“R. Maxne,
“Commissioners of the Police of the Metropolis.
“Metropolitan Police Office, Whitehall Place,
“April 6, 1848.”
The government resolved wisely to permit the meeting to assemble, at the same time announcing that any attempt to cross the bridges in a formal procession would be resisted. By this means, which it was alleged had been taken by the advice of the Duke of Wellington, the immense concourse of the seditious was placed at the side of the river where they could do least mischief, and the passages of which by the bridges could be easily defended by a small force. The government thus showed the impotency of the chartist party, and its own respect for constitutional rights.
On the morning fixed for the great experiment London presented a strange appearance. A vast body of persons was called out to act as special constables. Men of every rank of life might be seen in this capacity, among them Prince Louis Napoleon Buonaparte, afterwards Emperor of the French, stood with his constable’s baton as a custoder of order. The troops, which had been called from distances, and were billeted in the suburbs, rapidly concentrated at tap of drum and call of bugle. The Duke of Wellington, having the command, so disposed them that, without appearing through the day, they were ready to act at a moment’s notice, wherever their presence might be necessary, and so posted that each detachment could readily render support to another, in a regular chain of defensive positions. From every part of the provinces chartist delegates arrived, by railway and coach, bringing large rolls of petitions to be appended to the general roll.
Very early in the morning the Chartists gathered, in large bodies, at each separate rendezvous. Russell Square, Clerkenwell Green, and Stepney Green, were the grand points of meeting, where the greatest numbers assembled before marching to Kennington Common. Some of these processions were composed, to a great extent, of old men, boys, and women, and were attended by bands. Poles, surmounted by caps of liberty, flags, and streamers, were borne in the ranks or in carts. All these detachments were watched by mounted police and special constables, and at each rendezvous a large body of special constables on foot was drawn up to prevent any breach of the peace. The police being concentrated on various points, their ordinary duty was performed by special constables, who were distinguished by official staves and a white band round the arm. The shops were closed, and the public buildings were all well guarded and fortified. Buckingham Palace seemed the only place upon which no extra care was expended. No one supposed that the home of her majesty would be insulted, no matter what party was in the ascendant. As the troops took up their several positions within the public buildings, they were loudly cheered by the people in the streets, for it was evident, notwithstanding the immense chartist concourse, that an overwhelming majority of the Londoners was opposed to their proceedings. While matters were taking this course with the general public, the chartist delegates met in their usual place, the Literary and Scientific Institution, John Street, Fitzroy Square; Mr. Reynolds was called to the chair at nine o’clock. Mr. Doyle, the secretary, announced that a communication had been received from the head police-office, Scotland Yard, intimating that no procession from Kennington Common to the parliament house with the petition would be allowed, but that the petition itself would be permitted to pass the bridge in the custody of a suitable number of persons. Several speakers urged that the government should be set at defiance, and the petition proceeded with at all risks, until delivered at the House of Commons. Fergus O’Connor dissuaded them from any collision with the authorities. In a speech full of bombast and egotism, he declared that he was personally marked out for slaughter by the authorities. Thus, after all the bluster of this great tribune, as his followers called him, he showed the white feather. He was not prepared, like Smith O’Brien, gallantly to go out, with his life in his hand, and verify, by exposing himself to every peril and penalty, the words which he uttered when it was safe to utter them. Mr. O’Connor’s dissuasions in the interest of peace did not meet the approbation of the delegates, who seemed unanimously resolved to force their way across Westminster Bridge when the hour should arrive for so doing. In this spirit the meeting was adjourned to Kennington Common. The following graphic account of the departure of the delegates, their progress thither, and their arrival, was given by an eye-witness:—
“During this discussion two newly-constructed cars had driven up to the doors of the institution. The one intended for the conveyance of the monster petition was on four wheels, and drawn by as many very splendid farm horses. The body of the car was square, and surmounted by a tastefully constructed canopy. The attendants bore streamlets in the varied colours of red, green, and white, having appropriate inscriptions. The van or car in waiting for the delegates was upwards of twenty feet in length, with seats arranged transversely, in so commodious a manner as to afford comfortable accommodation to the delegates, as well as several representatives of the press. The body of the car was inscribed with the motto, ‘The Charter. No surrender. Liberty is worth living for and worth dying for.’ On the left, ‘The voice of the people is the voice of God;’ while on the back of the car was inscribed, ‘Who would be a slave that could be free?’ ‘Onward, we conquer; backward, we fall.’ Eight banners were fixed (four on each side) to the car, inscribed, ‘The Charter.’ ‘No vote, no muskets.’ ‘Vote by ballot,’ ‘Annual parliaments,’ ‘Universal suffrage,’ ‘No property qualification,’ ‘The payment of members,’ and ‘Electoral districts.’ To the vehicle were harnessed six farm-horses of superior breed, and in the highest possible condition. The marshals (designated by a silk sash of the colours red, white, and green) having announced, at ten minutes past ten o’clock, all in readiness, Mr. F. O’Connor was the first to ascend the car. The honourable gentleman was received with loud cheers by the crowd which thronged John Street, and took his seat in front of the van. He was followed by Mr. Ernest Jones, Mr. Harney, Mr. M’Grath, Mr. Clark, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Reynolds, Dr. Hunter, and other leaders of the convention. The rest of that body having also taken their seats, the cortege set forth amidst loud cheers. Passing along Goodge Street into Tottenham Court Road, along High Street, Bloomsbury, the National Land Company’s office was reached, and from that building five huge bales or bundles, comprising the petition, with the signatures, were brought out, and secured on the first car, prepared for their reception. Again the cavalcade moved forward, and progressing along Holborn and Farringdon Street, reached New Bridge Street, the crowd increasing the train at every step. So far the shops in the line which had been passed were only partially closed. The utmost order prevailed, though the delegates were recognised by numerous friends and adherents, and at intervals most vociferously cheered. At the Waithman obelisk the alderman of the ward, Sir James Duke, was in attendance, with his deputy, Mr. Obbard; but up to this spot not a single policeman was to be seen. The windows of the houses in New Bridge Street were filled with spectators, and, amidst much applause, the moving mass took an onward course across Blackfriars Bridge. At this time, a strong detachment of a battalion of pensioners, under arms, and fully accoutred, were observed to have just landed at the city pier, from Woolwich, and were loudly cheered by the vast concourse that now crowded the bridge. On reaching the Surrey side, the first display of the civil force appeared. On each side of Albion Place, were drawn up, in military order, a strong body, in double file, of the L division of the metropolitan police, while the city police maintained the ground on each side of the bridge, which was within the limits of the city jurisdiction. This force was under the orders of Mr. Henry, one of the magistrates at Bow Street. Opposite the end of Stamford Street, a party of the mounted police, fifteen strong, under the command of an inspector, was stationed. In its passage along the Blackfriars Road to the Elephant and Castle, the crowd continued to increase, and hem in the vehicles on both sides; still, everything was peaceable and well-conducted. At the Elephant and Castle a new mass joined in the rear of those who, walking eight abreast, and followed the train from the place of departure, and on reaching Newington Church the appearance of the masses was most bewildering. Proceeding along the Kennington Road the common was reached at half-past eleven o’clock. Here had already assembled the Irish confederalists, and the various bodies of the trades of London, who had intimated their intention of joining in the demonstration. These had taken their position in numerical order on the common, having arrived from their different rendezvous some time previously. Each trade had its emblematic banner, and the Irish confederalists displayed a very splendid green standard, emblazoned with the harp of Erin, and the motto ‘Erin go bragh.’”
The delegates addressed the meeting, and recommended peace, but chiefly on the ground that they were not prepared to contend with the armed force directed upon all the strategetic points where it might be made available. The magistrates and some of the chiefs of police were assembled at the Horns Tavern, Kennington, where they sent for Mr. O’Connor, requesting an interview. The mob supposed that he was arrested, and loud cries arose for his rescue. They were pacified, however, by his return, accompanied by Mr. M’Grath, and he was welcomed by the people with a tumult of cheers. He had given the magistrates assurance that order should be preserved, and he communicated the fact to the people, many of whom, believing that the day would issue in a revolution, were dissatisfied. Discussions arose on Cuffey advising the people to force Westminster Bridge, and present the petition themselves. The more moderate of the leaders, having their recommendations well backed by the statement that the troops were under arms and the police provided with cutlasses and pistols, prevailed, and the mob at last consented that the petition should be taken in a cab by Mr. O’Connor and certain others, and be presented by the honourable member for Nottingham that night. Upon the departure of Mr. O’Connor and the other delegates with the petition, a Mr. Clark moved the adoption of a petition to the House of Commons against the bill for providing more effectually for the security of the crown and government:—“The humble petition of the inhabitants of the metropolis of England, in public meeting assembled, showeth: That your petitioners have heard, with feelings of indignation and astonishment, that, by a bill which is now before your honourable house, for the ostensible purpose of providing more efficiently for the security of the crown and the government of these realms, it is sought to alter the law relating to the indefinite charge of sedition, and to punish by transportation that which is at present punishable by fine and imprisonment. That your petitioners regard this bill as an attempt to deprive the people of the right of expressing their just horror at the atrocious legislation which is generally practised by your honourable house, and your petitioners beg your honourable house to stamp this infamous measure with condemnation, by its unanimous and ignominious rejection.”
This resolution was seconded by a Mr. Kydd, and eloquently supported by Mr. Reynolds, and at half-past one the assembly broke up. The multitudes of course pressed to the bridges, but found their progress everywhere obstructed by police. Those who chose to cross the toll-paying bridges, were permitted to do so upon payment, under the eye of strong bodies of police. At London Bridge and Blackfriars, the crowd made desperate efforts to force their way across, and repeatedly swept the police before them, but were encountered by stronger efforts, and inch by inch driven back again. At Westminster Bridge the chief struggle was maintained, so that fears were entertained lest the bridge should give way beneath the swaying masses. On these three points many of the more sturdy of the mob were severely wounded by the swords of the mounted police, and many were arrested and placed in custody under the charge of riot. When the “monster petition” was brought over Westminster Bridge, the excitement of the multitude assembled in Bridge Street and Parliament Street was very great, and the police had to disperse or capture many ill-disposed persons who had no public object in collecting together. The petition and chartist executive committee arrived at the lobby of the commons by half-past three o’clock.