NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 565, 2 April 1868, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

THE FENIAN AGITATION, ANOTHEE ATTACK ON A MAETEELO TOWEE. A BUMOH prevailed in Waterford on Monday morning that a gun mounted at Dunoannon fort, and commanding the entrance to the harbor, had been spiked by one or mere Fenians, who had contrived to enter the fort unperceived. Much unea°'ne'B was the result, more particularly as the constabulary had just made an important arrest (they believed of ahead centre) in the town, and were known to be on the search for other suspected persons. The authorities, by direction from Dublin, ordered patrols to be established, the men carrying revolvers in addition to their loaded rifles. At was found also that in one instance ht least the telegraph wires were not broken by the force of the gale, but had been cut through with a file. Towards the evening of Monday the impression that some Fenian enterprise was on the point cf being attempted became general, and much vigilance was exercised, according to the speculation of the public even then, the design of the Fenians being to seize the martello tower, and from it command the Duncanuon Fort. The Fenian attack on the tower took place about 10 the same night. About 20 men are supposed to have been engaged in it. The attacking party fired upon the tower regardless of the signals. They stood until the military party, with fixed bevonets, from Duncaunon Fort, catne within 70 yards. On their being called on to surrender, a voice was heard, “ Stand firm, xny men.” The Fenians discharged a volley, which was returned. They immediately dispersed amid some brushwood. Two of them were seen to fall, but they wore quickly picked ’up by their comrades and borne away. The soldiers found no trace of the effects oi their fire beyond some spots of blood. One soldier was slightly injured. The troops and police remained on guard all night, No arrests have yet been made. THE CLERKENWELL OUTRAGE. A HEAD-CENTEE TURNED INEOEIIEE. William Desmond, Timothy Desmond. Jeremiah Allen, Anne Justice, Nicholas English, James O’Keefe, James O’Neill, and Michael Barrett, were again brought up at Bow-street police court, for further examination upon the charge of “ wilful murder.” Some surprise was excited when Mr Giffard called “ Patrick Mullany,” and the mail hitherto a prisoner under the name of John Mullany, or John Patrick Mul lany, was brought into court, and placed m the witness box. He glanced nervously at the prisoners, and appeared much agitated. He gave bis evidence in so low a tone of voire as to be frequently inaudible, and it was found necessary to make him repeat his answers. He said : My name is Patrick Mullany. lam desirous ol being examined as witness for th crown. I have been a member of the Teniau brotherhood, the object of which was to establish a republic in Ireland, and i to overturn British rule in Ireland, l! held tile position of a centre. I was sworn in last March, at Barclay’s in Poh n street. I was sworn in by James Kelly. He is not the man known as Colonel Kelly, i have been introduced to American officers by (he prisoner English. I was introduced to General Halpin, Colonel Healey, and General Burke, now a convict (he was convicted in Ireland), Dr Morrison, and otliers, whose names I do not remember. I saw Captain M'Caffertv. I was introduced to him by English.' He was a decent sort of fellow enough, and talked about the raising in Ireland with him. Before the 13lh cf December 1 was oat of work. 'Alie strike took place about April, and after that time I had not much to do. At the latter end of November a bag was left at iny house and it was taken away by English. 1 saw revolvers in the bag, and powder-flasks and smr.ll flasks of caps. It was taken away the day of the explosion or a day or two before. I remember the meeting in Holborn somewhere about Little Queen-street. Barrett was present, and, 1 think William Desmond, but English was not. That was about a week before the explosion. Talked about raising money to carry out an object in view. One man said they must hare money, no matter how they got it. Some volunteered to get £l, others 18s, 12s, or 10b. Powder was to be bought with the money. Each man was to get powder in small Quantities—as much as they could get. They were then to meet at the American Stores in Oxford -street, to see if tbev iiad got enough powder, and to see how they were getting on. They could not settle then. English said he could get them a house in Castle-market. I went there with English, It would not do, so •we tried another place in the neighborhood. When we -* _ K c#l ' tutry iciaucu

