . At this a severe struggle ensued , and the chapel was cleared . When Dr . Al'Douuil feund tbat it was the intention of thb trustees and the police to have the chapel cleared , he declared that it was his intention to hold the meeting in tbe open air . Upon this announcement being made , multitudes followed him in a state of great excitement . Dx . M'DoimII then addressed the multitude . The

      greatest alarm-was txcited in the neighbourhood . A great crowd of persoDS occupied the whole of the turnpike-road , causing a complete obstruction of the highway . At this time evening advanced , and the meeting became more tumultuous . The language of Dr . M'Douall was exceedingly violent . The superintendent of the police suggested that the meeting should disperse , and recommended Dr , M'DouaU to addreBS the meeting to that effect . He refused to do so * The superintendent of the police said , that if Dr . M'Douall would disperse the meeting , be ( the superintendent ) won Id procure him a safe passage through the crowd . He

      refused compliance , and it was not until then that the police attempted to arrest him . When this was effected , a violent attempt % va * made to capture him from the pcl ' ce . Blows were exchanged , other Individuals were arrested , and Dr . M'Douall was carried to the stationhouso . It was tiue , as stated by the Hon . Member for Finsbary , that the friends ef Dr . M'Douall offered bail with the view of obtaining his release . With respect to the compliant wbich had been made of the situation in which Dr . M'Douall had been placed at the stationhouse , be ( Sit J . Grralmmi was able to state , that an offer wiis made to Dr . M'DouaU to obtain additienal accommodation for him . but their offers he declined . Now

      with regard to tbe eximication before the magistrate . The Hon . Member for JFinabury had said that no one but tbe police were ex imined . Mr . T . Dvncoube—I Baid that no Inhabitants of D- 'ptford were examined . ¦ Sir J . Graham , in continuation , said , that ho would read the substance of the charge as made before the mispfitmt « -with reference to the part which Dr . JIDouiili had taken in the transaction . The Doctor was charged with having caused a number of persons to assemble , and with addressing to theni exciting language calculated to disturb the publio peace . The Hon . Member for Finsbury said , that the testimony of the police was not to be relied upon . The right Hoa . Baronet referred to the evidence of the police , which clearly

      established the violeut character of the crowd . As the Hon . Member for Fiusbury had stated that the evidence ought col to be taken , he ( Sir J . Graham ) would direct the attention of the House ta the evidence of a very respectable person , a Mr . Hugh , a watchmaker . His evidence was to the tffrct that if the police bad not Interfered a great disturbance of the public peace -would have ensued . That was the opinion of a respectable witness . He ( the witness ) declared that the riot and alarm were excessive . Tlie police , finding that the crowd completely obstructed * the highway , that night was comiug on , and that there waa little or no chance of tbe multitude disparsiqg , interfered . Under these circumstances , ha did not consider that the police had exercised an unwise diBCTttion . The Hon . MemW for

      Finsbury had alluded to the character of Dr . M'Douall . This was not the first time that Dr . M'DouaU had been engaged at a riotous meetug . After the magistrate had heard the evidence aeuinst the prisoner , and before he entered upon his defence , the magistrate said , instead of eomiuitting him for trial , he would only bind him over to kt < ep the peace . Dr . M'Douall then willingly acquiesced that the case should close , expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the decision of the Bench , and even thanked Mr . Jeremy , the magistrate , for his leniency . When Dr . M'Donall was informed that it was not the intention of the magistrate to commit him for trial he txpreased bhnself satisfied . Tbe Doctor immediately entered into recognizances , himself- . in £ 50 , andtwoothers in £ 25 each , to keep tke peace . It

      wcuJd appear from the observations of the Hon . Member for Finsbuty th ^ t a nov el , course had been taken in this matter . He ( Sir J . Graham ) most distinctly stated that no new or additional powers had been Invested in the constables ; no change nud been made on the part of the Government with reference to the authority exercised by the constabulary force . If a constable was guilty of au illegal act , the law was sufficiently strong to punish the offence . It was . not the part of that Hftuse to interfere in such cases . In the case of the riot which took place in Coldbath-fields , as well as in Wb&t wag ternifcd ths " Manchester xcassacre , " several lives were lost , several wounds were also Inflicted ; bnt compare those cases with the one then under the consideration of the House . In the case

      to which the Hon . "Msruber for Finsbury referred no lives -were io 3 t- and no person had been seriously hurt Tfcis then wa 3 not a case -which would justify the interference of Pariiama-. t . The Eon . Member for Finsbury ? aid ttr . a the police ought to be closely watched , He i Sir J . Graham ) did cot deny that it was necessary to exsrci 6 i such vigilance . The diHeussion which was then going on with regard to the conduct of the police force dearly proved that the actions ef the executive Government were scrutinized with a jealous eye . He was prepared to admit that tbe actions of the constables . should be ibfiu- rnced by time and circumstances . It was difficult to iay down general rules for the conduct of constables in particular cases . The right of constables to interfere at public meetings waa an extreme right , which

