by the people who tore up the wooden fence around Nelson's column then in the course of erection, and using it as weapons chased the police to their retreat in Scotland Yard. Later in the afternoon a threatening turbulent mass formed itself into a procession and marched for Buckingham Palace. But on seeing the guards turn out, they thought discretion the better part of valour, and wheeling past at a safe distance, directed their course to Westminster and their actions to raiding public houses and bakers' shops instead of the royal residence.

In the provinces the agitation was more serious, all the great towns holding meetings at which seditious. language was freely used, and cheers given for the French Republic. At Manchester the police and the people had a serious encounter when blood was freely shed and rioting was general. Birmingham threatened to march in its thousands on the capital. Edinburgh and Glasgow made themselves conspicuous for their revolutionary gatherings. In the latter city the mob having shouted itself hoarse in crying "Down with the Queen and long live the Republic," broke into the gunsmiths' shops and arming themselves with swords, pistols, and guns, prepared to meet the military. Shots were exchanged, numbers were killed, over a hundred were taken prisoners, five hundred street lamps were smashed, and over fifty thousand pounds' worth of property stolen from jewellers. Every day,

nay almost every hour brought fresh news of seditious speeches and outrageous acts from the provinces to the Home Office. Up to this time the pusillanimous Government of Lord John Russell took no forcible steps to suppress such meetings. When it was announced that the Chartists would hold a monster gathering on Kennington Common, April 10, 1848,-at which it was stated one hundred and fifty thousand people would assemble to state their grievances, and afterwards to march to the House of Commons and present a petition signed by over five million sympathisers, it was seen that some effective action to suppress it must be taken.

Hearing of the riots and robberies which had followed such meetings in the provinces, all London was thrown into a state of terror at the prospect of the Kennington Common assembly. This was increased by the rumour that the mob had been instructed by its leaders to arm themselves for defence. The Government which shared the general alarm held a Cabinet meeting on April 6th, at which the Duke of Wellington was asked to attend and state his plans for guarding the capital. On the morning of that date Charles Greville going to Apsley House found him in a state of great excitement. He was ready he said to answer for keeping everything quiet "if the Government would be firm and vigorous, and announce by a proclamation that the mob should not be allowed to occupy the town." As

a result of the Cabinet deliberations it was announced that no opposition would be made to the constitutional right of the people to meet; nor to their right to present a petition. The monster meeting would be allowed to be held; but if it attempted to return in an organised procession, the Government would hinder so dangerous and illegal a proceeding by force of arms if necessary. A proclamation to that effect was issued April 6th, in which all well disposed persons were at the same time cautioned against attending an assembly which from its numbers and other circumstances tended to excite terror in Her Majesty's subjects. They were also called upon to aid the law in maintaining the public peace.

As the meeting was to be held on the south side of the Thames, it was easy to prevent its members from crossing the bridges and entering the west end of London in procession. This was to be done by the police; the military being held in reserve until it was found necessary to call on them to suppress rioting and rebellion. But the police were to be strengthened by civilians sworn for the occasion as special constables, whose duty would be to protect property. Their number eventually mounted to one hundred and seventy thousand. Notwithstanding the precautions taken, the people were terror stricken. Those who were not afraid to leave their property quitted town; those who remained armed themselves and barricaded their houses; and all who

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were acquainted with the Duke of Wellington assured him they looked to him for protection.

All of them received a similar answer to that he made Baron Bunsen: "We have taken our measures, but not a soldier or piece of artillery shall you see unless in actual need. Should the force of law-the mounted or unmounted police-be overpowered or in danger, then the troops shall advance, then is their time. But it is not fair on either side to call them in to do the work of police; the military must not be confounded with the police, nor merged in the police."

Preparations were watched with silent apathy by the Prime Minister who was disinclined to discuss the impending danger even with his colleagues. When the Clerk of the Council, having heard information from the Home Secretary which he thought it was of importance that Lord John should be told at once, went to him, the latter received him "with one of his coldest and most offensive manners, said nothing, and did not vouchsafe to tell me they had made up their minds to do something, and that Grey was going to give notice of a Bill in a few minutes from that time. Nothing could be more ungracious, and I mentally resolved never to go near him again to tell him anything of use to him. I wrote to the Duke of Bedford and told him all this; and he wrote me back word that he was not surprised, and that nobody had more to suffer from John's manner than he himself; that John

is

very obstinate and unmanageable, and does not like to be found fault with or told things which run counter to his own ideas; all which he owned was very unfortunate and a grievous fault in his character." The Bill referred to was that brought in three days before the meeting, for the better security of the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom, and for the prosecution of persons who sought to accomplish seditious ends by open speaking.

As the day of the monster meeting drew near, the anxiety of the people increased especially as the leaders had declared they would march to the House of Commons and assert their rights even at the risk of their lives. A number of Yorkshire Chartists, brawny, determined-looking fellows poured into London. On the morning of the 9th the walls were found covered with placards bearing the words, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." Some of the worst characters of the French revolution were said to have crossed the Channel to aid in plundering the English capital. Troops arrived by every train from the provinces; great carts of provisions were seen taking their loads to the Horse Guards and the Government offices, as if a siege were expected; the Queen was said to be "very low and frightened at the state of things "; Buckingham Palace bristled with horse, foot, and artillery; all Government offices were barricaded; the Bank of England was surrounded by a parapet of sandbags, while its boarded windows