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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th August 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      HOUSE OF LOKDS-Friday , July 29 . Tie Earl of Badkob presented a petition from Dunfermiine in favour of a total repeal of the Com Laws , The Noble Earl said , in order to show his support ot the przyar of the petition , hs beged leave to lay on the table of : fce House a Bill for the repeal of the duties en the importation of Corn , 'which he moved should be read s first time and printed , and read a second time on Thursday . —Agreed to . 23 he Marquis of Clakbjcabde moTed that the order

      of the day for the second reading of the SadburyDisfrxDchiscvatnt Bill , and the hearing of Witnesses at the Bar , be discharged , inasmuch as , after a careful considers&n of the whole matter , he -was persuaded that thtfir Lordships would not be able to discuss the Bill during the present session . . After afevr words from Lord BsougH-AH , the motion was served to- - - The K-pjrt of several bills were then received , after Which their Lordship ! adjourned .

      Saturday , July 30 . Tieir Lordships met to day at twelve o ' clock . $ ~ vml bills were brought up from the Commons , and read a Erst time . Tfee private bills on the table were forwarded a stage , and their Lordships adjourned until Monday . Monday , Aug . 1 . The House met at the usual hour and advanced the several Sills btf ore them a stase in their progress .

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      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Friday , July 29 . iir . t . s . Dtocombb presented a petition from Dr . H"l > ecall aad certain inhabitants of Daptford , complaining of the interference of the constabulary with the public meeting there ; and gave notice that , on Nonday . he should move that the petition of Dr HDje&II and the inhabitants of Deptford be Teferred to a select committee , with directions to report the erioence to-the House . On the crder of the day being read for going into eoHiniitise of supply ,

      Sir . Extt rose and brought forward the following mation , of which he had given notice : — "That an bu . nbic address be presented to her Majesty , praying that her Majesty will ba pleased to give flire-ctions that there bs laid before this Hcnse an estimate of ~ the amount of money which will be paired to satisfy the a Ward made by the commissioners to whom it was referred tc examine and adjndicate the claims of certain British subjects , for losses sustained by the confiscation of their ships and cargoes by the Government of Denmark in the year 1307 " A / lex some observations on the subject , the Hon . Member s . tid at this period of the session he would not press Sis nation , and The Chancellor of the Exchequeb said the subject -world not be lost sight of , bnt every attention paid to ii by iic-r Majesty ' s Government

      Alter n me observations from Mr . Williams , the Ht use Trent into committee of supply , Mr . Greene in tile chair . The Srii Tote was £ 70 . 000 for aril contivgeB&es . - 3 ir . AVi LLlAXi strongly objected to some of the items inc ! ade < i in this vote . Afer a few words from Colonel SlBTHORP and M-. F . Macle . iir . Hi iiE , in reference to some re-marks from CoL Sibtbarws , oilated npon the extarragance of the Govercmient respecting their allowances to ambassadors in fvrtijc courts , and the j £ 6 \ 000 to the Governor of North -iiEerica . Sir G . CLAT » 3 iB said that the £ 6 . 000 was caused by the late Lord Sydenham during the two years he was in office . Tie arrangements for the residing Grovernor-Gecerai Ts ^ -re based on a more economic footing . After a fc-w words from Mr . Ewart ,

      lord P ^ LHEKSTON , in a long speech , defended the appoiatnifct of the diplomatic arrangements at the minor courts of Europe ; be was , however , very willing feo abolish ai-y that were fonnd- to be useless . He had greatly reduced the salaries when he was in office , and they were quite as low as those of France , Prussia , and o \ her countries . There wa 3 no government in the world vhlchvas better governed in this respect than ours . Dr . bowbiSg regretted that the ambassador at Conoccnticople was obliged to employ dragomans in eemniunieation with the Porte ; onr diplomatic relations were not on a proper footing there ; fur persons ought to be attached to the embassy capable of holding converse with the Turks . . Af ser a short conversation between Sir R . Peel and Dr . Bowr 5 se ,

      Pai- ^ ebstos had suggested to the UniTersitiea the propriety of educating Borne youths in Oriental literature . In reply--to a question from Sir C . Jfapier , relative to the Spanish and Portngnese claimants , Sir Huqebi Peel said they were in progress of Bettitmcnt . - ' - . - Captain PrcsBiDGE condemned the extravagance of some if the items . A Ions desultory conversation took place between ssreraf Hos . Members , wnen the vote for £ 70 , 000 was Ultimately carried . "Upon a grant of £ 10 , 000 for educational purposes 2 > eiEg proposed , Dr . Bowring and Mr . Hume sup ported it . After some © bservationa from Mr . Cowpeb and Mr . H 0 "W _ kiD .

      3 Ir . O Co ^ SELL rose . He complained the unjust erciusioii of Catholics from schools ; a great portion of the children of the Irish In this country were Catholics , whose pareau had emigrated ; they were Very poor , and stoed in need of gratuitous education . He adverted to the sdnm-ible system which existed in New York , which put ali CtLriotians upon an equal footing . He objected to the £ r , iiit because he thought it proper that the Cattiolic child should be educated in the principles of his own religion . Vi--te agreed to . £ oy ass Ui the payment of bills in South Australia was then proposed . Mr . Hi : jib objected t » this grant , on the ground of its fcxtr ^ -uagiLuce , and the absence cf all information respecting iu The monty would be better bestowed if it bad been applied to the relief of the Starring m&Ilulaetorer . He hopea the House would not agree to this vote .

      The Cb a > cellob of the ExcHEqcEB defended the grant on the giound that it was necessary to protect the emigrants . 33 r . B . VToov condemned , and Lord Staklet defended the Tote . ilr . Hi"me thought that converting the loan into a gift was aa inducement : the sum should be charged upon the lard of the colony . Mr . W -ib . d would remind the Hon . Gentleman who Spoke last that the land would be of little worth if it -wsre encumbered in this manner . No one would buy in tuta i case . Government would not "be able to supply the r-quisite quantity of labourers , who were sent out to the colony , and for which the sales of lands paid , if these lands were in such a manner encum » l « red . The sum of £ 59 S 93 G was then voted , after a division of 73 to 13 . ¦