      onghfcto be exercised with the utmost caution . Previous to the holding of public meetings it was the undoubted duty of those who were charged with the maintenanc 6 of the public peacato do all in theii power by the adoption of every possible precaution , to prevent any species of disturbance j but if their precautions proved ineffectual , or that time did not allow of any precautijus whatever being takon , then he did not conceive that it waa the duty of a constable to take summary measures . Of this at all events he felt satisfied , that there were no grounds for instituting any euch inquiry as that which formed the subject of the present motion , and he hoped that the Souse -would concur with him in fainting that on the present occasion the complainants had m ^ t , not only with justice , but with leniency .

      Mr . OCONNEL 1 observed , that Hon . Members were quite mistaken in supposing that the petition was directed against the magistrate ; on the contrary , it was so shaped as net to implicate any person except the constable . Now , that being the case , he thought it only right to remind the House that the poiioe were the paid seivaats of ( he public , and it was the duty of the House of Commons to see that they did their duty , and especially to take care that they did not violate that law which they were employed to maintain and enforce . If tbe offences complained of in the present petition had been perpetrated against a member of Parliament ,

      the House of Commons would denounce it as a gross outrage , and surely it was as much an outrage when committed against Dr . M'DoualL But the affair assumed a stiil more serious aspect when it was viewed in connexion with the right of petition . Two revolutions had been brought about in this country by the denial of that right ; a public declaration by a public meeting was bnt another mode of giving expression te the feelings and . opinions of the people . The form might be slightly different , but the substance was the same ; and therefore , he held that nothing could be more dear than the illegal ! ly of the arrest . Oa these grounds be should

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      support . ( Hi * motion , for he conceived that it would be satisfactory to the public to have an inquiry instituted by the House of Commons . : ¦ : , ^ Mr . HAWfis was surprised that no law officerof the Crown had thought proper to express any opinion on the subject before the House . The Right Hon . Baronet tbe Secretary for the Home Department had , on a to * 7 me ? occasion , said ,- that a constable did possess the right to disperse any meeting which he conceived to be seditious , and that the parties so Injured had their remedy by action . Surely the Right Hon . Baronet must know that to the puMic that waa no remedy whatever—such doctrines , if assented to by Parliament , would go at once to the es ' ablishnient of arbitrary power in this country . It was said , that the meeting to which tbe present petition referred was an assemblage that obstructed the highway .: Possibly the meeting , having commenced in an enclosed space ,

      might have overflowed : into a highway ; in such a case the constable ought quietly to have requested the parties so assembled <» ofc to obstruct the public thoroughfare ; that would probably have been successful , and that , at all events , was as much as the constable- had any right fcedo . It was ( Well known that the majority \ of the great public meetings held in the metropolis were held on , or very near , highways , thosa , for example , in Palace-yard , the Regent's-park , Kensington-common , Covent-garden , outside the Town-hill , in South ^ yark , — all these were in public thoroughfares ; but they had not yet been dispersed by the police . It might be very convenient for a high-flying Tory Government to put down such meetings on some such pretext as the present ; but if such things were to be tolerated ,- the next thing would be a revival of the Six Acts . He thought this was a case 'which called for inquiry , and one on ¦ which the House should express an opinion . ,, ' , ¦

      The ATtoBNEV-GENEKAi . saw , that the inquiry which the Hon . Mover sought to institute was unnecessary . : There had been no loss of life , no unusual excitement , nothing in short , to call for the extraordinary inquisitorial powers of the House of Commons . Those powers ought to be reserved . ;* fo ' r extraordinary occasions , when such proceedings were thought necessary in order to calm the public mind . He did not object to the attention of the House being drawn to such a subject , for the purpose of uiakiug grievances kaown ; but he thought inquiry into matters already public was unnecessary , and might be disadvantageous , the more especially as it did not appear that the meeting had been in any respect legally constituted . It was not a meeting to petition Parliament . The Honourable

      Member for Lambeth had contended that a person stopping up . the public way in the manner described was not thereby guilty of an ofFeace to justify the proceedings taken . As a dry question ofla-w , the obstruction ef the puWic way by » meeting must be an illegal act , and such a one a 3 to justify the police in interfering , so as to remove or prevent tha obstruction . But suppose I > r . M Douall had been aggrieved ; by any act of the police , the law was open tobim for . a remedy . If the object of the petition were to obtain an expression of opinion from the House , that would be to anticipate the verdict of a jury , » od therefore it ought not to fee complied with . The Hon . Gehtletean had wished that the House should not separate nnltt the Government had given some expression . of opinion upon this case .