, K' ' tiici'C tiicry iciaCGu cow they got on all that day. There was oniy odb man who got of powder. One man was giving orders, and another would not receive them, and it terminated 1 m a quarrel. I attended William Desmond s house Tuesday or Wednesday! ueioro ine explosion. English and Barrett, attended that meet ing. William Desmond! waa there himself. I saw one man very pale in the face, a hole in his coat, on the left shoulder, penetrating his waistcoat ana snirt. x saw Barrett, who I knew by the name of Jackson, sitting opposite, with a revolver in his band, which belonged to English, a breach-loader. They were discussing the merits of it. and said it w» no good._ I saw live or six revolvers in the room. I saw a pistol loaded and given to another man. A man had got a barrel

and another was to get a tundish which was to be put in the end of the "barrel,Vo carry the light to the barrel. Thev asked for a truck, and I think it was O Neill who said he could get one from Mannocks. A man was sent to look after the truck, and returned in a short time savin" it was All right. I know the place where the truck was kept. He was gone just about the right time to get there and back. They were to meet the nest day at twelve 0 clock at Wil] t him I was too busy and could* not come. IJieard that Jackson had been up to the House of Detention to see the place a dnv or so before. 1 did not go to the meeting on Thursday, but I saw Jackson and ano her man that night. He told me that it had failed, and they would try it to-mor row and send it to h—. I next saw Jackson on Friday night, the day of the explosion. I noticed that his whiskers were off, and another man’s coat on him. began to chaff him about his whiskers, and he told me that h e took them off; that H was him that lit the fuse, and that he was afraid he would be identified if he kept them on. I a-ked him who was with him. and he told me. The other man I noticed had his ear off, but that man was not with him when he said he lit the fuse ; he was in my workshop, and that was in the public house. He said he was going away, but I wouid hear from him. I did not se ■ him again till he was brought in this court on Monday week. Before the explosion I 1 knew that Barret and another man came to this court at the time that a man named Brown, or Burke, was examined here He had two loaded revolvers with him. I saw him m the late part of the day, and he said tuat lie and another man had brought them to shoot Corydon, but they could not do so they could not get in, and so thev could not do it there. The next day Jackson (Barrett) told me that they remained there all day to snoot Corydon. and the third day Barrett came down by himself; the other could not come. I have heard something from English about Greek fire on two occasions. About tv elve months since I knew a man to be mixing it in English’s place, iha man came to ask English if lie could get him a place to mix it in, and he said he wanteo money as much as anyone, and they could do it in his place. After it was done he wanted me to have some in ray place to keep it, but I refused it. 1 had known him to have nhosnhorus in his P ace before. The Greek fire' was kept in black bottles, with caps to keep the about. i had some of them in my hand. U was about a month before that he showed me some tin cases, which he said was to mix with other combustibles that I don t know for ihe purpose of making Greek fire. He wanted me to fake some of (hat to take care of; but I would not. I first know Brown, under the name of M inslow, m the early part of last summer He was introduced to me by a man the name of Burnett. He was a triend of of English 1 have seen them together. Brown or VUinslow is the same man who was afterwards in custody under the name of Burke in this court.

i lio evidence having hern rend over by *fr Burnaby, the chief clerk of the court, the witness said : X know a great deal wore about the case.— Sir Thomas Henry: A es, but I don’t know (batvou are asked that at present.—Mr Giffard : No, sir. I have no more to ask at present. But take down what he says—that he does know more. (This was done ) In answer to Mr Lewis, witness said he did not know O’Neil]. He never saw him before to bis knowledge. For the present, the informer’s statement must be taken with slight suspicion, But already, other and unimpeachable witnesses have borne out parts of his testimony. Judge and jury have a proper mistrust of the informer’s evidence; but Mullany has disclosed enough to ju«fifv his now position. His example is worth much, for it cannot fail to create widespread distrust among the Fenian Brotherhood. The brothers, like the cats of Kilkenny, promise to destroy themselves; for no man will risk his neck with conspirators who hasten to turn informers. DEATH OF MB CHARLES KEAN. AFe regret to announce the death of Mr Charles Kean, a melancholy event that has been expected for some days past, the deceased gentleman having been given up by his medical advisers. His death at the not advanced age of fifty-seven is a great loss to the stage; for whatever varied opinions may be held with regard to his acting, there can be no question that he helped to maintain the dignity of a not 1 too generally respected profession by leading the life of a thorough gentleman. As a man of education and blameless private life he was admitted on terms of equality in what, is called the “ best society,” and the widowed lady he has left to lament his loss was equally respected. Mr Charles Kean, as an actor, was a striking i cA-auipi6 vi the power of perseverance in ] overcoming obstacles. Starting in life with ia name that did nothing for him but open the stage doors of certain metropolitan Jtheatres, and then left him to be disadi vantageously, and in many cases unjustly, | compared with his phenomenon of a father —and weighted with a voice and figure that were terribly lacking in dignity, he succeeded in making a position by hard work and determination. He had more sly cutting humor than tragic force in his composition, but his reading was always powerful, and his representations were never wanting in “ go ” and spirit. De--1 portment was beyond him, but he inherited ■ much of his father’s extraordinary energy, 1 and much of his contempt for stage coni ventionalities. He was over sensitive about t the opinions of the press, hut this was a

