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

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      Untitled Article

      HOUSE OF LOKDS-Friday , July 29 . The Earl of Radsob presented a petition from Donfernline in favour of& total repeal of the Com Laws . The ^ obleEarleaid , in order to show hia support of tbe prayar of fee petition , he begged leave to lay on the t&ble « f tbe House a Bill for the repeal of the duties en the importation of Corn , which he moved should be read a first time and printed , and read a second-time on Thursday , —Agieed to . The MarqoiB of Clasbicaede moved that thfl ordar of lie day for the second reading of the Sudbury BisfrAnchisement Bill , and the hearing of Witnesses at the Bar , be discharged , inasmuch as , after a careful consideration of the whole matter , he ¦ was persuaded that tlieir Lordships would not be able to discuss the B'Jl during the present session .

      After a few words from Lord B&CTCGHAM , the motion Vras agreed to . - - Toe report of several bills were , then received , alter Trcich their Lordaiiip : adjourned .

      Saturday , J ' vly 30 . Their Lordships met to day at twelve o ' clock . Several bills were brought up from the Commons ., aad read a Erst time . The private bills on the table "were forwarded a stage , and their Lordships adj oumed until Monday . -- ¦ - Monday , Aug . 1 . The House met at the usual hour and advanced the . ¦ everal Bills btfore them a stase in their progress .

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      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Friday , July 29 . Mr . T . S . DescoMBE presented a petition from Dt- il'Duuall and certain inhabitants of Dsptford , complaining of the interference of the constabulary with the public meeting there ; and gave notice that , on Monday , he should move flat the petition of Dr ilDcuall and the inhabitants of Deptford be referred to a select eoramittee , vrith directions to report tbe evii ' . trnee to the House . On the order of the day being read for going into eoHimittee of supply ,

      Mr . Hrn rose and brought forward the following motion , of welds" he had given notice : —V That an humble address be presented to he * Majesty ,, praying thtt L . er Mejestjr ¦ will be pleased to give directions that thers bo laid before this Ecus © an estimate of Ehe amount of mousy which will be required to satisfy , the awHid made , by tbeeomHiissiorors to whom is was referred to « camine . and Bdjudicate the claims of certain British subjects , for ' losses sustained by the confiscation cf their ships and cargoes ~ bj tile Government of Denmark , in the year 2807- ' After some observations on the subject , the Hon . Siember said at this period of the session he would not press his motion , and T £ s CHAjfCEiLOB of tbe Exchequer said the subject wunld not be lest sight of , bnt every attention paid toit by berMajesty ' s GjTernmeDt .

      Al _ = r some observations from Mr . ~ WTL ~ LlA ~ as tbe Houj :- went irto eoramittee of supply , Jlr . Greene in the chair . T ' - sSrai vote w-s £ 70 . 000 for civil contisgeEcies . " Mr . Williams strongly objected to some o ! th& items Included in this vote . Aft ^ r a few worcls from Colonel Sibthoep and SI-. P . XArLE . Jlr . Hrms , in reference to seme remarks from Col . jsrotherpe , dilated upon tbe extravagance of the Gk-vtrnsient respecting their allowances to ambassadors in f .-rtigu couits , asd the . £ 0 , 000 to the Governor of 2 Jort . h America . Sir G . Clabhe said that the £ 6 , 000 was caused fcy the late L-r-rd S ) detham duricg the two years he was in office . The arrangements for the residing GoTemer-GtE « al were based on a more economic footing . After a few-werda from ilr . Ewart .

      Lord Palheestos , in a long speech , defended the appointment of the diplomatic arrangements at the minor courts of Europe ; he was , however , very willing to abolish any that were found to be useless . He had " greatly reduced the salaries when he was in office , and thfcy were quite as low as those of France , Prussia ,-and other countries . There was no government in the ¦ world -5-feich -was better governed in this respect than ours . Dr . Bowrix g regretted that the ambassador at Constantinople was obliged to employ dragomans in Communication with , the Porte ; our diplomatic relations were not on a proper fooling there ; for persons ongfct to fce attached to the embassy capable of holding COnTerse * ritfc the Turks . Af itr a short conversation between Sir B . Feel and Dr . BowriEe , ¦ = _ - -

      Lord Palmebstox said he had suggested to the "Universities ihs propriety of educating some youths in oriental literature . In reply to a question from Six C . Napier , relative to the Sp-r-ish and Portuguese claimants , Sir Bobebt Peel said they were in progress of BctUemfciit . Captiin Pixmeidgs condemned the extravagance o * Borne of the items . A long desultory conversation took place betwe n Bevcral H 02 . Members , when the vote for £ 70 , 000 was ultimately carried . "U pon a grant of £ 10 , 000 for educational purposes being proposed , Dr . Bo wring and ilr . Hume supported it After jome frbsfcivaiiens from Mr . Cowpeb and I * Ir H 0 WA 2 D . -

      Sir . O Cornell rose . He complained of the nnjiist exclusion of Catholics from schools ; a great portion of the cliidren of the Irish in this country were Catholics , vhosti parents had emigrated ; they were very poor , and Btot » i in need of gratuitous education . He adverted to the admirable pystan which existed in New Y&rfc , which put s 2 i Christiana -upon an equal fooling . Es objected to the grant because he thought it proper that the Catholic child should be educated in the principles of his own religion . Tote agreed to . £ 59 , 935 for the payment of bills in South Australia was than proposed . Mr . H 17 HE objected to this grant , on the ground of its extravagance , and the absence of all information respecting it The money would be better bestowed if it had ietn applied to the relief of tbs starving manu- faeturer . He hope 4 the House would not agree to this '• Tote .

      Tne CHiNCELLOS cf the ExeHEQCEB defended the i grant 011 the ground thatit was necessary to protect the ' ' smigraats . Mi . B . Wood condemned , and Lord Sianlet defended the vote . 21 x . Hvme thought that converting the loan into ' a gift was an inducement : the sum should be -charged upon tfee lasd of the colony . ilr . Wabdwould remind the Hon . Gentleman who ! * poke last that the land would be of little worth if ' it vere encumbered in this manner . No one would buy in » uch a case . Government would not be able to- ^ supply the requisite quantity of labom « rs , who were sent cut to She colony , and for which the sales of lands paid , if t > m « ta igtTir ^ a were in snch , a manner encumbered . The sum of £ 59 , 936 was then voted , after a division of 73 to 13 .

      On the vote for the army , navy , and ordnance service lor China 'being put , a very animated and amusing discnision tooi place between Mr . Hume and Sir C Hafjeb , relative to promotions in the navy . The former objected to the number of officers in the navy ; ¦ we had . iaux thousand "STbea one thousand wculd be BnfiiciEnV the mass of them were pensioners . Wben there were so many old officers who were doing nothing in the service , he did not think that young ones should be continually pushed on .

      Sir C . Jiapieb could see no other way of getting rid of the old pensioners but by introducing some prussic add among them . The gallant Commodore then alluded to some of Mr . Hume ' s nonsensical calls- for reports , "which ratter rufflsd Mr . Hume , who , to the infinite amusement of the House , read nonsensical to mean foolish ; from which , in trne Dogberry style , he said file Hunsa must write me down an ass . " Roars of laughter followed the Hon . Member ' s rather touching speech . The other estimates -wera then voted .

