Victorian London - Politics - Chartism - Demonstrations
Monday passed off with surprising quiet,
and it was considered a most satisfactory demonstration on the part of the
Government, and the peaceable and loyal part of the community. Enormous
preparations were made, and a host of military, police, and special constables
were ready if wanted; every gentleman in London was sworn, and during a great
part of the day, while the police were reposing, they did duty. The Chartist
movement was contemptible; but everybody rejoices that the defensive
demonstration was made, for it has given a great and memorable lesson which will
not be thrown away, either on the disaffected and mischievous, or the loyal
and peaceful; and it will produce a vast effect in all foreign countries, and
show how solid is the foundation on which we are resting. We have displayed a
great resolution and a great strength, and given unmistakable proofs, that if
sedition and rebellion hold up their heads in this country, they will be
instantly met with the most vigorous resistance, and be put down by the hand of
authority, and by the zealous co-operation of all classes of the people. The
whole of the Chartist movement was to the last degree contemptible from first to
last. The delegates who met on the eve of the day were full of valour amounting
to desperation; they indignantly rejected the intimation of the Government that
their procession would not be allowed; swore they would have it at all hazard,
and die, if necessary, in asserting their rights. One man said he loved his
life, his wife, his children, but would sacrifice all rather than give
way.
In the morning (a very fine day) everybody was on the alert;
the parks were closed; our office was fortified, a barricade of Council
Registers was erected in the accessible room on the ground-floor, and all our
guns were taken down to be used in defence of the building. However, at about
twelve o’clock crowds came streaming along Whitehall, going north wards, and
it was announced that all was over. The intended tragedy was rapidly changed
into a ludicrous farce. The Chartists, about 20,000 in number, assembled on
Kennington Common. Presently Mr. Mayne appeared on the ground, and sent one of
his inspectors to say he wanted to speak to Feargus 0’ Connor. Feargus thought
he was going to be arrested and was in a terrible fright; but he went to Mayne,
who merely said he was desired to inform him that the meeting would not be inter
fered with, but the procession would not be allowed. Feargus insisted on shaking
hands with Mayne, swore he was his best of friends, and instantly harangued his
rabble, advising them not to provoke a collision, and to go away quietly—advice
they instantly obeyed, and with great alacrity and good-humour. Thus all
evaporated in smoke. Feargus himself then repaired to the Home Office, saw Sir
George Grey, and told him it was all over, and thanked the Government for their
leniency, assuring him the Convention would not have been so lenient if they had
got the upper hand. Grey asked him if he was going back to the meeting. He said
No that he had had his toes trodden on till he was lame, and his pocket picked
and he would have no more to do with it. The petition was brought down piecemeal
and presented in the afternoon. Since that there has been an exposure of the
petition itself, covering the authors of it with ridicule and disgrace. It turns
out to be signed by less than two millions, instead of by six as Feargus stated;
and of those, there were no end of fictitious names, - together with the
insertion of every species of ribaldry, indecency, and impertinence. The
Chartists are very crestfallen, and evidently conscious of the contemptible
figure they cut; but they have endeavoured to bluster and lie as well as they
can in their subsequent gatherings, and talk of other petitions and meetings,
which nobody cares about.
Charles Greville, Diary, April 13th 1848
The Chartist meeting concluded about 7 o'clock, and several people made
speeches to the mob. When the proceedings of the meeting terminated about
1,000 people ran towards the church
[serving as a base for the police, ed.] A police inspector was
crossing the field at the time and some of the people called out, 'There
goes the — inspector," and the mob began hooting and pelting the inspector
with stones. Witness saw Callaghan and Bingley throw stones, and he
attempted to take Bingley and another man into custody, but the latter was
rescued and witness was thrown down and beaten by the mob. They then began
to break the windows of the church, and by witness's directions the police
were brought out to disperse the mob.
Cross-examined.—There were about 36 panes of glass broken. The mob were
told by the speakers that the police were in the church, and they moved off
immediately in that direction. There was a cry raised against the police,
and they were pelted with large granite stones. Witness was struck by
several stones, and was very much hurt.
Inspector Waller said that he went with 40 of his men to the church
about 3 in the afternoon, and shortly before 6 he had occasion to go to
another part of the field, and as he was returning the mob used some
opprobrious epithets, and began to pelt him with granite stones and pieces
of brick. After he got into the church he heard the windows smashed in, and
he immediately went out with his men. They had no other weapons than staves.
