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    THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OP MB . O'CONNOR BY THE MYRMIDONS OF THE ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE . Doubtless onr readers -will be anxiouB to leam as much as possible of the particulars attendant on this brutal onfaage . That we may not be accused of partial or dishonest statements , fre hare procured copies of all the Manchester papers of last Saturday , and proceed to lay before our readers all that they say on the subject . We begin -with the League ' s big gun , The Manchester Times , who gives the following version of the matter : ** PKACTICAX ILLVSTBATION OF THE PHYSICAL ^

    70 S . CS PBIKCIPLE . " The second lecture , on the Repeal cf the Legislative Union / -was fixed for Tuesday evening , and the number of persons present -was nearly equal to the pre-Yious avening ' * meeting . Tbe lecture -was intended for the Irish Repealers , and there might be 1500 Irish in the body of the hall ; the remainder there , and the ¦ whole of the persons in the gallery , to "which the price of admission "was double (»" . e . twopence ) , were apparently Englishmen . It is reported that a body of men forced their way into the body cf the hall without paying . The place became densely crowded by half-past seven , and the occupants were evidently of two parties not very friendly disposed towards each other , as ¦ was manifested by several displays cf feeling which took place on the appearance o £ the friends of either party on the platform . These displays of feeling were

    occasionally provoked by several of the leaders en the platform , the object being apparently to see their relative strength , of which a good idea might be formed by the hands and hats raised to accompany their hurrahs . The belligerents it appears were ali "Union Repealers , but part of them , the Irish , were the OConndlite Repealers , and the other portion were 0 Connoriie Repealers—the Irishmen coming there , as appeared by the draft of a resolution bandtril to the reporters , lor &e purpose of repudiating O'Connor as a leader , and acknowledging only O'Conn&lL The leaders of both parties ssem to have been aware what was to come , and so evenly balanced did each party appear to be when judged of by the means we have alluded to above , that their leaders might be heard chuckling an £ congratulating each other occasionally on the certainty of triumph .

    «• - We fear , however , that many went there for ether purposes than a mere warfare of words , and the possession ef thin knowledge by tbe proprietors of tbe building is evident from the address of Mr . Higginbottom , who came forward , shortly befoTe tight o'clock , and said— ' J have to beg , in tie name of the proprietors af the hall , that , as working men , you will avoid doing any damage to the property of this halL iCkeers , and cries of We will . *) You all know that this property ¦ was raised by the subscriptions of the working men , and I trust they will be the last to injure that which was raised by their own hands , and which is the result of their own industry . * ( Cheers . ) ^

    " There were now frequent manifestations of impatience for the proceedings to fee opened ; and we believe a man came forward to have proposed a Chairman , but some parties around him prevented the proposition being heard by the _ gr&at bulk of the meeting , and a workiDg man , named Duffy , who sat on the edge of the platform , rose , and having been successful enough to gain a hearing , said— 'My friends , I have only a word to offer . [ Cries of Order . '; All the friends of order will best keep order by holding their tonjrnes . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Gentlemen , Mr .

    Feargus O'Connor has not yet arrived , and though it is past eight o ' clock we have no right to attempt to appoint a Chairman till he is here . ( General cheering . ) When he arrives let his friends propose a Chairman of their own choice—[ general cheering );—and I do net know whether any one will support me , but I am determined to propose another . tPartial cheers . ) let me l > eg of you not to encourage or give way to party strife , but listen to argument and reason . Let me beg of you to conduct yourselves peaceably , and , like men , net be afraid to hear -sriat each party lias to say : —

    " let parry rage and rancour cease ; Let the lips urge , but the heart be peace . " ( Cheers . ) Let the time come for proposing a chairman , then give to each speaker a full hearing , and determine the question fairly by a show of hands . ( Applause . ) In order that the reader who has not seen the room of the Hall of Science in which the meeting was held Tnay form a just notion of it , we may mention that it is in soaps of an oblong square , is lofty , having a platform or stage at one end ( in some respects like the stage of a theatre without its wings , scenery , and

    machinery ) , and round the other three sides ef the room is a spaciouB gallery . The stage , which is about five feet six inches , or six feet above the floor , has gaslights along the front , with side dours , and stage boxes over them , and narrow staircases lead from , the stage doors to the boxes above , to a large room below , and to various ante-rooms , The body of the hall , the gallery , and stage were filled with men and youths ( tha latter forming perhaps on ffri * occasion nearly one-third of the wtole , ) with some few women amongst them . Ihe two stage boxaa were occupied entirely b y females .

    " Mr O'Connor entered the Hall about ten minntss past eight o ' clock , accompanied by the Rev . James Scboleneld and Borne other friends , and was received with loud cheers , which were followed by expressions -qI disapprobation from his countrymen . —Joseph Lincey iuanediately came forward , and said , ' I beg to propose that Mr . Scholefleld take the chair . '—Christopher Doyle : 'I second the motion . ' —Duffy , who is also a working man , said , * 1 propose as an amendment that Mr . John Doyle take the chair . *—Another working man seconded ths amendment—Mr . Duffy • As the mover of the amendment I claim precedence to call for a show of hands ; ' and , suiting the action to tfia word , he held up *"" hiT" 3 j ¦ which vas the signal for a forest of others in the body of the HalL—Iinney

    witfcouV waiting , immediately called for a show of hands for Sch «! eneld , and thus the whole of the hands in the place were raised at once ; and they must have been nice discriminators who could distinguish one si 3 e from the other—friends from foes . It is sufficient to say that both pities claimed the majority , and without waiting for tbe vote to be decided more calmly , Mr . O'Connor and his friends attempt * i to get the chair forcibly by putting Mr . Schole-£ eld into it , the * ther parties , equilly bent upon securing possession got held of it , and the itage was in a moment converted into a scene of the utmost confusion . ? f either party appeared unwilling or unprepared for the conflict : they appeared to rush together more like bulldogs than human beings , and a more frightful scene was

    never witnessed . The chairman ' s desk was tumbled over in the body of the hall , together with the chair which was the subject of contention . The reporters ' table , at which were seated the representatives of only two cf the newspapers—our own reporter , and Mr . William Henry Lerescbe , cf the Advertiser—went overboard immediately afterwards ; and all tbe furniture Was immediately broken up to furnish weaponscf offence ordtfuEce . The reporters , whose affection for neither party was Eufficieiit it would appear to engage tb-. in in the m&ee immediatsly prepared to leave the room , well judging that men in the heat of passion , with such weapons as they were now providing themselves with , Woaid not be likely to distinguish between neutrals and actual combatants , and tae result unf urunately proved .

    the correctness of tbeir anticipations . Our own reporter got ta the south ern side-noor , and made his escape over the backs of some fellows who were breaking up his chair for weapons to fight with . Mr . Xerescbe unfortunately suffered himself to be pushed cut of the direct line to the door , and did not gain it till some momenta af ; erwards , when just as he tad reached the outside , a cowardly ruffian struck him on the baek of the head with a weapon procured by breaking the banisters of the staircase , and inflicted a frightful gash , which bled profusely ; and be also got a blow on the forehead , and was severely beaten about the Shoulders . We are not able to describe tae scene immediately succeeding ; but our report *? having gained one of the side itife boxes , had again an opportunity of

