FIFTEEN TO ONE—THE CHARTIST GATHERING.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 19, 31 August 1848, Page 3

FIFTEEN TO ONE—THE CHARTIST GATHERING.

We are told that 200,000 men were to march through. London, asd take up their station on this new Runnymede. Every attempt was made to procure that number. The railways all brought their contingents far and near. The remutest suburbs were ransacked and swept for contributions. The snowball was to increase as it rolled from Stepney, from Highgate, or Paddiogton- The programme contained an endless enumeration of trades, Irish rebellion hoisted its banner, and 40,0 0 Irish laborers of the metropolis were invited to muster under Emmett's name. Tile fasces of the Republic, and the crimson cap of liberty, were displayed to attract their adnrrers. There was nothing exclusive in the procession, which, by the variety in its ranks, invited the accession of all. What was the result ? If our readers are not accustomed to estimate numbers, standing or in motion, they will hardly believe what we have taken the utmost pains to ascertain, and know to be true. The sum of all the processions that crossed the bridges towards Kenning ton Common, yesterday, was not more than seven thousand. We doubt whether more than three thousand were added from South of the Thamefl. At the crisis of the meeting, the total numd ber ou the Common, including the most incurious anindifferent of the bystanders, was not 20,0tJ0. Our estimate is confirmed by the best authorities. Of these 20,0«0, only 10,000 bad anything to do with the demonstration, or gave their moral weight to the caueo iof the day. Look now to the other side. There were 15-,OOJ Special Constables spontaneously enrolled I aganst the movement, and testifying to its dangerous and reprehensible character. There you have the proponions ot the day—lso,oooto 10,000—15 to 1. To every man or boy in Loudon yesterday, disposed to ; bully and intimidate the Legislature, and ready to carry 1 a pike against it, there were fifteen picked and trustworthy men who could procure vouchers to their respectability, who took an oath to defend the Queen's peace, and were ready to wield a truncheon in its defence. Do not forget that, good reader—ls to 1. We make no invidious comparisons as to the quality of the two articles—and as to soldiers and police, we have almost forgotten them. This settles the question. In common fairness it ought to be regarded ni a settled question for years to come* The Chartists end Confederates made the chaU lenge, and chose the field and trial of strength. They mu-t stand by their choice. They chose to disturb tha metropolis, for the chance of something coming of it. They fished for a revolutiun and have caught a snub. We congratulate them on their booty, which we hopa they will divide with their partners at Dublin. It is, perhaps, a fortunate circumstance that so momentous a question as the free action of the British Legislature should be settled thus decisively, thus peaceably, thus by citizens, not by arms, thus in the streets and not in the field, and thus in the metropolis of the empire. The dexterous prudence thst hid from the arena tha very sight of arms, so that not a soldier, not a pensioner, scarce even a policeman was seen, will greatly distinguish this event from the grand military drama* which have recently ended in the catastrophe of states or of kings. For this rare result we have to thank the man whose greatest boast it is to have learnt the skill of peace in an experience of war. It is tue mode and manner of this day's decision which imparts to it an instructive and final character. Now that the question has been settled, and the citizens of London have decided that Parliament shall on no pretence be debarred from free and full deliberation, it is time to consider the cost oi this advantage. The metropolis must not always be made the spurt of tha terrible announcements we have lately heard. It mutt not have to provide against a revolution once a mouth, and be reduced to a state of siege every time a braggart threatens either moral or physical A. population, only reckoning the denser part of the metropolis, of one million persons, was yesterday obliged to suspend its ordinary occupations, and lose a day to industry and improvement. Even the military movements and other preparations wero not without serious cost. The present event is worth the cost, but we da not want another. If we are threatened with another, it will be time to think of some cheaper, less troublesome, and more summary way ot* suppressing the nuisance.-" Times, April 11.

Toe French Invasion.—A correspondent of a London paper states that, m IB4f, Admiral Lalatide made the following proposal.— * J have here at Teuedos, near tue Dardanelles, ten of our latest, bcsU manned Bhips, and near me are anchored eight smaller English ones of seventy-two guns and under. I will un* dertake suddenly to burn or capture tbtin ; than adit to Alexaudria, and fit out the eleven Egyptian and nine Turkish men-of-war lying in that harbour ; will proceed thence to Toulon, where 30.000 soldiers can easily be assembled as if for Algiers ; and with a united thirty five or forty sail of the line will take the E»g. hsh unprepared, aud disembark the army on the coartsof either Britain or Ireland. Two divisions of my fleet shall next be sent off to seize the British colonies in the East and Went Indies. [This daring Admiral either forgot the Australian Colonies, or did not think us worth mentioning. It may, however, be as well to remember the hint. We believe Admir.il Lalande la still alive, and, perhaps, in the employment of tne new Government.-—Ed. 1). A ]