      On the vote for tie army , navy , and ordnance service for Ciiina being pnt , a very animated and amusing discussion took place between Mr . Hume and Sir C . 2 J . &P 1 ER , relative to promotions in the navy . The former objected to the number of officers in the navy ; We had four thousand when one thousand wo-nld be sufficient , the mass of them were pensioneM . Whtn there were eo many old officers who were doing nothing in the service , he did not thin * - that young ones should be continually pushed on . S : r C . Napier could Bee no other way of getting rid of the o ] u pensioners but by introducing some prussic acid amocg them . The gallant Commodore then alluded to sojss !/ Uii Home ' s nonsensical calls for reports , which rather ruffled Mr . Hume , who , to the infinite smuseacnt of the House , read nonsensical to mean foolish ; from which , in true Dogberry style , he said the House most " write me down an ass . " Roars of laughter f ^ do-wei the Hon . Member ' s rather touching

      speech . The other estimates wer * then voted . The CsiiaHis reported progress , and the House resumed . -. Mr . SHATtMAN Crawfobd rose to move , in pursuance of - . potion from a large nnmber of electors , and inBabit&Ets of the town of Nottingham , that a new writ be issued for that borough . The Hon . Gentleman said that res : people of the borough of Nottingham had eompiair-rd of their grievances , and he had been regnested £ *¦ ¦> mote for a new writ for the borough . In a very argumentative speech , the Hon . Member contended for the expediency of providing remedial measures and net for disfranchising the borough . Dr . Bgwri > -g seconded the motion . Iir . Hume expressed his regret that at this advanced part of tt > . e Session nothing bad been done to remedy the evil complained of .

      Sir R Peel said he had assented to the suspension of the writ io ths first instance , in order that inquiry might be made as to how the committee had brought in their report It would be unconrtitttttonal , therefore , to suspend the writs , for any definite time . He hoped svine clauses would be introduced into the Bribery Bill to effect this object . He believed that . if the Hqn . Gentleman had the power he would be a great tyrant - Mr . Home replied . . Sir 5 . Feel Bald tbs Hon . Gentleman had accused torn of being the originator of all Borts of abominations , Mr . Hume reiterated his assertions . Mr . Ward said the Bight Hon . Baronet , en Thursday night , had considered it expedient that the Bribery BQl should have the support of the House of Commons , and they would stultify themselves if ft did not pass . It would haTe a very salutary effect ; for it would strike at the root of the evIL He supported the motien .

      Lord Paxuebstox said he had hoped that the writ wxjold not have been issued until the Bribery at Elections Bill had passed into law . The wrii was then issued . On the motion that the report of the Canada Loan BD 1 be brought np , , Mr . HaW £ 8 complained of the want of information Weeding ; it

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      The chancellor of the Exchequer kM , the bin w » s adopted in consequence of a pledge given by the government to the Canadians . After a few words from Mr . French the report was received . On the question that the House agree to the resolution , Mr . HirirB expressed his objections to the grant ; and said be should divide the Honse upon it The House then divided—For the resolutions , 89 ; against them , 9 : majority , 80 . The orders of the day were then disposed of , and the Heusa 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 brought up , and the different votes agreed to . The St Asaph and Bangor Preferments Bill was read a third time . The report on the Lunacy BJ 1 was received . The Militia Supply Bill went through commmittee . The order of the day being moved for going into Committe on the Newfoundland Bill , Mr . O'ConEeli 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 the stete < af that colony , and tue grievances of which they justly complained . The constitution of that colony had been annihilated , noi because the inhabitants had been guilty of a breach of the peace , but solely beeausa the majority of them were of the Roman Catholic faith ! ( No , no ! from the Chancellor of the Exchequer . ) He wished for a postponement , in order to enabie the House to investigate the whole subject This bill would have the injurious effect of abolishing the two houses of legiBtatnre in that 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 , conten-ied that the constitution of Newfoundland had worked well , and that the bill ought not to be passsd .

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

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

      • THE LATE DISTURBANCE AT DEPTFORD . Mr . T . Du > COMBE said , that in pursuance of the aTr&ng ? raent of the B ' ght Hon . Barontt , th 8 Home Secretary , he begged now to call the attention of the House to the two petitions he presented on Thursday last , containing 3 very serious and grave complaint that the liberty of the subject and the rights of the people of thia country had been violated at D-ptford on Tuesday Isst , and he thought he could show that the police of this Metropolis , sanctioned by the magistrates had violated the law , and that the doctrine laid down by the Right Hon . G 3 nt 2 emau with respect to the power of constables to prevent public meetings was contrary to the law of this country , He thought he could aiso prove that , in asking the House to agree to this motion

      ! to refer those petitions to a select cemmitt-ee of this ; Honse . he ha-i sufficient precedent for such a proceed-: ine- The following was the account given by Dr . ¦ M-D jusil in his pension : —* ' That he was invited by ¦ several householders of the town of Uf ptford to attend | s public meeting on tha evening of Tut > sday , the 26 th 1 day of July , 1 S 42 , for the purpose of taking into con-: sjderation the existing distress of the country ; that he ; complied with the invitation , and on arriving at the j place of meeting , in a chapel in the High-street , ascer-| tained that the meeting "wa 3 not constituted ; that he I received information that public discussion was invited i-and his presence required ; that on reaching the chapelj door considerable confusion prevailed ; that he entered , I and on proceeding to the platform requested leave to \ speak , promising to us * his icflusnee , as a public- man , i to quell the commotion ; that he succc-e ; ied in doing so ,

      ; and finally Itr ; the meetiiig-h * 'us =, in company with ! several of the gentlemen on Lbs platform , and under i-the impression that an adjournment was carried ; that i finding the people assembled within a space in the i Broadway , markei out by sunk pjsts , separating it I from private property and the public way , he inquired ; whether meetings had been held there , or if it was ' public property or used as a market-place ; and on | being answered in the tffirmative , he then , on being , invited , proceeded to address the assembly . Your . petitioner urged upon tbe people the importance of allowing all parties , in or out of doors , a fair opportu-: nity of expressing their sentiments . He demanded a : hearing for an archbishop or a chimnay-sweep , ' ' a ¦ - landlord or a labourer , ' ' a shopkeeper or a scavenger . " i He explained that he came there from no factious mo-: tives ; that he "Ras as much opposed to aristo

      ! cratic government as tbe Corn Law Conference ; I that he was aa enemy to monopoly , and considered I ' the com laws to be one of the many gigantic : evils which oppressed the" poor ; ' and after ; having advised legal and psacefnl agititation , be was ' about to explain the principles of the People ' s ! Charter , when Superintendent MallHlieu and a party of ! police tnshed into the meeting , and up to the place | where he stood , and that the superintendent coin-; manded your petitioner ' to come down or be knocked 1 down . " That be demanded tbe authority of the snper-| intendent ; and received for answer that he acted on ' ¦ his OWn respousibiity . He then requested lea Ye to ' disperse the multitude , and this he was the more 'likely to do as he was under the recognisance in 4500 .,