    "Witnessing the scene below . The fight had now become general throughout the hslL Great numbers of those whose peaceable disposition , or f ^ ars , inclined them io take no part in it had Itfc the hall , and the three thousand persons at first assembled were reduced to a few hundreds ; and these were fighting in the most brutal Planter . Some of the combatants must have brought stones in their pockets , and-these were hurled with fearful violence at their opponents on the stsge Mr . Schoie £ e ] d got struck by one of them on themouth , and bis lips were Severely bruised and his teeth loosened . Hr . O'Connor , tfkr being several times knocked down over the forms , and struck with sticks in the me e £ , also received a blow from a stone on the right temple , wbicn raised a swelling and drew blood , but fce -was not much hurt . O'Connor and some cf h )» friends soon

    f ct out cf the place by a back door , and the scene " * £ Jci succeeded is too dreadful to dilate upon . Perils the best procf that caa be given cf the ferociousness of the combatants may be taken from one iustanee . One cf the men on the fctage had struck toother , and was stopping to lift np a second weapon , when Lis antagonist lushed at him with such force that they went headforemost together off the ztye , which we have already said is abous six feet nigh , and fell upon the floor at a considerable distance from it One of them we are told , broke one of his arms in two places by the fall , and we can only wonder that either of them should have escaped aliva The contest , which lasted from twenty minutes to half an hour , during which the hall alternately resounded with the crash of furniture breaking np to furnish

    "Weapons with , with heavy Wowb , and the shrieks of the terrified females in the Btage boxes as they witnessed the Tarious success of their friends and relatives , w&s of too sanguinary a character to be gazed upon calmly , acd tbe women appropriately drew the crimson enrtains of the boxes to hide the frightful scene from view . The combatants left the room as they lost or fcroie tiieir weapons , till the ball became tenantlcss , and tha dooa -were , closed against them outside by the police , who tad now arrived in contiderablfc force . We believe there were no lives lest , tut the number of heads broken we should t >"" fr must have been very great ; and for some time afterwards the druggists * shops in Deansgate and the neighbourhood were crowded with bleeding patienta who bad gone in search of plasters . We hav # heard of thirty being

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    severely hurt , one of whom , is in tha Infirmary , and the entire number of wounded must be much greater . "We perceive that in the Guardian itis stated that there was a cry of Corn Laws mixed np with the cause of the quarrel ; and O'Connor , tiMng the hint , is busy circulating a report tkat the League hired the parties to disturb the meeting . The Tory papers of to-day will doubtless take their cne from tha same Bource , and be too happy in getting the suggestion from such a quarter . With them and O'Connor the League has been the ' red cat * that did all the mischief a long time ; and like the Ted cat of Joe Miller , though they have killed it nine times out of the way , will yet come back to 'break the china sugar basin . ' We can nsseit fearlessly , however , that no such cries were raised as those mentioned by the Guardian ' ¦¦ and as to the league , we leave the absurd report to be contra . •

    dieted when it is sufficiently believed to be of importance . There has been a party in existence who have disturbed our public meetings for years past—even before the rxistence of the League , and O'Connor is best acquainted with its origin . It is nothing surprising that these * disturbances should have provoked retaliation . Mr . O'Connor ' s partisans disturbed a meeting of his countrymen at Carpenter ' s Hall some months ago ; and , much as we regret it , we do not wonder that bad blood should exist , or that the physical force he counselled should have been turned against himself . His lecture to the Irish Repealers was delivered on the following evening to a crowded meeting ; all Irishmen , who were recognised as such , being carefully excluded , and 350 police , armed with cutlasses , being Mr . O'Connor ' s body guard . His third lecture—' on the Corn Laws '—was not delivered , his engagements obliging him to be at Stockport on Thursday .

    " PROCEEDINGS AT THE BOROUGH COURT , WEDNESDAY . CBefore D . Maude Eiq . J ¦ " Shortly after the proceedings commenced , W . Duffy came into the court , and said he wished to apply tor a summons against Mr . O'Connor for au assault . He stated that he was one of the parties who proposed one of the chairmen ; on its being put to the vote each party claimed to have the majority ; he heard great confusion behind him on the platform , and on looking behind him he saw Mr . O'Connor , who doubled his fists , and exclaimed— ' Ceme on , my lads , come on . " He then hit the complainant a blow in the ribs , which knocked him down from the platform to tke floor of the room . ** The summons was granted .

    ' Johti SaToft , the man taken into custody by the police , was then brought up . He was charged with using violence , and attempting to strike Mr . O Connor with s form . *• George Buchanan deposed that he saw the prisoner during the skirmish breaking up either a chair or table , and afterwards throwing it in rbe direction where Mr . O'Connor was sUudhig on the platform . Witness kept his eje on him , and afterwards gave him in custody to the police . " In cross-examination by Mr . Dieken , solicitor , who appeared for the prisoner , he said a chair was

    thrown down , which seemed to be a signal fora general attack ; stones and brickbats were thrown on the platform . Mr . Scholefield had been proposed to take the chair , and carried , and when about to sit down in it , it was pulled from him . Five minutes after that things began te be . broktn ; a rush immediately took place , and some were pushed off the platform . Men bad to defend themselves for their lives' sake . What the prisoner broke was either a chair or a table ; he was not doing it in self-defence ; no oue was near him at the time . He and another party were snatching pieces of timber from everyone who opposed them , and throwing them at the platform .

    "John Hargreaves proved that he saw the prisoner with a piece cf either a chair or table in his hand , but did not see him Uirow it . A weapon was not necessary for his protection . Tha large room , and also the gallery , -srero full of people . " Mr . O'Connor next stepped into the witness-box , haviDg a large black patch on bis forehead . He said he had . been requested to come down by SirCaarles Shaw , tut he knew nothing whatever of the prisoner . " Mr . Seholefield , the chairman of the meeting , was called . He could not identify the prisoner , but was cross-examined by Mr Dieken to the following efflct : — I got to-the meeting about ten minutes past eight , and found the neighbourhood of the chair occupied by perfect strangers to me . A man named Duffy was addressing the people . As soon as Mr . O'Connor and I appeared , they called upon me to take the chair . I had been appointed chairman fer the evening at the previous lecture . There were both cheers and yells , and all kinds of noises .

    ' . ' John Hargreaves first saw the prisoner with a stick in his hand , knocking abcut and bitting every one he came at . He sf terwards saw him very busy in striking , and throwing sticks and stones npon the platform . There was a good deal of confusion and violence in the room at Ihe time . The platform was about the height ef a peiBOD ' s head . The Arst breaking of furniture begun on . the platform ; chairs and - tables were broken , and were thrown down into the body of the haU . It was not all on the platform who were the aggressors , but a select party , who were there for the purpose .

    " Edward Hancock deposed that he distinguished the prisoner from the commencement of the disturbance . He was along wife a body of Irishmen , who rushed into the room by force at an early part of the evening ; and at the identical time when the signal was given , by an individual jumping from the middle of the floor npon the platform , ihe prisoner caught a chair that was thrown fey some one from the platform ; he and others broke the chair by dashing it on the ground , and he then took one piece , went towards the platform , and aimed a blow at the chairman .

