The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-04-14 00:00:00

REMOVAL AND EXAMINATION OF THE EXPLOSIVES

SEIZED IN LONDON.

The arrival at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich early on
Thursday morning of a seizure of an explosive character
kept a portion of the officials in a state of activity all day.
About four a.m, a telegram was received by Inspector
Keevill, who was on night duty at the Arsenal, stating that
a consignment of nitro glycerine, found in the possession of
a man travelling from Birmingham to London by the London
and North-Western Railway, had been despatched from
Scotland-yard, and soon after six o'clock a cab arrived con-
veying Inspector Mackie and a curious coffin-like trunk or
packing-cage, about 21 t. Bin, long by If t. wide, and the same
in depth. By Colonel Lyon's direction the box was conveyed
to the chemical establishment and deposited in the back
yard, where it was subse.quently examined by Professor Abel,
War Department chemist, Messrs. Dent and Brown, as-
sistant chemists, and Mr. Baden-Pritchard, eezetary. On
opening the trunk it was found to enclose a large bag of
fine indiarubber, fully distended, anti resembling a large air
pillow. Near one end was a short noozle-tube, about au
inch in diameter, closed by a screw-plug of vulcanite or some
such composition, but not quite water-tight, as some mois-
ture was; exuding. It smelt powerfully of nitric acid gas, and
a small portion of the contents being poured out into test
glasses, the chemists were enabled at once to pronounce it
nitro-glycerine. The bag and the case enclosing it were
quite new, and had evidently been made to ft each other.
The box, which is covered with bright black American
leather, panelled with brass-headed nails, is also barred out
side with cross pieces of wood, as travelling cases sometimes
are to save them from rubbing, and it is fitted with handles
at the hands, so as to be carrried by two men. The staff of
the chemical establishmeet are too familiar with explosive
compounds to feel nervous in the presenoe even of such an
agent as nitro-glycerine in quantity sufficient to destroy a town,
for there was nearly 2001 b. of it in weight, equal ia efiect under
favourable conditions to fifty times that weight of gun-
powder; but there were circumstances in connexion with
the matter which rendered desirable as speedy a removal
as possible. One of these circumstances was the insecurity
of the envelope, which allowed the nitro-glycerine con-
tinually to escape and the other, which was of more con-
sequence, was a suspicion that the compound had been
manufactured by inexperienced hands, that it had been
Imperfectly cleansed of acid, and that it was therefore
impure and especially liable to spontaneous explo-
sion. Against 'this supposition was the •fags of its
having borne the jolting of the train from' Brrmingham
and the rattling of the cab over the stones from London,
in which process if easy of detonation, it must have had hun-
dred of concussions sufficienk to have produced explosion:
but it was nevertheless decided to place- it out of harm's
way as soon as possible. A portion of the oily liquid was
therefore put into a bottle for experiment—a pale-yellow
compound, resombling nothing so much as glYonins

and being, in fact, only glycerine impregnated with nitrogen
in the highest degree of tension—and then Mr. Hindes, the
superintendent of the Woolwich Dockyard Police, was called
upon to transport the remainder to the Home Office magazine
In the Plumstead-marshes, the ordained receptacle of all such
seizures as are made by authority of Her Majesty's inspectors.
This delicate mission was intrusted to Inspector Cavell and
a party of labourers, whe, to minimize the risk, carried the
box by hand the whole distance, which is three miles from
the Arsenal gates. Arrived at the magazine, the whole
concern was immersed in water, with no other building
near enough to suffer if it should from any cause explode,
of which there is no apparent danger. The authorities
were, however, disposed to get rid of it without delay, and
the only point upon which they had any doubt was as to
the safest way of destroying it. Some one suggested throw-
ing it into the river, but the professional reply was that it
would sink in a cohesive mass to the bottom, and perhaps
be detonated by the keel of some ship. There was too much
of it to be exploded except by the tedious process of remov-
ing it in small quantities to remote places, and the only
feasible plan which suggested itself was to sprinkle it upon
the land. This expedient was, however, not unattended
with danger, as a serious accident happened in Germany by
that very means a few years ago, some nitro-glycerine ex-
ploding with disastrous effects as it was being poured out of
a vessel. Once absorbed in the earth, however, it will soon
be resolved by Nature into its constituent elements, and
simply serve as manure for the ground.