      ; for something that had occurred elsewhere . Dr . ; M \ Djuall wished to co home , but the policeman wouid ; not allow him to go in . tbe direction of his house , and he was immediately arrested . The persons about re-L monstrated -with the policeman ; and he was then carried off to th » police office . Q-ood baU was offered , but refused ; and , when his friends said they would take him some distance from the town , so aa to prevent any disturbance , the inspector said that , if they would lay -down £ 1 , 000 , he would not accept it-as bail . Nothing would satisfy the inspector but that this political offender , as be called him , ahon ' id be retained in the . Station housfe , and there -vras he locked np , and left to remain all night and until eleven o ' clock on Wednesday , ifj a small cell , having an offensive privy in it and

      unglazed window and crawling vermin . No common feion , no miscreant could be worse treated than was this individual for merely attending a meeting legally constituted . The ntxt day he was taken up before a magistrate ; but , in the meantime , he had tuked for means of communicating with bis friends . -That was refusod him , except in the pesence of the police . He could not prepare evidence without allowing his witnesses and line of evidence to be known to the police witness- ^ 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 giye bail , himself in £ 50 , and two sureties in £ 25 , for having created a distmbance in the

      chapel—nothing about an unlawful meeting or using seditious language . Dr . M'Douall said he had summoned some respectable persons living atDsptford to show that there was no riot , but the magistrate , Mr . Jeremy , said he might call 2 , 000 persons if he pleased , but that wculd not influence him ( Mr . Jeremy . ) He then asked the inspector for a copy of tfee charge , bnt that being refused , he appealed to the magistrate , and tne magistrate said ke thoald have it , but on repeal ! ig his application to the policeman Mallalion , tbe answer was , "I Bha ' il not give it you . " On the next day about 4 , 000 of the inhabitants of Deptford assembled and got up the other petition which he presented last Thursday , complaining that the constitution had been violated by the police at the time in question .

      He ( ilr . Doneombe ) maintained that since the days of Castlereagh and the passing of the S : x Acts there had never been so flagrant a violation of the liberties of the subject as this proceeding at Deptfoad . He then referred to the opinion of Mr . Justice Bayley in the case of Hunt at the York ass zes , in which he quoted Mr . Serjeant Hawkins to show that unless there was reason to believe that a meeting would give rise to a breach of the peace it was not an illegal meeting . He wished to know if there vras anything illegal in the inhabitants of Deptford meeting to discuss their grievances ? The Bight Hon . Baronet would find some dsfflsulty in establishing that the meeting in question was of an illegal character . He would ask what was the use of the Six Acts , which were brought forward

      for the purpose of putting down tha seditious meetings , of isi 9 and 1820 ? If the constables had this power , what was the use of the Seditious Meeting BUI , which ¦ was opposed by the Right Hon . Baronet opposite ? The meeting was legal and peaseable . Was it right that any policeman and constable akculd have the power of going to a meeting and be competent to decide whether the language used by the speakers was or was not seditious ? Was it right that constables should be allowed to declare that they would be snpported in the exercise of their authority by the magistrates and by the Secretary for the Home department ? Were the people thus to be exposed to the caprice of any constable who might think proper to interfere with the progress oT a pubiio meeting ? He had it in his power to show that there were precedents for the inquiry he asked for . He could not suppose that the Government weuld refuse its sanction to so reasonable an inquiry . On the nth

      of Julyi 18 S 3 , a meeting took place in Coldb ath-fieldB . A " public intimation was made that the meeting could not take place—that it was illegal , a netice was given that any person who attended the meeting did so at his peril . Notwithstanding these public intimations the meeting took place . The police interfered , confusion ensued , and several lives were lost It was said that the disturbance was altogether attributable to the unjust interference of the police force . When this subject was brought before the notice of the house , what did Lord Althorp say t Teat Noble Lord himself moved for a committee to inquire into the conduct of the police on that occasion . The Right Hon . Baronet opposite ( Sir J . Graham ) was a member of the then ( Government , and consented to the inquiry , and the only Hon . Member of the House who demurred to the committee was the member for Kent What did Lord Althorp taj in reply to the Bight Hon . Baronet the

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      member for K ^ nt ? The Noble lord said that since the formation of the police force their conduct had been most praiseworthy ; but that everybody under the control of the Government ought to be closely watched ; and that it was necessary , in order to aatiafy the public , to grant a committee of inquiry . On anotiar oasaalon Mr . Cobbett moved far two committees of tt&HOttSB tO inquire into the conduct © f the police , who nw-been employed aa they had recently been employed in freland , as spies . These motions were carried , and that too doling the existence of a Whig administration / He thought thnt the petitioners had great reason to complain of the

      conduct 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 Daptford . They were willing to come forward to prove that the police acted in a most disgraceful manner , and that the demeanour of those who attended that meeting was most peaceable . He did not think tha tithe law could support the police in such . uDJust exercise of authority . He hoped that he had made oat 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 ba referred to a select committee of the House . ¦¦'• ¦¦ " .-

      The motion having been seconded and put from the chair , _ Sir J . Gbahasi expressed his regret that he felt it his duty to detain the House by resisting the motion of the Honourable Member for Finsbury . In the first place , be 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 , was that which related to the character of the meeting at which this disturbance took place . The Honourable Member for Flnsonry had termed it a peaceable meeting . He ( Sir J . Grabani ) would state the faota of th « case . The metting , which had taken place in the open air , was

      only a continuance of that which had baen held in the cbapel . The meeting was called for the purpose of hearing a lecture , which was to be delivered by one of the Anti-Curn-Law delegates . The . trustees and the clergyman had invited Mr . Thompson to deliver a lecture on the ; subject of the Corn Laws . It waB an unfortunate circumstance that tbe chapel should have bean selected for that purpose , but he did not lay any particular stress on that fact Directly the meeting was convened a large irflux of people took place , and the meeting , which was originally for the purpose ot discussing the operation of the Corn Laws , became very different In its character . A . large number of strangers , Chartists , rushed into the chapel . The greatest confusion immediately ensued . A rnsh was

      made by the Chartists towards the platform , where the trustees and the clerayman of the chapel were situated , and it was proposed that the chairman should give way and a labouring man be nominated in his place to preside over the meeting . The confusion was increased when the attempt was made to displace the chairman . Dr . MDmall took part with the Chartists . The tumult whfch followed baffled all description . Women fainted . One of the trustees made his escape , and brought in the assistance of the police . When they made their appearance . a shout was made by the rival party to attack the police , and in order to excite a strong feeling against that body , allusions were made to a disturbance whichIbad taken place in Kentish-town , when a severe straggle took place between the populace and the police , and which terminated in the loss of human life . At this a severe

