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FAST-DAY 31EETINGS.
On Wednesday, about one hundred members of the House of Com.: moos proceeded at eleven o'cleck to St. Margaret's Church, Westmin- ster, to hear divine service : the prayers were read by the Dean of Rippon, and the sermon was preached by Dr. Allen, of Battersea. The Peers, in number about thirty, proceeded at twelve o'clock to. Westminster Abbey; the two "%fluor Canons read the service, and the Bishop of Chichester preached.
A foolish notice was posted last week, that the Political Union would do what no union, political or otherwise, in London can do- distribute bread and other refreshment to all applicants, in Finsbury Square, on the day of the general fast. The Government, apprehei.. sive of the consequences of allowing the people to assemble in suck numbers as the notice was likely to attract, issued an order calling on them to desist. The hope of bread was stronger than the fear of blows.; and the assemblage took place, in spite of a very strong party of police placed expressly to prevent it. We did not see the crowd. It is esti- mated by the Daily Papers at 20,000 to 25,000; from which we cori-. elude, making a moderate allowance for exaggeration, it might amount
to 5,000 or 6,000. The people were allowed to remain in possession of' the square until three o'clock ; when, there being no apparent dispo- sition to break up, the Police, to the number of 1,000 or 1,500, were marched round the square in six divisions, three divisions moving in one direction and three in another, so as to meet half-way; and after a good many blows given and taken, and a number of broken heads on both sides, the inob gradually gave way, and dispersed. About twenty pet- sons were taken by the Police. The Police were armed with cutlass in addition to their ordinary. staves. The above rencontre was with the mob merely. About eleven o'clock, a number of persons of tins Trades Union, headed by Hetherington the publisher of the Poor Man's Guardian, and by two men named Lovell and Watson, formed sort of procession through the different streets of the City ; followed, as might be expected, by all the idle and vagabondish of the various quarters through which they moved, let loose by the fast-day from tie restraints of ordinary labour. The procession directed its course along. the south and east sides of Finsbury Square, through Sun Street into Bishopsg,ate Street, down Cornhill, and along Newgate and
Skinner Streets, down Farringdon Street and up Fleet Street towards Temple Bar. On reaching Temple Bar, :they found a party of Police was drawn across the street, on the West side, for the purpose of pre- venting the procession moving westward ; and seeing that their progress was resisted, the procession turned up Chancery Lane, and into Holborn, where they were also met by another body of Police. The Unionists then directed their course towards Gray's Inn Lane. Thence they proceeded up the King's Road, where they were again met by the Police. Guildford Street was next attempted, and having passed through Lamb's Conduit Street and Great Ormond Street, they arrived in Queen Square. They next proceeded down Gloucester Street ; but being met there also by the Police, they returned to Queen Square, and again through Great Ormond Street into Brunswick Square ; and thence contrived to reach through Hunter Street the New Road, and then proceeded unmolested to Tottenham Court Road. A small portion passed Howland Street, before the Police, who were stationed there, could throw themselves across the road. When the members of the Union were thus divided, a pause of a few moments took place, the rear of the Police stopping, and driving back, as well as they could, any straggler who attempted to pass. At length the head of the procession took off their hats, cheering their companions in the rear : the latter answered to the call by a rush forward, broke the line of the Police, and the procession was again united. The staves of the Policemen were freely used, and stones and other missiles were thrown from various directions. Several of the Police were wounded, and a number of individuals received serious injuries from the trun- cheons of the constables before the affray terminated and the parties separated. Seven persons who were considered to be most active in urging the others to resistance, were taken into custody, and conveyed to Albany Street Station-house. By the advice of some of the parties in the procession, the whole body were drawn into North Crescent, where one of the leaders addressed them, and telling them, as they had shown the country their united strength, and conducted themselves like peaceable well-disposed men, he would advise them to disperse, and retire immediately home. He then, with his friends, withdrew, and the crowd quietly dispersed.
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