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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th August 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      HOUSE OF LORDS-JVidey , J « ty 29 . Tre Eiri of Bad > 'CB . presented a petition from Danfermlinc in favour cf a total repeal of the Cora Laws . Tie , SobleEsil said , in older to show his support o ; the prayer oi the p-etition , he begged Isave io lay on the table of the H- - -ass a BUI for the repeal of the duties en tha Iiu . pc . rls . tion of Com , -which he moved should be read a drst time and printed , and read a second time ou Thursday . —Arrc ^ d to . Tne ilcrouis of Clanbicak . de moved thit the order

      of the day fur tbe second reading of the SudburyDlsfriEcijis ^ nitnt Bill , and the hearing of Wiiniii 83 at the Bir . bo discharged , inasmuch as . pfter a careful consideration oi tha whole matter . l _ - = . ~ & 3 persuaded thnt their L-ordxhins would eg : ' ¦ - r . bie to alseuss the Eli during the present session -ifier a fc- ¦«• TTords from £ vrd J 3 B 0 UG 3 A 3 I , tb 2 motion ¦ was ssio = ' - ' tu-Tte r * -port of several bills were then received , aft € r "Whica thiir Lordsaitjc adicurnel .

      Saturday , Juy 30 . Their L-M-Jships met to d 3 y at twelve o ' clock . Srver ^ l bi ' . la ¦ were brought up from the Commons , and Kid a £ s * l tise . Tee privr . 5 bills on the tabla were forwarded a tiage , and tLtir Lordships adjourned until Monday . Monday , Aug . 1 . The HiV-sa m = t at the usuil honr and advanced the Several Bills before them a itaee in their progress .

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      HOUSE OF COMMON'S , Friday , July 29 . ¦ J ir . T . S . Dr ^ COMBE presented a petition" from Dr . iTDouali and certain inhabitants vt D .-ptford , complaining of the inteiference of the constabulary wiih the public meeting there ; and gave notice that , on Monday , he s :. ou ; d move that the petition of Dr . H'DauaU and the inhabitants of Di-ptford be rfcfsrr ? d to a select cemnjivteej ¦ with directions to report the evidence to the Hovpe . On tb . 3 crat ? cf tha day being read for going into eominiitee of supply ,

      - : ir . Ht ' TT rc . 3 e and brought forward the following motion , of whiLk he had given notice : — "Tint sn humble address be presented to her iiajest " , praying that her Msjssty will be plsised to give aireaions tnst there ba la ;* , before this Btu . se an estimate ef the amount of mosey which will ba required tj satisfy the award mada by the commissioners to -whom it was referred to ^ saruine and adjudicate the claims of certiin British snbj : ci =, for 3 cs ^ sssnsii : nc-d by the consecution cf their ships : md carrces by the Government of Des-3 E 2 rt . in : heyear 1 S 07 ' After some observ ^ : i-n 3 on the subject , the Hon . Member ssid a : this period of the session he would not pr £ * 3 Ms mc-tic-n- and The Chancellors the Exchequer soil lhs * nbjtCl TToxiil TTv . -: ?> e I list S ^ Ll of . bat tv ^ ry- fixation paid to 5 t > y hcrMsj 5-t ~' .- ( i rrerninrfct . Mr

      Ar . eT : cm ^ o ^ crr- mm . Williams , the E'jasr Trenr into comnij : t = e of zxivp ' . y , iir . Grease in the chair . TheSrs- rctetras £ 70 000 for c : t )! eonHnsercies . iir . WiLLlAiis ^ . tTOEg ' j' - _ hj ^ ci ^ -d to £ : > iii 2 of the items insVud : * d iU I ^ liT-Jtsi . Aurr s f ^ TT -R-jr ^ s from C--Icciel Si 3 Tnonp and jI . P . >! avls , ? 0 t . Hijie in r ^ fcrenc- - to some r < . mark 3 from Col . S : bt ^ crif , <" : ii- ; td npoa ths cxtruviisance of the GoTerrsieE : rcsprctlig : hirir allowance . -1 . siatesiadors in foreign conit * , 2 ^ 9 . the £ 6 . 000 to th = G-jt ^ tcoi ci Iforth Attiic-u

      Sir G . CLAT . s . 2 t ; -. \? i that the £ 6 C 00 . was c-. rS = d by the iai-r X--rd Syci . 'L b-. m Guricg the t ^ o years he ttes in < fiee . Tte hrr ^ r ^ rni .-Ji ' s for the residing G-jTemor-Giiierai $ ? ere hased on a mors econemic fjotins :. After a : > . ¦ -= -wc-rds frcni Mr . Zrrar : ; Lord ? AiiiEEsios ; iii s loag speech , ce "" ezf e 3 t ' : e SppciEtDitEt of the oipicnistlc axraE ^ riatiirs at tile Hiir . cr cr-u-if of Europe ; be To ? , howevtT , very v . -l i : I'ii ; to abo . iih ary that trtre fonzd to be nsek-is . He fciui t f ^ - ^ T-:-anci \ : the L ^ b . r ;; S % 7 rbn he vas in c-E ^ e . an .: they -srere qaite r . s Iot as those of Fi-asce , Prussia , and oth-r c ^ nntii ^ . Ttere was no £ 0 Terr . a ;^ t ia ihi 'sroild ^ n hkh ^ -as btttsr goTcrrtdin this r-. spec : thia CttT 3 . Dr . BOTrju ^ G regrcttrd thst the ambasacor at Constam ; iiQi . 2 . ; -was ot'iitt-d to employ drcsonians in cemmuniciiion -wllh the P .. rte ; u ^ r diplcrnads relations treri n ; t cs a-pror . rr footiai ; rttre ; ft-r y , rs us cniit to b-i -tnc > el to tie eaibissy capable of ii-Idinc con ~ erss with tha Tatks . Afur tie Aiti i Sir it

      a r ; fcnTtristioa between Sir R . PeJanJ . . a ^; r ; fcnTtrisuoa r-efsreen . PeJanJ Dr . BoTn t 2 , Lord PiLMSHSTOX s : rid he had rnggertcd to the ¦ CniT . . rau :.. - 3 ih- propriety of edncating some yi _ uths in crieatJ li ^ r-iturc In !* . ¦ :: > to a qacstion from Sir C . Xzpie :, rektiye to the Sp--r . i > h anc Portnsncse chimii ts , Sir K ' jBEUT P . EEL &iid u . ey were in prccress c ' i EttUfcia ^ u ~ Captiir . PIXMILIDGS candsnintid the txtrava ^ -ujcs of some oi u-. cit £ nis . A ion ^ citiEni £ ..-ry conversation took place bc '^ re n ESTerai Ko ~ . iirmbers , vhen the Tots for £ 70 . 000 " ^ ultia : it =:-y czrr : eJUpoa a t-tzxii of £ 10 0 C 0 for edticstioEal parpesa btirg prcpcScd , Dr . Bj ^ rinx ana ilr . Huina s , hd . pcrU-d it After sc-iiis » c £ sr 7 atioii 3 froni ilr . Cowpes and ilr .

      EoTTAF . D . 2 ur . 0 C 0 > " ^ EIL rose . Ee complained cf the nDJast exc ] L 5 ii-. n of CaiLv'icsfiomi-chools ; a great Portion 0 : the ciiL-ir ^ n cf the Irish in this coan try "Were Gatbolic 3 . ¦ whose paieaU had emisrattd ; they -were Tcry poor , and sto&d ic need oi i ^ amitons education . He hdrerted to the admirable system which existed in Xew Turk , which pat all € tristian 3 upen an tq : iai footing . Hs or j ^ cted tj the grant because he thcoght it proper that the ' Catholic child should be educated in the princiules of hia csm rel-gion . ' * * - T ; ts arreed to . £ 5 S 936 for the payment of bills in Sonth Atisiralu "Was thea rr-i > ar * -i .

      ilr . Hr . 'iE objjeied te this grant , on the gronnd of its estravagaces . and the absence cf all information respecting : t . The money -a-i-nid ba bettfcr bestowed if it h £ . c t = di applied to ttis relitf cf the starring manulactarer . He nopes the Eonse "WOBld not agree to this -rote . The Chasczlloe of the ZxcHEQrES defended the grant on tLs gioand that it was necessary to protect the emigrants . . Mr . B . R * ood ccadenuied , and Xord Si as ley defended th-i T-jte . ilr . Hume thought that conTerting the loan into a gift was an indncs-meLt : the scm Bhould be -charged ¦ upon the hai of the eoioriy .

