CHARTIST MOVEMENT IN BIRMINGHAM.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 273, 10 January 1849, Page 3

CHARTIST MOVEMENT IN BIRMINGHAM.

Birmingham, Wednesday.— (From a Correspondent.) —An unwihingneis to be initrumental in creating any unnecessary alarm prevented me from forwarding you last evening a notice of Chnrtist and Confederate movements heie, which has catued some little uneasiness. Now, however, that the rmtter would seem to have exploded in Ashton, and the whole of thia day's pipers detail the riotous proceedings in that part of the country, it may uot be unadvisable to 6tate what has occurred here. On Monday there was a meeting of the Chartists and Confederates, at the Peoples' Hall, at which the usual topics were discussed, and the newspapers read, bnt there weie no resolutions proposed calculated to excite any apprehension. In the evening there was another meeting, the iar«e room being threi' parts full. In another room of the building a duncing paity was amusing themselve--, and there was still noihiug to indicate any cause for alarm. It appears, however, that at a late hour it became pretty generally circulated thai there was something to be done that night— in fact, that there was to be a rising in the town at eleven o'clock, in connection wLh other towns. It was usaid that certain large houses in the outskirts of the borough were to be attacked, and by this means the pol cc drawn off, to leave the town an easier prey to a genera! attack. The railroads and electric telegraph weie also said to be doomed ; and, according to rumour, the arrangements lor general confusion weie complete. The police, it appears, being fully aware of these reports, took all the necessary precautions. Two or thr. c bodies of police were sent to the railway station, and posted at different points up the leading line, and armed constables were also sent to the houses said to have been marked for attack. All these precautions were, however, fortunately unnecessaryTheie was no rising, nor uttempt at it — no entry of colliers, as threatened, and the night passed over in the most perfect tranquillity. It is reported on the police sheets that some (orty men were seen walking late at night on the Warwick roa'l, but for what purpose nobody knows. Last night, I believe, was also included amongst the rebellious nights, but with no greater symptoms of insurrection. Taking all th se rumours, in connection with what has taken place in Liucashire, the precautions of the police would not appear to have been groundless.