The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-09-28 00:00:00

norottoblre.

THE OUTBREAK AT PORTLAND.

We extract the following Interesting letter front the
Tata of Thursday lent
As 11 happily idle to the lot M few to witness the
reel strategy of war on our own island, I think an 641.
count of 'Sheming little week'. oempaign within lb few
hours of London may be Interesting, sepealally as It
wee so admirably managed that not a drop of blood Mal
I found tape!, on Baturdey, the 11th Mat., at Wey•
month
and,having talcen a eon veyanee to visit Port.
I land, learnt from the driver thet the primmer. iii the
emiviet eetabliahment there were reported to be iii every
dieratisfied dote, and won "expected to strike for
wages," his belief eppearlng to be that, betides being
well lamind and fed they reeelved the usual rate of lite.
or Ids, per week, if owever, having taken up my fitter.
tors at Portland, soon diseovered that a dangerous
consplreey wee reported to he organised, and expeeted
to Weak out on Monday, when the prlioners went to
their usual work In the stone quarries, out of which the
limaltwalst Is formed, I itseartalned that the nucnerhal
forms on the part of the authorities were about 100
eivil yards and warders awl 150 Wexford Militia in
barruks, on the Verne•hlll fortideation, In enured of
wastruction, and about half 6 111110 IN, the prison, On
Ow other 16111.01 a enemy mustered 1,600 strong. Ton.
//errand the poeltkin, I must explain that the stone her
been excavated for a distance' of about 800 yards back.
wards from the prison, and rather lower than the level
of the pound upon which it stands, leaving at the
curved 11104, where the work now proueds steep lire.
guise walls of rook varying from 10 to lid or 60 feet
high, In lame places perpendicular, at others gradually
sloping, and at others out into the form of step. as the
stone hie been removed. The quarries are also separated
into Gut, welt, and middle divielons, by raised tramway,
slung which the stone is conveyed to the Breakwater in
wegune. The Government quartet, are also adjoined by
free quarries, and the bridge which carries the traniway
of the latter overlooks the former. On Monday morn.
lag, havhag pooketed a friendly revolver, I took up a
oonuseading view of the operations. At about • quer•
ter past MIL the oonviete might be seen advencing two
abreast, In parties of various numbers, sectording to the
working Arrangements, and each party guarded by two
or more warders In proportion to its respective strength.
The stream poured from the prison gate in regular order
for perhaps 10 minutes, by which time about 1,000 of
the lout formidable ruffians I ever saw had emerged
(the remainder having turned into the various workekops
adjoining the prison), unshackled in eny way, and se.
leafed for their strength on account of the nature of Use
work to be performed.
Perfect order seemed to prevail, and little would a
casual observer have dreamed that he stood on the brink
of lull a volcano of murder, lawless violenee, and mis-
chief as the men quietly doffed their convict frocks and
comments their usual workr ; but it was quite dear to
the initiated, from their sullen appearance, from the
Mate of hesitating expectancy they were in, and from
the delay in commencing work, that all was not right,
and each from the way heleoked tram one to the oiar
seemed to distrust las {slaw. The -morning was lovely,
sunny, end warm, and.the work had proeuded for some
time as nasal, when suddenly a loud yell was raised, and
30 or 40 eonvicte rushed from their work, and, is was
prepppopeted, jumped on a raised tramwey, shouting to
their comrades to Join them, and printing forward to the
point of concentration. Not an extra guard appeared
upon the ground, and to Mitt seemed as if the authorities
were taken completsily surprise; but at the first
rush the prearranged passed from sentry to sentry,
a picket of 12 Weil sprang down the side of the
quarry, charged In dose order with fixed bayonets along
the tramway in shorter time than I can describe it, and
met the bend of conspirators, totheir utter astonishment
and dismay. They halted, hesitated, and then fled,
evidently not relishing the cold gleaming bayonet and
the loaded Enfield, and were then driven into a cor-
rugated iron shed erected for shelter in ease of rain,
whore the warders chained them under proteotion of the
guard. But in the meantime the bugle wee sounded,
and armed Inca sprang from behind the rooks and out of
places of coneealinent, and before the main body of con-
victs had recovered from their first eurprise every salient
point was occupied, the communication between the
quarries out off, a cross tire ostabliehed from every side,
and reserves held in readiness to assist in case of via.
loom on any part of the works. The effect was in-
atantaneous ; the thrown-down pick and shovel were re•
earned with doop end aullen curses, and the captured
prisoners marched off to confinement. As the day
passed on small spasmodic niches of desperate men took
i'lace, but tho swords of the warders and the front of the
Wexford& repressed any tendency to violence, and they
were eatily captured. Boma of the convlota admit their
plan to have been to rush from all outlying parts of
the quarries, to concentrate in the centre, and aria them-
selves with the tools, such as hemmers, picks, lee., then
overpower and murder the guards, burn the prison, and
plunder the village', and make their escape to the main.
bed before assistenoe could arrive • and I ammi quite eon-
vinood that lied they been allowed' even a few minute'
to concentrate, a most desperate scene of bloodshed would
have ensued, but all the arrangement' were so admirably
mule end eontingenaies provided for by the director,
Captain Gauthier, and the Governor, Captain Clay (at
whose disposal the military are pleeed), mid their plans
eo promptly and viguurously curried out under the chief
warders and their assistants, limit the satisfeatory lieu.
I have described wee attained without the loss of
one life, . . . . .