      Mr . WabD -B-onld Kmi ^ d the Hon . Gentlemim -who spote last that the land -wculd be of little worth if it vere tncuinc-crod in this manner . Xo one -could bny in such a case . GoTernment wonld not be able to snpply the requisite quantity of labociers , -srho -were seat oat to the c > icny , snA for -which the salts cf lands paid , if thbss hinds -wtre in such a manner encumbered . The sum of £ 59 . 336 -sras then voted , after a division of rs to 13 . Oa thexote for the army , navy , and crdnance service for China being pet , & vtry animated and amiising discussion toofc place btrwein Mr . Hume and Sir C . KaPIEe ., relative to promotions in tbe navy . Tfte former objecie-J to the an si her of o £ crrs in the nary ; " ws had four tbousanrl frhsn one thousand vrcu ' . d b- * - stiffi-iciit , the rr . r , = j cf them 'were pssisioners . TVhen there vrere so many old cfiicers « vh ^ were doin ? nothing in the ssrfiee . . he did coi ihink that 3 c-nng an ^ s shomd "be ccatistiallv ptiihtd on .

      Sir c . 2 s ' js . riEK C 3 uiu see uo othtr way cf gelling rid of the old picsiontrs bat by iniroduciBg ioaie prusne acid aiiiuCi ; them . The i-allont C jisr . iodcre then ailude . 5 to soiae of ? dr . Hnaits nonstnsicil cads for reports , ¦ which rathar rtS-d > ir . Hume , -who , to the infinite amijssiaent of the Bcuae , read EonEensicai to mean foolish ; frca which , in true Dogberry style , heisiu the E . ^ nis m is ; " -write roe ( town an ' as ? . * " Roars-of l £ n ^ L :. er fcllowe 4 Use Hon . Members rattier touchiiig speech . Tbc other tstisi&tes -were then voted . The CHiiSiiAS reported progriss , and the House Tesnistd .

      , 2 ur . Shahmax Csawford roaa to move ,-in pursuance of a petition from a iarce nmaber oi electors , and i&feabitaiits t . f tie ZQ ~ vm of Xn * tiT > ghtT » - j tial a new vrril " th ; issufed fo ? that borouik . The Hon . Gentleman Ezid that the people of the borough of Koitisgham had complain eu of their griev-tncvs . and he had beea rtqa == t > d to moTe for a r&w -writ I-jt tho boroEih . . In a very argui ^ sntative spfcjch , the H ' .: u . Member contecd&J for the expediency of providing remedial m&i-Earea . and :: otfor disTrinthisinq the bor&ngh . Dr . BoWKiNG seconded tie motion . 2-: r . Hc 3 is iscres = ea Lis rtgrct that at this advanced part of ths Sisrwr , not ^ in ^ hz < l ireen fioneiorcmecy the evil comp ' a .: Ecd

      of-Sir R . Peel es : J he had assented to the suspension of the wris in the Hi-i instance , in order that inquiry might be made zs to iow the committee had trough ; in their report . It would Mfesonstituticnal , thertfure , to suspend the -writ 3 , { car scy definite tiee . He hoped £ me clauses -would T > s introuueed kito the Brii > ery BYd to tScct thb object . He believed that ii ths Hon . Gentleman hid tiie po-srerta -would be s great tyrant Mr . Hen replied . Sir K . Peel said tta Hon . GanUsnnn had acessed him of being the originator of all sorts of abominatioQE . Mr . HciiE rfeiterated hi 3 assertions . Mr . Wasb said the Jllzhi Hon . Baroset , en Thursday night , bad conadtrsd it expedient that the Bribery Bill . should have tjie support of ths House of Commons , aEd they wonld staltify themselves if it did not pass . It wonil 'jave s -very salohary tffscfc ; for it would strike at the r .. > ot of the eviL Ha supported the motiea . fce had the

      • Jjord Pai ^ eestos raid hoped that -writ Would no £ Ijftve beea issued until the Bribery at Elec tiora Bill bypassed into law . The ynii T ^ Ss-then issued . On the -ZQctloa that ths reoort of the Canada Xoon BUI be broogtit up , Mr . Haves complained of the want of information Teipectinfit . ¦ .

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      member for Kent ? The Noble Lord said that since the formation of the police force their conduct had been most praiseworthy ; but that evorybody under the control of the Government ought to be closely watched ; and that it was necessary , in order to satisfy the public , to grant a committee of inquiry . On another occasion Mr . Cubbett moved far two committees of the House to inquire into the conduct ef the police , who had been employed ra they hod recently been employed in Ireland , as spies . Tht-se motions were carried , and that too during the existence of a Whig administration . He thought that the petitioners bad great reason to complain of the

      contact of the police . Their complaint had been made in most 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 diflgraceful manner , and that the demeanour of those who attended that meeting was most peaceable . He did not think that ! the law could support the police in 8 ucll unjust exercise of authority . He hoped that he had made out a privia facie cas 9 for a committee of inquiry . He begged to move that the petition which he presented to the House on Thursday last be referred to a select committeeof the House .

      The motion having been seconded and put from the chair , Sir J . Graham expressed his regret that he felt it his duty to detain the House by resisting the motion of the Honourable Member for FinBbury . In the first place , he -would direct the attention of the House to some facts which had 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 the whole of the question rested , wa 3 that which related to the character of the meeting at which this disturbance took place . The Hononrabi © Member for Fintbury had termed it a peaceable Bie&tinij . He ( Sir J . Grabani ) would state the facts of tha case . The met ting , which had taken place in the open air , was

      only a continuance of that which had baen held in the chapel . The meeting w ? . s called for the purpose cf hearing a lecture , which was to bo detivtred by one of the Anti-Corn-Law delegates . The trustees and the clergyman had invited Mr . Thosnpson to deliver a lecture on the Rubject of the Cam Laws , it was an unfortunate circumstance that the chapel should have been selected for that purpose , but he did not ky any particular ttross on that fact . Directly the meeting was convened a large influx of people took place , and the Hueting , which-was . originally for the purpose of discuiniLg the operation of the Corn Laws , became very different in its char .-. ctsr . A large number of strans-cTB , Chartists , rushed into the chapel . The greatest confusion immediately ensued . A msh was

      made by the Chartists towards the platrorm , where the trustees and the clerayman of ths chapel were situated , and it was proposeii that the chairman ahculd give w » y and a labouring man be nominated in hia piaCe to preside over the meeting . The confusion was increased when the atterai . t was made to displace the chairman . Dr . MD .-unil took part with the Chartists . Tha tu-uu ' n vMcn . followed b ; . ffl ; l all description . Wonion fai nted . O ; e of thn tvustets made his escape , and brought :: i ths p . ^ istance of the police . When they made their app ^ araaoe a shvnt was made by cfce rivai party to nttuck the poiice , atui in ordei" to excitea&trong teelin ? against that body , alJusioH 8 wore matieto 3 disturbance which had takvii place in Kentish-town , when a Severe struggle took pLaob bttwct-n tne populace and the police , and which

      termiu ite 1 in the loss of human liie . At Una a severe Etrugcle tiitued , and the cliapel was cleared . AYhen Dr . ii'Douail f « und that it was the intention of the trustees and the police to have the chapel cleared , he declared that it was his intention to hold the meeting in tho opv : i air . Upon this annouacemeat being made , multitudes followed him in a stnts of great excitement . Dr . M'DouUl thfen addteased the multitude . Tho greatest alarm was excited in the neighbourhood . A great crowd of persons occupied tho whole 6 M . be turnpiba-road , causing a complete obstruction of the highway . At this time evening advanced , and the meeting became more tumnituous . The language of Dr . . M'Donall was c-xceadinaly violent . The superintendent of Lha police suggested that the metting should disptrfio , and reconiinendtd Dr . M'Djuall to address the meeting to that tffect . He refused to do so . The -Jtmperintoudent of t-. e police said , that if Dr . M Douiill would

      disperse tho meeting , he' ( tn-j suptrinteiitieijt ) would procure him a safe passage through iho crowd . He t&-fused complh'ic 3 , au < l it was not until thea that the poiict a ' . ttnipttd to arrest him . When this was tfi ' ticted , a violent attempt waa ma < le to capture him from the police . . Bio ' . va were txchanged ^ other individuals w < ire arrested , and Dr . MDouall was carried to the stationhouse . It was true , as slated by the Hon . Mt-mberfor Finsbary , that tho friends wf Dr . M-Douj 11 < flVred bail with ths view of obtainiDg his reiease . With respect to the complaint which ha 1 ! been made of the situation in which Dr .. M 'D ; uall had beau p ' aced at the stationhouse , he ( Sir J . Graham 1 was able to Btato , that an ofl \ .-r was made to Dr . M-Dounll to obtain adiiitienal accoraruodation for him . but their offers ho declined . No w with regard to the ex-unin ition before the magiatrate . The Hon . . Member for Fjiisbury hud said that no one but the police were ext ; mii ...-d .

