ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 26, 28 October 1842, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

In a former publication we gave an account of the presentation of the “ National Petition” to the House of Commons; the folllowing particulars are given of the procession by which the petition was accompanied to the House : Soon after nine o’clock, the streets leading to Lincoln’s Inn Fields were thronged with members of the different Chartist associations of the metropolis and elsewhere, all wending their way towards the place of rendezvous —viz., the square of Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The time appointed for the formation of the procession was one o’clock, and by that time the square was densely crowded. The windows of the houses in the vicinity were occupied by spectators, principally ladies. The members of the National Convention arrived in the square at one o’clock; those who were recognised by the assembled multitude were greeted with loud cheering. The members of the Convention were preceded by the monster petition, borne on the shoulders of sixteen able-bodied men, selected from the different trades in the metropolis. It was carried on a kind of portable stage or platform, which had been constructed for the purpose, and was covered with ribbons, and otherwise decorated. On the front was placed a placard, displaying the number of signatures which it contained, and from which it appeared that the number was 3,317,702. The procession was formed soon after one o’clock, the petition being placed in front'. After the petition came a large and ample black flag, bearing the inscription, “ Murder demands Justice, 19th August, 1819.” On the other side the flag was a representation of the Manchester massacre. Next to this flag were several staves, bearing on each a representation of the Cap of Liberty. Then came several flags, bearing each the inscription, “ United we stand, divided we fall.” The first band followed these flags. Next to the band

was a flag inscribed, “We require justice before charity—the people’s charter, and no surrender!” and on the other side of it were these words, “ Every man is born free, and God has given man equal rights and liberties ; and may it please God to give man knowledge to assert those rights ; and let no tyrannical faction withhold them from the people.” Then followed the flags belonging to the Huddersfield and Kettering Association, together with those from

the association at the Tower Hamlets. Following these was another band, in the midst of which was a flag inscribed, "O’Conner, the tried champion of the people.” The appearance of this flag was hailed with a loud burst of cheering from the persons assembled in Lincoln’s Inns quart? to view the procession as it passed. Immediately following this flag was one bearing a quotation from Exodus, “ Whosoever sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” Several other flags followed, and by two o’clock the procession had left the square. It proceeded up Great Queen-street, Drury-lant, up Ilolborn, to Oxford- street, and arrived at the House of Commons at a quarter past three. Everything was conducted in the most orderly manner. Not the slightest confusion prevailed from the time of the assembling of the multitude in the morning to that of its departure with the procession. A large body of the police, under Superintendent Sandrock, were in attendance ; but they were riot required to act in any way. —Hobart Town Courier .