weakness that ho shared with many mcnj who were not so dependent upon the breath of 'popular applause. It r was not until his father had been dead for some years, and partly forgotten, that Mr -Chas. Kean’s undoubted merits as an actor were admitted and recognised. These merits we hold, were greater in melodrama than in high tragedy, and far greater in tragiccomic parts, like Louis XI., than in either melodrama or tragedy ; but all his drama-1 tic assumptions were* distinguished by the' energy wa have before alluded to. As a I platform reader he was almost unequalled,! and his renderings of some of Macaulay’s! “ Lays of Ancient Rome ” have never been i surpassed as triumphs of impressive reci-1 tation. | THE LATE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN. \ A letter from Vera Cruz, dated 27th November, gives an account of the delivery of the body of the lata Emperor Maximilian to Admiral Tegethoff, by the Mayor of Vera Cruz. The writer says :—“ The body reached this place on the 20th instant at 3 p.m., under a strong escort of cavalry, the commander of the escort having in his charge a sealed parcel containing the key of the coffin, which he was instructed to place in the hands of the mayor of the city. The body was conducted to and deposited in the parish church, where the mayor, the members of the city council, the members of the boards of! health and charity, and the principal local! authorities were assembled. The church! was then ordered to be cleared by the police, and sentries placed at the doors to; prevent any one from entering. The Ad-1 miral next was informed that everything! was ready for the delivery. He shortly appeared with his staff, all dressed in plain clothes and in deep mourning. The operation then commenced of opening a large deal case, which was fopnd to contain another case of zinc. The latter was next exposed, and a beautiful rosewood coffin, on the top of which was a large and elegantly carved cross (all the work of Mexican artizans) was seen. The mayor then broke the seals of the parcel containing the key, which was of gold, and presented it to the person in charge. The hinges of the coffin lid were also of gold. The coffin being opened, the body was exposed to view at full length. The corpse was dressed in a full suit of black, and the hands in black kid gloves. The face was perfect, and although of the ashy brown color assumed by all embalmed bodies a few months after the operation has been performed, was easily recognisable by any one who had ever seen the Emperor in life. The coffin was lined throughout with velvet, and the body well cushioned in to prevent any movement, so that the head, hands, &c., were evidently in the same position in which thev had be<m originally placed. The Admiral was then called upon to say whether he recognised in the body present the corpse of Ferdin an( i Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, and whether he would receive it as such. Replying in the affirmative, the coffin was again closed, and the key handed to him. An official record was then drawn up in triplicate, witnessed by three publie notaries—one copy being for the Mexican Government, one for the Admiral, and one to be deposited in the archives of this city. The document was signed by the Admiral and his staff, the mayor, and nil the authorities present. Everybody then withdrew, leaving the corpse in the church, the doors of whicn were well guarded by Mexican infantry until the next morning. It was then quietly embarked without military honors, and taken on board the Austrian frigate Novara, the very vessel which brought the Emperor to the country. She put to sea immediately afterwards. The coffin was furnished at the expense of the Mexican Government, by which all the expenses of transferring the body to Vera Cruz were also defrayed.” An Austrian communication has the following : —“Four years ago an Austrian prince of high and honorable character—amiable, intelligent, and well-beloved bv his countrymen—went forth with imperial pomp to rule an empire newly formed in Mexico. The mutilated and disfigured remains of that prince have just been brought to Vienna, and deposited with sad and solemn ceremonial in the mousoleum at the Capuchin Church. Immense crowds testified to the sympathy felt for a man who had given up all the joys of domestic life for the splendour of an uncertain throne, and the welfare of those by whom the throne was supported. Even the grave, however, does not seem to have given rest to the mortal remains of the unfortunate Maximilian. His coffin was again —it is said—opened to still the tongues of certain tattlers who whispered that the body re-interred with so much solemnity was not that of the dead prince. Ministers, doctors, princes, marshalls, deputed by the Emperor, stood by the coffin side, and when the lid was taken off they saw a dark brown face shining all over with the varnish used in cmbslments, and! lit, if such orbs could light it, by a pair of j glass eyes. There could be no mistaking the face. Nothing was wanting to make recognition easy. Even to the tiny patches of red velvet that covered the holes in the forehead made by the executioner’s bullets ; and the deputies certified under hand and seal that what they looked on was the remains of Maximilian, sometime Emperor of Mexico. Then the poor clay was covered up again from mortal eye —it is to be hoped for ever.” GENERAL NEWS. (special correspondence oe PANAMA star AND HERALD.) Southampton, 3rd Feb., 1868. Some recent change in the personnel of the W sr Office seem* to indicate that we