Tuesdey all the oonviata appeared Bulkily quiet,
and preemuled to work di usual, but without soy appear•
tome of alacrity, when auddenly the seine shouting WM
heard, and a body of between twenty and thirty were
h()OR rushing from the western quarry towards the ,
centre, These wore promptly met by a body of Wax•
lonic on the Tilted rued between the quarries' and the ,
11111110 11011110 wourred aa on the preview' day. The eon.
eplreey then mutated the dogged, sullen form of emimall,
numbere at a time or indlviduela throwing down their '
tools and walking quietly into the shale and surrender. I
ins theineelvea. Title continued throughout the day, I
and partially au on Wednesday, when, the convicts
apparently no lunger being able to redid the conclusion
that they wore overpowered, Ohio subidded. On Thurs.
day, on walking round, I inquired of an experienced ,
weeder if he thought it wile ell over, to which he replied
that he judged from their " phluyhogo" that it wee, 1,4
they wore all "down in the mouth." I then inquired
if there were any more likely to leave their work, to
which he replied (pointing out a reinarkably athletic'
fellow, upwarde of six feet high), "That loan wee
wavering, but I have bun trying to point out the fully
of it, and hope he will not commit himself." I then
"eked what description of man he wee and received for
answer the following endow reply 1— He la a natural
/rialtition, cc, with gray eyes, ise wieltint u a (Quart,
cud ha« often been In trouble,"
Havinji eseertalned that It woe decided to wind the
captured prieoners to billhook }tritium I was curious to
de their onntiuot and bearing after they had, se they
fondled, irretrievably eommitted themselves in the eyes
of the euthoritlec Accordingly , I wailed till they were
marched out, lightly 'helped Isy the hand to sag other,
and having accompanied them a ecuseiderable &tones
along the road, it was only then that I fully appreciated
the extent of tile danger which had been averted, ur tint
deretood what would have happened had they obtoined
the mutiny. I can only immure them to a gang of
domains beAed in a eonepirsey against mankind, steeped
In crime, and openly dieploylog ti.eir etroolty, villelny
mid impotent rage at the failure of their plot, But I
will not dwell upon the conduct A' therm wreaks. who,
I anielude, were not even the word, am the singl4edere
were Naomi in prison to be togged.
The Weeford Militia, under Ciplains Pigott and Al.
cock, also the wardere and civil 'yard, deserve the high.
est oommendatiou for their studio's", &leerily, end fort
bearanee under the most irritating and trying eirotim.
Mimes) they endeavoured to carry out to the utinoet
the etringent order" isonveyed to all by the authorities,
not to fire a shot or sacrifice a life unless the mod
urgent necessity eompelled them. One subaltern pillar,
to his credit, in my presence, expressed his determine.
tin to stand between the bayonete of hia men and the
convicts to prevent any chances of firing unless he gave
diatind ordeal, se It was quite poseibla that an excited
Irish youth with his fighting blood up might have pulled
• dray trigger, and then who oould foresee the ranee.
quantea? The sergeant particularly struck me. Be
was an old Ghusnee dormer, grim as death, and hard as
bug oak. I sounded him with a view of amertaining if
he was quite satiated with the Ferrite, when he confided
to me that he did not think it right that the prisoners
should have p'huddn" (pudding) three tones • week and
the soldiers none. It Wari very amusing to see his strong
senate of discipline draggling with the desire to
give vent to his intense delight at the prospect of a
scrimmage.
Now as to the came of this dangerous insult, I heard
the prisoners questioned by the warders as to the cause
of their refusing to work, and not one complaint did I
lied against the prison discipline or treatment, but the
universal reply was, "We won't be put upon by the
Government;' or, "We won't be humbugged by
Government ;" and this I found to mean precisely what
is described in your impression of Saturday—namely,
that those nenteneed previous to 1853 and under the Act
of 1857 may by good conduct obtain the remission of •
'certain portion of their punishmed,while those sentenced
under the Aat of 1853 must work out the whole of their
term, no matter what their °ended might be. Captain
Gambler explained to the whole body, in the kindest
manner, that convictions for the some crimes under the
Act of 1857 were for longer periods than under the Act
of 1858, and that there wee no real differenoe between
the term of imprisonment Actually inflicted under the
two Act.; only that under the Act of 1857, ifs prisoner
misconducted himself, the authorities had power to keep
hiin • certain moderate additional period in continment.
Now, jet to hit the bolt, if there be one, I would ask
this question :—Have the judges, in missing sentences
under the Ad of 1857, kept in mind the intentions of the
Government in framing it, and its provisions as regards
remission •' or, in other words
, have they sentenced
prisoners to five years' penal servitude, under this Act,
for the same crime as they awarded four years under the
Ad of 1853, when there was no reinisaion 7 If not, they
are responsible for • grave oversight.
Before leaving Portland I wee allowed by the opurtasy
of Captain Clay to inspect the prison, and I came to
the oonalmion that the rules end regulations were such
as would gratify the heart of the sickliest sentiment-
alist, the mud maudlin sympathieer with crime, or the
moat overatreined philanthropist. Everything was as
clean and orderly as a gentlemen'', house—the food un-
exceptionable, the breed I should prefer to that of •
London baker for my own table • the hours of work
those of an ordin labourer ; chapel twice each day,
a school es in the prison, and daily instruction
given to the ignorant; two chaplains in con dant attend-
ance, who endeavour to lead their minds towards reli-
gion and • better course of life; end • well-ventiletecl
hospital for the sick or iojured, with two surgeon. in
attendance. Here I saw the ringleaders of the eonspi.
racy, who had received the mild punishment of two or
three dozen huhu. They were dreamed so usual, were an•
fettered in any way, and preeented no indication of s 4.
tering from their well-merited shadismant. The pri-
son discipline appeared to lee to be ecirried out with
vigorous firemmes, vigilance, and kindness, from the
bighted to the lowest in authority, ond every indulgence
consistent with rola granted to wen'u'lx"' eon-
viola.
I must confess I went to Portlandlonehed With a cer-
tain amount of sympathy for the prisoners, but returned
disenchanted and more than aver convinced of the irre-
deemable condition of the human heart when long steeped
in the boiling sea et aria% and howrolildowilloPolosi°o4
idndnui, Aug& au hugundAng effort' rebound. freak it As
mode atm. BthN ieManaliMo wiklab a. would
ot 04.41.. L
• ,