    " Cross-txajnined—There was an indiscriminate breaking cf chairs and tables in tbe room . Tbe first breach ol the peace "was caused by a persoii springing from the body of the loom from amongst tbe - low Irish repealers—( laughter . ) The next thing was the seizing of the chairman and tbe chair , and then commenced the uttacks of individuals on the platform ; some individual threw a chair from the platform into the body of tbo metting , and then commenced the indiscriminate violence . " . Duffy was then called by Mr . Dieken , on the part of the pris&Ber . He stated that he went to the meeting &t exactly five miautes to seven ; he went to a side door , and was told by the woman who opened it th&t they would have a ' terriWc stormy night of it . ' He

    paid 6 d- and got on the platform . The disturbance did not begin of an hour . Some furniture was first broken on the right-hand side of the platform . He never saw prisoner there at aJL Tbeie was a great effort to force Mr . Scholefleld into the chair , some pushing him one way ,. some another , and in the me / te the chair was broken and thrown into the body of tbe meeting . The disturbance was entirely caused by Mr . Feargus O'Connor , wbo , when witness moved tbe appointment of a chairman , rose up , doubling his fists , und called out" Come on , my Jails—come on , my lads : " thai was the signal for a general melee , and they were fighting all through the rooai . The people were in a state of the greatest possible excitement . They Certainly made it a ' Hill of Science" on that occasion . — ( Laughter . )

    " Mr . Maude said it had been c ^ e&r . y proved that the prisoner took part in the disturbance . He must have known well , bo must other parties , that if he cbose to remain after tbe disturbance took place , and was found using any violence , he was liable to punishment . As it might be supposed that he went there without any intention of committing violence , the Court won : d not iL-flict a severe punishment . He would be required to find two sureties in £ 10 each , to keep the peace .

    " THE CHARGE AGAINST 31 B . O ' COtfSOB .. " Mr . O'Connor , who had taken his seat at the table , said he understood a summons had been ttiat morning taken out against him . If it would not trench npon the time of the Court , he should wish it to be tben beard , all the parties being pre&eut . —This being agreed t o , " Air . Duffy came forward again , and deposed that , entertaining opinions different from those of Mr . O'Connor , he had thought proper to attend the meeti ng , and propose as a chairman one who was not of Mr . O'C's own appointment . They waited ah hour before Mr . O Connor arrived . Various parties called out for the appointment of a chairman , but he told them it would be improper and injudicious to mov « the appoictmeDt before Mr . O'C . arrived . At that

    moment he enttred the room : some ( his fnends proposed one chairman , and the witness another . A bhow of hands was taken , and witness considered ttey had the majority . He immediately announced ; hat fact , and while fee was doing so Mr . O'Connor Etood up behind him , and waved Lis bat over his head ; tbere were cheers and counter-cheers . Seeing that tLe decision of the meeting was completely against him ( hisses and cries of " No , " from the Chartists in the gallery , ) and that there was Eucb . a diversity of opinion that ke would not have it all his own way , he stood up behind witness , i-ut himself in a fighting attitude ; and cried— "Come on my lads—come on , my lads I" The eonseqnence was a general movement tf tbe whole body . Witnes 3 stood en the very edge of the platform , which was six or seven feet high . A violent contest iinmediateiy commenced behind him : he used

    I bis influence to keep quietness , but Mr . O'Connor put ' himself in a fighting attitude , and called tae people | up . He retreated a few paces , but on witness | turning his head rcuud struck him on the rigbt side , ! and threw him over the platform into the body of meeting . " Cro ££ -exami £ ed by Mr . O'Connor—Mr . Doyle was i the chairman I proposed . Did not hear you say if ¦ Doyl&had the majority he should be the chairman . I 1 siid— 'Mr . Doyle will now proceed to take the chair , " and then theie was a rush ; a man named Linuey , and

    j-a number cf persons connected with ycurself , trying to I force Mr . Scholefield into the chair ; other parties pushed | him out , and in th . 9 videe the chair was broken and I thrown into the crowd . Mr . Scholefield was not in the " chair when I Bald Mr . Doyle would proceed to take it i ( A cry of " He was , " from the gallery ; and Mr . Maude threatened to have the gallery cleared if these intsnnptions continued ) . Did not hear you eay— " Now , Mr . Scholefield is in tee chair , my lads , support your chairman . " When you found that your own party chairman was net elected you gave three cheers , and said— "Support your chainoaB , " knowing that he was not elected

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    chairman . Mr . O'Connor—When I was standing in front of the platform did you seo missiles flying in the direction I was in ? How could I Bee misbiles flying when you had knocked me off the platform ? Did not see you get a blow which knocked you down on one of the benches ; did not see yon get a blow on yodr neck , or on you shoulder , or a blow which cut your hat Heard yen tell the people to stand their ground . Did not see a weapon of any sort in your band . You struck me with your fist on the right side , just above the hip . —Hr . O'Connor : And I knocked you over into the platform , did I ?—Witness : Off the platform , that is not English?—Mr . O'Connor : —I am an Irishman , but I suspect you have been too long in England te be a good Irishman . ( Laughter . )—Exami nation continued : After I was knocked down I took tbe liberty of going out , and I saw n » more of it after . I left at exactly twenty minutes past eight . I saw ho missiles thrown , but in going out saw a chair , or some large article thrown from the platform .

    " John Booley . —I saw the last witness standing on the edge of tbe platform , and after the row commenced saw him get ? a clout' on the right side , which pitched him into the pit . He was so near tke edge that any one stumbling against him might have knocked him off ; but the blow was struck by Mr . O'Connor , with bis fist —Cross-examined : I was not on the platform , but in the body of the meeting . I had my eyes on the platform all the time , and did not see a single weapon thrown at it I thought it best to get away when I saw the sort of work that was going on .

    " Patrick Murphy . —I was at the meeting last night I « aw Mr . Duffy there ; he stood near the front of the platform—not more than an inch from it He was close to the centre . I did not see him struck , nor did I see him fall off the platform . A contention arose about the chairman . I did not stay many minutes after . —Mr . Maude : I thick you were about the wisest person . —Witness : I saw Mr . O'Connor in the attitude of saying .. — ' Ceme on , my boys . '—Crossexamined by Mr . O'Connor : And how long did you see me after that ?—Two minutes or so . —And yet you did not see Duffy struck ?—No . —That will do ; go down . " Duffy -was re-called to explain on what part of tbe platform he stood , there being a discrepancy in the statements of the witnesses . He said that he was on the left of the chair . " Mr . O'Connor then

    called" The Rev . James Scholefleld , who deposed—I came to the Mosley Arms to Mr . O'Connor before the meeting took place . A man came and said that the parties in the room were very violent , and asked if he would have the police ; but we declined . When we got to the meeting Duffy was proposing Doyle as Chairman . A show of hands was taken for him ; and I heard Mr . O'Connor Bay that if he had a majority he should be the Chairman . When the show of hands was taken for me , the whole of the gallery and at least half of the body of the meeting were in my favour : it was at least ten to one . Duffy then said Mr . Doyle would take the chair ; I was in the chair at the time . A great disturbance took place at the back of tbe platform , which I could not see , and my chair was moved . 1 was seised on the breast by a man in a fustian jacket , who wanted to drag me out of the chair , and another came to hold me in . I laid hold of the gas pillar near the chair , fearing that it