      } Ir . T . DV . ncojibe—I said that no inhabitants of Dfptford weretxiiiniieil . Sir J . Ghah-am . in continunHon , eaid , that he would r ^ ad the tubstancc of tho chargo as m ^ da before the nngistri-ti ! with rufer . &iica' to the part which Dr "ilD-jnal ! ha-l t . iften in tbe transaction . Tiie Doctor was charged with havirr ; caused a number of peisonato assL-rnhie , and with addressing ' -to * them exciting lanfruaee calculated to disturb the public p-ace . The Hon . M'stiiber . for Finsbury said , thac tha testimony of the poiics "was not to be relied upon . The ri ? ht Hoq . Baronet referred to tbe evidence of the police , which clearly established the violent character of the crowd . As the Hon . Member for Fi&sbury ka < i stated that thb-evid < nee ought not to be taken , he ( Sir J . Graham ) would direct

      the attention of the House t f » ths evidence of a very respectable person , a Sir . Hugh ; a watchmaker . His evidence was to the effect that if the police had cot 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 . Tne police , finding that the crowd complttely obstructed the highway , that night was coming on , aiid that there was little or no chance of the multitude dispersing , interfered . Under theso circumstances , he did not consider that the police had exercised an unwise discretion . The Hon . Mem'her for Finsbury had alluiled to the character of Dr . M'Douall . This was not the first time that Dr .-M'DouaU had been engaged at a riotous meeting . After tbe magistrate had

      heard the evidence against the prisoner , and before he entered upon hia . defence , the magistrate said , instead of committing him for trial , he would only bind him over to keep the peace . Dr . -M'Douall then willingly acquiesced that the case should close , exptessed himse . f perfectly satisfied with the decision of the Bench , an J even thanked Mr . Jeremy , the magistrate , for bis leniency . When Dr . M-Douall was informed that it was not the in'eDtion of the magistrate - to commit him for trial be txprtssed himself satisfied . The Doctor immediately entered into recognizances , himself in £ 50 , and two others in £ 25 each , to keep fcke peace . It would appear from the observations of the Hon . Member for Finsbury that a novel course had been taken in this matter , l-. v ( Sir J . Graham ) most distinctly stated

      tbat no new or additional powers had been invested in tae constables ; no change nud been made on tbe part of the Government with reference to the authority exercised by the constabulary force . If a constablo was guilty of an illegal act . the law was sufficiently strong to punish the oflence . It was not the part of that Honse to interfere in such ei&es . In the case of the riot which took place in Coldbatfi-flelds , as well as in what was termed the " Manchester massacre , " several lives were lost , several wounds were also inflicted ; but compare those cas ^ j with the one then under the consideration .- of the House . In tho case to -which tha Hon . Member for Finsbury referred no lives were lost and no person had been seriously hurt . This then was not a case which would justify the

      interference of Parliament Tiie Hon . Member for Finsbury said that the police ought to bo closely watched . He ( Sir J . Graham ) did not deny that it , was necessary to exercise such vigilance . The discussion which was then going on with regard to the conduct of the police fores clearJy proved that the actions ef tho executive Government were scrutinized with a jealous eye . He was prepared to admit that the actions of tbe constables should be influenced by time and circumstances . It was difficult to lay down general rules for the conduct of constables in particular cases . The right of constables to interfere at public meetings was an extreme right , which ought to be exercised with the utmost caution . Pre * vious to the holding of public meetings it was the

      undoubted duly of these who were charged with the maintiinMice of the public peacn to do all in their power by tbe a- ! option of every possible precaution , to prevent any species of disturbance ; but if their precautions proved ineffectual , or that time did not allow of any precautions whate / er being taken , then he did not cone ^ ive that it was the duty of a constable to take summary measures . Of this at all events he-felfc-satisfied , that there were no grounds for instituting any such inquiry as that which formed the subject of the present motion , and he hoped that the House would concur with him in thinking that on the present occasion tbe complainants had met , not only with justice , but with leniency .

      Mr . OCgwkell observed , that Hon . Members were quite miBtaken in supposing that the petition wa 3 directed against the magistrate ; on tho- contrary , it was so shaped as not to implicate any person except the constable . Now , that being the case , he tfcooght it only right to remind the Honse that the wHioe were the paia servant * of the public , and it was the dut ? of the House of Commons to see that they did their datY and especially to take care that they did not violate tha " law which they were employed to maintain and enforce If the offences complained of in the present petition had been perpetrated against a member of Parliament

      the House of Commons would denounce it u a grosa outrage , and surely it was as much an outrage when committed against Dr . M'DonalL But the affair assumed a still 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 but another mode of giving expression te the feelings and opiniona of the people . The form might be slightly different , but the substance was the same ; and therefore , he held that nothing could be more clear than the illegality of the arrest . On theBe grounds he ahonld

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      support the motion , for he conceived that it 'Would be satisfactory to the public to have an inquiry instituted by the House of Commons . ¦';/ -. ! . ¦ ' y / Mr . Haw . es was surprised that bo law officei * of 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 former occasion , said , that a constable did possess tbe right to disperse any meeting which he conceived to be seditions , and that the pivrtiea so injared had their remedy by action . Sorely the Right Hon . Baronet muat know that to the public that ' was no remedy ; whatever— such doctrines ^ U . assented to by Parliament , would go at once to tho establishment of arbitrary power in this country . * It . . was said , that the meeting to which the present petition : referred was an assemblage that obstructed the highway . Possibly the meeting ,: having commenced : in > n . encloDed space ,

      might have overflowed into a highway ; in such a case the constable ought quietly to have requested the parties eo a 8 semt » leii not to obSuruct the public thoroughfiire ; that would probably have been successful , and that , at alt event 3 , was as much a ? the constable had any right to do . It was well known that the majority of the great publicimeetingfli held in the metropolia Were held on , or very near * highways , those , lor example , in Palace-yard , the Rsgent ' s-park , Kensington-common , Co vent-garden , oataide tha Town-hili , in South wart , — all these w ; er « in public thoroughfares ; but they had not jetbeen diapersod by the police . It might be very convenient for a high-flyirig ^ 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 he 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 Attornet-Geneb , ai . sai (> , that the inquiry which tbo Hon . MoVer sought" to institute was unnecea * - sary . There had ' . bee . ii no losa . 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 for extraordinary occasions , when such proceedings were thought necessary in order to calm the public mind . He did not object to tbe attention of the Hpnse being drawn to ' such a snbjeefc , for the purpose of making grievances known ; ' but he thought inquiry into matters already public was unnecessary , and might bo . disadvantageous , the more especially as it did ' jio ' t appear that the meeting had beea in auy reBpect legttlly epnstitutert . It Avas ^ not a meeting to petifcioii Pdriiament . The Honourable

      Member tfor Lambeth had contended : that a person stopping up the public way in the manner described was not thereby guilty of an-pffiuice' to justify the procoedinga taken . As a dry question of laWj . the obstruction of the public way by a meeting must be an : illegal act , and such a one as to justify the police in interferintf , so as to remove or prevent the obstruction . But suppose Dr . M'Douall had bef ; n aggrieved by any act of tho police , the law was open to him for a remedy . If the objuct of the pttition -were to obt : iin an txprfission of opinion from the House , that would be to anticipate the verdict of a jury , and therefore it ought not to be complied with . Tha Hon . Gentleman had ¦ wished that tho House should not separate until the Government had siven some ' expression of opinion upon this case .