      struggle ensued , and the chapel was cleared . Wben Dr . AfDouml fsund tbat it was the intention of thb trustees and the police to have the chapel cleared , he declared that it was his intention to hold the meeting in tbe open air . Upon tbiB announcement being rijaie , multitudes followed hita in a state of great excitement . Dx . M'Dou ; j 11 then addressed the multitude . The greatest alarm was txcittd in the neighbourhpod . 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 that 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 aafe passage through the crowd . He refased compliance , and it was not until then that the police attempted to arrest him . When tb . U was effected , a violent attempt % vas made to capture him from the pcl ' ce . Biows were exchanged , other individuals were arrested , and Dr . M'Douall was carried to the stationhouso . Itwastlue , as stated by the Hon . Member for Finsbary , that the friends ef Dr . M Douall offered bail with the view of obtaining his release . With respect to tha compliant which had been made of the situation in -which Dr . M'Douaii had been placed at the Btatlonhouse , be ( Sir J , Grahami was able to State , that an offer was made to Dr . M'Douall to obtain additional accommodation for him . but their offers he declined . Now with regard to tbe examination before the magistrate . The Hon . Member for JFinsbury had said that no one but the police were eximined .

      Mr . T . Du . ncombe—I said that no inhabitants of D- 'ptford were examined . ¦ Sir J . Graiiam . in continuation , said , that ha wonld read the subs- . as ce of the charge as made before the migifitmt « -with reference to tha part which Dr . MDouall had taken in the transaction . The Doctor was chargsd with having caused a number of persons to assemble , and with addressing to them exciting language calculated to disturb tbe pubiio peace . The Hon . Member for Finsbury said , that the testimony of the police was cot to be relied upon . The right Hoo . Baronet referred to the evidence of the police , which deafly established the violent character of the crowd . "As the Hon . Mbsubcr for Fiusbnry had stated that the evidence ought not to be taken , he ( Sir J . Graham ) would direct

      the attention of the House ta the evidence of a very respectable person , a Mr . Hugh , a watchmaker . His evidence was to the tfivct tbat 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 alarm were excessive . Tlio police , finding that the crowd completely obstructed the highway , tbat night whs comiug on , and that there was little or no chance of tbs multitude disparsipg , interfered . Under these circumstances , ho did not consider that tbe police had exercised an unwise discretion . The Hon . Member for Finsbnry 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 meetng . After the magistrate had

      heard the evidence ajainso the prisoner , and before he entered upon his defence , the magistrate Baid , instead of committing him for trial , he would only bind him over to kt ^ ep the peace . Dr . M'Douaii then willingly acquiesced that the case should close , expressed himself perfectly Batisfitd with the decision of the Bench , and even thanked Mr . Jeremy , the magistrate , for his leniency . When Dr . M'Douall was informed that it was not tie intention of the magistrate to commit him for trial be txpreased himself satisfied . The Doctor immediately entered into recognizances , himself in £ 50 , and two others in £ 25 each , to keep tke peace . It would appear from the observations of the Hon . Member for Finsbury that a novel , course had been taken in this matter . He ( Sir J . Graham ) most distinctly stated

      tbat no new or additional powers had been invested in the constables ; no change n-Jd b « enmade on the part of the Government with reference to the authority exercised by the conttabulary force . If a constable wa 3 guiity of au illegal act , the law was sufficiently strong to punish the offence . It was not the part of that H ' . 'us * to interfere in Buch cases . In ibe case of the rio : which took place in Goldbatb .-fl . elda , aa well as in Whftt was temifed the " Manchester ruassacre , " oeVeral lives were lost , several wounds were also inflicted ; but compare those cases with the one then under the consideration , of the Houbo . In the case to which the Hon . "Msmber for Finsbury referred no lives were ioat and no person had been seriously hurt This then waa not a case which ¦ would justify the

      interference of Pariiamst . The Eon . Member for Finsbury ? aid tb : a the police o-agbx to be closely ¦ watched , He i Sir J . Graham ) did cot deny that it was necessary to exercise snrh vigilance . The uiucussion 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 iriflurJiced by time and circumstance * It was difficult to iay down general rules for the conduct of constabl « 3 in particular cases . The right of constables to interfere at public meetings waa 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 peacs to do all in their power by the adoption of every possible prec&ution , to prevent any species of disturbance j but if their precautions proved ineffectual , or that time did not allow of any precautijiis whate / er being taken , then he did not conc- 'iTe tout it waa the duty of a constable to take summary measures . Of this at all events he felt , satisfied , that there were no grounds for instituting any euch inquiry as that which formed tha subject of the present motion , and he hoped that the House would concur with him in tainting that on the present occasion the complainants bad m ; . t , not only with justice , bat with leniency .

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

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

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      Buppoitthe niotion , for he conceived that it would be satisfactory to the public to have an inquiry instituted by the House of Commons . ¦ : ¦ .-.- ^ Mr . Ha WES waa surprised that no law officer 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 for 7 mer occaaibn , said ,- that a constable did possess the right to disperse any meeting which he conceived to be seditious , and Hhat the parties so injured tad their remedy : by action . Surely the Bight Hon . Baronet must know that to the public that waa no remedy whatever—such doctrines , if assented to by Parliament , would go at once to the establishment of arbitrary power in this country . It was said , that thei meeting to which tbe present petition referred was an assemblage that obstructed the highway .: Possibly the meeting , having commenced in an enclosed space

      might have overflowed : into a highway ; in such a case the constable ought quietly to have requested the parties so assembledipot 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 near , highways , thosa , for example , in Palace-yard , the Regent's-park , Kensington-common , Covent-garden , outside the Town-h ill , in South ^ ark , — all these were in public thoroughfares ; but they had not yet been dispersed by the ; police . It might be very convenient for a high-flying Tory Government to put down such meetings oa some such pretext as the present ; but if such things were to be ' tolerated , the next thing would be a revival of the Six Acts . He thought this was a case which called for inquiry , and one on ¦ which the House should express an opinion- ; .

      The ATtoB . NKV-GENERM . 8 aW , that the inquiry which the Hon . Mover sought to institute waa unnecessary . There had been no loss of life , no unusual excitement , nothing ia short , to call for the extraordinary inquisitorial powers of the House of Commons . Those powers ought to be reserved for extraordinary occasions , w hen such proceedings weite thought necessary in order to calm the public mind . He did not object to the attention of the Housa being drawn to such a subject , for the purpose of making grievances ksown ; but he thought inquiry into matters already public was unnecessary , and might be disadvantageous , the more especially as it did not appear that the meeting had been in any respect legally consfcituted . It was not a meeting to petition Parliament . The Honourable

      Member for Lambeth had contended that a person stopping up the public way in the manner described was not thereby guilty of an offyaco to justify tbo proceedings taken . As a dry question of law , the obstructioa ef tbe pubiio way by tt meeting 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 . MDouall bad 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 opinion from the House , that would be to anticipate the verdict of a jury , » nd tberwore it ought not to tee complied with . The Hon . Gentleman had wished that the House should riot separate nriltt the Government had given some expression of opinion upon this case .