    would be torn down ; and the chair was then dragged I don't kuow wbere . The table was upset , and fell into the body of tbe meeting ; it was Immediately torn to fragments , and thrown back with violence on the platform . Mr . O'Connor called out , ' Now , lads , defend your Chairman ; ' others called to me , ' Come away , or they'll kill you ! ' After that , Mr . O'Connor went to the front of the platform , and gave three cheers . He could not have knocked a man eff tbe platform without my seeing it I saw Duffy there , near the edge of the platform , but don't know what became of him . He could not have been thrown off without my seeing him , if my face had been turned in that direction . After the chair and table were broken up , missiles were flying in all directions . Mr . © "Connor -was knocked down npon one of the benches . My opinion is that Duffy was the instigator of the row ; he was addressing the meeting when I entered .

    " Charles Thomason : I was at the meeting , and stood just below where Duffy stood to make his speech . I saw him scuffling , and I saw him throw a chair off the platform . I saw Mr . Scholefield in the chair , and then I saw some parties try to put him out ; and Mr . O'Connor put his arm round him to keep him in . That was before the general disturbance in the body of the meeting . I saw Mr . O'Connor come to the front and give three cheers ; afterwards he W 6 nt towards the back of the platform , and was knocked down on a bench . I believe Duffy was knocked off the platform by the pressure . Had Mr . O'Connor done it , I think I must have seen it I remained twenty minutes , and saw pieces of broken chairs and tables flying about , and two men laying abcut them with pokers . —Cross-examined : rtffy tbiew the chair over after the scuffle began ; did not see him take any other part

    " Mr . Maude eaid the only question was whether the complainant had been thrust off the platform wilfully or by accident . This was evidently matter of cosiderable doubt ; and no great violence appeared to have bten ussd towards him . It was to be regretted that parties could not meet without coming to personal violence . Now that these warm feelings bad been manifested , he trusted these parties would not meet in the same room again , as it was quite- certain they would never convince one another . He hoped this would be a solitary instance of the occurrence of such violence , and that there would not be a repetition of these scenes . It was admitted by the complainant himself , in his evidence , that he was told by the woman at the door that there was likely to be a stormy meeting ; and that being the case , he , as a respectable party , ought immediately to have gone home . —The case was dismissed .

    "Duffy , in reply to what had been stated by the last witnesB about bis throwing the chair off the platform , said he would prove that to be false . He declared that he had not taken out the summons with aay in feeling , but for the sake of having a full explanation of the circumstances . 11 Mr . Maude remarked on . the impropriety cf courts of justice being made the tcene of mutual explanations of this kind . " Mr . O'Connor also disclaimed any ill feeling ; and , in proof of it , offered to become one of the sureties for tbe prisoner Saxon , whose case was before heard ; but it appeared that he had obtained bail . " Mr . Scholefield stated that he had been struck on the mouth with a stone whilst on the platform .

    "Mr . Maude said it was a most brutal thing to throw stones in a crowded meeting : if the parties guilty of such conduct were brought before him , they would be very severely dealt with . He expressed a hope that there would not be a repetition of such conduct . " On Mr . O'Connor and his friends leaving the court , they were loudly cheered by the crowd outside .

    " ABSURD APPLICATION . " O'Connor again appeared at the Borough Court yesterday , and said he had an important application tJ make , with reference to the disturbance of Tuesday night He said he should be able to prove that a certain association in this town met on Sunday night , and again on Monday nigLt , and that th 6 y were . in connection with a political association in this town ; and that one associaticu undertook to furnish funds to the other for the purpose of procuring his aesassinatiou ! He should be able t : > prove the hands through which the money passed , and the person who had hired the iniividual to commit this act He was able to prove that one person received ' twenty -pence' (!) for hire and a peDny for admission ; that another received

    half-a-crown for hire and a penny for admission . He should also be able to prove that one individual had received £ 5 to knock him off the platform , in order that those below might destroy him . He should also be able to prove that that individual struck him the first blow on the hat ; that he would be recognised by four persons as tbe individual selected for that purpose . As TegatUeu himself the matter was not perhaps of gTeat importance ' . — ( laughter )—but when it became a question if the peace of the country was to be placed at the mercy of the brutality and ruffiinism of persons who would devote tbeir money to the hiring of assassins to destroy a man , he trusted that the magistrates would at once see thi . t it was net the individual but the crime itself must be looked at . It was his int : n-

    tion to apply to the Secretary of St . t ; for an investigation of that part of the matter which the magistrates could not take cognisance of . Mr . O'Connor then entered into a ludicrous statement of the personal dangers he had braved that night—( in a fityle almost equal to Falstaifs men in buckram , ) and said , the collateral evidence he should be able to bring would go to show that the whole brunt of the attack was aimed at himself . He haJ never lent his sanction to any violation of tbe peace —( laughter )—and under these circumstances he thought he was entitled to the advice of tbe magistrates . He should

    be able to bring this borne not to poor simple Irishmen , but to persons of education and standing iu society -, \ for the placards issued on Wednesday , inviting the Irishmen to attend again and complete the triniupb . they had tbe night . before , wbere every one paid for by this association . Tbe first thing the law required to be done was that a person should be Bent to the printer of this inflammatory pl acard , with authority to demand the copy from him , aid this would enable him to go far into his case . The matter was one of importance , not to one individual but to all classes of society , and he was sure the magistrates would assist in the investigation in bringing the matter fully before the public .

    " Sir . Maude doubted if they could make tae application to the printer without being put in motion by the Attorney-GeneraL " Mr . O'Connor contended that under the General Stamp Act the magistrates had tae power . " After aome further consultation between the magistrates , Mr . Maude requested Mr . O'Connor to commit the subject of his information to writing , and they would see how far the act -warranted them in taking tbe step he wished . " Mr . O'Connor left the court amidst great laughter , —the object of his application being generally understood to be a mere " gag , " for tbe purpose of bringing himself into notoriety , and get a report in the Tory papers prejudicial to a certain association / who , aa he said on Monday night , want to throw him overboard Tbere are more ways of insinuating a libel than one , and this is not the least disreputable and cowardly . "

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    Such is the Plague ' s version . We follow it by that of the Manchester Gvardian , twin brother to the Leeds Mercuryi ~^~ '¦ ' : : . . \ . ' ' . > . /^¦ ¦ ' - : V . / . - >;¦ ' : ? " THE CHARTISTS AND IRISH REPEALERS .