      Such a course would not be proper ; it would be undertaking an undue responglbHity . Mretidj proceedings might have been commenced against the police for the course they had pursued , and large damages probably were calculated upon , for nothing was more likely to meet with a ready ear from a jury than the statements affecting the liberty of the subject ; and althoufP ^ for the proper preservation of the public peace , there was an authority eBtabUshed , every extreme txercise of that authority , though legal / would not probably be justified by the circumstancea . But it would ba scarceiy cohstitutioDal if the House were to interfere in a case of tbis kind . There had been no widely spread alarm , no tumultuous violence , no less of life ; and he trusted that the law weuld be allowed to take its courBe in this case as well as in others . ; : " ff ; : : r

      Mr . SHEit '' thought the Right Hon . and Learned Gentleman was mistaken in assuming . that Government had given no opinion upon this subject ; for the Right Hon . Gentleman who was the head of the police in that House had declared that the police had acted under propsr instructions in this instance , and that , under all the clrcuniitancesi they bad exercised a ' "wise discretion : The Government , therefore , sanctioned the conduct of the police , arid expressed their approbation in tho House of Commons of that conduct ; and from that approbation what but the most formidable mischiefs were likely to follow ? ( Btear , bear . ) Ho ( Mr Shell ) had been much struck with a remark made the other day by the Hon . Member for Reading ,. j ? What is innevation today to-morrow may become precedent ;

      and that which is made precedent to-morrow will be made law the next day . ' » '( Hear , bear . ) . Sp it might be observed with regard to what tbe Rii ; hV Hon . Baronet had said of the conduct of the police in this case . ( Hear , hear . ) It was of the greatest . ' . . importance theni that an Inquiry shbulil bt ) instituted into this case , Recollect , ; it was not a case between Dr . ' M'Douall and Mr . Jeremy , or the police inspector ; but 5 , 000 people had petitioned the House for an inquiry—( hear ) . It was not the case of Dr . M'Douall ; it waa the case of a public meeting held in tho town of Daptford for a legitimAte -purpoae , Which ¦ was interrupted and dispersed by a Buperintendant of ppHce—( hear , hear ) . Now , the House would remember that in' the Staffordshire case , recently before the House , ' -they , were told that neither t

      Government nor the House ou ^ ht interfere , beca use the case Iliad been before a ; jury ' at' a : quaster session , and that it had been tha subject of a charge from an able judge , to whose impartiality everybody paid a ready tribute , and , moreover , that the case ; had been adjudicated and decided , and . the verdict of a jury could not be disturbed . An inquiry conjd not be granted in that case , because it would be a reflection upon the jury and the jucige who tried ife—( hear , hear . ) But the same refusal was given here , where there had been no jury , no decision of a chairman of quarter sesr sl « us , no yerdic * . under which thei / refusal could be sheltered . On tbe contrary , a mat ; iatrate , 'before whom the party accused was taken , had declared that there was no evidence to show that the meeting was an

      unlawful one . Mr . Jeremy declared taat there was not . sufficient evidence to send DrVMDduall to trial —( hear ) . That was the decision of the magistrate against the constable ; but , although that was the decision of Mr . Jeremy , the Buperipr- of the police in that House , ; the Right Hon . Baronciapproved of the conduct of the constable , and said he had used a wise discretion . If policeman Mallalieu did not use a wise discretion , he must say that his example had not been followed by the Right Hon . Baronet —(" hear , hear , " arid a laugb ) . It was confessed that Dr . M'Douall was taken to the station-house , and that ball waa tendered , which was refused ; one of his sureties ; being a trustee of the chapel , wh « was said to have called in the police . { A . voice" It was not the same trustee . " ) He did not say it was

      the same . But what of that ? If they relied upon one trustee for turning the assembly out / of the chape } , he would rely upon the other tiustee for having tendered bail fcr Dr . M'DouulL ( Hear . ) Waa it an act of wise discretion to refuse that bail ? ;( HearJ < Was not the man detained in the teeth of the tendering of good and sufficient bail ? ( Hear . ) But upon what charge ? He had to ascertain that . He , therefore , apptieft for a copy of the charge made against him , and he applied te the magistrate . The magistrate said ho was entitled to have it ; but did the policeman give it ?¦ No . When Superintendent Mallalieu was applied to for it he ref used it , and said he did not care for the magistrate . ( Loud cries of "Hear , hear . ) Was that avwise discretion exercised by a policeiuan ? Were not these clr ?