      Such a course would nob be proper ; it would be undrrtakins : an unduo rcspoc ^ ibiHty . Already prpceedinga might have been commenced against the police for the couruo 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 tho Btatements jiffectin . 2 the liberty of the suhjeat ; and although , for the proper preservation of the public peace , there was an authority established , every extreme exercise of thsit authority , tnouijh legal , would not probably bo juatifled by the circumstances . Eut it would be scarcely constitutional if the House were to interfere in a case of this kind . There had been no widely spread alarm , no tumultuous violence , no less of life ; and hetruitedihat the law would be allowed , to take its course in this case as well as in otiwrs .

      Mr . skeil tbousht tho Right Hon . and Learned Gentleman was mistaken in assuming that Government ht \ d given no-opinion-upon tliis sniiject ; for the Right Hon . Gentleman- ' who was . the head of tha police in that House bad declared th . at the police had acted under proper instructions in this instance , and that , under all the circumstances , tlity had exercised a wise discretion . The Government , therefore ; sanctioned the conduct of tha police , and expressed their approbation in tho Housa of Commons of that conduct ; and from that approbation what but the most formidable mischiefs were likely . , to- ' follow ? ( Hear , hear . ) ^ o ( Mr Sheil ) had been-much-struck with a remark made the other day by the Hon . Member for Reading , - . »• What is . innaviition to-c ' ay ta-morrow m » y become , precedent

      and that which is made precedent to-morrow ^ will bu mad ^ law tho . next day ^ ' ^ ( Hear , hear . ) So it might be observed with regard to what the Riaht Hon . Baronet had said of ths conduct of tho police in this -case . ( Hear , hear . ) It - . was ; of ... tho .. ' ' . greatest- importance then , that an inquiry should be instituted into this caso , Recollect , it was not a case between Dr . M'Douall and Mr . Jertthy , or the polfca inspector ; but 5 , 000 people had petitioned the House for , ah inquiry—( hear ) . It was . not-the case of Dr . M'Djuall ; it was the case of a public nieeting held in the town of D . iptford for a legitimate purpose , which was interrupted and dispersed by a BuperintenOant of police —( hear , hear ) . Now , the House would rnrntniber that in the Stafibrdshire cus 9 , recently before tho House , they wero told that neitiier t

      Government nor the House ou ^ m lutericro , because the case had been before a jury at a quaster session , and that it had been tho subject of a charge from an able jUliEa , to whoso impartiality ; everybody paid a ready ' tribute , and , moreover , that tha cas 8 had been adjudicated and decided , and the verdict of a jury could not be disturbed . An inquiry could not be granted in that case , because it would be a rtflection upon the jury and tbeju ^ ge who tried ii-r- ( he : 'i , heaV ) But the same refusal was giysn here , -where there had been no jury , no decision of a chairman of quarter sesskms , no vordicS under which the refusal could be sheltered . On the contrary , a magistrate , before whom the party accused was taken , had declared that there was no evidenca to show that iho meeting was an

      unlawfal one . Mr . Jeremy declared that there was not f ufficient javidence to send Dr < M D jualltotrial— - ( hear ) . That was the decision of the ; '• magistrate .- against the constable ; but , although that was the decision of Mr . Jeremy , the superior of the ' pciilce- in that Houae , the Right Hon . fiironet approved of the conduct of tha cousta-ole , and said he bad used a wise discretion , if policeman Mallslieu did not use a wise discretion ; he must say that bis example had not been followed by the Right Hon . Baronet—(" hear , hear , " and a laugh ) . It was confessed that Dr . M'Douall was taken to the station-house , and that bail was tendered , which was refused , one of his Buroties being a trustee of the chapel , wha was said to have called in the police . ( A vpice ^ " It was not the same . trustee . " ) Ho did not say it was

      the same . But what of that ? If they relied upon one trustee for turning the assembly out of the chapel , he would rely upon : the other trustee for having tendered bail for Dr . M'Douall . ( Hear . ) Was it an act of wisa discretion to refuse that bail ;? ( Htar . ) Was not the man detained in the teeth of the tendering of good and sufBcient bail ? ( Hear , ) But upon whiit charge ? He had to ascertain that . He , therefore , applied fora copy of the charge made against him , and ha applied te the magistrate . The magistrate said he was entitled to have it ; bun did the policeman give it ? No ; When Superintendent Malialieu was applied to for it he refused it , and said he did not care for the magistrate . ( Loud crieH of " Hear , hear . ' ) Was that a wisediscretion exercised by . a policoinau ? Were not thtse

      circumstances which demanded inquiry ? ( Hear . ) Tkere was no riot at tho first meeting ; and the opinion of Lord E'lenborough with regard to meetings held for a distiucD purpose , r . nd a disturbrince ensuing , as in this cas& , did not juatify the course which waS pursued . A diaturbanca did take place , the people were cil led upon to disperse , and they dispersed accordingly / Dr . fti'Douaii went out arm in arm with oiieof the trustees of tiie chapel , who had stated that hesaw him on the platform , but did not observe anything improper in his conduct . The ohjecdon was to the holding of the meeting in the chapel , and there , according to the evidence ho riot t-jok placa . ' Another naeeting took place .- Was there any riot thera ? No . Waa- 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 he thought him guilty of obstructing the public Way , and that before calling upon him to clear the way . no previous efforts being made by the poliee to ckar the way ? But thun it was said that seditious language was used . That was ttie evidence of the policemon who took upon himself to exercise hik judgment upon the nature of the language which was used , and upon that wise discretion of the policeman De . M'Douall , Chartistthpugh he might ba , was UiicerembniGusly taken to prison . Wouid not the Government confess that this was a violation of justice ?¦' . " . Tte " L ? glaiature had vexercised ' thsj greatest , caution in directing proceedings to be taken in cases of pu \> Uc disturbance . A Justice of the Peace

      was required to read ' - ' titte Riot , Act , and . until thatpreliminary ( was gone through , the constables were not atithorised to disperse and apprehend persons in that way . The powers given under the 60 th of Gaorge III . and tho Vagrint Act were of a d iffsrent description , If a thousand' persons were to assemble with ; arms there could 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 circurnstances he could not but feel surprised that tho KIght Hon . Baronet should approve oft the conduct of the police ; but for . that there might have been no difficulty in appealing to the laws—( hear , heat , hear . ) If this had been an ordinary case—if it were a case between M'Doualland

      MaUalieti , he should hot care so much about the consequences ; but it was a case of importance , rendered still more . Important : by a doctrine which had been t , rbacbed In the Home Office , which doctrine might lea d to the most miBchievous and dangeroo ^ resultH—( hea ^ ^ )' ,. ^ :..-- ^ ' - ^ l ;; ' -. 1- - : ^ - . V- ' -: \ ; V :- " - ^' - ' - r T £ 9 SoticiTOB-GENEEAi . explained that the reading ot 'the Riot , Act was a preliminary proceeding in casss o . * tumult and disorder to the 1 dispersion of an unlawful assemblage by the constabuhiiry and the mflir tary But tae oaseof an obstruction of the public way was so " oewijat different If ,- however , a constable arrested a pi . ' ' taon Wno had been gdilty of no offense to justify teat ai Tefit i he would of course be liable to an action . It was ' anneceasary , however , to enter into a discussion of tL Ofle 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 Hon . Gentleman opposite , it was quite impossible to understand the facta ; tut two concessions had been made ; The Hon . Member for Lambeth had said , that what took place in the chapel was sufficient to authorise the police in clearing the chapeL Every Hon . Gentleman on the other side of the House bad said that no blame ittaohed to Mr ; Jeremy , the magistrate » but Mr . Jeremy did net discharge the party , he ;< Ji'd not saytothe police , " You hare made a false accusation . He ( the Solicitor-General ) presumed that Mr ; Jeremy told the accused he had been guilty of a breach of the peaca ; because , though the offence was riot of that species that he saw fit to commit him for "trial ; he desired him to enter into recogmzince 3 to keep the peace .: The eyir deuce showed that the second meeting was a continuance of the first , aitd K the accused had consented not

