ARREST OF SMITH O'BRIEN. Times Office, Monday, Aug.7, 5:30.a m.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 263, 6 December 1848, Page 3

ARREST OF SMITH O'BRIEN. Times Office, Monday, Aug. 7, 5:30. a m.

Thurlei, Saturday Night.— This evening, at 8 o'clock , Mr. Smith O'Uuen was arrested in the town ol Thuiles jnstas he was on the point of leaving for LuniMicK. The anost was made without the slightest resistance eithei on the part of the prisoner or the people, and the 1 inlatuatcd lebel chief is now on iiis way to Dublin. He was lecogniscd in passing through the ptincipal street of rimrlcs by — Huhno, a guard in the employ ol the Hi-eat Southern and Western Railway Company. Mr. O'lkien asked him the way to the 1 ail way sUtio i, and Huline haviua: answered the question, immediately sent a soldier olf for icintoi cements, lie himself followed Mr. OBrien to the station. On aniving there Mr. OBrien asked for a S'cond cass ticket to Limelick, tlie price of which he paid. His manner was so embanassed that the cleik noticed it, and paiticularly theticmorof his hand. lie did not, however, recogI nise his face. Having given more money than was 1 sufficient to pay the j'.uV, the dene relumed him <;d. change, hut he took no notice of thi^, and was walking away when the cletk called him back. On his return, he asked wliieh was the right platform to go (o, ami being told that it was that opposite where lie stood, he > crossed the line to get to it. There he was immediately arrested by lluliuo, who commanded him to surrender himself "in the Queen's name, and sci/-ed his aim to pi event any resistance or the use of a weapon. Head constable Hanover, D, who held the warrant lor Ins ariest, immediately assisted Hulme, and Mr. OBrien was at once disarmed of a small pistol which he carried in his waistcoat pocket, and which was the only weapon he had about him. The reinfoi cement which ilulme had the puidenceto send for, and which consisted partly of po ice and partly ol soldier^, now ai rived, and Mi , OBrien was at once conducted to the K.IOI, where arrangements wore made for hib lodgment during the night. General M'Donald, however, wisely detei mined to send the prisoner without a moment's delay to .Dublin, and accordingly, in an incredibly short space ot tune, a troop of diagoous and a detach* incut ol mlantry were drawn out as an escott to the station. Iv the me in time the people began to a»seni« ble in groups, the voice ot women weie lieaid waxing eloquently rebellious, an t every moment inn cased the signs ol popular agitation. Ocneral MacdonaldN arrangements, however, were madj and earned out wnh the greatest expedition and piecision. The entrance to Hie gaol was cleared by tlie police, a stioug body-ot inlairtry In id the station, and a troop ot cavahy swept tlie streets clear ol the crowds that had assembled there. The shopkeepers weie nnpeiathcW oulered to close their doois, and the General liimsvU enteied one or two whcie a disposition was shown to disobey his oulers, and struck tenor into the inmates. In consequence ot these vigorous measures, nos the slightest dilneulty Wdb experienced in conveying Mr. O'lirien liom the gaol to the station. He was taken there on a c<u , which was also occupied by Mr. Gore Jones and Captain l-'it/.tnaurice, the resident luagistiate, and by Gen -ral M'Donald. A strong e«coitof infantry and police accompanied the prisoner, who was salcly ji'accd in a special :rniu previous 'y predated for the purpose ol conveying him to Dublin. Mr. OBrien occupied the ccultcMMt in the carriage, and in the same conipaitment were Lieutenant Alexander M'Dmiald, tour armed policemen, and the sub inspector of Thurlcs. The train started on its way a lew minutes alter ten o'el ck. Dublin, Sunday morning, six o'clock.— Mr» OBrien liasiiruved, and has been been salely lodged in the Uoy.d 1J macks heie by Lieutenant M'Donald, to whose cai'e Ins lather, the Geneial, intrusted the prisoner. Mr. O'jiricn was prohibited Iro in speaking or moving on the way on the n.iin ol instant death, lie tlieielore tiicilto sleep, but liiselfotls were not successful. His ni.vnuui during the journey was, upon the whole, confident and self- possessed, though the uneasiness of his mind would occasionally bctiayitsell m his lace, and in the lestless tnenucr in whicn he changed hi-> position from time to time. He yawned frequently, as, 1 believe, to account for the tears which came into his eyei, and 1 could see that anuety ol mind and peisonal exposure ha^c left deep traces behind them on his features. On reaching the Dublin tci minus he walked to the barracks, guarded by a party of tluity policemen, who had accompanied him by the ti'riin. This capture is /lecisive a.s to the fate of the lush rebellion, aud it is gratifying to think that it has been effected so quietly. A report had for some hours previously been industriously circulated in Tliurles that Mr- O'liiien had e-iC.iped to a seaport town in Galway, and sailed for America. viscount Uardinge left town this day to take command of the troops at Cloutucl I am at th.s moment inloiined that Mr. O'Biien has been sent to KilmaHham, under the same escort as thai which accompanied him to Dublin. Piince George of (Jam bridge has thus 1 <st no tune in providing lor his safe kei ping. The tew provincial journals which reached this morning arc totally barren of intelligence. All seems to be quiet in the south. The news ot Mi.O'Uiien's ariest, although arriving at tiie untimely hour of two o'clock this morning by special engine from Tliurles, flew like wild'ire over the town. Even at this eaily hour the subject forms the topic of discussion at every street coriiei . People ' appear p mic-stricken at the fate of the leader of tlie i insurgent army- Evident discontent <it Ins pusillanimous surrender without resistance is the prevailing feeling among the lower classes.