      Such a course would not be proper ; it would be undertaking an undue respongiWlity . ^ . tTeftdj proceedings might have been commenced against the police for the course they had pursued , and large damagea " probably were calculated upon , for nothing was * more lifeely to meet with a ready ear from a jury than the Btatements affecting the liberty of the subject ; and althoufpfor the proper preservation of the public peace , there " was an authority established , every extreme exercise of that authority , tbough legal , would not probably be jaBtifled by the circumstances . But 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 ot : ttte . j and he trusted that the law weuld be allowed to take its course in this Cose as well as In others . : . '' ; ' " : ^' : '? :. ; : ' . ¦ : ' ' - ; . '

      Mr . Sheil thoucht the Right Hon . and Xearned Grentlenian was mistaken in assuming that Government had given no opinion upon thia subject ; for the Right Hon . Gentleman who was the head of the police in thai House had declared that the police bad acted under propsr instructions in this instance ; and that , under all the circumstances , they bad exercised a wise discretion . The Government , thertfore , sanctioned the conduct of the" police , and expressed : their approbation in thO House of Commons of that conduct ; and from that approbation what but the most formidable mischiefs were likely to follow ? ( Hear , hear . ) Ho ( Mr Sheil ) had been much struck with a remark made the other day by the Hon . Member for Reading ,. >« What is innevation today to-morrow may become precedent ;

      and that which is . made ' .. precedent to-morrow will be made law the next day . ' * ( Hear , hear . ) . 3 p it might be observed with regard to what the Rii ; hfc Hon . Baronet had said of the conduct o ( the police in this case . ( Hear , hear . ) It was of the greatest importance theni that an inquiry should be instituted into this case . Recollect , ; it was not a case between Dr . M Douall and Mr . Jeremy , or the police inspector ; but 5 ^ 000 people had petitioned ihe House for an inquiry —( hear ) . It was not the case of Df . M'Douall ; it was the case of a public meeting held in tho town of Daptford for a legitimAte purpose , which yaa interrupted and dispersed by a BUperintendant of police —( hear , hear ) . Now , the Houtse would remember that in the ' : Staffordshire case , recently before the House , they were told that neith er

      Government nor the House out { ht t » interfere , because the case Iliad been before a 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 not be disturbed . An inquiry conld not be granted in that case , because it would be a reflection upon the jury and theju « ge who tried U—( hear , hear . ) Batthe same refusal was given here / where there had been no jury , no decision of a chairman of quarter se 8-si ^ ns , no verdict 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 evidence to show that ibe meeting was an

      unlawful one . Mr . Jeremy declared that there was not .-ufflcient evidence to send Dr . M'DdUall to trial—( hear ) . That was the decision of the magistrate against the constable ; but , although that was the decision of Mr . Jeremy , the superior- of . ; the police iri that House , the Right Hon . Baronet approved of the conduct of the constable , and ' said he bad used a wise discretion . If policeman Mallalieu did not use a wise discretion , he must say that his example had hot 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 sureties being a trustee of the chapel , wh « was said to have called in the police . ( A voice" It was not the same trustee . " ) He did not say it was

      the same . But what of that ? If they relied upon one trustee for turning the assembly out of the chapel , he would rely upon the other trustee for having tendered bail for Dr . M'DouulL ( Hear . ) Was it an act of wise discretion to refuse that bail ? ' ( Hear . ) Was not the man detained In the teeth of the tendering of good and sufficient bail ? ( Hear . ) But upon what charge ? He had to ascertain that . He , therefore , ; applied for a copy of the charge made against him ,, and he applied te the magistrate . The magistrate said he was entitled to have it ; but did the policeman give it- ? - - - No . When Superintendent Mailalien was applied to for it he refused it , and said he did not care for the magistrate . ( Loud cries of " Hear , hear . ) Was that a ; wi 3 e discretion exercised by a policeman ? Were not these

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

      riot , " said one of the witnesses , . « ' no confusion . " And was a man to be seized by a policeman because 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 polise ; to clear the way ? But then it was said that seditipusi language was used . That was the evidence of the policeman who took upon himself to exercise his judgment upon the nature o ? the language which was used , and upon that wise discretion of the policeman Div M ^ Itouall , Chartist thpugb . he might be , was Hnceremoftfiiflly taken to priabn . Would not the Government confess tbat this was a violation of justice ? The tegfelature had exercised the greatest caution in directing proceedings to be token in cases of public disturbance . A Justice of the Peace was required to read tho Riot Act ; and until that preliminary was gone through , the constables : werei riot authorised to disperse and apprbhend persons in that

      way . The powers givsn under the 60 th of George III . and the Vagrant Act were of a difFdrent 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 Mm present?—^ ( hear . ) Under all the oircunjBtancea he could not but feel surprised that the Right Hon . Baronet should approve of the conduct of the police ; but- . for . ' that there might have been no difficulty in appealing to the laws—( hear , hear , hear . ) If this had been an ordinary case—if it were a case between M'Douall and Mallalieu , he should not care 8 © much about the consequences ; but it was a case of importance , rendered still more important by a doctrine which had been broached in the Home Office , which dootrme might lead to the most mischievoua and dangerous resultB—( hear , hear . ) ; " : -: v . ^ ¦ , ^ .: ' . \ '¦>; ¦ .- ; - ¦' . . : ¦ ¦¦ ' : ; \ 'X- : -

      The Solicixob-General explained that the read * ing of the Riot Act was a preliminary'proceeding in cases of tumult and disorder to the diBperBion of an unlawful assemblage by the confitabulary and the military . But the case of an obstruction of the public way was somewhat different . If , however , a constable arrested a parson who had been guilty of no oflfenee to justify that axrosW he would of course be liable to an action . It was unnecefleary , however , to enter into a discussion of those points . The question before the