      cumstances which demanded inquiry ? ( Hear . ) Tkere waa no riot at the first meeting ; and tbe opinion of Lord Ellenboirough with regard to meetings held for a distinct purpose , and a disturbance ensuing , as in this casb , did not justify the course which was pursued . A disturbance did take place , the people were called upon to disperse , and they dispersed accordingly . Dr . M'Douall went out arm in arm with one of the trustees of the chapel , who had stated that he saw him on the platform , but did not observe anything improper in his conduot . The objeotion was to the holding of the meeting in the chapel , and there , according to the evidence no riot took place . Another meeting took place . Was there any riot ; there ? No . Was there any obstruction of the public way ? No . There was no

      riot , " said one of the witnesses , " no confusion . " And was a man to be seized by a policeman because be thought him guilty of obstructing the public vcay , and that before calling npon him to clear the way , no previous efforts being made by the polise to clear the way ? But then it was said that seditious language was used . That was the evidence of the policeman who took upon himself to exercise Ws judgment upon the nature o ? the language which was used , and upon that wise discretion of the ppllceniau Div M ' ^ Dboall , Chartist though , he might be , was unceremollgisly taken to prison . Would hot the Government confess that this was a violation of justice ? The tegislat ^ re had / exercised the greatest caution in directing proceedings to be taken in cases of public ^ disturbance . A Justice of the Peace was required to read tho Riot Act / and until that preliminary was gone ; through , ; the constables wore not authorised to disperse and apprehend persons in that

      way . The powers givsn under the 60 th of George III . and the Vagrant Act were of a diifferent description , If a thousand persons , were to assemble -with aimB thereicould be no doubt , about the authority of the constable to disperse , such a meeting ; but who would compare such a case as that with the present?—( hear . ) Under all the circumstances be could not but feel surprised that the Right Hon . Baronet should approve of the conduct of the police ; but ; . for . ' that there might have been no difficulty in appealing to the laws—( hear , bear , hear . ) If this had , b « en an ordinary case—if it were a case between M'Douall and Mallalieu , he should not care se much about the consequences ; but It was a case of importance , rendered still ' more important by a doctrine . which had been broached in the Home Office , which doctrine might lead to the most mischievous and dangerous , results—( hear , bear . ) ; " ? : ' -. - . ^ '¦ ,-.. ' ¦ : ¦ : ¦ o ; ' - . ¦;/ * . .:- ¦* : ¦ - . ' .- ^ r- '

      The Solicitoe-General explained that the reading of the Riot Act was a preliminary proceeding in cases of tumult and disorder to the disperBion of an unlawful assemblage by the constabulary and the military . But the case of an obstruction of the public way was somewhat different If , however , a constable arrested a person who had been guUty of no offense to justify that arrost , he woul 4 of course be liable to an action . It was unnecesaary , however , to enter into a discussion of those points . The question before the

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      House was , ¦ whether the facts of this case furnished any grounds for an inquiry . From the statements made by the Honi Gentleman opposite , it was quite impossible to understand the facts ; tut two concessions had been made . The Hon . Member for Lambeth had said , that ¦ what took place in ; the chapel waB sufficient te ^ attfeprise the poH «» in clearing the chapeU Every Hiooi Gentleman ion the other side of the House had said that no blame attached to Mr / Jeremy , the magistrate ; but Mr ; Jeremy did net discharge the party , he did notsay to the ^ police ,- . V You have ^ niade afalse accusation . " He ( the SolicltorrGeneral ) presumiad that Mr . Jeremy told the accused he had been guilty of a breach of the peace ; because , though the offence was not of that species that he ; saw fit to

      commit him for trial , he desired him to enter into recognizances to ; keep the / peace . The evidence showed that the second meeting was a continuance of the fltst , ¦ and if the accused had conseuted not to return to the mesting after being / taken to the station house , if he bad consented to be seen away from the neighbourhood by a police-man , he would hot have been detained by Superintendent Mallalieu , who deemed bis detentionI necessary nnder the circumstahces for the preieryation of the pubiio peace ; The Hon . Member bpposJte admitted the magistrate tobave beeii right who had decided everything to have been legal

      in respect to ; the arrest , aad had ordered the prisoners to find recpgnizmces . Here tben were two . parties acting bona fide ] and in the diseharge of their duty , under the Buperintendance of an officer who declared that during the eleven years of his Bervice he had never kno wn a mob more mischievously inclined . It was impossible , nnder such circumstances , to grant the committee without casting a censure on the officer who had taken upon himself to disperse a mob , tha character , the time , and the manner of whose assembling were clearly indicative of ri&tous disposition , On these considerations he trusted the motion would be decisively rejected ( cheers . ) ¦;¦ ¦ ;¦ ¦¦

