“Mr. J. Walsh inquired of the secretary of state for the home department, if the attention of the government had been directed to the notice issued by the chartist body, of their intention to hold a numerous public meeting on Kennington Common on Monday next, and to go thence in procession to the House of Commons, for the purpose of presenting a petition in favour of ‘the people’s Charter;’ and if the right honourable baronet was prepared to take any steps to prevent the independence of the House of Commons from being overawed by any public meeting, or to protect the loyal and peaceable inhabitants of London? —Sir G. Grey replied that the attention of her majesty’s government had been directed to the notice in question, emanating from a convention consisting of forty-nine delegates elected at public meetings held in several of the large towns of the kingdom. This notice stated that those delegates met in London for the purpose of superintending the presentation of a petition in favour of the Charter to the House of Commons, and to adopt any other course that might be deemed advisable in order to secure the passing of the Charter into law. It likewise stated that a great public meeting would be held on Kennington Common on Monday next, and that the parties composing that assemblage would march in a procession, regulated and superintended by marshals, with their petition to the House of Commons. The attention of the government having been called to that notice, and other information having reached them respecting the intended proceedings, the government had directed a notice to be issued, which would be published in the course of half an hour throughout London, pointing out that, by the statute and common law of these realms, the intended procession was illegal, warning the loyal and peaceable subjects of her majesty to abstain from taking any part in the procession, and calling upon them to give their best aid to the constituted authorities towards preventing any disturbance, maintaining public order, and preserving the public peace.—Mr. F. O’Connor said, if there were the slightest intimation of committing a breach of the peace on the occasion of this procession, he would not be a party to the proceeding—that the parties concerned in the affair were peaceably disposed—and that every man of them would consider himself as a special constable, upon whom the preservation of peace was incumbent. Their whole object was to present to that house a petition, signed by between five and six millions of the people. The present announcement would certainly take the people by surprise.—Sir G. Grey could not see how they could be taken by surprise. The government had, at the earliest moment, taken the subject into deliberation, and resolved to take the course he had indicated.—Mr. Hume was sorry to find the government had taken up the subject so seriously, and advised them to rescind the proclamation.”
Notwithstanding Mr. Hume’s advice, the government did take it up as a serious matter, and the opinion of the public was with the government. Among other measures which the executive took to ensure security, the following were conspicuous:—“A large supply of fire-arms and cutlasses have been sent from the Tower to the East India House, and their different warehouses, the Custom House, Excise-office, the Post-office, Bank of England, the Mansion House, the various departments at Somerset House, the Ordnance-office, Pall-Mali, the Admiralty, and the different government offices at the West-end; also to a great many banking-houses in the city, and the dock companies. The clerks and persons employed in these establishments will be ready to act, if absolutely necessary, against any outrage that may be committed by a mob. The swearing-in of special constables is proceeding rapidly in Lambeth, Walworth, Camberwell, the Borough, and the districts on the Surrey side of the water, where the tradespeople and householders all show their desire to protect the public peace if called upon.”
These preparations were followed by the following proclamation:—
“NOTICE
“Whereas the assemblage of large numbers of people, accompanied with circumstances tending to excite terror and alarm in the minds of her majesty’s subjects, is criminal and unlawful.
“And whereas not only those persons who take an active part in such, assemblage, but those also who by their presence wilfully countenance it, are acting contrary to law, and are liable to punishment; and whereas an act of parliament, passed in the thirteenth year of the reign of his late majesty King Charles II., intituled, ‘An act against tumults and disorders, upon pretence of preparing or presenting public petitions or other addresses to his majesty in the parliament,’ it was enacted, ‘that no person or persons whatsoever shall repair to his majesty, or both or either of the houses of parliament, upon pretence of presenting or delivering any petition, complaint, remonstrance, or declaration, or other addresses, accompanied with excessive numbers or people, nor at any one time with above the number of ten persons.’
“And whereas a meeting has been called to assemble on Monday next, the 10th instant, at Kennington Common, and it is announced in the printed notices calling such meeting, that it is intended by certain persons to repair thence in procession to the House of Commons, accompanied with excessive numbers of people, upon pretence of presenting a petition to the Commons house of parliament; and whereas information has been received that persons have been advised to procure arms and weapons, with the purpose of carrying the same in such procession; and whereas such proposed procession is calculated to excite ‘terror and alarm in the minds of her majesty’s subjects.
“All persons are hereby cautioned and strictly enjoined not to attend, or take part in, or be present at, any such assemblage or procession.
“And all well-disposed persons are hereby called upon and required to aid in enforcing the provisions of the law, and effectually to protect the public peace, and suppress any attempt at the disturbance thereof.
“(Signed) C. Rowan,