arms large numbers of police and special constables were close at hand. Riot and outrage could have been crushed at a blow; but neither sight nor sound was there, to betray distrust of the people, or provoke them to a collision with authority. To a government thus prepared, numbers were no menace they were peaceable, and were unmolested. The vast assemblage dispersed; and a few days afterwards, a deputation, with the petition, was courteously received by Lord Melbourne.1 It was a noble example of moderation and firmness on the part of the executive, worthy of imitation in all times.

Soon after these events, a wider combination of working The Chartists, men was commenced, — the history of which is 1837-1848. pregnant with political instruction. The origin of

Chartism was due to distress and social discontents, rather than to political causes. Operatives were jealous of their employers, and discontented with their wages, and the high price of food; and between 1835 and 1839, many were working short time in the factories, or were wholly out of employment. The recent introduction of the new poor law was also represented as an aggravation of their wrongs. Their discontents were fomented, but their distresses not alleviated, by trades' unions.

Torch-light meetings.

Nov. 22d,

In 1838 they held vast torch-light meetings throughout Lancashire. They were addressed in language of frantic violence: they were known to be collecting arms factories were burned: tumults and insurrection were threatened. In November, the government desired the magistrates to give notice of the illegality of such meetings, and of their intention to prevent them; and in December, a proclamation was issued for that purpose.2 Hitherto the Chartists had been little better than the Luddites of a former period. Whatever their political objects,

1838.

82.

1 Ann. Reg., 1834, Chron. p. 58; Courts and Cabinets of Will. IV., ii.

2 Ann. Reg., 1839, p. 304; Carlyle's Tract on Chartism.

1

tent,

1839.

they were obscured by turbulence and a wild spirit of disconto which hatred of capitalists seemed to be The National the chief incitement. But in 1838, the "People's Petition, Charter" was agreed upon; and a national petition read at numerous meetings, in support of it.1 Early in 1839, a national convention of delegates from the working classes was established in London, whose views were explained in the monster national petition, signed by 1,280,000 persons, and presented to the House of Commons on the 14th of June. It prayed for universal suffrage, vote by ballot, annual parliaments, the payment of members, and the abolition of their property qualification,- such being the five points of the people's charter. The members of the convention deprecated appeals to physical force; and separated themselves, as far as possible, from those turbulent Chartists who had preached, and sometimes even practised, a different doctrine. The petition was discussed with temper and moderation; but certainly with no signs of submission to the numbers and organization of the petitioners.

3

Chartist

turbulence.

While the political section of Chartists were appealing to Parliament for democratic reform, their lawless associates, in the country, were making the name riots and of Chartists hateful to all classes of society. There were Chartist riots at Birmingham, at Sheffield, at Newcastle : contributions were extorted from house to house by threats and violence: the services of the church were invaded by the intrusion of large bodies of Chartists. At some of their meetings, the proceedings bore a remarkable resemblance to those of 1819. At a great meeting at Kersal Moor, near Manchester, there were several female associations; and in imitation of the election of legislatorial attorneys, Chartists were desired to attend every election; when the members 1 Ann. Reg., 1838, Chron. p. 120.

2 Hans. Deb., 3d Ser., xlviii. 222; Ann. Reg., 1839, p. 304.

8 June 14th, July 12th, Hans. Deb., 3d Ser., xlviii. 222, xlix. 220. A motion for referring it to a committee was negatived by a majority of 189 -Ayes, 46; Noes, 235.

returned by show of hands, being the true representatives of the people, would meet in London at a time to be appointed. Thousands of armed men attacked the town of

Riot at
Newport.

Newport; but were repulsed with loss by the spirit of Mr. Phillipps, the mayor, and his brother magistrates, and the well-directed fire of a small file of troops. Three of their leaders, Frost, Williams, and Jones, were tried and transported for their share in this rebellious outrage.1 Such excesses were clearly due to social disorganization among the operatives, to be met by commercial and social remedies,rather than to political discontents, to be cured by constitutional changes but being associated with political agitation, they disgraced a cause which, even if unstained by crimes and outrage, would have been utterly hopeless.