direct the benovelent and °limitable in ovary corner of
our land ; let them look out the 14Ir of every imprison'4
convict and exercise their wurk on hio callow brood, and
the famielting, sickly, despairing mother, Here charity
would be blamed, hopreaaionablis objeeto found to work
upon, many a young soul would be saved, and their hoods
turned to honest indutry, and our prisons woald look
their future prey, The Moderns's' and devotion of
women toward o their linprisonod insobande, as evWontood
by their correspondence, I am infamie4 all affecting in
Inc extreme, I undaretend they rarely reprotch them
with the crime that I'm brought wimpy And Marvation
on their familia*, but earneeily pray for their welfare
and melioration, and urge obodienue to the authorities,
and that thuy should 11414 by proyor And repentance the
pardon of Mod, offended God, An inflow we. related
so inc of a poor woman hut year, whom buoband wee
about to be transported, walking from the further part
of Wale, to Portland, willoh, iii *analogs:once of her
being far advanced in prognanoy, mauling! Hiroo wooka,
and who Arrived bluer, about an hilur "Hot he had sailed,
end too tato for tho parting interview fur which her
painful toil had been undoriaken, Nuoli appear to me
to be the propor objects of sympathy and charity, and
nut the hardened hueband,
In aonolusioti I trust the Government will take Into
ooneideration tho great amnions, extra labour, and
vigilance of the cilium of the indoors and suitably re.
ward them. This may be done without incurring any
additional expenu, ac I understand the 300 Toreador,
Kimura forfeit by the rule. of the prison all the grits
Wile' to which they would have been entitled on their
dloollargo, And which, in the aggregate, meat amount to
a large min,
I onMose iny curd, from which you will IN that I have
no connexion with the prison, And do not live within
800 mike* of it. I remain your obedient servant,
AN BYEWITNEIIII.