      The Chaib . ha > - reported progress , and the House Tesumtd . Mr . Shabmak Cbxwfobd rose to move , in pursu ance of a petition from a large number of electors , and inhabitants of the town of Nottingham , that a new trAt be iajraed for that borongh . The Hon . Gentleman said that the people of the borough of Nottingham bad complained of their grievances , and he tad beea requested to move for a new "writ for the boKmghi In s . very argumentative speech , tbe Hon . Member contended for the expediency of providing remedial measures , and nut for disfranchising the borough . Dr . BtWBiSG seconded the motion . Sir . Hume expressed his regret that at this advanced part of the Session nothing had "been done to rtmedy the evil complrined of . .

      Sir B- Peel said he had assented to the suspension of the writ in ths first instance , in order that inquiry might be made as to how the committee had . brought in their report It would be unconstitutional , therefore , to snspend the ¦ writs , for any gefinita tame . He hoped ^ ome clauses would be introduced into the Bribery BUT to effect this object He believed that if the Hon . Gentleman bad the power be would be a great

      tyrant Hr . Hmg replied . ' Sir K . P . EEI . said the Hon . Creutleman iaA accused him of being f £ a originator of all sort * of abominations . Mr . HTOK reiterated bis assertion * . Me . ¦ WaSD add the Bight Hon . Baronet , en Tears-Ssj night , ' nad considered it expedient that the Bribery BIB should have Hie npport of the Hoove cf Commons , ud they would stultify themselves if it did not pass . It would cave a very salutary tfiect ; for it would strike at the root of tbe eviL He Bupported the motien . Lord PiLaEESToir said he had hoped Quit the writ would not have been issued until the Bribery at Elections Bill had passed in to law . The writ was then issued . - . . ¦ On tiie motion that the report of tbe Canada Loan BUI be brought up , Hr . Haves complained of the want of information rwpecUugU . "

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      The Chancelloe of the Exchequek said , fte bill was adopted in consequence of a pledge given by tee goTemment to the Canadians . After a few words from Mr . French the report was received . On the question that tbe House agree to the resolution , ¦ " ¦ "" . ' ¦ ' Mr .. Hume expressed bis objections to the grant ; and said he should divide the House upon it The House then divided—For the resolutions ; 89 ; against them , 9 : - " -majority , 80 . The orders of ths day ware than disposed of , and the Hsuse adjourned at one o ' clock .

      Saturday , July 39 . The Speakeb . took the ch ^ r at twelve o ' clock . The report of the committee of Supply vras bronght up , and the different votes agreed to . The St Ataph and Bangor Preferments BUI was read a third time . The report on the Lunacy Bill was received . The Militia Supply Bill went through commmiUee . The order ot the day being moved for going into Committe on ths Newfoundland BiH , Mr . O'Conaell rose to move the following amendment : that the committee be postponed for three months , to enable a communication to be had from the parties interested . His sole object in postponing the measure was to have an opportunity of enquiring more minutely

      into tho state sf that colony , and the grievances of which they justly complained . The constitution of that colony had been annihilated , not because the inhabitants had been guilty of a breach of the peace , but solely because the majority of them were of the Roman Catholic faith ! ( No , no ! from ths Chancellor of the Exchequer . ) He wished for a postponement , in order to enable the House to investigate the whole subject This bill weald have the injurious effect of abolishing the two houses of legislature is thac island ; and this was , no doubt , the intention of the Noble Lord . A deserving and loyal portion of her Majesty ' s subjects ought not to be oppressed . The Hon . Member , in a long and eloquent speech , contended that the constitu tion of Newfoundland had worked well , and that the bill ought not to be passed .

      Lord Stanley opposed the motion of the Hon . and Learned Member , principally upon the ground of expediency ! The Noble Lord ' s upsech throughout afforded a good illustration of the old Tory rule— "to jaalce tbe worse appear the better ra&aon !" After some discussion the motion was negatived , and tfee Hvuse adjourned .

      Monday t A ug . 1 . The Honse met at the nsual hour . New writs for Southampton and Belfast were ordered to be issued . THE LATE DISTURBANCE AT DEPTFORD . Mr . T . DojfCOHBE saidj that in pursuance of the arrangement of the Right Hon . Baronet , the Home Secretary , he . begged now to call the attention of the House to tbe two petitions he presented on Thursday last , containing a very serious and grave complaint that the liberty of the subject and the rights of the people of tfciB country had been violated at D ^ ptford on Tuesday last , and he thought lie could £ uow that the police . . cf this Metropolis , sanctioned by the magistrates had violated the law , and that the doctrine laid down

      by the R : gbt Hon . Gentleman with respect to tbe power of constables to prevent public meetings was contrary to tbe I 3 W of this country , He thought he could also prove that , in asking the House to agre 9 to this motion to refer those petitions to a select committee of this House , he had sufficient precedent for such a proceediD ? . The fallowing was ths account given by Dr . M'D ^ uall in his petition : — " Tbat he was invited by several househoidcJS of the town ot Iteptford to attend a public meeting en the evening of Tuesday , the 26 th Jay of July , 1842 , for tbe pnrpose of takiDginto consideration the existing dktr ess of the country ; that he complied with the invitation , and on arriving at the place of racetir . g , in a chapel in the High-street , ascertained th 3 t the meeting was not constituted ; that he

      received lniormation that public discussion was invited snd hi 3 presence required ; that on reaching the chapeldoor considerable confusion prevailed ; that he entered , and on proceeding to the platform requested leave to speak , promising to use his influence , as a public man , to quail the commotion ; that he succeeded in doing so , and finally ltft the mesting-house , in company -with several of the gentlemen on the platfurm . and under tie impreEsion that an adjournment was carried ; tbat finding the people assembled within a space in the Broadway , marfcej out by sank pjsts , separating it from private property and thepuolic way , he inquired

      whether meetings hi . d been held there , or if it was public property or used as a market-place ; and on being a-swered in the uffiimative , he then , on being invited , proceeded to address the assembly . Your petitioner urged upon the people the importance cf allowing all parties , in or out of doors , a fair opportunity of expressing tlieir sentiments . He demanded * a hearing for an archbishop or a chimn 3 y-sweep , ' ' a landlord or a labourer , ' ' a shopkeeper or a scavenger / He explained that he came there from no factious motivts ; that he was as much opposed to aristocratic government a 3 the Corn law Conference ; . Sat he was an enemy to monopoly , and considered tidk uu noo au cutiiijr w iii-juup « uy , aim consiaerea

      I ' the corn laws to ba one of the many gigantic [ evils which oppressed the poor ; ' and after ' having advised legal and peaceful agititation , he was ' ubout to explain the piinciplas of the People ' s Charter , when Superintendent Mullalieu and a party of police rushed into the meeting , and up to ihe place I where he stood , and that t ' :: e superintendent com-! mandeo" your petitioner to come down or be knocked I down . ' That he demanded the authority of the superi intendent ; and received for answer that he acted on ¦ his own responsibilty . He then requested leave to dispersa tte multitude , and this he was tbe more . likely to do as he was under tho recognisance in £ 500 ., for something that had occurred elsewhere . D \

      M-Donall wished to go home , but the policeman would not allow him to go in the direction of his house , and he -fras immediately arrested . The persons about remonstrated with the policeman ; and he was then carried off to the police office . Good bail was offered , but refused ; and , when his friends said they would take him some distance from the town , so as to prevent any disturbance , the inspector said that , if they would lay down £ 1 , 000 , he would not accept it as bail . Nothing would satisfy the inspector bnt that this political offender , as he called Mm , should ba retained in the station house , and there was he locked up , and left to remain all night and until eleven o ' clock on Wednesday , in a small cell , having an offensive privy in it and unglazid window and crawling vermin . No common

      felon , no miscreant could be worse treated than was this individual for merely attending a meeting legally constituted . The next day he was taken up before a magistrate ; but , in the meantime , h » had asked for means of communicating with his friends . That was refused him , except in the pesence Of the police . He could not prepare evidence without allowing his Wit * nesses and line of evidence to be known to the police witnesses against him , and under that heavy disadvantage was he hurried into Court . He asked what was the charge against him ? On the police sheet it was entered thus : —" For attending an unlawful meeting , and using seditious language ; " but the magistrate called upon him to give bail , himself in £ 50 , and two sureties in £ 25 , for having created a disturbance in the chapel—nothing about an unlawful meeting or using

