The meeting duly took place, and passed away without event. The League was on its last legs. As _The Times_ observed,--“Yesterday, however, the League put forth its strength for a final effort, but sad to say, it failed egregiously. It made a grand effort of despair, but it lacked the strengthening impulse which that feeling ordinarily instils. A dull, lethargic passiveness pervaded every movement of the demonstration.” [Illustration: decorative bar] CHAPTER XIX. Demonstrations against the Irish Church, 1868--In favour of Fenians, 1869--Regulations made by Commissioners of Works--Fenian Demonstration, 1872--A speaker sentenced--Meeting about the Eastern Question, 1878--Fight--Preaching in the Park--Modern instances--May-Day and May 6, 1894--Against the House of Lords, Aug. 26, 1894. On Sunday, July 19, 1868, there was a demonstration in the Park against the Irish Church: then there was one in favour of the Fenians in Oct., 1869. But it is not worth chronicling all the meetings that have taken place since the time when the Commissioners of Works settled upon the place of public meetings, and the routine necessary before they were held. _Times_, Oct. 15, 1872: “The Commissioners of Works have caused to be erected in Hyde Park, at exactly 150 yards distance from the so-called ‘Reformers’ Tree,’[52] a granite pedestal and iron standard, surmounted by a board, to mark the spot where it shall be lawful (and there only) to hold public meetings, and inscribed with the following announcement: ‘The Notice Board respecting Public Addresses.--No public address may be delivered except within 40 yards of the notice board on which this rule is inscribed.’ The rule is to the following effect, and in addition, posted at all the entrances to the Park: ‘No public address may be delivered unless a written notice of the intention to deliver the same, signed with the names and addresses of two householders residing in the metropolis, be left at the offices of Her Majesty’s Works and Public Buildings, at least two clear days before: such notice must state the day and hour of intended delivery. After such notice has been received, no other notice for the delivery of an address on the same day will be valid.’” Because the concession had been made, of course it was forthwith to be set at nought--by a Fenian Demonstration. The following is the commencement of an account of the meeting in _The Standard_ of Nov. 4, 1872.