      Lord Palmersxon said , those who had objected to the motien seemed to him to have given some reasons why it 8 hould be agreed to , for the Attorney-General had said , th » t be did not deny that matters of this sort might fair ' . y come before the House , though he wished thereto be no inquiry . Why ; here were istatements on the one side against the police as having _ beea guilty of improper conduct , and on the other side , in their behalf , to the effect that their proceedings bad been wise and discreet Could there be a case in which an inquiry could be mote conducive to the publio interest ? There appeared , moreover , grounds fer believing that the conduct ^ of theconatables had not been / perfectly wise and discreek It was / by" no means stated by the law officers . of the Crown that the second meeting was

      illegal . The Attorney -General had , indeed , said that he could not lay it down ho * far an obstruction to the thoroughfare might not have been illegal . But on that ground Mrs might be objected to . * Oa what ground was this person apprehended ? Not , it should seem , in consequence of anything he had said that was illegal , for the magistrates had taken recognizances , not for illegal conduct , but for the preservation of the peace . And perhap 3 i if there had been nothing unlawful in the copduct of Dr . M-JDouall , it might be a question how far the magistrates / were justified in taking bail . It seemed , theii , to him ( Lord Psilmerston ) that a question was here involved of no comnion magnitude—nanoely , how far the constabulary were justified in disturbing and dispersing publio meetings . Pe thought that / in

      this case they had exceeded their duty , and especially at this moment , when Parliament was going to be prorogued for a long recess , during which it was likely that meetings of this sort- ^( " Oh ., ph ! " )— -might be held —• (" Oh , ph l '') --an ( i at which constables , it they acted tinder mistaken ideas of their 'diity ^ might , by attempting to interfeite , cause serious inconveniences . He considered this a strorig case for inquiry , not with any yie ^ w of censure , but simply to ascertain the facts , which now were to be gleaned only from expetrie statements , and t 6 settle the q'lestion whether there were or were not any real grounds of complaint ; in Order that , should the former appeal to be the truth' the Gover ;* ment ^ might take ateps to prevent the recurrence of similar mischiePr- ( hear ) i

      Sir B , Peel—Sir , my Right Hod . Friend the Secretary for the Home Department , under whose superintendence the metropolitan police generally aut , bas intimated to the House his opinion that there is not in this casa sufficient ground for any interference on his part . Now , BUpposing the House were dissatisfied with that judgment , and BuppoBihg that there were no means of settling the question . except by appealing to this House , there might be some : plausible ground for acceding to the committee . But are there no other means of ascertaining whether the constable acted legally?— - ( hear , heaiv ) Is my Right Hon . Friend ' s decision final and conclusive ? Not at all—( hear , hear ) i At a very moderate cost you may enable and compel the legal tribunals of the Isnii to ' . ' ' . inquire , arid dedlare

      wbethcr he was justified or not You may commence an ' action for fake imprisonment or for refusal of bail—( bear , hear ) - ^ in either of which waysi yoU may obtain a judicial decision , which wili be infinitely more satiafactory than any this House could arrive at—( hear ^ bear ) . Suppose the House should ; on the report of a committee ( hot hearing evidence , mark * on path ) , be of opinion that the constable acted illegally , and that , a comt of law should decide the reverse —( hear , bear)—wnlch of these decisions would be received as the rule of law in the country ? Why , of course , that of the court of law—( hoar , hear ) . Why nbt , then , appeal to the ordinary tribunals of the land , in which the judgr ment of the highest legal authorities , upon the evidence taken on oath , may be easily obtained ?— - ( near , hear ) . - ^

      What pretence is there for the appointment of a committee ?—( hear , hear . ) I deprecate earnestly a precedent of tne House exercising judicial functions save on the strongest and most serious grounds—{ hear ) . —I think that if , in a ease of this sort , the House should deelare an opinion advtr . se to thnt pronounced by a court of law , prior to its 2 ( ijudic : vtionbv the ordinary tribunals , the authority uf the ( Jimiiiions would beimtmh weakened —( hear ) . I have hud experience enough ^ iti such : matters to know that constables ought not to be encouraged either to exceed the jaw , or even by an annoying and indiscreet inforcement of it , even where the law is oirtheir side , to throw discredit on the law , or , create needless danger and disturbance—( hear , hear ) . But , then , on the other hand , you should temembet the peculiar position in which these constables are placedintrusted with the execution pf the law—if they are visited by unnecessary inquiries , and so , by tacit

      indications of censure , constantly discouraged and deterred from the free execution of their duty —( hear , hear ) . They ought certainly to be supported when ; acting faithfully and honestly—( hear ) . And let me put this case , that there had been , in consequence of the non-interference of this constable , who is now to be condemned—( a cry of " No , " )—or to be visited with a decided indication of censure by the taking of the case out of the ordinary course of judicature—( hear , hear , )—suppose , by hia neglect , there had occurred a riot , ami property or life bad been lost or endangered— - ( hear , hear , )— - would not alt the circumstances of the night hxie been put together—the disturbances in the chapel , the threats , the violence , and the snbsequeut disturbances in the open air , and would it not have been said that he had incurred the responsibiiity of the pubiio injury sustained ? ( Hear , hear . ) Was it mere commotion ? Was it mere excitement ?