      Bfcditious Uni uage . Dr . M'Djuall said he had summoned same respectable persons living atDoptford to show that there was no riot , bnt the magistrate , Mr . Jeremy , said he might call 2 , 000 persons if he pleased , but that wcuid not influence him ( Mr . Jeremy . ) He then aaked Vke inspector for a copy of the charge , but that being refused , he appealed to the magistrate , and the magistrate said 6 e bhould have it , but on repeating his application to the polioeman MalSalieu , the answer was , " I £ hail not give it you . " On the next day about 4 , 000 of the inhabitants of Daptford assembled and got up the other petition which he presented last Thursday , complaining that the constitution had been violated by the police at the time in " question . He ( Mr . Don com fee ) maintained that since the

      days of Castlercash and the passing of the Six Acts there had never teen so flagrant a violation of the liberties of the subject as this proceeding at Deptfoad . He then referred to the opinion of Mr . Justice Bayley in the case of Hunt at the York ass z = B , in which he qnoted Mr . Serjeant Hawkins to show that unless there was reason to believe that a meeting would give rise to a breach of the peace it was not an illegal meeting . He wished to know if there was anything illegal in the Inhabitants of Deptford meeting to di £ cuss their griev ances ? The Right Hon . Baronet would find some difficulty in establishing that the meeting in question was of an illtgal character . He would ask what was the use of the Six Acts , which were brought forward for tbe purpoas of putting down the seditious meetings

      of isi 9 and isso ? if the constables had this power , what was the usa of the Seditious Meeting Bill , which was opposed by the Right Hon . Baronet opposite ? The meeting was le ^ al and peaceable . Was it right that any policeman and constable sktuld have the power of going to a meeting and ba competent , to decide whether the language used by tbe speakers was or waa not seditious ? Was it right that constables should be allowed to declare that they would be supported in the exercise of their authority by the magistrates and by tho Secretary for tbe Home department ? Were the people thus to be exposed to tha caprice of any constable who might think proper to interfere with the progress of a public meeting ? He had > it in htepowcr to show that there were precedents for the inquiry he asked for . He cqold not suppose tfcat the Government wenld refuse its sanction to &o reasonable an inquiry . Oa the 11 th

      of July , 1833 , a meeting took place in Coldb&th-fields . A public intimation was made that the meeting could not take place—that it was illegal ; a notice was given tbat any person who attended the meeting did so at his peril . Notwithstanding these public intimations the meeting took place . The police interfered , confusion ensued , and several lives were lost It was said that tbe disturbance waa altogether attributable to tbe uDjosfc iaterfereaoe of the police foioa . When thJj subject was brought before the notice of the house , what did Lord Althorp say ! That Noble Lord himself moved for a committee to inquire into tbe conduct of Use police on that occasion . The Bight Hon . Baronet opposUe ( Sir J . Graham ) was a member of the then GK'verainent , and consented to the inquiry , and the only Hon . Member of the House who demurred to the committee ¦ was the member for ' S . sat , What did Lord Althorp Bay in reply to the Bight Hon . Baronet the

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      member for Kent ? The Noble Lord said that " Bince the formation of the police force their conduct had been . most praiseworthy ; but that everybody under the control of the Gavernment ought to be closely watched j and that it was necessary , in order to satisfy : the public , to grant a committee of Inquiry . On another occasion Mr . Cobbett moved far two committees of the House to inquire into the conduct of tbepolloe , who had been employed as they had recently been employed in Ireland , aa spies . These motions were carried , and that too during the existence of a Whig administration . He thought that the petitioners bad great reason to complain of thfl

      conduct of the police . Their complaint had been made in most respectful language . That complaint could bo substantiated by tbe evidence of a number of respectable inhabitants of Deptford . They were willing to come forward to prove that the police acted in a most dis « graceful manner , and that the demeanour of those who attended that meeting was most peaceable . He did not think thatfthe law could support the police in such unjust exercise of authority . He hoped that be bad made out a prima facie case 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 committee of the House .

      The motion having been seconded and put from the chair , - ; ' ¦ ¦ Sir J . GbaHAM expressed hia regret that he felt it hiB duty to delaln the House by resisting the motion of the Honourable Member for Finsbury . In the flret plaoo , he wou'd direct the attention of the House to some facts which had been made known by Mr . Jeremy tbe magistrate . The most important fact which could be brought under the consideration of the Honse , and one upon which the whole of the question rested , Was that which related to the character of the meeting at which this disturbance took place . The Honourable Member for Pins-bury had termed it a peaceable meeting . He ( Sir J . Graham ) would state the facts of th » case . The meeting , which had taken place in the open air , was

      only a continuance of that which had been held in tbe chapel . The meeting was called for the purpose of hearing a lecture , which was to be delivered by one of the Anti-Corn-Law delegates . Th « trustees and the clergyman had invited Mr . Thompson to deliver a lecture on the pubject of the Corn lawa , It was an unfortunate circumstance that the chapel Bhonld hate been selected ' for tbat purpose , but he did not lay any particular stress on that fact . Directly the meeting was convened a large influx of people took place , and the meeting , vrkich was originally for the purpose of discussiLg the operation of the Com Laws , became very different in its character . A large number of strangers , Chartists , rushed into the chapel . " The greatest confusion immediately ensued . A rnsh was made by the Chartists towards tbe platform , where the

      trustees and the c . erayman of the chapel weresituated , and it was proposed that the chairman , should give way and a labouring man be nominated in bis place to preside over the meeting . The confusion was increased when the attempt was made to displace the chairman . Dr . M'D . iuall took part with the Chartists . The tumult which followed baffi ? d all description . Women fainted . Oaecf the trustees made his escape , and brought in the assistance of the police . When they made their appearance a shout was made by cbe rival party to attack the police , and in ordor to exciteastrong feeling against that body , allusions were made to a disturbance which had taken place in Ksiitish-towu , when a severe straggle took plact > between tbe populace and the police , and which terminated in the loss of human life . At this a severe struggle ensued , and the chapel was cleared . When Dr . AI'Douail ftund that it was the intention of the

      trustees and the pohee to have the chapel cleared , he declared that it was his intention to hold the meeting in the open air . Upon this announcement being made , multitudes followed him in a state of great excitement . Dr . ATDouall then addressed tbe multitude . The greatest alarm was exc ' . tkd in the neighbourhood . A great crowd of persons occupied the whole of the turnpike-road , causing a complete obstruction of the highway . At this time evening advanced , and the meeting became more tumultuous .. The language of Dr . M'Douall was exceedingly violent . The superintendent of the police suggested tbat the meeting should disperse , and recommended Dr . M'Douall to address the meeting to that effect . He refused to do so . The superintendent of the police said , that if Dr . M'Douall would disperse the meeting , he ( the superintendent ) would

      procure him -a . 3 afe passage through the crowd . He refused compliance , and it was not until then that the police attempted to arrest him . When this was effected , a violent attempt was made to capture him from the police . Blows were exchanged , other individuals were arrested , and Dr . M'Douail was carried to the stationhouse . It was true , as seated by "the Hon . Member for Finsbury , that the friends ef Dr . M'Douall offered bail with the view of obtaining his release . With respaCo to the complaint which had been made of the situation in which Dr . M Douall had been placed at the stationhouse , ha ( Sir J . Graham ) was ablo to state , tbat an offer was made to D .-. M'DouiIl to obtain additional accommodation for him , but their offors ho declined . Now with regard to tbe examination before the magistrate The Hon . Member for F . nsbury had said that no one but tfca police were examined .

