PROGRESS OF CHARTISM.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 231, 16 August 1848, Page 3

PROGRESS OF CHARTISM.

Chartism wai on the increase, and a large procession wai to have taken place in the very streets of London on the 10th April, which was, however, suppressed by an energetic proclamation from the metropolitan police authorities. The tubse<]uent proceedings are thus detailed.^ ...

H PROGREBS OF THE DELEGATES OF KENNINGTON COMMON. The delegates at a few minutes after fen o'clock took their seats in the waggon which had been sent up by the National Land Association, and of course their appearance was the signal for a loud burst cf enthuiiastic cheering on the part of the assembled multitude. The waggon was gaily decorated With flags and banners bearing mottoes, " Onward, and we conquer ; backwards, and we fall." " Who would be a slave if be could be free ?" "We are the millions, and want our rights." Speak with your voice — not with the ' musket.'' The waggon was preceded by an immense truck for tht petition to rest upon. Mr. Feargui O'Connor took up a position m the centre seat. It is gratifying to state that it proceeded quietly and orderly down Holborn, along Farnngdun.street, and across ]3lackfriars»bridge, being cheered most energetically by the people throughout the whole route.

PREPARATIONS IN THE CITY. * At half-past eleven o'clock, the Temple gates were closed, and no persons permitted to pass through exoept on business. The Bank presents a strange appcai auce ; the sand bags are placed along the parapets, and at the corner on the roof, are ball-proof barricades and is, in short, completely fortified. The shops are partially cloied throughout the city.

KENNINUTON COMMON. \9\ 9 At twelve o'clock the cheers or the aisembled multltude, who by this time numbered, including those around the Common, at least 150,000, announced the arrival of the car containing the petition. The petition was of ao enormoui 6r/.e, occupying nearly the whole of the waggon, ami placed upon a kind of bier, co that t could bo lifted out with facility and conveyed into the house. The waggon drove on to the Common, and after travelling round took up a position near the Horns. At this moment it was rumoured that Feargui O'Connor had been arrested, but such was not the fact, he had only received a message from the government, through Mr. Commissioner Mayne and Mr. Abel Smith, M.P.

ABANDONMENT Or THIS PROCESSION. F We were informed that the nature of the communication given by Mr. O'Connor waito the effect that the bridges had been taken possession of by the troops and police, and that it they proceeded to one of them, that a oolluionof the authorities would be inevitable. They requested that this message might be made known to the meeting. Mr. O'Connor promised to do so. Mr. O'Conner then mounted the waggon, and stated that the Government were determined to prevent them fiom proceeding across the bridges, and that he would suggest, in accordance with the Convention this morn* ing, " that the pioceedings should terminate with the meeting, and that the petition should be taken to the House in an ordinary manner, for presentation this evening to the House of Commons." He put it to the meeting whether it would not be advisable to adopt this course, and to avoid an inevitable collision with the authorities. He thonght it would be well not to violate the law, but to trust to the moral influence they possessed. The crowd immediately expressed its concurrence by ch?er,s. Three cabs were then called upon the common, and the petition traiisfei red in various parcels from the waggons to* thriin. A member of the Executive occupied each of the cabs with the petition, when they drove off with loud cheeis Oa the meeting breaking up the people dispersed in different directions, the most numerous body proceed* ing along the Kennington-road towards Westminster Bridge. They proceeded in a peaceable manner without any pretence to walk in order. They proceeded over Westminster Bridge, the police not attending to obstruct their progress. The discretion which the authorities exhibited cannot be toj much commended. As the crowd approached the police filed on each side of the bridge, and allowed the people to pass, a few at a time, until the road was m some degree cased of the immense mass of human beings with which it was crowded, A great number of the police were then withdrawn from the bridge and stationed near the House of Commons, in order to protect that part from any obstruction.

Several incendiary fires had taken place. The jnanufactunng districts exhibited no bign of improvement, and distress was, if anything, on the increase*