ed the apprehensions of government
and of the public, the hypocrisy of Mr. O'Connor, and the folly of Mr.
Hume, who, always meaning well, so often inflicted injury on the liberal
cause by his imperfect judgment and decided prejudices:--

"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 part