      Mr . T . Duncombe—I said that no inhabitants of Deptford were examined . Sir J . Graham , in continuation , said , that he would rtad the substance of the charge as made before the masistrata with reference to the part which Dr . M'Douiil ] had taken in the transaction . The Dootcr was charged with baving caused a number of . persons to ; assemble , and with addressing to them exciting Janguage calculated to disturb the public peace . The Hon . Member for Fiosbury said , thai the testimony of the polica was not to be relied upon . The right Hoa . Baronet referred to tbe evidence of the police , wbich clearly established the violent character of the crowd . As the Hon . Member for FinBbury bad stated that the evidence

      ought not to be taken , he ( Sir J . Graham ) would direct the attention of the Honse ta the evidence of a very respectable -person , a Mr . Hugh , a -watchmaker . Bis evidence was to the effect that if the police had not interfered a great disturbance of the public peace would have ensued . That was the opinion of a respectable witness . He ( the witness ) declared that the riot and al'irm were excessive . The police , finding that the crowd completely obstructed the highway , that night was coming on , and tbat there was little or no chance of the multitude dispersing , interfered , Under these circumstances , be did not consider that the police had exercised an -unwise discretion . The Hon . Member for Finsbury had alluded to the character of Dr . M'Douall . This was not the first time that Dr . M'Douall had been

      engaged at a riotous meeting . After the magistrate had heard tbe evidence against the prisoner , and before be entered upon his 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 , expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the decision of the Bench , and even thanked Me . Jeremy , the magistrate , for his leniency . When Dr . M'Douall was informed that it was not the intention of the magistrate to commit him for trial he expressed bimself satisfied . The Doctor immediately entered into recognizances , himself in £ 50 , and two others in £ 25 each , to keep the peace . It would appear from the observations of the Hon . Member for Finsbury that a uovel course had been taken in

      this matter , lie ( Sir J . Graham ) most distinctly stated that no new or additional powers had been invested in the constables ; no change nad been made on the part of the Government with reference to the authority exercised by the constabulary force . If a constable was gnilty of an illegal act , tbe law was sufficiently strong to pnnish the offence . It was not the part of tbat House to interfere in such cases . In the case of the riot -which took place in Cuidbath-flelds , as well as in what was termed the " Manchester massacre , " several lives were lost , several wounds were also inflicted ; but compare those cases with the one then under the consideration of tbe House . In the case to which the Hon . Member for Finsbury referred no lives were lost and no person had been seriously hurt .

      Thia then was not a case -which would ju&tify . the interference of Parliament . The Hon . Member for Finsbury said tliat the police ought to ba closaly watched . He ( Sir J . Graham ) did not deny that it waa necessary to exercise such vigilance . The discussion which was then going on with regard to the conduct of the police force clearly proved that the actions ef the executive Government were scrutinized with a jealous eye . He was prepared to admit that the actions of the constables should be influenced by time and circumstances . It was dimcult 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 .

      Previous to the holding of public meetings it was the undoubted duty of those who were charged with the maintenance ' of the public peace to do all io their power by the adoption of every possible precs ut ' ion , to prevent any species of disturbance ; bat If their precautions proved ineffectual , or that time did not allow of any precaution whate / cr being taken , then he did not conceive that it waa tbe duty oi a constable to take summary measures . Of this at all events he felt satisfied , that there wern no grounds for instituting any such inquiry aB that which formed the subject of the present motion , and he hoped that the House would concur with him in thinking tbat on the present occasion the complainants had met , not only with justice , but with leniency . .

      Mr . O'Cohneli . observed ,. that Hon . Memberawere quite mistaken in supposing that the petition was directed against the magistrate ; on the contrary , it was so shaped as not to implicate any person except the constable . Now , that being the case , ha thought it only xigbt to remind the House that the police were the paid servants of the public , and It WW the duty of the House of Commons to see . that they did their duty , and especially to take care that they did not violate that law which they were employed to maintain and . enforce If the offences complained of in the present petition had been perpetrated against a member of ParllameBt

      the House of Commons would denounce it as a gross outrage , and surely it was as much an outrage when committed against Dr . M'JDoualL But the affair assumed a still more serious aspect when it was viewed in connexion via the right of petition . Two revolutions had been bronght about in this country by the denial of that right ; . a public declaration by a pablio meeting was but another mode of giving expression te the feelings and opinions of tbe people . The form might be slightly different , but the substance was the same ; and therefore , he held that nothing conld be more clear than the illegality of the arrest . On these grounds be should

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      support the . Hiotiori , fO i . j ^; . - iponc ^ yed ^ that it ¦ would be satisfactory to the public to have an inquiry instituted l ^ . thej Jrlouseof Commons . - - Mr . Hawks waa surpriBed that nolaw office * of the Crown bad thought proper to express any opinion on tie subject before the House , The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department had , on a former occasion , said , that a constable did possess the rightfto disperse any meeting which be conceived ; to be seditious , and that tbe parties so injured had ' ¦ their remedy by action . Barely the Bight Hoa ; Baronet must know , . that tp : the public thai was no remedy whatever—such doctrines , if assented to bjr Parliament , would go at once to the 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 an enclosed space ,

      might have overflowed into a highway ; in such a case tho constable ought quietly to have requested the parties so assembled not to obstruct the public thoroughfare ; that would probably have been successful , and that , at all events , was as much as the constable had any right t « do . It was well known that the majority of the great public meetings held in the metropolis were held on , or very ; neiir , highways , those , for example , in Palace-yard , the Rsgent's-park , Ken&ington-common , Cogent-garden , outside the a ; own-hill , in Southwark , — all these were In public thoroughfares ; but they had not yet been dispersed by the police , It might ba very convenient for a high-flying Tory Government to put down such meetings on some such pretext aa the present ; but if such things were to be tolerated . , the next thing would be a revival of the Six Acts . He thought this waa a case which called for inquiry , and one on which the House should express an opinion , :: - :

      The Attornet-General said , that the inquiry which the Hod . Mover sought to institute was unnecessary . There had been no loss of life , no unusual excitement , nothing in short , to call for the extraordinary inquisitorial powers of the House of Commons . Those powers ought to be reserved for extraordinary occasioDS , when such proceedings were thought necessary in order to calm- the public mind . He did hot object to the attention of the House being drawn to such a sub * ject , for the purpose of making grievances ksown ; but he thought inquiry into matters already public was unnecessary , and ; might bo disadvantageous , the more especially aa it did not appear that the meeting had been in any reapeet legally constituted . It waa not a meeting to petition Parliament . The Honourable

      Member for Lambeth had contended that a person stopping up the public way in the manner described was not thereby guilty . of an offence to justify the proceedings taken . As a dry question of law , the obstruction ef th& public way by a iue « ting must be an illegal act , and such a one as to justify the police in interfering , so as to remove or prevent the obstruction . But suppose Dr . M'Douall had been aggrieved by any act of the police ,, the law was open to . him for a remedy . If the object of the petition were to obtain an expression of opinionfrom the House , that would be to anticipate the verdict of a jury , and therefore it ought not to be complied with . The Hon . Gentleman had wished that the House should not separate until \ tfie Government had Riven some expression of opinion upon this case .