He summoned the mob to disperse, but the only effect was a volley of stones;
by which several of the constables were severely cut and injured. He then
ordered his men to disperse the mob, but they resisted, and the constables
were obliged to use their staves, and then succeeded in clearing that
portion of the field ; but the mob rallied at a public-house called the City
of Paris, and again commenced pelting the police until. they were driven
from their position.
Cross-examined.—A great portion of the people had dispersed from the
meeting, and when he came out of the church with his men there were
probably not more than 500 present. The men had nothing to drink in the
church. Some mounted police came on the ground. They had cavalry swords, and
they rode about the ground, but he did not observe whether their swords were
drawn. He could not tell how many of the police were altogether on the spot,
but he had only 41 men with him. The constables had orders not to strike at
the heads of the mob; but he was aware a good many had their heads broken
and were taken to the hospital.
David Kilgour, a police constable, spoke to the violent conduct of the
mob, and said that Illman, who had an iron bar in his hand, struck him with
it. He also saw some of the other defendants throw stones at the police.
Cross-examined,—Did not know of his own knowledge how many arms and
legs were broken among the mob.
By the COMMON SERJEANT— He saw one man lying upon the ground, bleeding
and insensible, and he was allowed to lie there. He did not see him among
the prisoners.
Several other constables gave similar estimony, but as their evidence
was all of the same character it will be unnecessary to give it in detail.
They all spoke to the proceedings of the different prisoners. Some of them
were clearly identified as having thrown stones at the police, while others
incited the mob to attack them by the most violent language. Several
gentlemen residing in the neighbourhood were also examined to prove the
terror and alarm that existed in consequence of the proceedings in
Bonner's-fields ; and this closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr. PAYNE first addressed the jury, and he commenced by expressing an
opinion that the proceeding out of which the prosecution arose was in
reality a very contemptible affair, and that much more importance had been
given to it than it deserved. He did not care a straw for either Whig, Tory,
or Chartist, but he did not believe that the disturbance in question had any
thing whatever to do with any political party, and was of opinion that the
police had, in a great measure, brought what occurred upon themselves by
their unnecessary violence. He could not also help thinking that if
something was done to ameliorate the wretched condition of the lower classes
it would have much more effect in preventing the demonstrations that had
been so much talked about, and would do a great deal more good than would
ever be effected by Colonel Rowan, Mr. Mayne, the police, and the special
constables, or the Duke of Wellington and the whole armed force of the
country. It was ridiculous to suppose that persons like the prisoners, many
of whom were mere boys, could have any serious intention of upsetting the
Government; and he believed that notwithstanding the misery they endured;
the poorer classes of England were sound at heart and were attached to the
Throne and their country. The learned counsel then proceeded to comment upon
the evidence, and urged upon the jury that, even supposing they should
consider they had taken a part in this ridiculous affray, he trusted they
would think the injuries they had received and the incarceration they had
already suffered; a sufficient punishment.
During the address of Mr. Payne, one of the prisoners, who had received
a blow on the head from a staff, fainted, and appeared in almost a state of
stupefaction during the remainder of the proceedings.
Mr. BALLANTINE next addressed the jury for Whitehead, who, he said, was
no patriot; he knew nothing of the Charter ; had no sympathy with Mr.
Mitchell, whom his learned friend had thought fit to introduce into his
speech, and was unaware of the existence of such a being. He was a
bricklayer, and unfortunately for himself, happened to be at Bonner's-fields
when these meetings wore held, and he had thus unfortunately become mixed up
with the transaction. It was stated that he had been seen to throw stones,
but there was not the slightest proof that he struck any one or that he had
done any mischief whatever, and he considered that the police were the most
to blame in the matter. He would not enter into the discussion of any
political subject, but he did not think that the right of Englishmen to meet
for discussion ought to be lightly interfered with. A prejudice was sure to
be created in the minds of men who had a stake in the country by being told
that a meeting was of a character to create disturbance and violence, and
this meeting was so described ; but, according to his view of the case, the
whole affair had been most grossly exaggerated, and the police had
improperly interfered, and by their own violence occasioned the disturbance
that took place.
The Times, June 19th 1848