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      House was , whether the facts of this case furnished any grounds for sn inquiry . Fromi the statements made by the Hoiu Gentleman opposite , it was qaite in * possible to understend the facts ; tut two concessions had Veen made . The Hon . Member f or Lambetb . had said > that what took place in the chapel was sufficient te ^ authorisethe police to clearing 4 ihe chapel . Ereiy Hoa Gentleman on the other side of thfr House had said that no blame attached to Mr Jeremy , the magistrate ; but Mr ; Jeremy did Bet discharge the parfcy , he did not say to the police , « • You have made a false accusation . " He ( the SolicltorrGenerall presumed that Mi . Jeremy told the accused be had been guilty of a breach of the peace ; because , though the offence was not of-that speoies that he saw fit to commit him for trial , he " desired him to enter into recogaissancea to ; keep the ; peace . Tae evidence showed that the second meeting was a continuance of the first , and if the accused had consented not

      to return to the mesting after being taken to the stati » n house / if he bad . consented to be seen away from the neighbourhood by a police-man , he would hot have been detained by Saperihtendent Mailalieu , who deemed bis detention necessary under the circumstances for the preservation of the public peaces The Hon . Member opposite admitted the magistrata to have been right who had decided everything to have been legal in respect to ; the arrest , and had ordered the prisoners to find recognizinces . Here tben were two parties acting ion « jf ? rfe , and in the diseharge of their duty , under the superintendance- of an officer who declared that during the eleven years of his service he had never known a mob more mischievously inclined . It was impossible , under such circumstances , to grant the committee without casting a censure on the officer who had taken upon himself to disperse a mob , the character , the time , and the manner of whoBe assembling w « re clearly inuicative of ri&tous disposition . On these consid « -rationa he trusted the motion would be

      decisively rejected ( cheers . ) Lord Palmerston said , those who bad objected to the motion seemed to bim to have given some reasons Why itshonld be agreed ta , for ^ the Attorney-General had said , that be did not deny that matters of this sort might fair ' . y come before the House , though he wished there to be no inquiry . Why , here wera statements on the one side against the police as having been guilty of improper conduct , and on the other side , in their behalf , to the effect that their proceedings had been wise and discreet Could there be a case in which an inquiry coald be mote conducive to tb ^ e pubiio interest ? There appeared , moreover , ; grounda tex believing , tbat the conduct of the conatables had not been perfectly wise and discreet It was by no means stated by the law

      officers of the Crown that the 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 beeri : illegal . ; But on that ground fairs might be objected to . ; Oa what ground was this person apprehended ? Not , it should seem , in consequence of anything he had said that was illegal , for the magistrates had taken recognizances , not for illegal Conduct , but for the preservation of the peace . And perhaps , if there had been nothing unlawful in the conduct of Dr . M-Douall , it misht be a question how for the magistrates were justiled in taking bail . It seemed , then , to him ( Lord Palmerston ) thata question was here involved of no common magnitude—namely , bow far the constabulary were justified in disturbing

      and dlsperging public meetings . He thought that in this case they hod exceeded their duty , arid especially at this moment , when Parliament was going to be prorogued for a long recess , during which it was likely that meetings of this sort—( " Oh , oh ! "j— might fee held —• ( "'Oh , oh ("( --and at which constables , if , they acted under mistaken ideas of their duty * might , by attempting to interfere , cause serious inconveniences . He considered this a Btrohg case for inquiry , not with any view of censure , but simply to ascertain the facts , which now were to bei gleaned only from expdrte statements , and to settle the q'lestion whether there Vere or were not any real grounds of complaint ; in order that , should the former appear to be the truth' the Government miahfc take steps to

      prevent the recurrence of similar mischief ^ -lhear ) . Sir R , Peel—Sir , ruy Right Hob . Friencl th * ^^ Secretary for the Home Department , under whose superintendence the metropolitan police generally act , has intimated to the House his opinion that there is not In this casa sufficient ground for any interference on his part . Now , supposing the House were dissatisfied with that judgment , and BuppoBihg that there were no means of aettling the question except by appealing to this House , there might be some plausible ground for acceding to the conimittee . But are there no other metins of ascertaining whether the constable acted legally ?—( hear , heai . ) Is my Right Hon . Friend's decision flnal and conclusive ? Not at all— - ( hear , hear h At a very moderate cost you may enable and compel the

      legal tribunals of the tend to inquire and declare whether he was justified or not . You may commence an action for fake impvisonnienfc or for refusal of bail—( hear , hear )— -in either of which ways yoii may obtain a judicial decision , which will be infinitely more satisfactory than any thia House could arrive at- —( hear ,: hear ) . Suppose the House should ; on the report of a committee ( not hearing evidence , mark , on path ) , be of opinion that the constable acted illegally , and that . a court of law should decide the reverse—( hear , bear )—which of these decisions would be received as the rule of law in the country ? Why , of course , that of the court of law—thuar , hear ) . Why not , then , appeal to the ordinary tribunals of the land , in which the judgr ment of the highest legal authorities , upon the evidence

      taken on oath , may be . easily obtained ?— - ( hear , hear ) . - ^ What pretence is &ere for the appointment of a committee ? -r- ( hear , bear . ) I deprecate earnestly a precedent of the House exercising judicial functions ^ save on the strongest and most serious grounda—( hear )—I think that if , in a easo of tfeis sort , the House should deelare an opinion adverse to thHt pronouEced by a court of law , prior to its a ( ijudio : vtion by the ordinary tribunals , Ihe authority of the Ommuoiis would be uiusih weakened —( hear ) . I hare uud exjJ ^ rienco enough iii such matters to know that constables ought not to be encouraged either to exceed the law , or even by an annoying and indiscreet infprcement of it , even where the law is on their side , to throw discredit on the law , or jcreate needless danger and disturbance—( hear , hear ) . But , then , on the other hand , you should remember the peculiar position in which these constables are placedintrusted with the execution of the law—if they are

      visited by unnecessary inquiries , and so ,. by tacit indications of censure , constantly discouraged and deterred from the free execution of their duty —^( hear , bear ) . They ought certainly to . be supported when ; acting faithfully ; and honestly—( hear ) . And let me put this case , that there had been , In consequence of the non-interference of this constable , who is now to be condemned ^ - { a cry of " No , " )—or to be visited with a decided indication of censure by the taking of the case out of the ordinaj ^ course of judicature—( hear , hear , )—suppose , by his neglect , there bad occurred a riot , and property ^ or life bad bee n lost or endangered —( hear , hear , )—would not all the circumstances of the night h . ive been put together—the disturbances in the chapel , the threats , the violence , and the Bubsequeut disturbances in the open air ; and would it not have been said that he had incurred tbe responsibility of the public injury sustained ? ( Hear , hear . ) Was it mere commotion ? Was it mere txciUment ?