      Such a coarse- would not be proper } it woald be undertaking an undue responsibility . Already proceedings might have been commenced against the police for the course they had pursued , and large damages probably were calculated upon , ; for nothing was more likely to meet with a ready ear from a jury thaa the statements affecting the liberty of the subject ; and althongh , for the proper preservation of the public peaces there was aa authority established , every extreme exercise of that authority , though legal , would not probably be justified by the ciroumBtoDcesi But it would be scarcely constitutional if the House were to interfere in a case of this kind . There bad been no widely spread alarm , no tumultuous violence , no less of life ; and he trusted that the law weuld be allowed to take its course in this case as well as In others .

      Mr . Sheil thought the Right Hon . and Learned Gentleman was mistaken In assuming that Government had given no opinion upon this subject ; for the Right Hon . Gentleman who was the head of the police in that House bad declared that the police had acted under proper instructions in this instance , and that , under all the circumstances , they had exercised a wise discretion . The Government , therefore , sanctioned the ^ conduct of the policor and exyressed their approbation in the House of Commons of that conduct ; and from that approbation what but the most formidable mischiefs were likely to follow ? . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Mr Sheil ) had been much struck with a remark made the other d&y by the Hon . Member for Reading , •« What is innovation to-day to-morrow may become precedent ;

      and that which is made precedent to-morrow will be made law the next , day . ' * ( Hear , hear . ) So it might be observed with regard to what the Right Hon . Baronet had said of the conduct of the police in this case . ( Hear , hear . ) It was of the greatest importonce then , that an inquiry should be instituted into this case . Recollect , it was not a cata between Dr . M ; Douall and Mr . Jereniy , or the polica . inspector ; but 5 , 000 people bad petitioned the House for an inquiry— - ( bear ) . It waa not the case of Dr . M'Douall ; it was the case of a public meeting held in tha town of Daptford for a legitimate purpose , which wos interrupted and dispenedby a superintendant of police— - ( hettr , hear / . Now , the House would remember tbat in the Staffordshire case , recently before the House , they were told that neither

      Government nor the House ought te interfere , because the case had been before » jury at a quaster session , and that it had been the subject of a charge from an able judge , to whose impartiality everybody paid a ready tribute , and , moreover , that the case had been adjudicated and decided , and the verdict of a jury could hot be disturbed . An inquiry could not be gTanted in that case , because it would be a reflection upon the jiuy and the judge who tried it-i-lhear , hear . ) Bat the same refusal : was ; giv « n . here , where there had been no jury . no decvaioa of a chairman of quarter seBfeiens , no verdict under -which the refusal could be sheltered . On the contrary , a magistrate , before whom tho party accused was taken , had declared that there was no evidence to show that , the meeting was an

      unlawful one . Mr ; Jeremy declared tbat ; there was not sufficient evidence to send Dr . M'Dqunli to trial —( hear ) . That was , the decision of the magistrate against the constable ; but , although that was tho decision of Mr . Jeremy , the auperior of the police in that House , the Right Hod . Baronet approved of the conduct of the constable , and said he had used a wise discretion . If policeman Mullaiieu did not use a wise discretion , he must say that bis examplB had not been followed by the Right Hon . Baronet —( " hear , heari" and a laugh ) . It was confessed that Dr . M'Douall was taken to the atation-houBe , and that bail was tendered , which was refused , one of his sureties being a trustee of the chapel , wb » was said to have called in . the police . ( A yoice ^ - ' It was not the same trustee . " ) ; He did not say it waa

      the Banie . But what of that ? If they relied upon one trustee for turning the aQsembly put of tbe chapel , he would rely upon the other trustee for having tendered bail for Dr . M'Douall . ( Hear . ) Was it an act of wise discretion to refuso that bail ? ( Hear . ) Was not the man detained in the teeth of the tendering of good and sufficient bail ? ^ Hear . j But upon what charge ? . He bad to ascertain that . He , therefore , applied for a copy of the charge made against him ; and he ; applied t © the magistrate . The magistrate said he wa 3 entitled to have it ; but did the policeman give it ? No . When Superintendent Mallalieu was applied to for it he refused it , and Baid he did not care for the magistrate .. ( Loud cries of "Bear , hear . " ) Was that a wise discretion exercised by a policeman ? ; Were not these

      circumstances which demanded inquiry ? XHear . ) . Tkete was no riot at the first meeting ; and the opinion of Lord Eilenborough with regard to meetings held for a distinct purpose , and a disturbance ensuing , as in this casfa , did not justify the course which was pursued . A disturbance did take place , the people were called ; upon to disperse , and they dispersed accordingly . Dr . WDouall went out arm in arm with one of the trustees of the ckapel , who : bad stated that he saw him on the platform , but did , not observe anything improper in hia conduct . The objection was to tho holding of the meeting in the chapel , and there , according to the evidence no riot ; took , place . . Another , meeting took place . Was there any riot there ? No . Was there any obstruction of the public way 1 , No . " There was no

      riot , " said one of the witnesses , " no confuslba" 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 w&y , no previous eff « txts being made by the poliee to clear , the way ? But then it was said that seditious Janguage was used . That was the evidence of the policeman who . took apon himself to ^^ exercise his ^ judgment upon the nature of the language which wasi used , and upon ^^ that wise discretion of the policeman Dr . M'Douall , ^ Chartist though he might be , was unceremonleusiy token to prison , Would not the Goveinnient confeBS that this ; was a violation of justice ? Tee Legislature had exercised thJ greatest caution in directing proceedings to be taken in cases of public disturbance . A Justice of the , Peace was required to read the Riot Act , ; and until that preliminary was gone through , the constables were not authorised to disperse and apprehend persons in that

      way . The powers given under the ( 30 th of Gecrge III . and tha Vagrant Act were of a different description , If a thousand persons were to assemble with arms there could be no doubt about the authority of the constable to disperse sudi a meeting ; but who would compare such a case as that with the- present ?—( bear . ) Under all the circumstances he could not but feel surprised that the Right Hon . Baronet should approve of the conduct o £ the police ; but ; for that there might have been no difficulty in appealing to tbe laws—( hear , bear , bear . ) If thia had been an ordinary caser-if it were a case between M ^ Douall and Mallalieu , he Bhould not care so much about the consequences ; butit was a case of importance , rendered atill more important by a doctrine which had been bioached in the Home Office , which , doctrine might lead to the most mischievoua and dangerous results—( bear , to » r ) " ^ . ;^/ '';; / v . ;; . ?;/ ' ;' ' . , : : /'; . ' - ' . ;; -. v \ : ' :

      Tbe Sol-iciTOB-GBNEBAi , explained that tha read-Ing of the Riot Act was a preliminary proceeding in etseB of tumult and disorder to the dispersion of an unlawful ^ assemblageby the constabulary and the military . But the case of an obstruction of the public ¦ w ay was somewhat different If , however , a constable arrested a person who had been guilty of no offense to justify that arrest , he would of course be liable to an action . It was unnecessary , however , to enter into a discussion of those points . Tbe question before the