[ere on the eve of a.reforra in detail in the army. Sir Henry Storks, a general officer who has proved his capacity in civil services of the highest importance, has been made Comptroller-General with the rank of an under-secretary : and General Balfour, an officer of great administrative capacity, Las been added to the office as his assistant. Major-General Lindsay, au of ficer who has acquitted himself with great credit in Canada, has been promoted to the poft nf Insoector-Genera! of the Reserve and it is bis mission to make the volunteers, the militia, and the pensioners into a united force, winch may usefully serve the country in ease of necessity. The inquiry ot Lord Strathnairn’s committee has produced good fruit, and if from ihe result we get a better administration of the army, | and a stop put to the collision, or rather the want of unity between the horse guards and the war office we shall have reason to be satisfied.

American claims upon the English government are assuming an angry complexion, and erroneous statements made wah remarkable confidence are extended and enforced by partisans of the American government in the country in a manner which inspires apprehensions of a serious complication, arising from tlie discussion. It is insisted in the first place that Mr Seward means what lie himself is careful I not to disclose, and in the second that arjbitration is the natural and honorable (course of a high minded end just nation, jlhc second proposition there is no dispute | about. It is ia fact conceded by Lord .Stanley. Ihe difference arises from the (obscure phraseology of the American Secretary, whose manifest evasions justify a suspicion that a simple and straightforward proceeding is neither contemplated nor desired—at present the impression that an unconditional arbitration is desired, which would branch oil'into ail manner of sub-1 jeets, and make the matter more confused and vexatious than it is.

A grand banquet has been given at Bristol to her Majesty’s ministers. The Earl of Derby and the Chancellor of the Ex chequer were unavoidably absent. Sir J. i akington responded to the toast of the army and navy and volunteers in a lengthy speech, in which he referred to the Abyssinian expedition, the state of Ireland and the progress of Feniauism, and other topics of the day. ILis speech was well received. I lie steamer Celt, from Algo a Bay, brings, among other passengers, Mr Young, Capt, Faulkner, and Mr Reid of the Livingstone search expedition. The members of the expedition aio satisfied that Dr Livingstone was not murdered ms the Joanna men reported. He did not lake die route expected from the Runitna river along the north coast of Lake Aiyassa. Thence ho proceeded to the north-west, and was left pursuing that route, either with the view of exploring the west coast of Lake Myassa, and thus ascertaining how far it extends north, and then to proceed to Lake Tanganyika, or he had g"ne direct for Tanganyika, and thence down the Nile home, Alataka, Makata, Marenga, and Maksurj, mentioned by the Joanna men, were found on the southern route instead of the northern. The expedition followed Ur Livingstone up to within a few miles of where it was reported he was murdered, and there found that that the doctor and his “ boys ” were ferried over a marshy lake, and returned next day to Marenga, saying they had deserted Livingstone and should return to the coast because lie was leading them into a country where they would bo murdered by the Mavete. Ihe expedition also had interviews with the native porters who had carried Livingstone’s luggage five days journey further to Pascombe. AVe understand that Sir Roundell Palmer has given his opinion that the consecration of a new Bishop for Natal cannot be held jin England without a violation of the law. Tarious places have been suggested in England as tlie scene of the event, but it is now perhaps not unlikely that another attempt may be made to secure a church iu Scotland.