      to return to the meeting ofcer being taken to the statien house , if he had consented to be seen away from the neighbourhood by a police-man , he would not have been detained by Superintendent Malialieu , who deenied his detention necessary under the circumstances for the pre « ervation of the public peace . The Hon . Member opposite admitted the magistrate to have been right who had decided Everything to have beea legiil in respect to the arrest , and had ordered the prisoners to find recogntzinces . Here tben were two parties acting bona fide , and in the discharge of their duty ^ under the superintendance of an ofiacer who declared that during the eleven years of his service he had never known a mob inoremischievously inclined . It was impossible , under such circumstances , to . grant the committee without casting a censure on the offieer who had taken upon himself to disperse a mob , ; the characterj the time , and the manner of whose assembling were clearly indicative of rietous disposition . On these cbnstdurations he trusted the motion would be

      decisiyoly rejected ( cheers ) : : Lord PalmeuSton said , those who had objected to the motion seemed to him to have given some reasons why it should be agreed te , for the Attornoy-General had said , that he did not deny that matters of thissort might fairly come before theHouse , though he wished there to be no inquiry . Why , here were statements on the one side against the police as having _ beea guilty of improper conduct , and on the other side , in their behalf , to the effaci ; that their prpceediDgs had been wise and discreet . Could there be a case in which an inquiry could be more conduoive to the public interast ? Tuere appeared , moreover , grounds far bslieviiig that the conduct of the constables had not been perfectly wise and discreet . It was by ho means stated by the law

      officers of the Crown , that tho second meeting waa illegal . The Attorney-General had , indeed , said that he could not lay it down how far an obstruction to the thoroughfare might not have been illegal . But on that ground fairs / might be objected to . On what ground was this person apprehended ? Not , it should seem , in consequence of anything he had said that was illegal , for tke magistrates had taken recognizv . ices , not for ' illegal conduct , but for the preservauou of the peace . Aid perhaps , if there had been nothing unlawful in the conduct of Dr . M'Douall , it rnigbt be a question how far the magistrates were justified in taking bail . It eeenied , then , to him ( Lord Pdlmerston ) that a question was here involved of no comaion magnitude—liaroely , how far the constabulary were justified in diettirbing

      anddisporgiii / 4 public meetihes . He thought that in this case they had exceeded their duty , and especially at this moment , when Pdriiament was going to be prorogued for a long . ¦ recess , dusing which it was likely that meetings of this sort— ( " Oh , oh ! "j—might be held—( " Oh , oh J " i—and at which constables , if they . acted under mistaken : iiteas of their duty , slight , by attempting to interfere , cause serious inconveniences . He considered this a strong case for inquiryj not with any view of censure , but simply to ascertain the facts , which now were to be gleaned only from expsrte statements , aud to settle the question whethc-r there were or were not any real grounds of complaiufc ; in order that , should the former appear to be the truth' the Govei ' j . ment might take steps to

      pvevant ths reenrrencj of similar nnse-hiuf—ihear ) Sir R . Peel—Sir , my Right Hon . Friend the Secretary for the Home Department , under whose superintendence the metropolitan police generally act , has intimated to the House his opinion that there is hot in this case sufficient ground for any inteiference on his part . Now , supposing the House were dissatisfied with that judgment , and supposing 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 . J 5 ut are there no other means of ascertaining whether the constable acted legally ?—( hear ; bear ) rs ray R ' . gitt Hon . Friend ' s decision final and conclusive ? Not at . nil —( hear , bear ) . At a very moderate costt you may enable and compel tho

      legal tribunals of the land to inquire and declare whe ^ therhe was justified or not . You may commence an action for false imprisonment or for refusal of bail- — ( hear , hear )—in either of which ways you may obtain a judjc ' tal decision , which will be infinitely more satisfactory than any this House could arrive at— ( hear , hear ) . Supposa the House should , on tho report of a committte ( not hearing evidence , mark , oa oath ) , be of opinionth . it the constable acted illegally , and that a coutt of law should decide the r 6 Virse—( hear , hear )—which of tbfiso decisioua would be received as tne rule of law in the country ? Why , of course , that of the court of law—( hear , hear ) . Why not , then , appeal to the ordinary tribunals of the land , in which tho judgment of the highest legal authorities , upon the evidence

      taken on oath , may be easily obtained ?—( hear , hear ) . — What preteEce is th « re for tha nppointnient of a committee ?—( hear , hear . ) I deprecate earnestly a precedent of the House exercising judicial functions save on the . strongest and most serious grounds—jhear ^ I think that if , in a case of this sort , the House should deelare an . opinion adverse to that pronounced by a court of law , prior to irs afijudU-ation by th « ordinary tribunals , the authority of the Coniiisons wouid to ' -much weakened— ( hear ) . I have had ex ^ erfe ^ ea enough in such matters to know that con&tabiea ow . ^ '^ t ^ to be eacouraged either to exceed the law , or even by an annoying and indiBcceet iufprcement of it , even where the law ia on their side , to throw discredit on the law , or create needless danger and disturbance— { hear , bear ) . But ,

      then , on the other hand , you should remember the peculiar position in which these constables are placedintrusted with the execution cf the law—if they are Visited by unnecessary inquiries , and so , by tacit indicatipns of cenaure , constantly discouraged and deterred froin the free execution of their dnty —( hear , hear ) . They ought certainly to be supported when acting faithfully and ; honestly—( hear ) . And lot me put thiB case , tfeat there had been , in consequence of the non-interference of this constable , who is now to be condemned— 'a cry of ' " No , " ) r-or to be visited with a decidtjd indication of censure by tte taking of the case cut of the ordinary course of judiciiture—( hear , hear , )—suppose , by his negleLt , there had occurred a riot , and property or life Bad baen - lost or not all the

      endarigered-r- ( hear , hear ^ - ^ wotild circumstances of the night have been put together—the disturbances in the chapel , the threats , the violence , and the subsequent disturbances in the open air , anil would it not havo been said that he bad incun-ed the responsibility of the public injury sustained ? ( Hear , hear . ) Was it mere commotion ? Was it mere excitement ? Were there not blows struck—benches torn up- ^ vio ? lence actually committed ? ( Hear , hear . ) It would hava been , of course , far different had there been merely expressions of dissent from rival bodies of Ciiartists and anti-corn law agitators —( loud cries of hear , hear , )—or anything of that . sorb . ( Laughter . ) That takes place in the House of CommppSj , where thi-re occur very often scenes of '¦ ' considerable

      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 , Borne Member called the disturbance a squabble . ( Mr . OConnell—" A scuffle , ") Why , some people have been known to speak of the rebellion of 1798 as a " hurry . " ( Laughter . ) Ideas diiffor as to lioting , and I will not take upon myself to declare definUively whether , when this officer had heard . of the former proceedings in the chapel—when he had heard that the religions character of the building had not restrained the pspuVace , and that there waa much less chance , of coursa , of any restraint " out . of doors—when he heard cries of " Kill the 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 ho adopted , under the heavy responsibility which necessarily attends all the acts of constabulary officers . ( Hear . ) These are cases unavoidably for the discretion of the police under the particular circumstances in each instance —( hear , )—and what I say is this , —that if , when the Home Secretary baa decided in favour of the course pursued by the police , any patties are dissatisfied with , the decision , there is no reason whatever for disturbing the ordinary course of justice , and for removing tJ this House an adjudication naturally and properly belonging to the coiarts of law . ( CheersO- ¦ .. ' : - ; . "¦ ¦ : ; . ' : . . ' - \ .- ; .-.. ; - ; '"' ; ' . - . ' ¦ . '