    " FRACAS AT THE HALt OF SCIENCE , " In the Guardian of Wednesday ^ we gave * brief notice of a row that took place in the Hall of Science , on Tuesday night , between the Chartists and Irish Kepealers , at a meeting convened for the purpose of hearing Mr . Feargus O'Connor deliver a lecture on the Repeal of the Legislative Union . On this occasion the two parties referred to quarrelled in reference to the choice Of a chairman . The following cases , arising out of the disturbance , came before D . Maude , , Esq ., at the Borough Court , on Wednesday : '•— ¦ ' . ''; ¦ ¦ .: . ' ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ' . - ¦ . . ' . ' ¦ '¦

    " John Saxton was charged with assaulting Mr . Feargus O'Connor , on Tuesday night ; at the Hall of Science . Mr , Dickens , solicitor , defended the prisoner . George Buchanan Btated , that , during a ^ skirmish which took place in the Hall on the evening referred to , he saw the prisoner breaking up a chair or a table , witness could not say which , and flinging two pieces of It at Mr . O'Connor . Witness watched the prisoner , and had him taSen into custody . Mr . O'Connor was m great conger from the missiles / thrown at him ; he was several times knocked down on the platform , and witness and others , with much difficulty , get him out of the room . On being cross-examined by Mr . Dickens , the witness stated that the meeting was held for the purpose of ' hearing Mr .

    O'Connor deliver a lecture . Mr . Scholefield was elected to tike the chair , which so dissatisfied a portion of the meeting , that a row ensued , ami the prisoaer threw some pieces of timber at Mr . O'Connor . Another witness stated , that he saw the prisoner with a piece of timber in his hand ; but he did not see him making use of it-- [ < . Feargua OlGohrior and Mr . Scholefield then entered the court The former had a large black patch on his forehead , in consequence of a wound which he had received in the affray ¦ ; the latter had his lip greatly swelled , and his nose and one of his eyes bore palpable marks of recent violence . ]—Mr . O'Connor , on being sworn , begged to state that he knew nothing of the case 'bi fore the eourt He had attended merely at the request of Sir Charles Shaw . He ( Mr .

    0 "Connor ) did not , see the prisoner at the Hall of Science . — -Mr . Scholefield gave ' similar testimony . In his cross-examination he stated that a person namvd Duffy was addressing the meeting when he ( Mr . Scholeneld ) entered the room .- —A youth , named John Hargraves , deposed that he saw the prisoner assaulting several persons with a stick which he had in his band . He also threw several sticks and stones on the platform . Edward Hancock corroborated this evidence . —William Duffy , was examined for the defence . ; He stated that he obtained admission to the hall at five minutes past seven o ' clock , by the side door , along with two gentlemen connected with the press . On entering , the woman that opened the door said ' You will have a terrible stormy night of it , gentlemen . ' Having paid 6 d . witness obtained a seat on the plutform . He could not swear who first broke the chair ; but be thought it was not broken intentionally . He did not see the prisoner with a stick in his hand .

    Witness did not see him at all . The disturbance was caused by Mr . O'Connor , who , when witness had proposed a chairman that was approved of by the meeting :, said , ' Come on , my lads , ' making at the same timea signal for fighting . A * general row then commenced . Mr . O'Connor and others were fighting on the platform , and the place was niade in reality a 'Hall of Science ' —( laughter . ) : The prisoner said he left the room when the row began , and was met by some of the Chartists , who gave him very bad usage because he was an Irishman ; and then gave him into custody on the present charge . Mr , Maude said he did not consider the prisoner the worst of the party r but it was clear that he was one of the rioters . It was necessary that be Bbouid know that he was answerable for such misconduct ; but , considering all the circumstances of the case , and that , it was the first offence , be ( Mr . Maude ) would not inflict a heavy punishment on him . The prisoner ' was culled upon to find two sureties in £ 10 each to keep the peace for three months .

    "CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST MR . F . O'CONNOR . "Mr . O'Connor said he understood the court had granted a summons against him , for assault ng a person named Duffy ; and he hoped the case would be than brought on , if it was not trenching upon the time of the court—Mr . Maude having consented , " William Duffy stated , that on Tuesday evening he and some Irish Repealers attended a meeting in the Hall of Science , for the purpose of hearing Mr . O'Connor ' s views , and expressing their own , on certain subjects , about which there was a difference of opinion between them . He had been on the platform about an hour before Mr . Connor entered , during which time various parties had been demanding the appointment of a chairman . He told them that it would be improper

    to appoint » chairnian , or make a motion to that effect until Mr . O'Connor arrived . When Mr . Connor entered the room , some of his friends proposed the Rev . James Scholefield as chairnian . The other party proposed a parson named Doyle ; and when the show of hands was taken , there was a large majority for Doyle . At that time Mr . O'Connor took off his hat , and waved it three tunes over witness ' s head , which provoked cheers from the pai ty to which he belonged , and counter-cheers from the opposite party . Mr . O'Connor ; finding that he could not have it all his own way , put him-Belf in a fighting attitude , and shouted' Come on , my lads . ' In consequence cf this , there was a movement throughout the whole assembly , and , a general row commenced . Witness was then standing on the edge of the platform , which was raised about six or . seven feet above the

    floor ; and Mr O'Connor struck him over the hip with bis band , and knocked him down among the people . — The -witness -was crpsa-exairiined at great length , by Mr . O'Connor , but nothing additional was elicited . —T-Jphn Dooley was next examined ; he said Mr . O'Connor struck Duffy above the bip .--Mr . Maude : Would there not be sorue difficulty in a man so tall as Mr . O'Connor getting his hand down so low as the hip of the complainant ? Not when he was so close to him . Duffy was at the end of the platform . —In his crossexamination , witness stated that the disturbance began in the body of the meeting , and afterwards said it commenced on the platform . On being reminded of the discrepancy , he said he considered the platform the body of the meeting . Mr . Maude expressed himself dissatisfied with the evidence of Hub witness . Patrick

    Murphy was next examined in support of the complaint He stited that Duffy was at the edga of the platform , nearly opposite the centre ; Witness saw Mr . O'Connor , but did not see him strike DufFy .- ^ In consequence of the two last witnesses contradicting each other about the position occupied on the platform by Duffy , Mr . Maude desired him to state d exactly ¦ where he did stand , and Daffy confirmed the statement of the last witness . —Mr . Scholefield was then sworn , and said , that he went to the Mosley Arms on Tuesday , to Mr . Eeargus O Connor * a little before the meeting took place . The man who . bad taken the haU came , and informed them that '' . a riot was contemplated , and that it would be well to Bend , for the police . Mr . O'Connor said he would answer for his

    countrymen that they would behave themselves properly , and that he did not like to bring police to a public metting . Wben witness and Mr . 6 'ponnor entered the Hall of Science , Duffy xvbb in the act of addressing the meeting . When the show of hands for the chairman was taken , the whole of the gallery , and half the body of , the meeting , which , if estimated in numbers , would be about ten to one of the parties present , were in favour of witness taking the chair . Witness then took the chair , and immediately heard Duffy saying , "Now Doyle will take the chair . " Witness was then seized by a man in a fustian jacket , who tore his shirt Another man came to witnesses ' s assistance , and the chair went—^ he knew not where . The table on which the candles were . standing was flung into