The weather during the past fortnight has been very rough and boisterous. Heavy gales have swept the coast and inland, and great destruction to shipping and other interests has ensued—in many cases attended with loss of life.

There is every expectation that the Earl of Derby’s health will be so improved as to enable him to toko his seat on the opening of Parliament. Jt is again stated that the post vacated by the resignation of Sir John Rolt as one of the Lords Justices of the Court of Anpeal in Chancery lias been offered to Sir Roundell Palmer. The Fenian DuflV, who was arrested along with Stephens in 1565, then discharged, and again arrested last March, and has since been confined iu Millbauk prison, is dead. He is said to have died lio n pleurisy. Jonathan Allan, lately national schoolmaster, cousin of the-convict of the same ! name who was executed at Manchester for | tiie murder of Sergeant Bretr, has been |arrested at Jiohfrbuo*’ for Fenianism.

A meeting under the auspices of the Reform League has been held iuSt James’ Hall. Mr Kdtnund Beales presided, and, i" si' introductory the Reform Act of last session was ■wholly unsatisfactory as a settlement of the question. Resolutions were proposed and un» animoiisly ado : ted denouncing the rate* pajir.g cm uses 01 the nt t, tieiviavicling ai better measure of redistribution, and insisting upon the adoption of the ballot. The meeting was enthusiastic. A Dublin paper announces that the Prince of Wales is to visit Ireland in April next, to be present at the Punchcstown races.

A man has bean arrested in the act of posting in front of the Mansion House a Fenian placard. The reported intention of the Queen to visit Sandringham, in April, is contradicted.

An interesting gathering of Australian colonists now in England, has take place jin London, to celebrate the 80th anniverisarv of the first British settlement in Australasia, Sir W. Denison, K.C.8., in the chair. The principal speakers were the Chairmen, the Duke of Buckingham, Mr Oorry, M.P., Sir 0. Nicholson, &o-, the inci ease of wealth and population of this important part of the British empire, its loyalty, as just displayed by its enthusiastic reception of Prince Alfred, and the noble way in which it always rallied round the old country when any appeal was made to it, like the patriotic fund, to which Australia and Now Zealand contributed £170,000, were the principal topics of the eloquence of the speakers.

The Martello Tower, No. 2 Duncannon Fort, W uterford Harbor, has been attacked by an armed party. The alarm signal having been fired, brought a military reinforcement and shots were exchanged between the soldiers and the insurgents. Tiie latter fled. No casualties reported but the military believe that their fire was effective.

Clancey, a deserter from the Royal Marines, charged with attempting to murder two policemen by discharging a revolver at them when they attempted to take him into custody, has been arrested. Sir Thomas Henry said he should commit the prisoner for trial but remanded him for the completion of the depositions. The worthy magistrate called the policemen into the box and handed over to them several rewards which aad been sent by the public for their courage and efficiency. Telegrams from Suez report that —“ On the 18th the advanced posts of the Abyssinian expedition were pushed forward and occupied Goom Gooma 12 miles beyond Semfe. It is probable that Sir Robert Napier will in a few days advance with the leading troops towards An tola." From Alexandria we hear intelligence has been received from the captives to the 16th of December, at which period they were in good health. Menelek has retired without attacking Magdah. The troops at Senafe are iu excellent health. The mortaliity among tho mules continues. Another telegram from Alexandria dated 22nd January, says : “ It is asserted on reliable authority that the Viceroy intends to withdraw the greater part of tho Egyptian trooua from Abssinian leaving only a few at Massowaha.