      Were there not blows struck—benches torn up— -tiolence actually committed ? ( Hear , bear . ) It would have been , of course , far different bad there been merely expressions of dissent from rival bodies of Chartists and anti-corn law agitators—( loud ciies of hear , bear . J-T-or anything of that sort ( Laughter . ) That takes place in the House of Commons , where tQtjffi occur very often scenes of consldeiable exeitement "— ( laughter , )—but if Members began to level blows at each other , and pull up the benches , would it not strongly , resemble a riot ? ( Hear , and laughter . ) To be sure , some Member called the disturbance a iquabHe . ( Mr . O'Connell—¦'' A scufne . ' ) Why , some p « opla have been known to ; speak of the rebellion of 1798 as a " hurry . " ( Laughter . ) Ideas differ as to tii . ting , and I will not take upon mya 9 \ f to declare definitively whether , when this officer had heard of the former proceedings in tho chapel—when be had heard

      that the religious character of the building hod not restrained the populace , and that there was much less chance , of course , of any restraint out of doors— -whea be b ^ ard 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 necosBarily attends all the acts of conrtabulary officers . ( Hear . ); These are cases unavoidably for the discretion of the police under the particular circumstances in each instance —( hearj )—and what I say is tbis , —that if , ¦ when the Home Secretary has decided in favour of the course pursued by the police , any parties are dissatvBfled with the decision , there is no reason whatever for disturbing the ordinary course of justice ,, and for removing to this House an adjudication natu ^ rally and properly belonging to the courts oi law . ( Cheers ) ;¦ . ' -.. - ; -. ' ¦ : . "¦'' . ...: ¦ V : ¦/ ¦ : ¦ "¦ . .. ; ' . "¦ : ' - ¦; . ¦

      ; Mr . Tiiomas Duncombe replied—The Right Hon . Baronet the Sticretary of State for the Home Depart ^ ment bad quoted reports in opposition to the facts of tho case , ,. : . - ' .. ' ¦ ¦¦' . : '¦' ¦; . - .. - " -V '; ' * - ' ¦ ¦'¦ ' ¦ ' v ''¦ •¦¦¦ : ' , " Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that the report he quoted from was taken on oath before the magistrate . : Mr . T . puNpoMBE ^ -There were several reports . There were repdrts ,. published by the newspapers ( oh , oh 1 ttovx the mlntsferial benchea ) He ( Mr . . Donoombe ) should like ; to aik ' . fio ^ w h ^^ rived hia report ? . Did he keep a reporter ? The Right Hon . B ^ onfct at thehead of her Maieaty ' agoyeroment also appeared to rely upon Mr . Jeremy ' s ] report : bat be v Mr . T . Dancouibe ) would maintain that the greater portiori . of what Mr . Jeremy had Stated ( # f ' - course he

      derived it from others ) was a gross misrepresentation of the facts ( oh , oh , from the ministerial aide of the Houaa ) It was no use their saying oh , " oh . Grant him a committee and he would undertate to prove it The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir R . Peel ) had adopted the view of bis Right Hon . colleague , that the meeting in the chapel and the meeting in the Broadway partook of the same meeting , and that , as a disturbance bad occurred in the chapel , where seats were torn up , and pews broken down , the meeting in the Broadway partook of the same character . Now , grant him ( Mr . Puncombe ) a committee , and he would prove that no seats were torn up , i « r any pewa broken down . Xijere was the evidenc of Mr . John Wade , who was called against Dr . M'DoualL What did he say ? He said—

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      •• I am a builder and shopkeeper , living at Deptfotd . I » ra trusts of the Independent Cbapet I drew up the hand-bill produced , and it was published by my direction , in concurrence witb the Ray . J . ; Pollen , the minister . It was not for any discussion that meettog waa called ; ito purpose was to extitfl aympathy toi the distressed , bat not for an immediate subBariptloa . A subscription had been forwarded before the Qaeen ' a letter came out . It was to hear a lectnre on the distress of the country . The cbapel was pretty folj at fleven o ' clock ^ w hen I entered it ' . "; There wa » a , little diatutbaucQ at tb > ft cosaiaeiiceiaent of the meeting . Some persons , who wera strangers ' , wished to speak and enter into a discussion , which was contrary to the object of the meeting . The person

      announced as lecturer did not come , but another parson was asked to supply the vacancy . The dlsturbanoe passed off , and Mr . Taylor proceeded with bis lecture , and having concluded it sat down . There was a little disturbance , and the minister of the chapel dlsaolved the meeting . There were about one thousand persons present . " The Honourable and Learned Gentleman ( the Attorney : Generall seemed to think that the police cleared the chapel . No such thing . The minister and Mr . Taylor dissolved the meeting , because the object for which tbe meeting bad been called had ; been fulfilled . Mr . Wade went on to iBay-- " After the minister had dissolved the meeting , the place was cleared . The people walked out without any disturbance . The meeting separated peaceably . There were police there .

      I think they were sent for by my brother . I understood from him that some persons had ; attempted to get possession of the platform sit the beginning of the meeting , and tbat they had been sentfor in coustquence . I saw the police remonetrate with some persons who were disturbing the meeting , arid endeavouring to -get upon the platform . I saw Dr ^ M'DduaU there . He was not invited . He was one of the audience . I saw nothing improper in his conduct . The Rev . Mr . Pollen dissolved the meeting by saying , " I diesolve this meeting . " 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 conduct -whatever . I heard you say that a discusaion should take place bat of doors . I did not heat the chairman p * o-

      pose any adjournment There was no right to adjourn the meeting . The meeting had noil the power to elect a ; chairman . No resolution was proposed . It waa an invitation for the minister and trustees to come and hear a lecture . I know nothing about the meeting on the Broadway . I could not gather from , your gestures that you were Hkely to create a breach ef the peace . Mr . Taylor was invited by me . Mr . MDouall , Mr . Taylor , and myself walked away arm-inarm . " This was the evidence of one of the witnesses brought by the police against Mr . MDoualji , and yet the Right Hon . Baronet was endeavouring to prove that Mr . M'Douall ha 4 created" a breach of the peace in thfl chapel . ' The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir James" Graham ) had so mixed up the meeting in the chapel and at the

      Broadway that nobody could tell what part of the prpceedinga he was talking about Gratat him ( Mr . Duncombe ) a committee , and he would prove that the statements of Mallaliea were false ^; When be eame to Mr . M'Douall that gentleman said , "If you say that thia is an illegal meeting , and if you will allow me to say so to the people , I will Immediately disperae them . " The answer was , " No , come down . " Mr . M'Douall came down from the pump , and he was then desired , to go home , and was directed towards Deptford . Mr . M'Douall said ?• No , tbAt is noi my way . I want to go to London . " What followed ? He was immediately taken into custody , and conducted te the fitation-house . What took place at the station-house had already been Stated . Mr . Jerimy's report aaid that Mr . M'Douall