      Mr . Thomas DUNCbMBE replied—The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department bad quoted reports in opposition to the facts of the case . ¦ ,- ¦ ¦ - ' - ¦ ,. . - ¦' -.- . " .. . ; . V ; -V- ¦ - . " -, ¦ - : ' . ' . Sir Jambs Graham said that the report he quoted from was taken on oath before the magistrate . Mr . T . Duncombe—There were sevoral reports . There ^ were reports , puMished by the newspapers ( oh , oh ! from the ministerial benches . ) He ( Mr . Dancombe ) should like to ask from what source Mr . Jeq ^ n ; , derived bis report ? Did he keep a reporter ? Tlflgiigtit Hon . Baronet at the head of her Majesty ' s government also appeared to rely upon Mr . Jeremy ' s report : but he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) would maintain that the greater portion of what ; Mr . Jeremy had stated l » f course he

      derived it fro ^ others ) was a gross misrepresentation of the facts ( da * oh , from the ; ministerial aide of the House . ) It was no use their saying oh , oh . Grant him a committee and he would undertake to prove it The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir R . Peel ) had adopted the view of his 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 chapel , where seats were torn up , and pews broken down , the meeting in the Broad Way pHrtooK of the eame character . Wow , grant him ( Mr . Duncombe ) a committee , and he would prove , that no Beats were torn up ; i : er any pews broken down . There was the evidenc of Mr . John Wade , who was called against Dr . M'Douall . What \ dld J&e say I He said- —

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      "I am a builder and shopkeeper , living at Deptford . I am trustee of the Independent Cbapel . I drew np tha hand-biil produced , and it was published by my dlrection , in concurrenc 8 with the Ray . J . Pulleni the minister . It was net for any dlscxission that meeting was called ; Its purpose was to exrfte sympathy ft « thei distressed , but not for an immediate ' subscription . A subscription bad been forwarded before the Qaeen ' 9 letter came out . : 16 was to ' tear 8 lecture OH tfiij distress of the country . The chapel ^ was ; pretty full at seven o ' olocfc , when I entered it There was a little disturbance at the commencement of the meeting . Some persons , who were strangers , wished to spaak and enter into a discussion , which was contrary , tb the object of the meeting . The person

      announced as lecturer did hot come , but another parson was asked to supply the vacancy * The d ^ turbanca passed off , and Mr . Taylor proceeded with his lecture , and having concluded it sat down . There was a little disturbance , and the minister of the chapel diflSOlTed the meeting . There were about one thousand persons present . " The Honourab e and Learned Gsntleman ( the AttorneyTGeneral ) seemed to think that the police c | eared the chapeL No Buch thing . The minister and Air . Taylor ; dissolved the meeting , because the object tot which the meeting had been called had been fulfllled . : Mr . Wade went < on to Bay— " After the minis ter had dissolved the meeting , tiie place was cleared . The people walked out without any disturbance . The meatiug separated peaceably . There were police there

      I think they were sent for by my brother . I understood 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'Danall there . Ha was not invited . He was one of the audience . I saw nothing improper in his conduct . The Bov . Mr . Pallen dissolved the meeting by saying , " I dissolve this meeting . " This witness wa 3 crosi-exatnined by Mr . M'Douall , and he stated this— "I stood beside you on the platform . I saw nothing improper in your conduct " whatiever . I heard you say that a diacnaston should take plaoe out of doors . I did hot hear the : chairman proto

      pose any adjournment There was no righ ^ adjourti the meeting . The meeting had not the power to elect a chajrmau > 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 . J could not gather from ' your gestures that you were likely to create a breach ef th a peace . Mr . Taylor was" invited by ine . M ^; ' M- 'Douall , Mr . Taylor and myself walked away arinrini arm . " Tnia was the evidence cf one of the witneaaea bronght by the police against Mr . M'Douail , and ; yet the Right Hon . Baronet was ondeavouring to prove that Air . M'Donall had created a breach of the peace in tha ch-ipel ; ' ; The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir James ; Graham ) had so mixad up the meeting In the chapel and at the

      Broadway that nobody could tell what part of the pro ? ciedings h © was talking about . Grant trim ( Mr .- Duncombe / a committee , and he would prove that the statements . - of Mailalieu were false . When he came to Mr M'Douall that gentleman said , "If you Bay that thia is an illegal meeting , and if you will allow me to say so to the people , I will immediately disperse taem . " The answer was , ' . yNo , come down . "; Mr . M'DouaH came down from the pump , and he was then desired to go home , and was directed towards Daptford ; Mr ; M'Djuall said "No , that is not my way . I want to go to London . " What followed ? He was ' immediately taken into custody , and conducted to the station-house What took place at the station-house had already been stated . Mr . Jeremy ' s report eaid that Mr . M'DauaU

      had every accominodation in the statidn-hO'llSS . Was that true ? No . Mr . M'Dpuail asked for a pillow and some covering , but it was refused , and he remained in the cell on the bare boards . That was not the way in which Mr . al'Douall should have been treated for suc& an effence . He would cot say that the Right Hon . Baronet < Sir Robert P ^ el ) was inconsistent in fefusing this inquiry ; but certainly he did tLink that tke Right Hon . Bart , the Secretary for the Home Department ( Sir James Graham ) , . and tho Noble Lord sitting near him ( Lord Stanley ) , both of whom were once the colleaguea of the authors of the Reform Bill , were acting in op . position to the ' .. principle which their former alliances espoused . It w a 3 the pritictpie of Toryisih to refuse all inquiry ; therefore the Right Honourable Baronet at the

      head of liar Majesty's governmeufc was perfectly consistent in doing so on this occasion . -But he knew , and his Right Honourable-and Noble colleagues . knew , that they bad a bad case ; and what bad : been reported to them , and which had been stated by the Right Hon . Baronet tiie Secretary of State for the Home Department to tho House , he ( Air . Duucombe ) would , if they would grant him a committee , prove to be fake . The police was , as iord Althorp had once said , a formidable power to be 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 thiugs WfcrenoS ' prevented , blood would be shed . He told them that blood would not be shed . If these things were

      done the people would not consent . LetVHon . Members read the petition . " Your petitioners arc all of opinion that , as the meeting wa ? peacefully assembled , so it would have peacefuliy dispersed , had it not beenfpr the upjuatifiabla violence of the policej to which , if your Honourable House affords ho remedy , your petitioners do-opt feel bound to submit , " He teld them . ^ p lainly that these doings woud some day tend to creates disturbance , and if blood Bhould be shed , every drop would be apnn the beads of those who held the doctrines that ' night broached , and who came ; down to support this gross violation of the- people ' s rights— -: ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦• : ' , •' . ¦ ¦ ¦' . ;• . . . - - ¦ ¦ „ ¦ ; v : - ; ..- - ¦ . .-,. ¦ : ; ¦¦ The House divided i

      For going into committee ......... 89 For Mr . Duacombc" amendment ... 30 Majority against Mr . Duncombe — 59 The House then went into a Committee of Ways and Means ; and votes for Exchequer Bills , ic ., were agreed to . . ...--. •; . ' ,- ¦ - ' ¦' : ' ' . "¦ - ¦¦ ,. - , : ; : ;¦ '¦ .. ¦ "' ¦¦ . .. ¦ . ¦ . Tha Tobacco Regulations Bill created some debate . Mr ; Thomas Duncombe opposed its re-committal , on the ground of its ve ? at | oas character and onerouif provisions .- .. ' . ¦ _ " ¦ '¦¦'¦ ' ¦ - . : ;¦ : ' .. ¦ ' .- - . y . ¦¦ _ ¦¦ . ' . •' . ¦ . '¦' . ' . ' -. ¦ ¦ ' The Chancellor of tJie Exchequer , in supporting the Bill , made soni 3 statements as io the very general and txtensive adulterations ot :. tobacco which was practised . To meet the objection to the Bill , he intended to introduce a clause , giving further time to the dealers for disposing of the stock which they might have on hand of adnlterated tobacco , and a more extended time for snuff . ' ' .

      After ^ discussion ; . Thomas DUNCOMBE ' S amendment for recammitting the Bill this day three months waslost by 53 to & . ; .. The House then went into Committee on the Bill , which was considered , amended , and ordered to be reported on Wednesdayv ; : : V The other orders of the 4 ay were then disposed of , and the House adjourned .