      Were there not blows struck—benches torn up—violence actually committed ? ( Hear , bear . ) It would have been , of course , far different bad there been merely expressions of dissent from rival bodies of Cbartists and anti-corn law agitators—( loud cries of hear , bear . j-ror anything of that sort . ( Laughter . ) That takes place in the House of Commons , where tlit-je occur very often scenes 61 ^ ^ " consldeiable excitement "— ( laughter , )—but if Members began to level blows at each other , and pull up the benches , would it not strongly resemble a riot ? ( Hear , ; and laughter . ) To be sure , some Member called the disturbance a iquabtfle . ( Mr . O 'Cpnneli— " A scuffle . " ) Why , some people have been known / to speat oif the rebellion of 1798 as a " hurry . " ( Laughter . ) Ideas differ as to lioting , and I will not take upon myself to declare definitively whether ; when this officer had heard of the former proceedings in tho chapel—when he had heard

      that the religious character of the building bad not restrained the populace , and that there was much less chance , of course , of any restraint out of doors—when he heard cries of ;•* Killthe police ! " and other violent outcries ; and observed all the indications of approaching riot—I will not ; even on all this , take on myself definitively to declare whether he was fully justified in the course he adopted , under the heavy ^ responsibility which necessarily attends all the acts of conrtabulary officers . ( Hear . ) These are cases unavoidably for the discretion of the police Under the particular circumstances in each instance—¦ ( hear J—and what I say is tbis , — -that if , -when the Home Secretary ha 8 decided in favour of the course pursued by the police , any patties are dissatisfied " with the decision , there is no reason wbakver for disturbing the ordinary course of justice ^ and for removing to thia House an adjudication natu ( iaily and properly belonging to tie courts of law . ( Cheers ) ;¦ . ' ¦ .. ¦ ; - . ; "¦''¦ .... ;• ¦ V ' ; . ' /;¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . . ;¦" . "¦ : . / v ;

      Mr . Thomas Duncombe replied—The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department bad quoted reports in opposition to the facta of the '" case . ,.. . ;¦ ' ¦ ' . ; . ' . '¦ ;¦ ' . : '¦'¦' ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦' .: ' ' . ' : ' / - ¦'¦ . ¦ ¦ . '¦ - '''¦ ¦¦¦ ' ' , ¦ . ' : Sir JAMES Graham said that the report he quoted from was taken on oaUi before the magiatrate . : Mr . T . Duncombb—There were several ; reports . There were reports ,: published by the newspapers ( oh , oh T from the ministerial benches . ) He ( Mr . Doncombe ) should like ; to aak ' , front what source Mr . Jeremy derived hia ^ teport fyl ^ Did . he keep a reporter I The Bight Hon . Baronfct aV the head of her Mai © Bty ' a goyerrinient also appeared to rely upon Mr . Jeremy ' s ^ report : but he ( Mr . T . Doncombe ) would maintain that the greater portion of what Mr . Jeremy bad Stated (* f ' cenrse he

      derived it from others ) was a gross misrepresentation of the facts ( oh , oh , from the ministerial aide of the House . ) it was iio ase their ^ saying « b , /! oh . ; Grii » t him a committee and he would undertake to prove It . The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir R . Peel ) had adopted the view of bis Right Hon . colleague , that the meeting in the chapel and the meeting in the Broadway partook of the same meeting , and . that , as a disturbance had occurred in the diapel , where seats were torn up , and pews broken down , the meeting in the Broadway partook of the same character . Now , grant him ( Mr . Doncombe ) a . committee , and he would prove that no seats were torn up , i « r any pewa broken down .: . There was the evidenc of Mr . John Wade , who was called against Dr . M'DbualL What did he say ? He said—

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      " I am a builder and shopkeeper , living at Daptford . I am trustee of the Independent Chapet I drew np Uie hand-bill produced , and it was published by my direction , In concurrence with the Ray . J . ; Pollen , the minister . It was net for any discussion that meeting was carted ; its parppse yad to exdte jyriipatliy for the distressed , but not for an immfidiate subsariptlon A subscription had been forwarded before the Queen ' s le . t ^ r ' 'isame ' . ' . <} aV '' . ' ' ' It ? 'was :: to . hear a lectnre on the distress of the country . The chapel was / pretty fulj at seven o ' olc ^ , when I entered it : There was a littie disturbance at the commencement of . the meeting . Some persons , who were strangers ' , wJsbeil to speak and enter into a disoussion , wbieh was contrary to the object of the meeting . The person an > :

      nounced as lecturer did / riot come , bat another parson was asked to supply the vacanoy . The dlsturbanoe passed off , arid Mr . Taylor proceeded with bis lecture , and having concluded it s&Vdown . ^ Cbere was a littie disturbance , and the minister of the chapsi disBOlved the meeting . There were about one thousand persona present . " The Honourable and JLearned GeHtleman ( the Attorney-General ) seemed to think that the police cleared the chapel' No such thing . The minister aad Mr . Taylor dissolved the meeting , because the object for which the meeting bad been called bad ; been fulfilled . Mr . Wade went on to say--- " After the minister bad dissolved the meeting , the place was cleared . The people walked out without any disturbance . The meeting separated peaceably . There were police there .