    the body of the meeting , and , directly broken into pieces , which wero hurled back on the platform . When the attack was made on witnessj Mr . O'Connor said , Now , lads , stand . by your chairman . Mr . O'Connor got his arms round witness , to : protect him from the missiles that were flung at him from all directions . Witness saw Duffy : he was the cause of the entire disturbance . Witness did not see Mr , 0 Connor striking him . When Mr . O'Connor was retiring from the front of the platform , he was knocked down ; and several persons gathered round him , and begged of him to go away , or he would be killed . Charles Thomasons deposed , that ho saw Daffy throw a chair from the platform , and saw Duffy pushed off the platform , but did rot see Mr . O'Connor strike him . If Mr . O'Connor bad

    struck Duffy , witness thought he should have seen hiifl . —The last witness was cross-examined by Duffy at great length ; after which Mr . Maude observed , that there was no doubt that the complainant was pushed off the platform ; but the question was , whether that had been done wilfully or not ? The parties who Went into the room with weapons deserved punishment , and should be punished if such conduct were proved against ; them . It was much to be : regretted , that parties could -not meet together to discuss their differences , without coming into collision . If they could not meet without quarrelling ,, it were much better that the two parties should have separate

    places of meeting . He hoped he should hear ne more of such disturbances . The complainant , on entering the Hall , had had his attention called to the fact , that a row was contemplated ; and it was surpri&ing that he went in after that intimation . It was not clear from the evidence , that the pushing complainant off the platform was intentional . The case was tben dismissed . —The complainant then stated , that he entertained no ill-feeling towards Mr . O'Connor ; and the latter said , that to show he was influenced by no bad feeling , he was perfectly wilting to become ; one of Saxton ' s sureties . —Mr . Maude said he had no objection , provided there was no further quarrels , to discharge that man ' s recognizances . ;

    " SERIOUS CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY * " Yesterday , Mr . Feargus O'Connor appeared in the Borough Court , before D . Maude , Efq ; , C . J . 8 . Walker , Esq ., and Mr . Alderman Kershaw , and , under the cover of making an application , he delivered himself of the following extraordinary statement : — - ' " Perhaps your worships would allow me to make an application of a public nature . When I was before the court , on Wednesday last , it did not occur to me that the greatest public importance was attached to the

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    case in which I was then : concerned ; bnt now I appear to discharge a pnblio duty , having learned many of the circumstances connected with , the riot , ¦( which took place at the Hall of Science on Tuesday night I also appear here for the purpose of taking away much of the blame and odium attaching to my unfortunate countrymen , In consequence of that affafr , and attaching it to the proper parties . I shall apply : to the court for assistance and advice , when-1 lay before them a statement which I shall support by evidence . The cireumstances to which I wish to call attention are those : — It is well known that on Tuesday night I was to address the people of Manchester on a particular subject ; and I shall be able to prove that a certain association in this town met on Sunday nlgbi , and also on Menday night ,

    and tUey , iu . conjunction vA \ h a political association in this town ; premeditated : the dlflturbance which ocenrred on Tnesday night . One association undertook to furnish funds to the other association , for the purpose of procuring my assassination . I shall be able to prove who were the parties through whose hands the money came , and who the persons were that hired pa » ties to assassinate me . Iahall be able to prove , that one individual received 20 d for hire , and , Id for admission V and that one individual was hired at the amount of £ 5 to knock : roe off the platform , in order that those underneath might destroy me . I shall prove , that that individual struck me on the head—( he will be recognised by four person who saw him do so ) ,-r-ahd that he was selected by the association referred to for that purpose .

    A great deal of excitement exists relative to this occurrence ; and I am happy to say , for the honour cf Englishmen , and of all political creeds and persuasions , that there never was greater disgust manifested on any occasion , than there was towards the conduct ef those parties who created the disturbance on Tuesday night As the matter regards myself individually , I want , no great importance to be attachedto it ; bnt , when it comes to be considered as a question involving the peace of the country , it is of the utmost importauce .. The brutality and ruffianism of those persons whocoulA devote tbeirmoney to the base purpose of hiting assassins to destroy any man demand inquiry , not on account of the individual immediately concerned , but on ace runt of the public at large , whose interest it is to have such crimes

    visited with proper punishment . I mean to apply to the Secretary tif State in reference to : this matter ; and , backed by the law and my own energy and . determination , I shall prosecute the inqoiry as far as possible ; A very wealthy association in this town furnished another association with funds to effect my assassination on Tuesday night . By carrying on this investigation , I shall be enabled to put my own character on a proper footing . : On the night of the disturbance , I bad not a switch or a rod , nor any otherlweapon with me ; nordid I know of any individual having any thing with him to defend himself . On the contrary , supposing that ; wo should receive such opposition as we had frequently met with before , and that it would all end in an ebullition of feeling , when asked if the police should be

    requested to attend , so ignorant was I cf what was to occur , that I dissented from the iiitiodustiou of such a force . I knfew also , that , if any of my party went to the meeting armed , it would furnish their opponents with a : pretext for creating disturbance , and therefore I was opposed to any thiag of the kind . From 'thirty to fifty persons ; were seriously wounded ,- — perhaps fifteen of them dangerously , —and one old man had several of his ribs broken , . having been trampled upon by those hired ruffiaus who came into tbe meeting armed with : hatchets , pokers , bludgeons , stones , &c . 1 niyself received six wounds on my body , one on my forehead , and one on the back of my head , and was knocked down several times . I have collateral evidence to show , that all the missiles that were thrown

    during the affray went immediately over my head , or struck my person , or some one in my immediate vicinity ; Now , if these things have been done to impede me in that course which I have hitherto so long pursued , legally , honestly , and peaceably;—and which I shall still continue to pursue in . the same manner , for I am opposed'to ; the shedding of one drop of human blood , under any circumstances , and I have eoverai times received the thanks of the Guardians at Huddersfield for having saved them from assassination—1 will never lend myself to the violation of the peace—I never will;—if , I say , these things have been done to obstruct me in my course , the parties who did so with that intention will find that I am not to be intimidated . Under these circumstances you will . I have no doubt ,

    think me fully entitled to your protection . I ask not your protection for myself merely , but for the sake of the peace of the country . I ask now the advice of the magistrates . It is important that these matters should go forth to the world in their proper colours j for if money is to be collected and distributed fjr such vile purposes , and inflamm ? t * ry documents circulated far the purpose of raising the worst passions of a political party , Qpd only knews wbere such things may end . Another thing which I have omitted to mentpn .: —On Wednesday , bur object wa * rather to allay angry feelings , than to excite them ; but tb . 0 other party issued violent and inflammatory documents , calling on the came persons , who had so misconducted themselves on Tuesday night , to assemble again on Wednesday , and ; perpetrate similar outrages . One of the first duties of this court will be , —for I shall be

    able to bring this ^ matter home , —not simply to the poor Irishmen who were hired for the purpose , but to persons of standing in BOCiety-4 o persons of authority , standing , and wealth . One of the first things which the law guarantees you the power of doing is , that you 8 enidsome one to the individual who printed that last inflammable bill , and ; as ho is obliged to keep , for a certain period , all the manuscript which he pub . isiies , to obtain from him the manuscript from which that bill was printed ^ in ord er that we may . have an opportunity of ascertaining in whose handwriting it is . 1 do net want the magistrates to pass over their bounds of duty ; but I wish them to make this the cose , not of Feargus O'Connor , but of the country . If ever there -was a brutal and violent attack made on peaceable individuals , that on Tuesday night was one . — Having reiterated the same thing over and over again , Mr . Maude asked him what it was he wauted . Mr .

