it politic to make the avowal.

After the dissolution of parliament (which will be recorded in its
details upon another page), Mr. O'Connor succeeded in gaining his
election. This circumstance filled his followers with revived hopes, and
the agitation became more enthusiastic and demonstrative. Large public
meetings were convened, which were conducted with order, and dispersed
peaceably, although the speeches on these occasions were very
inflammatory. The government regarded these "monster meetings" with
uneasiness, and they were closely watched. The loyalty of the middle and
of large sections of the poorer classes, however, gave the government
a sense of security, notwithstanding the menacing attitude of the
Chartists; and this loyal feeling was extended as the peaceably disposed
became alarmed by the seditious and unprincipled harangues which the
chartist orators addressed to such large assemblages. Many of the most
active Chartists were socialists, and used the confederacy as a means
of propagating their atrocious doctrines. As a specimen of the tone
and method which characterised the chartist gatherings where order was
maintained, the following account of one which took place after the
elections will suffice:--"A meeting of Chartists, to the number of
nearly ten thousand, took place at Newton Common, on Sunday. The
object was to address the operatives in the manufacturing districts of
Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton, Buy, Preston, Liverpool, Wigan,
&c., on the land and labour questions. Shortly after one o'clock, Mr.
Fergus O'Connor, M.P., accompanied by Mr. W. H. Roberts, the miners'
attorney-general, appeared in the crowd, on their way to the platform.
Both these gentlemen were received amidst the loudest demonstrations of
applause. Mr. Roberts having been duly proposed and seconded, assumed
the office of chairman. He addressed the meeting at much length, on the
progress and prospects of Chartism, and encouraged the vast multitude
then before him to take courage from the past, and work with
determination and zeal for effecting the great cause of the people's
charter. A resolution, proposing that a committee, or a conference of
delegates, should go to London, to escort Mr. O'Connor into Parliament
on its opening, was agreed to. Mr. O'Connor then came forward and spoke
at great length. He reviewed the great progress of Chartism, abused
the Whigs, and browbeat the press. He next narrated the plans he had
adopte