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      House was , whether the facts of this case fumisbed any grounds for an iuqairy . Froni the statementsi made by the Hon . Gentleman' oppositei it was quite impossible to understand the fact * ; tut two concessions bad been made . The ^ Hon- Member for Lambeth had said , that what tciblt place injibei cbapel was sufficient te authorise the ^ polica in clearing the chapel . Every Hon . Gentlaman on theo . ther ¦ sidelof ; ibe House had said that no blame iat ? iach « d to Mr ^ Jeremy , the magistrate ¦ ' - , but ^ t . Jpxemy aid net discharge the party , he did not say to the polioe ,, '' You have made a false accuaation . ' * He ( tbe SdiuUtor . Geneial ) prestuned that Mr . Jereniy told the accased he bad been guilty of a ; breach of the peace ; because , though tbe offence was not' of that species that he saw flf < to commit bim for trial , he desired him to enter into recognizinces to fceop the peace . The evidence showed that the second meetings was a continaance of the first , and if the accused had consented not

      to return to the meeting afcer being taken to the station house , if he had consented to be seen away from the neighbourhood by a polico-niati , be would not have been detained by Sujperintendent Mallalieu , who deenied his detention necessary under the circumstances for the preBeryatibn of the public peace . Tbe Hon . Member opposite admitted the magistrate to have been right who had decided everything to have been legal in respect to the arrest , and bad ordered the prisoners to find recognizinces . Here tben were two . ^ . parties acting bona Jide . and ^ in tie discharge of their duty , under the superintendance of an officer who - declared tbat during the eleven years of bis Service he had never known a mob more mischievously inclined . It waa impossible , under such circumstances ; to grant the committee , without casting a censure on the oficer who had taken upon bimself to disperse a mob , ; the character , the time , and the manner of whose assembling were clearly indicative of riotous disposition . On these considerations he trusted the motion would be

      decisively rejected ( oheers . ) . ; ... ' ... Lord Palmerstgn said , those who had objected to the motion seemed to him to have given some reasons why it should be agreed te , for the Attorney ^ General bad said , that he did hot deny that matters of this sort might fair ' . y come before the House , though ha wished thereto be no inquiry . Why , here were statements on the one side against the police as having beea guilty of improper conduct , and on tbe other side , in their behalf , to the effect that their proceedings had been wwe and discreet . Could therebe a case in / which an inquiry could be more conducive to the public interest . ¦? ' Tiiere appcafad , moreovtr , grounds for believing that the conduct of the constables had not been perfectly wise and discreet . It was by no means stated by the law

      offlc ? rs of the Crown that tho second meeting was illegal . The Attorney-General had , indeed , said that he could not lay it down bow far an dDstructioh to the thoroughfare might not have keen illegal . But on that ground fairs might be objected to . Oa what groand was this person apprehended ? Not , it should seem , in consequence of anything he had said that was illegal , for the magistrates had taken recognizinces , not for illegal conduct , but for the preservation of the peace . And perhaps , if there bad been nothing unlawful in the conducS ol Dr . M'Douall i ifc might be a question how far the niBgistrates were justified in taking bail . It seemed ,. then , to him ( Lord Palmerston ) that a question was here inyolyed of no cominon magnitude—namely , how far the constabulary were justified in disturbing

      and dispersing public meetings . He thought that in this case they bad exceeded their duty , and especially at this moment , when Patliauient was going to bo prorogued for a long recess ; during which it was likely that meetings of this sort— . (•'• Oh , oh !")—might be held- — ( "Ob , oh !'¦)—and at which constables , if tbey acted under mistaken ideas of their duty , mi ^ ht , by attempting to interfere , cause serious iuconveniencea . Hei considered this a strong case for inquiry , not with any vies 7 of censure , but aimply to ascertain the Fact 3 > which now were to be gleaued only from exparle statements , and to settle the question whether there were or were not any real grounds of complaint ; in order that , should the , former appear to be the truth' the Government might take steps to

      prevent the recurrence ' . of . siimlar mischief—( hear ) , Sir R . Peel—Sin my Right Hon . Friend the Secretary for tbe Home Department , under whose superintendence the metropolitan police generally . jwst , has intimated to the House his opinion that there ia not in this case sufficient ground for any interference 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 Bouse , there might be some plausible ground fo ? acceding to the coniraittee . But are there no other means of ascertaining ¦ whether the constable acted legally ?—( hear , hoar ) Is ray Right Hon , Friend ' s decision final and conclusive ? Not at all —( hear , bear ) . At a very moderate cost you may enable and compel the

      legal tribunals of the land to inquire and declare whether he waa justified or hot . You may commence an action forfajse imprisonment or for refusal of bail—( hear , hear ) - ^ -in either of which ways you may obtain a judicial decision , which will be infinitely more satisfactory than any this House could arrive at—( hear , hear ) . Suppose the House should ; on the report of a committee ( not bearing evidence , mark , on oatb ) , be of opinion that the constable acted illegally , and that a court of law should decide the reverse—( hear , hear)—which ' . of these decisions would be received , as the rule of law in the country ? Why , " of course , that of . tlie court of law—( hear , hear ) . Why not , ; then , appeal to the ordinary tribima ' a of the land , in . which the judgment of the bijchest legal authorities , upon the evidenca

      taken on oath , may be easily obtained ?—( bear , hea ' i ) . ^ - What pretence is there for the appointment of a committee ?^( he ; ir , hear . ) I deprecate earnestly a precedent of the House exercising judicial functions save on the strongest and inost serious grounds— - ( hear ) . — -I think that if , in a case of this sort , the HouBe should deelare an opinion adverse to that pronQunced by a court of law , prior to its aJjudicntibn by the ordinary tribunals , the authority of tbe Gommpna -would be miich ¦ weakened— - ( hear ) . I have had experience enough in such ' matters ' 'to know that constables ought ' Dot to be encouraged either to exceed the law , oreven by an annoying and indiscreet inforcemeht of it , even where the law is 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 ; , aie placedintrusted with the ( txecution of the biw—if they are visited by unnecessary inquiries , and so , by tacit indications of censure , constantly discouraged and deterred from the free execution of their duty >— ( hear , bear ) . They ought certainly to be supported when acting faithfully and honestly— - ( hear ) . And let me put this case , tkat there had been , in consequence of the non-interference of this constable , who Is now to be condemned—¦( & cry of " No , " ) - ^ -6 r to be visited whb a decided indication of Censore by the taking of the case out of the ordinary course of judicature —( hear , hear , ;—suppose , by bis neglect , there had occurred a riot , and property or life had been lost or

      endangered —;( hear , hear , )—would not all the circumstances of the night have been put together—the disturbances in the chapal , the threats , the violence , and the subsequent disturbances in the open air , and would it not have been said ; that he had incurred the responsibility of the public injury suataiued ? ( Hear , bear . ) W » 3 it mere commotion ? W ^ 8 it mere excitement ? Were there not ; blows struck—bencbes torn up—violence actually committed ? ( Hear , hear ) It would bays been , of course , far different had there been merely expressions of dissent from rival bodies of Chartists and anti-corn law agitators —( loud criea of hear , bear , )—or any thing of that sort . '¦ ( Laughter . ) That takes , place in . the House : p £ Commons , where there occur very often scenes of " considerable exciter

      ment "—( laughter , ) -r-but if Members began to level blows at each other , and pull up the benches , would it not strongly resemble a riot ? ( Hear , and iaugbtfcr . ) To fee sure , some Member called the disturbance a squabble . ( Mr . O'Connell— " A scufflu . '') TVby , some people have been known to speak of the rebellion of 1798 as a " hurry . " ( Laughter . ) Idea ? differ as to rioting , and I will not take upon myself to Seclare 1 definitively whether , wben tbis officer bad beard > of the former proceedlnga in ^ the chapel- ^ -when he had heard tbat the religious character of the ' building had not restrained , the populace , and that there waa much less chance , of course , 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 he adopted , under the heavy responsibility Which necessarily aitends all the acts of conrtabulary officers . ( Hear . ) These are cases unavoidably for the discretion of the police under the particular circumstances in each instance—( hear , )—and what I say is tbis , ^ ttat if , when the Home Secxetary baa decided in favour of the cdursa pursued by the police , any patties are dissaticEed v ? ith the decision , there is no reason whatever for disturbing the ordinary course of juatico , and for removing t j this House an adjudication naturally and properly belonging to the courts . of law . ( Cheers' )' ' : ¦ . " ¦ . ¦ ¦" -.: ; : ¦; ; ' .- ; . :, . / . - ; - ; .:.-: . ¦ ' . ; '¦• ' v-: ' ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ; "'¦; . •'

