1848 Scare of the Chartists 353 



usual regularity and no diminution in the attendance. 

 This year London was threatened with disturbance by the 

 Chartists, who were to assemble on the loth of April upon 

 Kennington Common to the number of 200,000 and march 

 to Westminster to present a petition to Parliament. Out- 

 breaks of violence were feared, and every precaution was 

 taken by the authorities to quell them. Among other 

 preparations a large body of special constables was enrolled 

 to protect public buildings and preserve order. Govern- 

 ment offices were particularly guarded, and civil servants 

 were supplied with batons to defend them against any 

 rioters. Among other places for the protection of which 

 their inmates armed themselves was the infant Museum 

 of the School of Mines at Craig's Court, Charing Cross. 

 Andrew C. Ramsay, who was one of the staff, made the follow- 

 ing entry in his diary on the fateful loth of April : " Grand 

 row expected to-day. Forbes called, and we went down to 

 the Museum before ten ; met Playfair ; Sir Henry De la 

 Beche very active and mysterious, passing through holes 

 into the back stables of the Scotland Yard Police Office, 

 and bringing out armfuls of cutlasses. Streets full of 

 special constables. Chartists afraid and cowed." Fortun- 

 ately nothing more serious happened. Meanwhile the weekly 

 meetings of the Club went on as usual. They were dropped 

 this year during the Easter recess, the existence of which 

 was thus for the first time recognised by the Club as it 

 had long been by the Society. Another change was shown 

 when the Club did not meet on Ascension Day and provided 

 no dinner for Whitsun week. 



On the 3oth November this year the Marquess of North- 

 ampton resigned the Presidentship of the Royal Society 

 and of the Club after having held office for ten years. 1 He 

 was succeeded in both places by the Earl of Rosse. At the 

 same Anniversary Thomas Bell was elected one of the 

 Secretaries of the Society. The Club's ex officio list was 

 thus increased by the addition of two. Lord Rosse became 

 a member of the Club in 1834 when he was Lord Oxmantown. 

 1 He died on iyth January 1851. 