      I think they were sent for by my brother . I under- ' stood from him that some persons bad attempted to get possession of the platform at the beginning of the meeting , and that they had been sent for in consequence . I saw the police remonstrate with some persons who were disturbing the meeting , and endeavouring to get upon the platform . I saw Dr ^ M'Dduall there . He was not invited . He was one of the audience . I saw nothing improper in his conduct . The Rev . Mr . Pollen dissolved the meeting by saying , "I dissolve this meeting . " This witness was cross-examined by ^ Mr . M'DouaU , and he stated this—" . I stood beside you on the platform . I saw nothing improper in your conduct "whatever . I heard you say that- a disoussion should take place but of doors . I did not hear the chairman pro

      pose any adjournment . There was no right to adjourn the meeting . The meeting had noi the power to elect a : chairman . No resolution Was proposed . It was an invitation for the minister and trustees to come and hear a lecture . I know nothing about the meeting on the Broadway . I could not gather frdm your gestures that you were likely to create a breach ef the peace . Mr . Taylor was invited by me * Mr . MDouall , Mr . Taylor , and myself walked away arm-Inarm . " This was the evidence of one of the witnesses brought by the police against Mr . M Douall , and yet the Right Hon . Baronet was endeavouring to prove that Mr . M'Douall had created a breach of the peace in the chapel . The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir James Graham ) Jiad so mixed up the meeting in the chapel and at the

      Broadway that nobody could tell what part of the prpceedinga he was diking about / Graiit him ( Mr . Duncombe ) a committee , and he would prove that the statements of Mallalieu were falser When be eame to Mr . M'Douall that gentleman said , "If you say that this is an illegal meeting , and if you will allow me to say so to tbe people , I will Immediately disperse them . " The answer was , " No , come down . " Mr . M'Douall came down from the pump , and he was then desired , to go home , and was directed towards Deptford . Mr . M'Douall said " No , that is no . t my way . I want to go to London . " What followed ? He was immediately taken into custody , and conducted te the 8 t 3 tionhouse . What took place at the station-house had already been Stated . M * . Jeriiny ' a report said that Mr . M'DouaU

      had every accommodation in the station-bouse . Was that true ? No . Mr . M'DouaU asked for a pillow arid some covering , but it Was refused , and he remained in the cell on the bare boards . That was not the way in Which Mr . M'Douall should have befih treated for such an offence ; He would not say that the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir Robert Peel ) was Inconsistent in refusing this inquiry ; but certainly he did think that the Right Hon . Biirt the Secretary for the Home Department ( Sir James Graham ) , and the Noble Lord sitting neat him ( Lord Stanley ) , both of whom were once the colleagues of the authors of the Reform Bill ; were acting in opposition to tbe principle which their former alliances espoused . It was the principle of Toryism to refuse all inquiry ' . ; therefore the Right Honourable Baronet at the

      head of Her Majesty ' s government waiS ; perfectly consistent in doing so on this occasion . But be knew ; and hii Right Honourable and Noble' colleagues knew , that they had a bad case , and what bad been reported to them , and which had been stated by the Right Hon ; Baronet the Secretary of State for :: the Home Department to tho House , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) would , if they would grant him a committee , prove to bo false . The ppliee waB , as Lord Althorp had once said , a formidable power to ha placed at the disposal of the government . They were armed and trained ; and were , in fact , equal to soldiers . It was said that if , these things were not prevented , blood would be shed . He told them that Blood would not be shed . If these things were

      done the people would not consent . Let Hon . Members read the petition . " Your petitioners are ail of opinion that , as the meeting was peacefully assembled , so it would have peacefally dispersed , had it not been for the unjustifiable violence of the police , to which , if your Hgnourable House affords no remedy , yonr petitioners do not feel bound to submit , " He teld them plainly that these doings woa : d some day tend to create a disturbance , and if blood should be shed , every drop would be apon the heads of those who held the doctrines that night broachedj and who came dewn to support this gross violatiou of the people ' 8 rights— -: ' : ¦ ¦ . / ' / - ,: ¦ /' v ' --- "¦/ . ' - . ¦ ' :- : '¦ . ¦ ¦ - ' .. ¦'¦¦' ¦" ' '¦ -:- /> ' : The House divided , ' '