      Mr . THOMAS DUKGOMBE replied—The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Dspartment had quoted reports in opposition to the facts of the case . ; - ; . ,... ; ' , ¦ : '¦ ¦ / ¦¦¦ ¦ . : ' ; r .: / ' \ : :- . ' -.. V ' -j ' :- - ..- '¦ ,::: ,- ' ' : ¦; : ¦' ' ; Sir James GRiUAM said that tbe report he quoted from was taken on path before the magistrate . Mr . T . DcNCOMBE—There ; were several reports . Thero were reports published by the newapapera ( oh , oh ! from the ministerial benches . ) He ( Mr . DoncombeJ snpald like to ask from what source Mr . Jeremy derived his report ? , Did he beep a reporter ? The Right Hon . Baronet at theh ^ adVJ- jh ^ -M ^ eatyV ^ overi ^ neat also appeared to rely upon Mr . Jeremy ' s report : but be ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) would mabitaln that tbe greater portion of what Mr . Jeremy had stated (» f course he

      derived it from others ) was a gross misrepresentation of the factsi ( oh , oh , from the jDiJ ! itoti ? r | aliidepf , ihe HonBe . y It wasi np xa » their saying ob , pb .. 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 game meeting , and that , as a disturbance hod occurred in the chapel , where seats w « re torn up , and pews broken down , the meeting in the Broadway partook of the same charaet 6 r . Now , grant him ( Mr . Duncombe ) a committee , and he would prove that no seats were torn up , csr any pews broken down . There -was the evideno of Mr . JoBn Wade , who was called againstDr . M'DoualL What did he fiay ? He said—

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      » I am a builder and shopkeaperi-living atBepiroTit I am trustee of the Independent CbapeL ., I dreWiBpJtiwi band-biii prpduced , and it was publlshSa by my direction , in concurrence with the RoV . J . Pollen , the mibister . It was not for any discussion that meeting was called . Its purpose was to exsite ; aympatbjr tot the distressed , but not for an immediate subscription . A subscription bad been forwarded before the Qaeen ' a letter came out ¦ it was to ' bear ' a ; , fccta » on iha distress of the country . Toe chapeFwaa pretty ,, ftUI at seven o ' olock , when I entered it ' " TKere Wai a little disturbance at the commencement , of . the meeting . Some persons , whpWere . Bfiangers , wished fco spaak and enter into a discussidhi Jwhiab was isbn . trary to the object of the meeting . The / iperson announced as lecturer did not come , but another person wa 3 asked to supply the yacancy . The diBturbanca passed off , and Mr . Taylor proceeded with bisVlectureV and having concluded it sat down . There was a little

      disturbance , and the . minister of the chapel dissolved the meeting . There were about one thousand persona present . ! ' The Honourable and . Learned Gentleman ( the Attoruey-GsQeral > seemed to think that the police cleared the chapel . No such thing . The mmister and Mr . Taylor dissolved the meeting , because the object fpr whichthe meeting had been called had been fulfilled . Mr . Wade went oh to say ^ - " After tbe minister bad uifiBOlved the meeting , the place was clearei The people walked put without any disturbance , lbs meeting separated peaceably . There were police there , I think they were sent for by my brother . I , uhdeit-J stood from him that some persons had 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 witti . some persons who were disturbing the meeting , and endeavouring to get upon the platform . I saw Dr . M'Dauall there . He was not invited ; He was one of the audience . I saw

      nothing improper in bis conduct The Rev . Mr . Pulleu dissolved the meeting by saying , "I dissolve this meet * ing . " This witness was cross-examined by Mr . M'Douall , and he stated this— " I stood beside you on , the platform . I saw nothing improper in your condiiet whatever . I heard you say that a discussion ; ahould take place out of doors . I did nob bear tbe chairman propose any adjournment . There was no righttpadjourn the meeting . ; The meeting . hawi ' ; nofc " tha " ppwer ^ tV elect a chairman . ;';¦¦ _ Np resolution was proposed . It Was an invitation for the ' , minjstor . . and - tyustoat to come and hear a lecture . I fenow . nothing about the meeting on the Broadway . I . ^ could riot ^ ather-frppi your gestures that you were likely toxreate a breacbi « the - peace . Mrl ; Taylor waa . invited by ; , m «^ ^ IrV

      ^ M-Douall , Mr . Taylor , and myself walked away arnv ^ st * arm . " This was the evidence of one 1 pf the witnesaesi brought by the police against Mr . M'DouaU , ausl'yeV the Right Hon . Baronet was ondeayouring to pt (? ye tb » 6 ¦ Mr . M'Douall bad created a breach of the peace iu the chapel . The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir Jamea . Graham ) had so mixed up the meeting in the chapel and at Ui 6 Broadway that nobody could tell what part of the ppp .. * ceedings he was talking about . Grant him ( Mr . Duncombe ) a committee , fand he would prove that the statements of Mallalieu were f Asa . When he came to Mr . M'Douall that gentleman said , "If you say that this is an illegal meering . and if you will allow me to say so to . tbe - people , I will immediateiy disperse them . " The auswer was , " No , come down . " Mr . M'Douall came

      down from the pump , and he was then desired to go Jiome , and was directed towards Daptford . Mr . M-Douall said "No , that is not my way . I want to go to London . " What followed ? He was immediately taken into custody , and conducted te the fitation-hoUsa . What took place at the station-house had already been stated . Mr . Jeremy ' s report said that Mr . M « DouaU had every accommodation in the station-house . Wft 8 that true ? No . Mr . M'Doulin 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 . M'Douall should have been treated for fiuch an offence . He would Ept ^ say that the Bight Hdn . Barontt ( Sir Robert Peel ) was inconsistent in refusing this inquiry ;; but certainly he did think that the Right the

      Hpn . B ^ rfc Secretary for the Home Department ( Sit James Graham ) , and the Noble Lord sitting near him ( Lord Stanley ) , both o £ Whom were once the colleagues of the authors of the Reform Bill , were acting in opposition to the principle which their former alliances espoused . It was the principle of Toryism to refuse all inquiry ; therefore theRight Hoii » urable Baronet at the head of Her Maj -aty ' s government was perfectly consistent in doing so on this occasion . But he knew , ^ nd his Right Honourable and Noble colleagues knew , that they fcadabad case , and what had been repotted to them , and whichbad been stated by tho Right Hon . Baroiiet the : Secretary « f State for the Home Dspartr ment to tha House , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) would ' , if they would grant him a committee , " prove to be false . The pdlkewas , as Lord Althotrt had once saidy aforniida-6 le power to ba placed at the disposal of the