%pt. 90,

Mtnatton tit Htou LIP". —On Thursday week
the quiet little town of Coleshill, Warwickshire, was
the scene of Joy and gladness, it being the welding.
day of Miss Ann Eli.. Digby (second daughter of the
much esteemed vicar of U-Oleshill, the Rm. J. I). W.
Dishy, and grandnieoe of the late Earl Digby, of
Sherborne Castle, Doreetshirs), who was married
to Horatio Murray Stewart, req., of Cally, N. B.
The bridesmaids were eight in
M sisters number' via., the
BE. Digby (2), sisrs of the bride, the Misses
Dugdale (2), Lady Emily Pepys, the Hon. Mary
Hewitt, and the Misses Marriott (2). Amongst the
visitors were Sir Joha and Lady Smith, Lord and
Lady Lifford, the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, Ml'.,
the Hon, Mrs. Adderley, the Rev. Reginald. Smith,
the Rev, J. Stewart, Mr. Horatio Murray, the Rev.
Smith Marriott and Mrs. Marriott, Mr. John Max.
well, Mr. and Mrs. Dugdale, Mr. and Mn. Brace.
bridge, Lord Somerville, Hon. Misses Somerville (2),
Mr. 'Raker Wingfield, C. T. Mks, Er.. of Max.
stoke Castle, Captain Featherstone, 2nd Warwick-
shire Militia, Mr. Edward Gordon, Mr. and Mrs.
Madden, Mir Baylis, Mr. N. Baylis, Mr. A. Baylie,
Mr. Mark Stewart, Mr. Wingfield Lawson, Mr.
Horatio Stewart, Mr. Newdegate, M.P., and Mims
Newdegate, and many other masons of distinction.
The marriage ceremony was performed by the vicar,
the father of the bride, and she was given away by
her brother, Captain J. Digby, while her mole, Mr.
G. Digby, of Sherborne Carle, acted as ken "best
friend." The bridal primate ware applied by
Messrs. London aad Rider, of 17,New Bond-street.
Amongst them ware a beautiful Greek bracelet in
fine gold, set with rubies, • tine brilliant ring of
great beauty, and many other articles of value and
eleganoe.

Banatenv.—An audacious attempt to break into
Ho!nest House, the seat of J. B. W. B. Erie Ora:,
Esq. was made on Thursday night. The entry was
effected at the back, and as there are a good many
doors to be opened before the principal apartments
are reached, it would seem that the rogues were not
acquainted with the premises; and yet there is a
very remarkable circumstance connected with the
burglary which would indicate that they were not
strangers. There was a large Newfoundland dog at
the rear of the premises, and the thieves contrived
to remove him, kennel and all, into a plantation I
How this was done without an alarm being created
is a puzzle. The breaking-in part of the business
was very clumsily done, and we believe that no pro•
party was taken. A reward of £2O is Wend for the
discovery of the offenders.

MARNII U L L. —Fatal A ceident. —On Thursday
evening week a party of four individuals, with •
home and curt, halted at the Crown Inn, Marnhull,
for refreshment. Three of them entered the house,
leaving the fourth in charge of the vehicle and goods.
As the devotions at the shrine of good " Sir John
Barleyoorn" are generally, lengthy, the unfortunate
fellow thus left to himself, it is presumed, fell asleep,
and the horse, uncontrolled, and having nothing bet-
ter to do, moved on to a neighbouring grow bank,
whore, after nibbling some time, he must have ap-
proached too near, and one of the wheels running up
the steep incline overeat the cart, the poor fellow
falling underneath. The accident was soon discovered,
but on being extricated the man was found quite
dead. He was an inhabitant of Stalbridge, of the
name of Webber' and leaves a wife and family to
bewail his untimely end. An inquest was held by
William Hannon, Esq., coroner, at the Crown Inn,
Marnhull, on Friday, the 17th instant, on the body
of John Webber, of Stalbridge, aged 44, who was
killed by the upsetting of a cart near the above Inn
about 11 o'clock on the previous night. It appeared
from the evident)e that the deceased and four others
left Stalbridge with a hone and cart in the morning,
for the purpose of going to Urenborne Chace for a
day's nutting, and on their return pulled up at the
aforesaid publio.house, the deceased remaining In the
°art whilst his companions went into the house, and
it is supposed that the poor man must have gone to
Sleep, and the horse it ippon moved on unobserved,
and drew the cart up the bank, which mused it to
turn completely over, and thereby killing the de.
ceased on the spot. The jury alter hearing the
' evidence returned a verdict of " Accidental Death,"
and gave their het to the widow of the poor ureter.
ttutaW umn.