working

The Chartists occupied the position of the democrats and Weakness of radical reformers of 1793, 1817, and 1819. Prior classes alone, to 1830, reformers among the working classes had in agitation. always demanded universal suffrage and annual parliaments. No scheme less comprehensive embraced their own claims to a share in the government of the country. But measures so democratic having been repudiated by the Whig party and the middle classes, the cause of reform had languished.2 In 1830 the working classes, pow erless alone, had formed an alliance with the reform party and the middle classes; and, waiving their own claims, had contributed to the passing of a measure which enfranchised every class but themselves. Now they were again alone, in their agitation. Their numbers were greater, their knowledge advanced, and their organization more extended: but their hopes of forcing democracy upon Parliament were not less desperate. Their predecessors in the cause had been met by repression and coercion. Free from such restraints, the Chartists had to encounter the moral force of public

1 Ann. Reg., 1839, p. 303; Chron. 73, 132-164.

2 Supra, Vol. I. 322; Vol. II. 195.

3 Supra, p. 217.

opinion, and the strength of a Parliament resting upon a wider basis of representation, and popular confidence.

meeting of

This agitation, however hopeless, was continued for several years; and in 1848, the Revolution in France in- Chartist spired the Chartists with new life. Relying upon April 10th, the public excitement and their own numbers, they 1848. now hoped to extort from the fears of Parliament, what they had failed to obtain from its sympathies. A meeting was accordingly summoned to assemble on the 10th of April, at Kennington Common, and carry a Chartist petition, pretending to bear the signatures of 5,000,000 persons, to the very doors of the House of Commons. The Chartist leaders seemed to have forgotten the discomfiture of the trades' unions in 1835; but the government, profiting by the experience of that memorable occasion, prepared to protect Parliament from intimidation, and the public peace from disturbance.

ernment.

On the 6th, a notice was issued declaring the proposed meeting criminal and illegal, as tending to excite Preparations terror and alarm; and the intention of repairing to of the govParliament, on pretence of presenting a petition, with excessive numbers, unlawful, and calling upon welldisposed persons not to attend. At the same time, it was announced that the constitutional right of meeting to petition, and of presenting the petition, would be respected.1

constables.

On the 10th, the bridges, the Bank, the Tower, and the neighborhood of Kennington Common, were guard- The special ed by horse, foot, and artillery. Westminster Bridge, and the streets and approaches to the Houses of Parliament and the public offices, were commanded by unseen ordnance. An overpowering military force, — vigilant, yet out of sight, was ready for immediate action. The Houses of Parliament were filled with police; and the streets guarded by 170,000 special constables. The assembling of this latter force was the noblest example of the strength of a constitutional government, to be found in history. The main1 Ann. Reg., 1848, Chron. p. 51.

tenance of peace and order was confided to the people themselves. All classes of society vied with one another in loyalty and courage. Nobles and gentlemen of fashion, lawyers, merchants, scholars, clergymen, tradesmen, and operatives, hastened together to be sworn, and claim the privilege of bearing the constable's staff, on this day of peril. The Chartists found themselves opposed not to their rulers only, but to the vast moral and material force of English society. They might, indeed, be guilty of outrage: but intimidation was beyond their power.

Failure of

The Chartists, proceeding from various parts of the town, at length assembled at Kennington Common. A the meeting. body of 150,000 men had been expected: not more than 25,000 attended, to whom may be added about 10,000 spectators, attracted by curiosity. Mr. Feargus O'Connor, their leader, being summoned to confer with Mr. Mayne, the Police Commissioner, was informed that the meeting would not be interfered with, if Mr. O'Connor would engage for its peaceable character: but that the procession to Westminster would be prevented by force. The disconcerted Chartists found all their proceedings a mockery. The meeting, having been assembled for the sake of the procession, was now without an object, and soon broke up in confusion. To attempt a procession was wholly out of the question. The Chartists were on the wrong side of the river, and completely entrapped. Even the departing crowds were intercepted and dispersed on their arrival at the bridges, so as to prevent a dangerous reunion on the other side. Torrents of rain opportunely completed their dispersion; and in the afternoon, the streets were deserted. Not a trace was left of the recent excitement.1

Discomfiture pursued this petition, even into the House of Commons. It was numerously signed, beyond all example; but Mr. O'Connor, in presenting it, stated that it bore 5,706,000 signatures. A few

Signatures to the petition.

1 Ann. Reg., 1848, Chron. p. 50; Newspapers, 9th, 10th, and 11th April, 1848. Personal observation.