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      The Working Classes at Oldham . —Prospectuses are b-jing issued tor the erection of a Working Man's Hall , in 300 shares , at £ 1 eaeh , payable by instalmunt 8 ot tlireepenca per week , or upwarde . The edifice , which is to aecomoiodate five hundred per- ' sons , is for tho holdihie ; of public meetings , delivery of lectures , discussions on local and national grievances , tea-pavties , balls , concerts , &c . Wilson , the Steeple Climber— Our readers will recollect that some months ago a paragraph went the round of the newspapers in reference to tbe novel and daring feats performed by George Wilson

      the person who in so extraordinary a manner repaired Carrickfergus steeple , and a large stalk belonging , if we mistake not , to the firm of ; Maifclandj Couper , and Co ., of Glasgovr . The ingenious personage , it appeal ? , still continues to follow his fearless occupation * and is ready , without shrinking , to make f epaira even in the most dangerous positions , without incurring the great expence usual in tho erecting of scaffolding . During the fair week he repaired the largo stalk at Messrs , Mulr ^ Brown , and Co . ' s works , Aiaderston . The height of the stalk was 150 feet , and during tha late Btorm it was cracked to the

      extent of 25 foet from thevtop ; . Wilson mounted tie stalk' in his usual way , by inserting pins of iron , -or what . he calls " . needles , " in the inside of the building , and using tHem as a ladder . He then took off fifteen fee . t ' i . to ligHten the top of the erection , a measure which , it appears , was deemed essentially necessary , dropping himself down , as occasion required , by means of a block and tackle , being balanced in his descent by heayy weights . The work , we undorstand , has completed to the company ' s entire , satisfaction . From Wilson ' s own statement he does not seem to entertain any fear in accomplishing hislabours . Ho say 3 there is . 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 = belt . —Glasgow Argus . ' ' .- ; " ; - -. ; ¦ - ¦ " .: ' - " : ¦¦"¦ " . / . ;<; ' . : '{ .:. " : ' .:- ' : ¦ ' ¦ " . - ' : ; , '"' ' ¦¦

      -PEpEsrRiArfisM . — -Last week a persoa named Mullen circulated placards through this town , announcing '¦ ¦ ' . his intention of walking one hundred mileS in twenty-four hours . The ground was measured , and he was to starii from a placo called " Wateringdam" to the first turnpike on the Belfast road , half a mile distance , and then return ; the journey out and in being therefore one ; mile . Proper persons were appoihted , who were ; to give the pedestrian check tickets on his fiiiishing each mile , so that there should be no question that he performed his voluntary task to the letter . At tour o ' clock he started , and kept a very brisk pace till ten , whea he

      seemed to be somewhat flushed ; but at eleven ( when the crowd had somewhat thinned , it being during the evening very large ) he seemed as freeli as at starting . Throughout the night a great iinmber of persons remained on the line of walk , Tueeday morning he was rather fatigued , his feet being BOmewnat pained , ^^ fiye blisters were cutoff ; but , notwithstanding , Mb pace was very rapid . At two o ' clock he said he was " all safe . " Waealie qaraa tothe last trip the pace was astounding—the mile was perfected in eight minutefs 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 «• stands '' duitecotifidyat of his

      pioweis ; and before going ont ^ on his last trip , he delayed fully six minutes . During the evening he walked through the town , apparently not much fatigued . —Newry Examiner .

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      6 . THE N O R T H : E ; B ^ : > - ; S-T :: A- ^ R . j . : _ ::: ,:, - ^ \ - . _ ... y ,,.- ,: ; : y ¦ . . ; : ¦ : .:- . - ¦ - ^ . ¦^ yi ^ r ' :, \ ¦ •^ . v - . ^ v- ^ . ;^ ' ^ r 2 :. ' - " . y ^^

      5mortal 2sartuitnfnt

      5 mortal 2 SarTuitnfnt

      Untitled Article

      The Chanceliob . of the Exchequer said , the bill wsa adopted in consequence of a pledge given by the government to the Canadians . After a few words from Mr , French the report was received . - = ' Oa the question that the House agree to the resolution , Mr . Eume expressed his objsctions to the grant ; and said he shoal-i divide tbe Sc-usd upon it . The House than divided—For the resolutions , 89 ; ag&MiBt tbcm , 9 : ranjority , SO . The orders of the day were then disposed of , and the Heuse adjourned at one o'clock . . Saturday , July 30 . The Speaker took the chair at twelve o ' clock . The report of the committee of Supply was

      bronght up , and the different vote 3 screed to . The St . Asaph and Bangor Preferments Bill was read a third time . The report on the Lunacy Bill was received . Tae Militia Supply Bill "went through commmHtee . The order cf the tiny being moved for going into Committe on the Newfoundland Bill , "ilr . O'Connell rose to move tha following amendment : that the comrniltea be postponed for three months , to enable a communication to be bad from the parties interested . Bis sole otj ^ ct in postponing the measure was to have an ocportunity of enquiring more minutely into the state */ that colony , and the grievances ot which thry justly complained . The constitution of that

      colony bad been annihilated , not because the inhabitants had betn guilty of a breach of the peace , but solely bsesuse the majority of them were of the Roman Catholic faith ! ( No , no ! from the Chancellor of the Exchequer . ) Ha wished for a postponement in order to-enable the Eouse to i&Testigate the whole subject This bill'would have tha icjut-ions tfibct of abolishing tha two houses of legislature in that island ; and thia was , no doubt , the intention of the Noble Lord . A desL-rvLcg aad loyal portion of her Majesty ' s subjects oucht not to be oppressc-d . The Hon . Member , in a long and eloqnent speech , contended that the constitution of Newfoundland had worked well , and that the "bill ought not to be passed .

      Lord Siaslet opposed tiie motion of tho Hon . and Learned Member , principally upon ths ground of exprdisEcj . ' Tho Noble Lord ' s tpct-ch thronghout afforded a good liluitriiiua of tho old Tory rule— " to make the ¦ worss appear tbe better reason !" . Afttr som ^; discus ? Lon tho motion was negatived , and the Hwuse aojourned .

      JMonday , Aug . 1 . Tbe Honsa met ai the usual hour . New "Brits Sou-carnptoii and- Brlfa-t were ordered to be

      THE LATE DISTURBANCE AT DEPTFORD . Mr . T . Du . ncojibe said , that in pursuance cf the arraDgenieEt of the R '; ght Hou . Baronet , the Home Secretary , hs begged no— to call tbo attention of tha Eouse to the two petit-ons he t > resent » . d on Thnrsday l » st . c . ^ nt-iiK-n ^ a -Very stricus and graTe C"mplllillt that the iiNrrtT 1 . 1 the subj . ct ana the riants of the people of this e-ountry had bft-n violated at D .-ptford on Taes'iay ; a * t . sad ho tiuugLi fc ^ ccuM nhow tha t the poliod ff ihia Metropolis , Kiuctioced by ths ma ^ istratss

      htui vj-i-ated the law , cad ihst the doctrine Ja :- ! down by tLit R' ^ t Hon . Gictlruian with reaped to the yower of coi ' -s a : ; es i-j prevfn : public moei-i-igs was contrary to the law of this country . He tii-rti ^ lit he could also pr . rs that , ia aaiing thj Heusa to a ^ r ^ e to this motion to rufer thosa ^ titions to a select committee of this House , he hia Ejfh : it ; iit preceiitnt for such a proce-edinz Tne fallowing - ^ ras the nccount sivea by Dr . I-1-Djuall in Lis petinor .: — " Taat he -svu invited by BsTcrii iicssciioiG-rs cf jte tc- ' ? ni cf Ds-ptfiira to attend a pub-ie Ktctms en ihs fcTecirii ; of TueSilay , the 2 GltL