    O Connor : ) t Is this , that , having so far developed my case , the magistrates will guarantee ali the assistance in their power to bring the entire case to light— . Mr . Maude : Are you prepared with . any information ? Mr . O'Connor : No : I only thougbt it necessary to put you in possession of the . facts . The evidence of what has reached me is yet incomplete . — [ Mr . O'Connor again repeated his former statement about the pio 6 against his life , and said he did not wish to mention names ] My first applicatian ; is , that an officer be sent to the printer for the manuscript of the bill which appeared on Wednesday , inviting Irishmen to come to the Hall of Science , and follow up and achieve tbe victory which they had so well begun on Tuesday , air . Mauuc : Can you refer to the act under which you . make tlit )

    application ? Mr . O'Connor : I cannot now refer to the act ; but I am perfectly well aware , as the proprietor of a newspaper , that printers are obliged to keep manuscripts for a certain time . —Mr . Maude : Refer to the act—Mr , O'Connor : I think it is in the stamp act—Mr . Maude : That only gives us j uriBdiction over printers , on some information Jaid . —Mr . O'Connor : That is a particular act . This is the general stamp act . —Mr . Herford : Do you mean the act changing the stamp duty?—Mr . 6 'Connur : -That only refers to newspapers ; but I come before the court to see whether it gives them jurisdiction beyond the newspapers .- —Mr . Maude : My . recollection is , that , when the recent act gives us any jurisdiction to impose a penalty , it is necessary that the Attorney-General should lay the infdimation . r ^ Mr . O'Connov : That ia when a penalty is sought ; but I only want to obtain a manuscript for tae purpose of grounding future

    proceedings Upon it—Mr . Maude : We shall be quite willing at all times to ; receive any information of any conspiracy , of thisiind -and , if you lay any information wo shall have no difficulty of putting the law into execution , so far as it depends on us to < io sc . If you arevprepared now with any information , lay it before us—Mr . O'Connor then repeiiteil his application . ^—Mr . Maude said the manuscript was tne printer ' s properfcy , and . the court had no more right te rtematid it than they had to demand the papers of ainy other party . After deliberating some time with the other magistrates , Mr . Maude said the Act © f Pur . iament Which amended the act referred to by Mr .. O'Connor was not in court ; but the best way for Mr . O'CoDnor to act was to communicate tothe court any iuforn ;; itiou he had , and then they should ' see how they were to act . —^ Mr . O'Connor said , he was quite sure . th « court would do their duty , when anything of a specific cUaracter was iaid before them . Mr . O'Connor then withdrew .

    I" The inflammatory placard referred to ~ y ~ Mr . O'Connor was not produced in court , nor did the Learned Qentlemangiye the name of the printer . " ] In juxia-position with these we place the account given by the Manchester and Salford' Adverliser ^ —SL Liberal Anti-Corn-Law and Repeal paper : — --

    " MB , FEARGUS O'CONNOR IN MANCHESTER . DREADFUL RIOT AT THE ' SOCIALISTS HALL OF SCIENCE . " The subject announced for tho lecture on Tuesday was the repeal of the legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland , and the room was quite as crowded as on the previous night . The principal occupants of the crowded galleries were Chartists . The body of the room was taken up by the repealers , the greater part of whom forced tiieniselyes into the room without paying the fee demanded for their admission . The platform ; was & \ so ^ crowded by the friends of each party ; especially we noticed Meafers . Duffy ; Fihnigan , and others of the repealers . On their entrance , they were revived with mlngjed cheers and hootipgs , as were Messrs . Doyle , Linney , and others of the Ghartists , who arrived last .

    '¦¦ ' . ' . The meeting was announced to commence at ei ght o ' clock , and at five minutes patt , Mr . M'Avoy rose ^ o move the appointment ¦ of a chairman '; but he was desired to sit down , and wait for the business to be commenced regularly by the party who had engaged the room . Great confusion arose , but at last M'Avoy gv > t off the chair upon which he had moanted , when Mr . Higginbotham , one of the tiustecs of the hall , rose and pegged of the meeting , in the name of the proprietors , ' and as working men , not to do any damage to the hall , or the property it contained . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Ho need only inform them , that it was erected by the working men of Manchester , and he was sure tHey would be the last to injure

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    what they had themselves as a body erected . ( Loud and prolonged cheering . ) Mr . Duffy here began to address the meeting , and was met with loud cries of u Order " and ' Chair . " mingled with cheers . He said all the friends of order would show it by keeping order . Mr . Feargus O'Connor had not yet arrived , and ( it would not be proper to proceed to the appointment of a chairman iu his absence ; but as soon ash © came , his frieuds would doubtless propose a chairman of , Mr . O'Connor's choice ; but he ( Mr ; Duffy ) , together with his friends , wonld feel bound to pat forward a man of their own choice-r- ( cheers and hissea . ) As Mr . Duffy concluded , Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Scholefield entered , and were welcomed withalmost unanimous applause

    , V Mr . ^ ohn Liuuey then moved , and Mr . C . Doyle seconded that the Rev . John Scholefield do take the chair . •¦ . . ;¦¦ ¦ .. - ¦ : ¦ . ¦¦ : ¦ . ¦ , / ' -:. - ¦ ' \ .:- . = ; . :- : " . ""'' :. -- ' : ' -,. - . :: . ' ¦ ' ¦ > fMr i ty ^ K moved , as ah amendment ^ the appointment of Mr . John Doyle , and claimed theright to put his amendment first , which was accordingly done , and lost by a large majority , two-thirds of the aadience being for Mr . Seholefield , who accordingly took the chair . Scarcely had he seated himself when a rush wa 3 made from behind , the reporters'table upset , tho chairman ' s chair and desk thrown into the middle of the room , and himself knocked down and much injured . The chairman ' s desk , his . chair , the benches in the middle of the room , and banisters 6 h the stairs , Iwere instantly broken and applied as

    weapons by such of the parties in that pait of the hall as had come unprovided with pokers , bludgeons , paving stones ^ &o . Many heavy missiles were directed against the parties on the platform , and pur reportersaw several whose injuries were dreadful to behold—the cheeks , lips , forehead , and temples being in many cases laid completely open , and streaming with Wood . The two doors which lead from the platform ; together with their Jobbies , were instantly filled by the parties who had occupied ttat part Of the room .: The parties in the body of the room , having by this time nearly cleared it of the few Chartists who were there , next scaled the platform * and the persons there were set upon . Those Who could not reach the two doors were

    dnven againstihe centre of the wall , and assaulted with the . weapons we have before described ; while those at the two doors were kept from entering into the lobies in consequence of the pressure Outride , aad also from the doors being closed at the foot of the stairs . It was while attempting to leave the room byone of these doors that our reporter , Mr . J . H . Leresche , was assaulted by a man in a white fustian jacket and trousers . The first blow cut through the back Of his hat , and inflicted a wound ou the head two inches in length and half an inch wide . He immediately turned round to see who it was , when he received another heavy blow on the forehead ; happily the force of it was turned aside by holding up nis hind , which is in consequenice at present useless . The man then continued to belabour his back and

