Something revolutionary is going on in England ; but what
it is does not yet appear. Physical Force Chartists and Irish Con- federates are making an unusual stir in the Manchester district, the Metropolis, and some other places : at Ashton they have paraded their forces in what looks like a very aimless riot, and have killed a man. They are found with store of arms and ammunition, significant as proving a malignant intent of some kind, but ludicrous as the apparatus of insurrection. The refuse of the broker's armoury, old table-legs converted into clubs by loading with nails, fire-balls of tow and brimstone, and similar devices, attest the ferocious resolves and the puerile conceptions of the rebels. For the most part, they carried on their man- ceuvres in obscure' places, making a sort of concealed demon- stration; as if they were getting up a private rebellion, not in- teresting to the public at large. And such a supposition is not altogether extravagant. Among the names of the prisoners in the North, we recognize many profes- sional agitators, who have been carrying on their trade of political agitation with little variety since the great strikes some ten years ago. It is only a wonder that their devices to extract the de- sirable income from those upon whom they live were not ex- hausted years back. "The rebellion," however, was a great wind- fall, and the professional leaders would necessarily wish to turn it to the utmost account. Some terrible conspiracy against the state would make the pence drop in as merrily as a plot to murder g' knobsticks," or as the feats of tumblers in the streets. A few pistols, the dreadful table-leg already mentioned, a little gun- powder to bury, would be useful "properties," imparting an air of reality to the drama. All this might well go on without the principal actors having any desire to trouble the public on the subject.
The worst of it is, that in self-justification the leaders of simu- lated rebellion might be forced into real tumult. Government is evidently on the alert and prepared. The concurrent activity of the officials at all the points of agitation has added to the aspect of mystery ; but another safe guess might explain it all—though the trade of agitation-leader is not a bad one, that of spy is bet- ter. Wherever rebellion has councils composed of mercenaries, there will be spies amongst them. For that reason, organized Chartism can never hope to get the start of the constituted author- ities. And it has not improved its prospects or added to its dig- nity by allying itself with the " Confederation " of Celtic editors, Paddy M`liews, and begging vagrants from Ireland.
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