ARREST OF MR. SMITH O'BRIEN. Times Office, Monday, Augt. 7 5.30.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 352, 16 December 1848, Page 3

ARREST OF MR. SMITH O'BRIEN. Times Office, Monday, Augt. 7 5.30.

-Thurles, Saturday night. — This evening at eight o'clock, Mr. Smith OBrien was arrested in the town of Thurles, just as he was on' the point of leaving for Limerick. The arrest was made without the slightest resistance either on the part of the prisoner or the people, aud the infatuated rebel chief is now on his way to Dublin. He was recognised on passing through the principal street of Thurles by — Hulme, a guard in the employ of the Grea.r.'Southern dnd Western Railway Company. Mr:. OBrien asked him the way to the railway station, and Hulme having answered the question, immediately sent a soldier off for reinforcements. H«l himself followed Mr. OBrien to the station. On arriving there, Mr. OBrien asked for a second class ticket to Limerick, the price of which he paid. His manner was so embarrassed that the clerk noticed it, and particularly the tremor of his hand. He did not, howf ver, recognise his face. Having given more money than was sufficient to pay the fare, the clerk returned him 6d. change, but be took no notice of this, and was walking *way, when the clerk called him back. On his return, he asked which was the right platform to go to, and being told that it was that opposite where he stood, he crossed the line to get to it. There he was immediately arrested by Holme, who 'commanded him to surrender himself in the Queen's name, and seized his arm to prevent any resistance or the use of a weapon. Head constable Hanover, D, who held the warrant for his arrest, immediately assisted Hulme-, and Mr. .OBrien was at once disarmed of a small pistol which he carried in his j waistcoat pocket, and which was the only weapon he had about him. The reinforcement which Hulme had the prudence to send for, and which consisted partly of police and partly of soldiers, now arrived, and Mr. OBrien was at once conducted to tb« gaol, where, arrangements were made for his lodgment during the night. General M'Donald, however; wisely determined to send the prisoner without a moment's delay to Dublin, and accordingly, in an incredibly short space of time, a troop of dragoons and a detachment of in f antry were drawn out as an escort to the station. In the mean time the people began i to assemble in groups, the voice of women were heard waxing eloquently rebellious, and every moment increased the signs of popular agitation. General M'Donald's arrangements, however, were made and carried out with the, greatest expedition and precision. The entrance to the gaol was cleared by the police, a strong body of infantry held the station, and a troop of cavalry swept the streets clear of the crowds that had assembled there. The shopkeepers were imperatively ordered to close their doors, and the General himself entered one or two where a disposition was shown to disobey his orders, and struck terror into the inmates. In consequence of these vigorous measures not the slightest difficulty was experienced in conveying Mr. OBrien from the gaol to the station. He was taken there on a car, which was alto occupied by Mr. Gore Jones and- Captain Fitzmaurice, the resident magistrate, and by General M'Donald. A strong escort of infantry and police accompanied the prisoner, who was safely placed in a special train previously prepared for the purpose of conveying him to Dublin. Mr. O'Brein occupied the centre seat in the caniage, and in the same compartment were Lieutenant Alexander M'Donald, four armed policemen, and the sub-inspector of constabulary at Thurles. The train started on its way a few miuutes after ten o'clock. Dublin, Sunday morning, six o'clock. — Mr. OBrien has arrived, and has been safely lodged in the Royal Barracks here by Lieutenaut M'Donald, to whose care his father, the General, intrusted the prisoner. Mr. OBrien was prohibited from speaking or moving on the way on pain of instant death. He therefore tried to sleep, 1 but his efforts were not successful. His manner during the journey was, upon the whole, confident and self-possessed, though the uneasiness of his mind would occasionally betray itself in his face, and in the restless manner in which he changed his position from time to time, ' He yawned frequently, as, I believe, to account for the tears which came starting to hU eyes, and, l could see tha(' anxiety of mind and perspnal exposure have left deep traces behind' them on his features. On reaching the Dub-lin-terminus he walked to the barracks,,guarded 1 by 1 a party of thirty policemen, who had' accdmpadied him by the train. This capture

is decisive as to the fate of the Irish rebellion, and it is gratifying to think that it has been effected so quietly. A report had r for some hours 'been industriously' circulated ia Thurlet that Mr. OBrien had escaped to a ! seaport in Galway, and sailed for America. _ Viscount Hardinge left town this day to take command of the troops at CJonmel. I am at this moment informed that Mr. OBrien has been sent to Kilmainham, under the same escort as that which accompanied him to Dublin. Prince George of Cambridge has thus lost no time in providing for his safe keeping. The few provincial journals which reached this morning are totally barren of intelligence. All seems to be quiet in the south. The news of Mr. O'Brien's arrest, although arriving at the untimely hpur of two o'clock this morning^y special engine from Thurles, flew like wildfire over the town. Even at this early hour the subject forms the topic of discussion at every street corner. People appear panic stricken at the fate of the leader of the insurgent army. Evident discontent, at his pusillanimous surrender without resistance is the prevailing feeling among /the lower classes.

_ Arrests. — «A great many , arrests have been made ; among the persons captured are Mr. Halpin, secretary of the Irish League ; Frank Morgan, solicitor to the Dublin corporation : James F. Lalor, one of the mos,t bloodthirsty writers in the Felon; Hyland, the pike-maker ; two gunsmiths of Dublin ; Mr. Charles Taafe, a barrister, and president of one of the clubs ; Mr. John Francis Blake, proprietor of the Galway Vindicator : Mr. . Coll Rochford, an attorney of that town ; and a gunmaker named Callaghan ; Mr. Marson, of the Drogkeda Argus ; Mr. Houston of Belfast ; Messrs J. B. Russell, jafnes Purcell, and Edward Smith, of Clonmell, &c. Seventy pounds were found on Mr. Purcell't person on his capture, It was supposed bo was proceeding to join the camp.