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

      head o £ Her Majesty's government was pBrfectly cbh » sistent in doing so on this ' occasion . But he knewj and his Bight Honourable and Noble colleagues knew , that they had a bad case , and what bad been reported to them , and which hod been stated b 7 the Right Hon ; Baronet tbe Secretary of State for ; the Home Department to tho House , he ( Mr . Duucombe ) would , if they would grant him a committee , prove to be false . The ppliee Was , as Lord Althorp had once said , a formidable power to ba placed at the disposai of the government . They , were armed and trained , and were , in fact , equal to soldiers . It was said that if , these things were not prevented , blood would be shed . He told them that blood would not be shed . If these things were

      done the people would not consent Let Hon . Members read the petition . "Your petitioners are ail of opinion that , as the meeting was peacefully assembled , so it would have peacefully dispersed , had it not been for the unjustifiable violence of tbe police , to which , if your Hpnourab'e House affords no remedy , your petitioners do not feel bound to submit , " He tsld them plainly that these doings won d some day tend to create a diaturbance , and if blood should be shed , every drop w-ould be upon the heads of those who held the doctrines that night broacbedi and who came dewn to -support this gross violation of the people ' s rights- ^ : ¦'' ¦ ¦' . ¦ ¦ - .-:. •¦ - " ^ ' : ¦ ' \/ ¦ - :- ; ; ' - ''' - .. ' : . " ' ¦ - ¦ : > ; : " The House divided , '

      For going into committee ......... 89 For Mr . Duncombc' amendment ... 30 : Majority against Mr . Duncorabe — - 59 The House then ; went into a Committee of Ways and Means ; and votei 3 for Exchequer Bills , &c , -were agreed to .. ¦¦ ... '¦ - - ¦'¦'' ;¦ : ; '¦ - '; "¦¦' - ; ' / ¦'¦' ' ' . ' :- \ ' : ' '¦" ¦' : '¦ ' . The Tobacco ^ Re gulations Bill created Borne debate . Mr . Thomas Duncoiibe opposed its re-cpmmittal , on the ground of its vexatious character and onerous provisions . - ¦ ¦; - . ¦ ¦;¦ .. ' . '¦ ¦ " - ¦ . ' - ' ;¦ - / -. . ' . ' ¦''¦'" . . . - ¦ ¦ ' " . ¦¦'• • . - •! . ¦ The- Chancellob of the Exchequee , in supporting tbe Bill , made some statemeuts as to the verjr general and extensive adulterations of 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 tbe stock which they might have on hand of adulterated tobacco , and a more extended time for snuff . •"'• ¦

      After a discu 8 sion , Mr . Thomas Dungombe's amendment for recommitting the Bill this day three months was lost by 53 to 9 . The House then went into Committee on the Bill , which was considered , amended , and ordered to be reported oh Wednesday . The other orders of the day were then disposed of , and the House adjourned . .. -: " . ,

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      Thb Working Classes at Oldham . —Prospectuses are being issued for the erection of a Working Man ' s Hall , in 300 shares , a . t £ 1 each , payable by instalments ot threepence per weeki or upwards ; The edifice , v ? hich is to accommodate five hundred persons , is for the holding of pubiio meetings , delivery of lectures , discussions on local and national grievances , tea-parties ,: balls , concerts &o . Wilson , the Steeple Climbeb— Out readers will recollect that some months ago a paragraph went the round of the newspapers in referenoe to the novel and daring feats performed by George Wilsohj the person who in . so extraordinary a manner repaired Carrickfergus steeplej and a large stalk belonginsr , if we mistake notto the firm of Maitland

      , , Cbuper , and CJo ., of | Glasgow . The ingenious personage , it appears , still dontinues to follow his fearless occupation , and is ready , without shrinking , tt > make repairs even in the most dangerous positions , without incurring the great expehce usual in the erecting of scaffolding . During the fair week he repaired the largo stalk atMessrs , Muir , Brown , and Co . ' s works , Anderston . The height of the stalk was 150 feet , and during the late storm it was cracked to the exient of 25 feet from the top . Wilson mounted the stalk in his usual way , by inserting pins of iroii ^ or what he calls " needles , " in the inside of the building ,

      and using them as a ladder . He then took off fifteen feet , to lighten the top of the erection , a measure which , it appears , was deemed essentially hecessaryi dropping himself down , as occasion required , by means of a block and tackle , being balanced in his descent by heavy weights . The work , we understand , lias completed to tho company ' s entire sacisfaction . From Wilson ' s own statement he does m t seem ti > entertairi any fear in accomplishing hiB labours . Ho saya there i 9 little danger of falling , as the needles are driven firmly in , and he attaches himself to one of them at every Btep by means ota . h ^ M . —Glasgow ArgUS . ' . -. ]¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ ' ' .. - ;¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦' .. ' . ' . ' " - . - : " -- : : .: '" - "' , I- ' -- ' - ' -

      PEpEsritiANisM . —Last week a person named Mullen circulated placards through this towa , innounofng his intention of walking one : hundred mile 3 in twenty-four hours . The ground was measured , and he was to start from a place called " , Wateringd&v&y ; , t 6 -the first turnpike 1 on the Belfatt road , half a mile distance , and then return ; the jonrney ont and in being therefore one mile . Proper person ? were appointed , who were :, to give " the ped ^ atrian check tickets on ; hjs . finishing each mile , - so that there ' - should bo : no question that he performed , his yoladtary ^ task lo ^ the Mtek At tour o ' clock , W Btart « d , atud kept ^ iVerybrisicpace till ten , when he . seemed to be somewhat flashed ; bat at eleven ( whea the crowd had somewhat thinnedit beine durinff

      , the eyening . very large ) he seemed as fresh as at starting . Throughout the night a great uumber of persona remained on the line of walk . Tuesday morning he was latherJf f itfgued , his feet being somewhat pained , five blisters were cat off ; but , notwith-8 tanding , hiB pace , was very rapid . At txro o oloojc he said _ he ^ ^ waa *» all safe . " When he came to the *^ ** 'P the pace was astounding—the mile waa perfected in eight minntes and a half . He waa loudly cheered on coming in . We should here add , that four or five times during the day he stopped for some minutes at the ^ standai" auite confident of his powers ; and before going out " oa bis last trip , be deljnred fally six minutes . Daring the evening he walked through the town , apparently not much fatigued . —Newry Examiner * ,:

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 6, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct610/page/6/