    shoulders untilj bruised and faint from loss of Wood , he contrived to force a passago through the door , and thus escaped with his life . The weapon used appeared to be part of the hand-rail torn from the banisters . ' . ; ' " : ' " ¦ ¦¦ ¦ .- ' ¦ ¦ . " ' ; ' ¦ ' ; : ;" ' / . . - ¦" : ' " Among others wounded in this morciless and diabolical onslaught , besides Mr . O'Connor , who received seven different wounds on various parts of the body , was the Chairman , Mr . Scholefieid , whose lower lip was cut , as well as the left side of his nose ; he also received two wounds over the eye . A person of the name of Railton had his arm broken in two places , and his head severely fractured , as well as receiving soveral heavy contusions on the

    body . Mr . Swire , hat manufacturer , of Thomasstreet j aged 67 years , is now lying in a hqpelesa state , with his ribs literally bruised in , and his face and head so completely mangled as to present a most shockiug spectacle , flis nephoWi Edward Swire , had his head laid open . Greenwood is awfully mangled . Murray , the President of one of the Chartist Associations , is also severely wounded . A lad named Bailey had his face severely broken . Doyle , the Chartist who seconded Mr . Scholefield , received some violent bruises on the body and left arm ; and to these may be added a frightful list of from thirty to fifty who have been more or less seriously injured .

    "WEDNESDAY . M We need scarcely say that the proocsdings above narrated excited the greatest indignation againsfc the perpetrators of these outrages . AAc an ; early hour large placards covered the Avails , announcing that ; Mr . O'Connor would deliver his lecture on the Repeal of tha Union to-night , and calling upon the operatives of Manchester and Salford to be at their posts . The appeal was enthusiastically responded to . Great numbers of the men struck work at four o ' clock , and repaired to the Hall of Science , to defend Mr , O'Connor with their lives , if neceseary , while the disturbers of the previous evening , who had ; also mustered in some force , saw they were likely to be out-numbered , and diapersed . From three tofoui' thousand persons took possession of tho building shortly after the opening of the doors , and great

    crowds were unable to gain admittance . A gentleman from the office of this paper attended , but was unable to effect an entrance . We tnders ! and that Colonel Wemyss and Sir Charles Shaw , attended by a number of , inspectors , occupied thestage bos . Outside the building , in Camp Field , Vnearly the whole . of "the : police force for the berough were drawn up , with the horse patrol and some cavalry picquets . Owing to these precautions , the meeting passed off Quietly . Mr . O'Connor lectured for two houw aud a half , aud his receptioa was most triumphant . Everything he said seemed to carry with : it double the weight , and be listened to with double the interest that it would have commanded , but for the pro * eeding 3 of the previoua eTehin ^—the usual result of resorts to physical forea suca as disgraced the cause of Repeal .

    "BOROUGH COURT .-Wednfsday . " A man named Saxon was brought up , on ; a charge of haviug taken a prominent paxt in the riotous proceedings at the Hall of Science on the evening preceding { and also with having struck Mr . Feargus O'Connor with part ' .- ' of a table . He wa 3 identified by several persons , all of whom agreed as to his violence ; and he was , consequently , obliged to find bail for his appearance at the aesaions . Mr . O'Connorj who attended , as he 6 tated , at the request of Sir Charles Shaw , declined to offer any remarks against the prisoner ; but , as he was there , he begged to ask the cliairman if he had granted a warrant a » a , inst him to a man named Duffy , for an assault .

    If bo , . heva&ked as a favour that the case might be then gone into , which was accordingly granted , upon , which , Mr . O'Connor , accompanied by the Rev . Mr . Scholefield , who appeared as evidence ^ took his seat at the reporters' table , when ¦ Duffy was called upon , to state the nature of his charge . It was to the effect that , on tho preceding evening , he had attended a lecture given . by ' Mr . O'Connor at the Hall of Science , and that he paid his admission money to the platform ; and that , owing to a demur arising as to the right of who should be chairman , a most desperate row had ensued . He swore to his belief that Mr . O'Connor caused the scene , and also that from thafc gentleman ho had received a blow on the right hip , which forced him from the platform ;

    "After a patient investigation , the chairman gave it as his opinion that Mr . Duffy had failed to prove his

    case . -- .. ¦ - ¦ .: . - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ . "¦ . .. - ¦ . . ¦ - ; ::. " , • ¦ . - . ' : ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ "On Mr . O'Connor ' s departure , he was received with hearty cheers by a large party of his Chartist followers who were waiting for him outside , and who accompanied him towards his inn .

    " FRIDAY . " Mr . O'Connor appeared before the Conrt on Friday , for the purposo of mafcnig the following application ' . He said : —May it please your Worship , when I appeared before you on Wednesday last , I was then wholly iguoraat of the brutal . circuhistances connected with tho riot of the previous night , and I appear before you now with the double object , first , to take the odium of that violence off my own countrymen , who might 1 > 8 supposed to be the perpetrators , and to saddle it upon persons of wealth and station ; and , secondly ,. to discharge a duty ; not so much to myself , as to the public at large . This is the nature of my application . It yraa announced that on Tuesday last I was to address the

    public in the Hall of Science , upon the subject of the repeal of the Legislative Union ; and I shall be ablo to provo that a certain Association in this town , haviug large funds at their disposal , furnished . the means to a person connected with a certain Political Association to procure my assassination ; and in tbo thorough silting and investigation of all the circumstances connected with so foul an act , I feel assured that I shall baye tbe co-operation and assistance , not only of the authorities of Manchester , but of every man i n Jvl an cheater , of ' . every shade of politics . I shall be enabled to prove , that those persbns wio were hwedreceiyedfapprtion of them , Is . for their work , and Id . for admission ; while another detachment received 2 s . 6 d , and ' . Id . for admission . I shall be enabled to shew the hands from whence the mbney came , and those through which the blood-gift passed . I shall al 3 O he able toprovethat a cerfaia'individual volunteered , aud compounded

    for a sumof £ 5 , to throw me off the platform among those immediately under it , who were armed with hatchets , pokers , stones of immehse size , and missiles of various descriptions , and whose especial duty it was then to assassinate me ; I shall then be able to prove beyond a donbti by the evidence of four respectable witnesses , thafc this said ^ 5 ruffiaa was the-first , man who struck me a violent blow on the back of the head , bursting my hat as you now perceive it . [ Here Mr . O'C . exhibited his hat to tbe court , which bore evident testimony ' to the fact . J And now , iu order to prove my desire to preserve tho peace , I solemnly declare tHat I had aos even a switch or any single thing for self-defence , nor to my knowledge had a single man connected with my party . And fur their , when applied to for my sanction for the introduction of a police force , I at once refused , declaring my determination to rely upon the loye of juitice of my own countrymen ^ But to prove that my assassination was the object , although many others were wounded , yet every missile thrown ( Continued in our eighth pooe . J

    Untitled Article

    - ' - __ TIL E NORTHERN STAR , 7

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct590/page/7/