the Chartists, as they were called, from developing their proposed alterations in the representative system, through "the People's Charter," made in the metropolis a great demonstration of their numbers: thus hinting at the physical force which they possessed, but probably without any serious design against the public peace. On this day the Chartists met, about 25,000 in number, on Kennington Common, whence it had been intended to march in procession to the House of Commons with the Charter petition; but the authorities having intimated that the procession would be prevented by force if attempted, it was abandoned. Nevertheless, the assembling of the quasi-politicians from the north, by marching through the streets to the place of meeting, had an imposing effect. Great preparations were made to guard against any mischief: the shops were shut in the principal thoroughfares; bodies of horse and foot police, assisted by masses of special constables, were posted at the approaches to the Thames bridges; a large force of the regular troops was stationed out of sight in convenient spots; two regiments of the line were kept ready at Millbank Penitentiary; 1,200 infantry at Deptford, and 30 pieces of heavy field-ordnance were ready at the Tower, to be transported by hired steamers to any required point. The meeting was held, but was brought to "a ridiculous issue, by the unity and resolution of the metropolis, backed by the judicious measures of the Government, and the masterly military precautions of the Duke of Wellington." "On our famous Tenth of April, his peculiar genius was exerted to the unspeakable advantage of peace and order. So effective were his preparations that the most serious insurrection could have been successfully encountered, and yet every source of provocation and alarm was removed by the dispositions adopted. No military display was anywhere to be seen. The troops and the cannon were all at their posts, but neither shako nor bayonet was visible; and for all that met the eye, it might have been concluded that the peace of the metropolis was still entrusted to the keeping of its own citizens. As an instance, however, of his forecast against the worst, on this memorable occasion, it may be observed that orders were given to the commissioned officers of artillery to take the discharge of their pieces on themselves. The Duke knew that a cannon-shot too much or too little might change the aspect of the day; and he provided by these remarkable instructions, both for imperturbable forbearance as long as forbearance was best, and for unshrinking action when the moment for action came.”—Memoir ; Times, Sept. 15-16, 1852. The Chartists' Petition was presented to the House of Commons on the above day, signed, it was stated, by 5,706,000 persons. APSLEY HOUSE. THIS noble mansion, at Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly -"No. 1, London," as the foreigner called it-is erected partly upon a piece of ground given by George the Second to an old soldier named Allen, whom the king recognised as having served in the battle of Dettingen. Upon this spot, Allen built a tenement in place of the apple-stall, which, by sufferance, had been kept thereon by his wife; and before the erection of Apsley House, in 1784, this piece of ground was sold, for a considerable sum, by Allen's descendants, to Apsley, Lord Bathurst. The maternal apple-stall is shown in a print, dated 1766. More celebrated, however, is the mansion as the town-house of Arthur, Duke of Wellington; and for the priceless testimonials which it contains to the true greatness of that illustrious man. Yet, during the unhealthy excitement, when the Reform Bill agitators clung to the wheels of the Lord Mayor's state-coach, as it rolled into the courtyard of St. James's, Apsley House was attacked by lawless brawlers, who threw stones at the very gallery in which was celebrated every year the victory which saved England and Europe! It was to protect his mansion, after the windows had been broken by the mob, that the Duke had affixed the bullet-proof iron Venetian blinds, which were not removed during his Grace's life-time : "They shall remain where they are," was his remark, "as a monument of the gullibility of a mob, and the worthlessness of that sort of popularity for which they who give it can assign no good reason. I don't blame the men that broke my windows. They only did what they were instigated to do by others who ought to have known better. But if anyone be disposed to grow giddy with popular applause, I think a glance towards these iron shutters will soon sober him." Lastly, on fine afternoons, the sun casts the shadow of the Duke's equestrian statue full upon Apsley House, and the sombre image may be seen, gliding spirit-like, over the front. |