      siasriU ' . n tee existing d ^ tT- , E 8 01 tae country ; tnnt he cbrufiied with t-Le invitEti' -n , tsd on arrivinq at the place cfniceiiiig , in a chapei in the High-street , ascertaice 1 that the mrs :: as 'xzs uot coastituted ; that he : ic-. ivcd inf irn ; ai :: n that public G . : JCUissiDn was iimted :-nd tis pieaf nee requirrd ; ihut on r <; aLhir : g ihe chapelaoor iv ^ sIdiK-bie couru : en prevail !; tha c te entered , uii'i < .. n prooeevil'ug to tns pisiform rtqur& = bJ leave to sptsS . j .= r-jiiiiiiijit to us- - ' his irfl'ier . ce , iia a pu -lic man , to qirU ihs cc-inni ' - . uoa ; that fce succeeded in doing so , anu f ^ a : iy ki : t > . e m ^ c ' in ^ -hcuse , in copap . i'i 7 ¦ with 5 tver » l <_ ¦ : rh ^ CrUtlcaicn on the piaifurai , aad under t :: « in : prcuicn that i ; n a- ^ j ur . - . intit was carried ; that llEcir ^ ths people csHvai ^ itd ¦ within a spsco in the Brcaa- ^ -cy , ruarkt . t cat by £ -ir . k p- 'ai ? , seX' ^ Tating it from vriT . ite p-opsrty cad iLepu-lie w ; iy , he inquired "wh' . ' -h ^ r D : rc * ii ^ g 3 h-. ti beta htid there , or if k TT 33 ] : ubi : c pr . ^ i ^ rty or u ^ -. a as a m ^ rk ^ t-place ; and on I ' - ' u ^ z xl :-. l— ercd in tJic- uSnratiyi ' , u <; then , on tit-ing

      mvit ^ i . j .. r- cetdt-d to a ^ . uriss ths £ s ? eint > ly . Your petit-oEc-r v . T-^ id upon tue- pE . ^ pis the importance < i ail-jwi :: g all i > = ruc 3 in or tiut of door ? , a fair opportunity of txprcisiiig the : r ssLtiiiients . He demanded ' a heari-g fur un aTcliliifcc-p or a cb . i ; iniy-swesp , ' 'a > ianfilLTd vt a luc-mr ^ r , ' ' a . shopk ^ ev-tr or a scaTenger . ' Hs fcSplatuea thit he caais there frym no factious moiiT ^ -s ; that , he was as much oppose ! io aiiitocritic gi'Tersui&Dt as thj C •—a LiW Conference ; ihathe-ir-as an eacniy vo Kori'p- » ly , and couBidoieil ' the corn lavs to be one < -f ; he niuny rigantic . cvii . 3 tihich oppresi-A whe puor ; ' ted after s havlr . ^ arlvLse-1 le ^ ai and prac = ' ul as ; iLit » tion , he was :. bcut to txplaia tho pric-jiples of the People ' s Charter , when aat-erimendent M ^ llaiieu an ! a party of 3-oiicd t'Jshcd iato tha ratcting , aad up to the placo ¦ vihtre be stood , acd th . » t t .-e supniQtfeaJcD . t com-. HiDiri yonr prtition-.-r * to co-Tie flown or be knockevi

      = < . ' last he oera-f / ic-f . tue auxjoiity tif % Z * i SXipftTintenaea : ; and re& . / ivfcd for ansWtr that he acted on h . s ovm rt * p .-i ; sib' ! ty . He then rvquisted leave to cispersfc tbe multitude , and thi 3 he was tte more likely to do as he wa 3 nrder the recognisance in ^ 500 ., for sooit ' ihin ? that h ^ -d occurred elsewhere . Dr . ii-DjUE . il wished to £ 0 home , but the po . iceman 'would r . ot allow him to go in tbe diraction of his honse , and he W 2 . 3 inime-iiatsly arrested . Ths persons aoout remonstrstcd with ths policsnian ; and ha was then carried iff to tha police office . Good bail was offered , but refused ; aad , when bia friends said they would take him some distance from the town , so as to prevent any disturbn-c-, the inspector said that , if they would lay down £ 1 , 000 . he wcuiu not accept it as bail . Nothing

      wcnld satisfy tbe inspector but that this political ofiWn-itr , 33 bB calle-l him , sbonlcl ba retained in the Station he U- ;? , and there -was he locked np , arid left to remain all sight and until eleven o ' clock on Wednesday , i-i a small cell , bavin ? an cffcDEive privy jnit and uujflazed window atd crawling vermin . No common felon , no mirerta-nt could be worse treated t " na . n vjas this individnal fur merely attending a meeting legally constituted . The nest day be vas taken up before a magistrate ; bnt , in the meantime , he had asked for n ; eans of communicatiE / j with his friends . That was refused him . exctpt in the pesence of the police . He could not prepare evidence wiLhcui allowing his witnesses ind iine of evidence to b 3 known U ) the police witnesses against bitn , and under that heavy

      disadvantage was be hurried into Court He asked what was the charge against him ? On the poliee sheet it was entered thus : — "For attending an unlawful meeting , r , nd using Scd : ; ious language ; " but the . magistrate called upon him to give bail , himself in £ 50 , and two sureties in £ 25 , for havinr created a gistmbwee in the chapel—notliing a&oat aa unlawful meeting or using Hrditicua Unruige- D ? . M-Dj-jiII * aid he had summoned some respectable psrsoEsHviiii ; at Deptford to show tbat there tras so riot , hnt the ma ^ su-aie , Jlr . Jeremy , S 3 id he might caii 2 000 persons if lie pleased , but that ¦* fi . u " id ntt ii-flaecce him ( . Vi . % Jeremy . ) He then asked tii 3 insptctor for a copy of tks charge , but that being refused , he appealed to tha magistrate , and the magistrate said lie sdiou ' id h : ive is . out on repati -jj his

      apph = ation to the policeman Maiialica , tho answer was , " 1 ishail not ^ ive : t yon . " On tbe next 037 about i 000 of the inLib ; Ujit 3 o ? D .,. t { ord ass-mbied and got up tae otLcr petition Khxh he presented last Thursday , comp ' . ainicg tbat the constitution had been violated by the polica at the time in question . He ( Mr . Duncoaibej m Ait tamed that since the days of Castlereagh and the passing of ths Six Acts there had never be ^ n so flagrant a violation of the liberties of the subject a 3 thi 3 proceeding at Deptfoad . He then referred to the opinion of ilr . Jcst'cs Bayley ia the case of Hunt at the York assiz-s , in which he quoted Mr . Serjeant Hawkins to show that unless there ¦ was reason to believe that a meeting -would give risa to a breach of the peace it was not an illegal ink-tine . Ha

      j rhhed to know if thtro wua anything iiiecal in the inhabitants of Deptford meeting to ciLcuss their grievances ? Tbe Riiiht Hon . Baronet -would £ ad some arffi .-ulty in estabiishin ? that the meeting in question > nw or an iiir ^ al character , i . e woald ask what vaa the use of the S x Acts , which were brought forward for the purpose of putting dotrn the seaitiJua meetings of ISIS ac .-i 1820 ? If the constabies h . vi tnis j > ower , what was the uss of the- Ssditious ileeuni : Bi : l , which was oppostd by the Sight Eon . Baronet opposite ? Tie meeting wts lesjal and peaceable . Was it right that s . i ; y policeruoxi and cocstable siicnM tave t&g power cf Coins to a meeting 3 nd bn coEipetiat to deciae wiaether the language used by the speakers was or was not s ^ -ditioas ? Was it right tbat constables Biould ba

      allowed to declare that they wanld be supports ! in tae exercise of their authority by the magistrates ane by the Secrettry for the Horns uepartmeat ? Were the people thu 3 to fee exposed ro ths ciprice of any constable who might think proper to interfere with the progress of a public meeting ? He had it in his ' powc * to show that there were precedents for ths inquiry he asked for . He could not suppose that the Government weuld refaae its sanction to bo reasonable an inquiry . Oa the- 11 til of July , 1833 , a meeting took place in Coldbath-fields . A public intimation was made that the meeting could not take placc^—that is was illegal ; a n 9 tice was given that any person who attended the meeting did so at his

      perU . Notwithstanding these public intimations the sieeting took place . The police interfered , confusion essaed , and several lives were losfc It wa * Bald that the disturbance was altogether attributable to the unjust interference of the police fuise . When this subject was brought before the notice of the house , what did Lord Althorp say 1 That Noble Lord himself moved for a committee to inquire into the conduct of tbe police en that occasion . Tha Right Hon . Baronet opposiie ( Sir J . Graham ) "was a member of the then Government , and consented to the inquiry , and the only Hon . Member of the Housa who demurred to the committee was tho member for K- ; nt What did Lord Althorp say in repl ? to the Right Hon . Baronet the

  • 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-ncseproduct765/page/6/