DEPORTATION OF THE STATE PRISONERS. {Abridged from the Freeman,s Journal.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 383, 15 December 1849, Page 6

DEPORTATION OF THE STATE PRISONERS. {Abridged from the Freema n,s Journal.)

« A< it was known that the Swift, the war sloop which was to convey the prisoners to their deitinatton, hid arrived at Kiugstown on Sunday, it was fully expected that they would be removed early yesterday rooming, and a number of persons were at Richmond lit an early hour to witness their departure. They wire not removed, however, for a considerable time after the anticipated hour. It was nine o'clock before •n order arrived at the pruon, directing them to prepars for immediate departure, people being generally under the impression ihat they would be taken away when there were few or no witnesses of the net. At nine o'clock, *u agent from the Castle arrived at Richmond, with a communication for (he governor. It was to the effect that the State prisoners should be ready for immediate removal. On the intelligence being conveyed to them, they at once proceeded to get their luggage packed and ready to be tent off. Shortly after ten o'clock, a float wai brought to the prison door, and the luggage having been placed on it, it was driven off to the railway station at Weslandrow, guarded by several policemen, with putols in Ihrir belts ; it was thence conveyed by the railway to Kingstown, and put on board the Swift. A number of the relative! and friends of the prisoners were at Richmond from an early hour, to take the last sad farewell bifote the ' lair ' had done its work. "Shortly before eleven o'clock the prison van was driven into the yard, escorted by a dozen mounted and twenty foot soldiers, under the command of Inspector Stokes. By that time the prisoners were ready to depart, but the formal order for their removal had not arrived, nor had the guard of Carbiniers which the authorities deemed it proper to send along- with them to tba place of embarkation. la the mean time the pritonr" walked about the yard, conversed with their friends, and were apparently the most unconcerned of all who were present. 'My la»t words ou leaving the country/ said Mr. Thomas Francis Meagher, • skall be, don't give up the good old cause.' " At about half-past eleven o'clock, a squadron cf the Carbiniers, under the command of Capt. Cuetance and Lieutenants Sheraton and Piiilomora arrived at the prison, «nd shortly afterwards, n gentleman from the castle, bearing the order for the deportation of the /our tUte prisoners. The van was then driven up to the door, and the Governor called out the names of William Smith OBrien, Thomas Francis Meagher* Terence Bellew M'Manus, and Patrick O'Donobue from the order, and requested them to take their placet in the vehicle. Mr. OBrien had previously txpressed to Inspector Stokes a hope that no deteciives would be phced in the van with himself and fellow prisoner*, to which the Inspector replied that iker* should npt, The last moment previous to d.c»

parture having arrived, the prisoners ,were once mor c surrounded by their friends— many of them lanifs— of whom they took a farewell. Mr. O'Brien'e lady, his liner, and the Rev. Mr. OBrien, his brother, were with him from an early hour in the morning. Ihe Rev. Mr. Meagher, S.J., uncle to Mr. T. F. Meaglier, and several female relations were pre'enN as were the wife, siiter, and other relative! of Mr. O'Donohne, and several ladies and others, r.lations of Mr. M'Manus. Having taken an affectionate leave of their Mends, and cordially shaken hands with seven,! gentlemen who were preyent, and with the governor, deputy governor, and other officers of the prison, they eutered the van, accompanied by Inspector Hovenden and Mr. Lamb, the governor of Smithfield prison. On laUing his place in the van, Mr. Meaglier said in a firm tone, ' I feel a p-ouder man leaving the country even thus, than many who rentaiu in it.' 'And so do I,' responded Mr. O'Douohue. The other gentlemen made no obtervation. " They were dressed as usual— certainly not with less care, and Mr. Meagher had in his hotid Ossidii's Poems, as he said, ' to remind him of the old country, of which he did not despair/ "All being ready, at a quarter to twelve o'clock the order for departure was given, and the van was driven off, preceded by the mounted police and t portion of the Carbiniers. The remainder of the latter rode beside and followed it, all currying loaded carbines in their hands, except the rearguard, who carried their drawn swords. The whole were under the command and direction of Colonel Mtunsel. "From the fact that the prisoners' luggage was sent by railway to Kingstown direct, and that the other state prisoners, Messrs. O'Dogheity and Martin. h»d been sent to Kingstown direct, it was believed that these four would be also taken there in the same way ; but, inifrad of that, the van and wort procreded by the Circular-road on to Rhigsend, and thence to the home- Pigeon, where the Trident war steamer was lying in readiness, with her steam up, to take the prisoners on board, and convey them to the Swift at Kinsrstoirn. On arriving at the Pigeonhouse where Superintendent Walsh and Mr. Hitchins, of the Under Secretary's Office, were in wailing to receive them, the prisoners were nt once pl«co<l on board the steamer's boats— Mr. OBrien and Mr. Meagher in one, and Mr. M'Manus and Mr. O'Dogherty in the other— the boats being manned with a consideiable number of men, commanded by two naval or marine officers. There wai also » large military party on board the steamer, and immediately after the prisoners were taken on board she proceeded towards Kings* town. " It is * curious fact that the same bo»t in which John Mitchel was carried to the Shearwater was that which conteyed Mr. OBrien and his companions in exile to the Trident. On this being remarked to Mr. Meagher, he observed, « I promiied to follow in the footsteps of John Mitchel.' The boat belonged to the Dragon, steam frigate, commanded by Captaiu Hall. " Owing to the rapid pace at which the van was driven, and the ignorance which prevailed as to the point to which it was proceeding, but very frw persons were at the Pigeon house when it arrived. Of these few was remarked a young lady, who, though all others were excluded by the closing of the gates, contrived to be present at the embarkation, despite of all obstacles. We understand that she was the sister of Mr. M'Manus, who thus strove successfully to accompany her brother '_, to the very moment of his departure from the shores of his native soil. " At 20 minutes after one o'clock, the Trident bore up nearly alongside the Swift, and the boats of the steamer lnving been lowered, the State prisoners were ( immediately placed in them, tnd conveyed on board the Swift. At this moment a large number of persons had aisembled on the point of ths eastern pier, nuxious to catch a last sight of the exiled patriots. A number of boats containing friends of the prisoners put out from tht harbour, and bore wp to the Swift, wh* re they lay until she got under weigh, eager to catch even a glimpse of the • devoted' men on board. The only friends of the prisoners permitted to be on board the Swift, were the Rev. Henry OBrien (brother to Mr. Smith O'Erien), his lady, Miss OBrien, that gentltvmaa's sister, and the llev. Mr. Meagher, uncle to Mr. Thomas F. Meagher. The preparations for departure on board the Swift occupied a considerable time, during which the boats remained as close to her a« possible, and the crowds also remained on the pier, all desirous of obtaining a parting view of the prisoners. None of them, however, appeared on deck but Mr. M'Manus, who remained there while the vessel lay at her moorings, and was occasionally able to exchange some words with his friends in the boats. At ten minutes before three o'clock, the Reverend Mr. Meagher, the Rev. Mr. OBrien, and the ladies who accompanied them, left the vessel, and in five minutes aftet (cables having been attached to the Swift from the steamer,) the paddles of the steamer .began to revolve, and the first motion having been communicated to the Swift, the exiles commenced their voyage to that distant land where they are doomed to expiate the offence of having loved their country, ' not wisely but too well/ " We understand that the accommodation prepared for the prisoners on board the Swift is very good, that they have a common room, fourteen feet square, and comfortable separate berths."