      For going into committee ......... 89 For Mr . Duricombc ' amendaierit ... 30 : Majority against Mr . Duncombe— 59 The House then webt into a Committee of Ways and Means ; arid votes for Exchequer Bills , &c , were agreedto . / - ¦ ¦// . ' ¦¦ - / /¦ : ; "¦¦¦""¦ ¦" : ' /• ¦ ¦ ¦ "' ¦¦ : l [ ' ; " ¦' : '¦ ' . The Tobacco Regulations Bill created some debate . Mr . Thomas Duncombe opposed its re-committal , on the ground of its vexatious character and onerous provisions . - ¦ ; - . ¦ ¦' . -... ¦ ' - ¦ ¦ ' - ¦' . '"¦ ¦/ . ' /¦ ¦ . ;; . " . ¦ ¦ . ' . •" . ¦ . ¦ •• • . ¦ . ' ,. ¦ The- CHANCELLon of the Exchequeb , in supporting the Bill , made some statements as to the very general and extensive adulterations : " . bf . tobacco which Was practised . To meet the objection to the BUI , he intended to introduce a clause , giving further time to the dealers for disposing of the stock which they might have on hand of adulterated tobacco , and a more extended time for snnff . : " ' ¦ :

      After a diBcuasion , Mr . Thomas DuNCOMBE's ameridment for recommitting the Bill this day three months waa . l 08 t by 63 to 9-The House then went into Committee on the Bill , which was considered , amended , and ordered to be reported oh Wednesday . The other orders of the day were then disposed ofi and the House adjourned .

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      The Working Classes at Oldham— -Prospectuses are beine ; issued for the erection of a Working Man ' s Hall , in 300 shares , at £ 1 each , payable by instalments ot ; threepence per Weeki or upwards ; The edifice , which is to accommodate five buhdred persons , is for the holding of public meetinija , delivery of lectures , discussions on local and national grievances , tea-parties ,: balls , concerts &o . Wilson , the Steeple Climbeb—Our readers will recollect that Bonje months ago a paragraph went the round of the newspapers in teferehoe to the novel and daring feats performed by George Wilson , the per 8 on who in so extraordinary a manner repaired Garrickfergus steeplejand a large stalk belonging , if we mistake not , to the firm of Maitland , C 6 uper , and Co ., of Glasgow . The ingenious personage , it appears , still continues to follow his fearless

      occupation , aad is ready , withont shrinking , to ma&e repairs even in the most dangerous positions ) without incurring th < ji great expehoe uaiial in the erecting of scafFolding , ^ ^ ^ Dur ing ^ the fair vfeek he repaired the largo Btalk at Messrs , Muir , Brown , and Co . ' s works , Ariderston . The height of the stalk was 150 feet , and during the late storm it was cracked to the extent of 25 feet from the top . Wilson mounted the etalk in bis usual way , by inserting pins of iron , or what he calls " needles , " in the inside ofthebnilding , and using them as a ladder ; He then took off fifteen

      feet , to lighten the top of the erection , a measure which , it appears , was deemed essentially hecessarfi dropping himself down , as occasion required , by means of a block and tackle , being balanced in his descent by heavy weights . The work , weuuderRtand , has- completed . to the company ' s entire satisfaction . From Wilson ' s own statement he does n' t seem to entertain any fear ia aoopmplishing his labpura . He saya there 19 little danger of falling , as the needles are driven firmly in , and he attaches himself to one of them at every step by means of a halt ,. —Glasgow Argus . ' . - . ¦ : ' ¦ - ' ¦ .- . ¦ •¦ ¦ •" ' .. ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ' : ¦ . ¦/"> ¦¦ ¦¦ . // '" -. / :- '¦' .

      PEpEsriHANisM .--Last week a person named Mullen circulated placards through this town , * nn 6 unoi * Dg his intention , of / walking one : hundred mile 3 in twenty-four hoars . The ground wag measured , and he wa 3 to start from a place called 'KWateringr dam / ' to the first iurnpike on the Belfast road , half a mile distance , and then return ; the journey ; out and in being therefore one mile . Proper person ? were appointed , ^^ who were > to give' ^ the pedptrian check tickets pa his finishing each mile , so that there should bo ; no question that he per formed , his voluntary task / to the Mt&e . At four o ' clock , he Btarted , ^ , d kept a ; very brisk pace till ten , when ha Beemeq to be somewhat flashed j bat at eleven ( when the

      crowd had someWhat thinned , it being daring the evening very large ) he seemed as fresh as at starting . Throughout the night a great iuimber of persons remained on the line 6 f w ; alkr Tnesday morning he was xatherfatigued , his feet being somewhat pauied , five blisters were cut off ; bat , notwithstanding j bis pace , was very rapid . At two o ' clock he said he was all safe . " When he came to the last trip the pace was astounding—the mile was perfected in eight minutes and a half ; He was loudly cheered on coming in . We should here add , that four or five times during the day he stopped for some minutes at the standai" auite confident of faia powerB ; and before going out ' oa his last trip , he delayed filly six minutes . Duririg the evening he walked through the town , apparently not much fatigued . —Nevcry Examiner * /

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 6, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1173/page/6/