Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 66, No 409, November 1849Various
History
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 66, No 409, November 1849
Various
England -- Periodicals; Scotland -- Periodicals
"Mr G. W. M. REYNOLDS, whose remarks were frequently followed by
interruption and cries of 'question,' next addressed the meeting.
He avowed his belief, that in so holy, sacred, and solemn a cause,
England must even go to war in defence of Hungary, if necessary.
(This assertion was received with such hearty cheering as proved
that the speaker had expressed the sentiments of the vast body of
the meeting.) All the moral effects of that meeting (continued Mr
Reynolds) would be perfectly useless, unless they were prepared
to go further. If the government would employ some of the ships
that were now rotting in our harbours, and some of the troops now
marching about London, that would really benefit the Hungarians.
(Cheers.) France used to be regarded as a barrier against
Russia, but France was no longer so, because that humbug Louis
Napoleon (tremendous cheers--and three hearty groans for Louis
Napoleon)--that rank impostor (continued cheering)--
"The CHAIRMAN here interfered, and much interruption ensued.
If anything could disturb and injure the cause which they were
met to support, it was such remarks as they had just heard.
("No, no.") If he (the Chairman) were a spy of Russia, he should
follow out the course pursued by Mr Reynolds. (Much confusion and
disapprobation.)" #/
We really cannot see wherein the author of the _Mysteries of London_
was to blame. His proposition had, at all events, the merit of being
intelligible, which Mr Cobden's was not, and he clearly spoke the
sentiments of the large majority of the unwashed. He certainly went a
little out of his way, to denounce the President of the French Republic
as an impostor: a deviation which we regret the more, as he might have
found ample scope for such expositions without going further than
the speeches of the gentlemen who immediately preceded him. We need
not linger over the ensuing scene. Mr Duncan--"said to be a Chartist
poet"--attempted to address the meeting, but seems to have failed. We
do not remember to have met with any of Mr Duncan's lyrics, but we
have a distinct impression of having seen a gentleman of his name,
and imputed principles, at the bar of the High Court of Justiciary in
Edinburgh. But if the sacred voice of one poet was not listened to, the
same meed of inattention was bestowed upon another. The arms of Mr R.
M. Milnes were seen hopelessly gesticulating above the press; and Lord
Dudley Stuart, for once, was cut short in his stereotyped harangue. The
case was perfectly clear: Reynolds was the only man who had enunciated
a practical idea, and accordingly the voice of the meeting was
unequivocally declared for war.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account