      Cfovern'menti They wera armed and trained , and if ate , In faefc , equal to aoldiersL It waa said that if these things were iioSprevented . bloodwbnldbe ^ sh ' edi . 'Hetdid them that Wood would not be shed . If theae things were done , the people would not consent . ' : !/ & % Hon . Members read the petition ! ' Yoisr petitioners are all of opinion that , bb the meeting was peactfally assembled , so it wouiii have peacefully dispersed , had it not been for the urjjusUfiableyiolencpof-the police , to which , if your Honourable House affords no remedy , yonr petitioners do not feel bound to submit , " He teld them plainly that these doings wou ; d some day- tend to create a disturbance , and if blood should be- abed , every drop wcultl baupnn the heads of ^^ those- / who held the doctrines that night -broached , and who came down to Buppbrt thia gross violation 61 ' - ' ¦ the 'people ' s ri ghts— -. ' ' . • ¦ ¦ . '¦ ¦ .. : :- " . ; :. v : ¦ ¦ : . ;¦ :. ; ' : :. ; . ' [ -y- i } : - '¦ . ; - ¦ -- ' The House divided , - -i : ; - ¦ -

      For going into committee ......... 8 ? ' : ' , V For Mr . Dunoombo * amendment ; .. ' 30 . Majority againltMr . Duncombe—^ 59 ; ' The House then went into a'CbmrntttSe of Waya and Means ; and votei for Exchequer Bills , &c ., were agreed to . ' - - ' , \ r- ^ : ¦¦' . ' •' '¦' ., ' ¦ : ^ --r- ' : ^ : f ¦ ¦ / : ¦¦;¦ ¦// - ¦ ¦ :: ¦ •¦¦ The Tobacco Regulations Bill created eome ^ debase Mr . THOM AS DUNCOMBE opposed" its ; re-cpniHiitWI , ; on the ground of its vexatious character and onerous prpvisions . ' . . "V - : : /¦ ' ¦ ' ¦'' ¦'¦ ' ¦ ' ] ; ; : , "¦ ; "' : " ¦•" : v "' -- ; ; ' :. ' . ' " ¦'" The Ghangellor of Xui ^ Exchequer , in supporting the Bill , made some statements aa to : the very general and extensive adulterations Of tobacco ; Wbich was practised ; To Tueet the 7 objeotipn t 6 the BiU , he intended to introduce a clanse , giving fnrther time to the dealers for disposing of the stock which they might have on hand of adulterated tobacco , and a more extended time for snuff . : ' . ¦ ¦" ¦ : '• ¦ ¦ ' : ¦ .- ¦ ¦ ¦

      Aftera discussion , Mr . Thomas Duncombk ' s amendment for recommitting the 1 Bill this day three months "was lost by 63 to 9 ; \ : V The House thea went into Committee on the Bill , which was considered , . amended , and ordered to be reported on Wednesday . . v ' The other orders of the day were then disposed of , and the House adjourned . / ;

      Untitled Article

      The Working Classes at Oi , dham . —Prospectuses are beinfi isaaed for thsercction pf a Working Man ' s Hall , ^ in 000 shares , at £ 1 each , payable -byinstalfiaent 9 pi' threepence per week , or . upwards . The . edifice , which is to accommodate five hundred persons , is for the holding of public meetings , delivery of lectures , discussions on local and national grievances , 1 ^ -parties , balls , concerts , &Cil ; ; . Wilson , the ; Steeple CtiMBER .---Our :: readera will recollect that some months ago a paragraph went the round of the newspapers in reference to the novel and daring feats performed by George Wilson , the- person who in so extraordinary a manner repaired Carriokfergus steeple , and a large stalk belonging , if vve mistake hot , to the firm of Mait land , Couper , and Co ., of Glasgow . The ingenious personage , it appears , still continues to follow his fearless occupation , and is ready , Without shrinking , to make repairs even ia the most dangerous positions , witboqt incurring t . he great expence usual ia : the erecting of

      scaffolding . During tho fair week he repaired the " large stalk at Messrs . Aluir , Brown , audC « . 's works , Anderstob . The ^ height of the stalk Sfas X 5 ffVfeet , and during tbe late storm it was cracked 't ^ lbe ; extent of 25 feet froih the top . Wilsion wjaifea ; t&e stalk in his usual way , by insertipg pins pfiron » or what he calls H needles , " in the iiisidei . of tb , ebuildin | r , and using them / as a ladder .. Hpthen'tpfis ' oS'Sft ^ feet , to ^ ^ lighten ^ the top ; ^ of the ^ U ^ c % n , > % : laeasu ^ which , it appears , was dee | ned ;^ si 6 ii ^ S | Iy neqessa ^ lj droppintr himself down , as occasion ^ xcqujriEj ^ iiy means of a block and tackle , being balanced " in his descent by heavy weights . The work , we uu ^ erfitand , has completed fcp \ the' company ^ entife . siiisfaciJon- "; "From Wilson ' ai OWri statement be does & t seepi ^ i entertalii .-ftiiy fear in accomplishing his la % urf . ' :-Mii sayatbere is little danger pf falling , as tb ' e flVedlea are driven ^^ firmly in , and he ^ ^ atlailiLcs hiioself toone of them at every step by means of ' "a" bili .- ^ Grlasjjow Araus . -f ^ ' '' - ' ¦ . < . ' - ' 'i \\ ~ : ' . " ' ' : ; - : ' . : - '' - \ ' : ;; :- / .-. ;" . ' . ,

      PEpESTBiAjJisM . —Last week a person named Mul- ; : Jen circulated placards through this town , anaoufts- .. U ing bis intentioh of talking one b . undrai '; iniles > i 3 In twenty-four hours . The ground w » 3 measured * : - and ho was to start frbm a place called ' ^ Wateria ^ -i > Si dam" to the ^ rBt turnpike on the Belfagfejoadihatf ir ! a mile distance , and then return ; tba . journey out d aud in being therefore one ^ -mile ., :: P « jperipetaoaianii- !; were appointed , who wer e to give-theipedeiBtriatti . ' c check tickets on his finishing eaeb mila , i . 8 O ;; that ¦ there should be no question , that ha psrformedjiisr ^ voluntary task ; to . ^^ t ^ i ; M ' 'iOttr ^^ eiaGk ^^ jrt started , and kept a ^ ngggpiBk pace , tillifiQ » jeheDLheri ; - seemed to be jomewhal fiushed ; butAt ^ ese ^ isriieBi : ^ the crowd had somewhat thinned , it b ^ iaftalivirina ^ £

      the evening yery large ) he seemed > a : fic £ eli-. aaat ^^ starting . Throughout tbo night a gteat . ttuad >« r ^ * i persons remained . ' 6 n . tbe Mua jttl ^ waik ^ JSa ^ ia ^ i monUng he was rather fatigued » Jiifi ^ X ^ whait pained , fiveblisters wore cutroff ; feutjnotwitli---i standing , Mb pace was Tery rapid . At two o ' clock ^ he siaid he was all safe . " When he cwne to tba « t last trip the pace was astounding—the mile waa ,-perfeoted in eight minutes and a half . Heiwas * loudly cheered on coming in . We should here add , ; tbat four or fiva times during tbo day be stopped for- » v some minutes at the " stands , " < jnite confident of bis ' powers ; and before going out * oa his lasttrip ^ he ¦ delayed fully six minutes . During the evening ha Walked through the towo , apparently not much fatigued . —JVieu ;*^ Examiner * * , ^ ; V ¦

      3stn$Mai ^Arltament*

      3 Stn $ maI ^ arltament *

      Untitled Article

      6 THE NORTHERN STAR . . " ^ ¦;\ ' . ^ :: ; ^; - !; .-: y V ^ : ^ tC ^^; . . i : - ¦¦ ¦ •¦ : ¦¦ : ¦¦¦ - . ¦ ¦ - ¦ - : ~ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ .. ¦ . - . •¦ ¦ ' - - -. ...--,. ; : —; " ' - . ' . . ¦ ' ' —^ ¦ ——— ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦—— . ' . ' « ' %

  • 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-ncseproduct900/page/6/