The secoad consignment of nitro-glycerine seized in
London was taken to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and
deposited with the first arrival in the Home Office Magazine
in the Marshes. It was contained in a large portmanteau,
about 21t in length, and occupied the whole front seat inside
a cab which brought it from London, in charge of Inspector
Dowdell and Sergeant Meredith. On the bag being opened
at the chemical establishment it was found to contain two
indiarubber stockings, and which apparently full of some
fluid, tightly secured within by being tied round with string
at the knees. In the bag were also found three smaller bags
of indiarnbber, each a foot square, and fitted with a nozzle
and plug like air-pillows for the purpose of filling them
Colonel Majendfe, Her Majesty's Inspector of Explo-
sives, was summoned to examine the mysterious cap-
ture in company with the chemical staff, and pro-
nounced the contents • f the stockings to be nitro-glycerine.
Like the bag which had previously arrived, one of the
stockings had a slight leakage, and Sergeant Meredith in
handling it slightly burnt his fingers with the moisture.
Neither the inspector nor the sergeant however, had
any apparent dread of the compound which had been their
companion in the cab from London, and, the strings being
too tightly bind to unfasten, Meredith without hesita-
tion severed them with his knife, heedless of the shudder
which the experts felt at the conjugation of an explosive
material and cold steel. Samples having been taken, the
receptacles were retied, and some boxes of sawdust were
brought to pack them in, but the chemist remembered
that sawdust impregnated with nitro-glycerine is only
another form of blasting powder, and they feared the effect
of the leakage. The sawdust was, therefore, taken away,
and the improvised vessels were packed in a barrel, which
was put upon the cab, and driven slowly to the magazine,
Superintendent Hinder, who keeps the key of that building,
sending Inspector Cavell to open the door and receive the
property. Colonel Majendie, having to proceed upon official
duties to Birmingham. Manchester, and Liverpool, Professor
Abel communicated with the Home Office as to the disposal
of the dangerous compound, and it was rendered somewhat
less liable to accident by being mingled with a considerable
quantity of water in vats.

Samples of the two lots of nitro-glycerine discovered in
London have been tested by the War Office chemists, and
the Woolwich correspondent of The Times is informed that
both are not only identical in character, but highly charged
with acid, and therefore rankly impure and dangerous This
is owing to imperfect manufacture, the process of cleansing
the material from acid, which is carried out with copious
volumes of water in any legitimate laboratory, having
probably been impracticable at the little workshop in
Birmingham. A solution of soda has now been added to the
nitro-glycerine in order to neuralise the acid. It stands in
four large tubs in the magazine, the operation of transfer-
ring it from the bags in which it was carried _having been
carefully performed by Inspector Cavill, Police-constable
Barnett, one of the chemist's assistants named Bragg, and
two labourers. Bearing in mind the danger of concussion,
they were cautious not to pour it out rapidly nor to let any
of it fall heavily. A small hole was made in the toe of
each of the fishing-stockings, through which the oleaginous
fluid slowly filtered into the tuba of water, itd in emptying
the large air pillow the nozzle-tube was used for the same
purpose. The receptacles were then cleansed and dried,
and are now no longer dangerous. The box has been
measured, as its dimensions have been smiled in question,.
and it is found to be 34- inches long by lBi inches in width
and depth. The indiarubber bag measures 30 inches by 27
inches. The stockings are not of pure indiarubber, but of
some kind of fabric dressed with caoutchouc composition,
and the acid had begun to eat through in several places.

The Daily News correspondent in New York states
that the dynamite revelations in London continue to
be the leading topic of interest. There is, he adds,
absolutely only one feeling about them, and that is
utter abhorrence.

THE SEIZURE OF. EXPLOSIVES AT
LIVERPOOL.
At Liverpool, on Saturday, DENIS MCABEE, aged
31, and PATRICK FLANNIGAN, 26, were brought before
Mr. Rages, stipendiary magistrate, charged with
having in their possession eertain dangerous explosive
substances with intent by means thereof to commit a
felony.

Mr. Marks, prosecuting solicitor, appeared for the
police; Dr. O'Feely -instructed by Mr. Quelch) ap-
peared for the prisoners. Few persons were allowed
to be present beyond these concerned in the case.
The latter included Colonel Ford, R.A., Colonel
Majendie, 0.8. (Her Majesty's Inspector of Explo.
sives), Mr. Dupre (Government Chemist), Mr. W. A.
Brown (Procurator Fiscal, Glasgow), and Mr. G.
Brander (Deputy-Procurator Fiscal, Glasgow). —We
take the following report of the proceedings from 2714
rimes of Monday :

Mr. Marks opened the case in a long explanatory state-
ment of the circumstances under which the prisoner Dewy
was captured with the explosives as he landed from the Cork
steamer, and Flannigan was arrested at Sutton, near Bt.
Helen's, as he came off duty on tho North-
Westexu -Mall way. With reference to the explosives, Mr.
Marks stated that the only use to which such implements
had hitherto been put was in the cases of Glasgow and
London, where attempts were made to commit felony. Ihe
explosives and inachilies generally were similar to those used.
If used for industrial purposes dynamite was carried in the
form of cartridges, if in bulk in a not greater quantity than
one packet of 10lb. In this case there were two tins, each
containing about 281 b., so that in transport such a quantity
would not be lawful. Lignine dynamite had only been
known in this country in connexion with the explosions al-
ready mentioned, and the infernal machines that were found
In Liverpool a little time ago.

The evidence taken on the last hearing was read. Some
of the witnesses were cross-examined by Dr. O'h eely, who
was not retained on the previous occasion, but no material
facts were elicited.

Thomas Shannon, badge porter, said he was on the landing.
stage on Wednesday week, about seven o'clock in the
evening, when the Cork steamer came in. Deasey employed
him to carry a box to 34, Regent-street. The prisoner took
witness to the sailors' forecastle, and pointed out the box,
which a sailor helped him to put an his back. It was very
heavy, over half a hundredweight, but when he got into
Waterloo-road the detectives stopped and took the box from
him. Deasey was beside witness all the time.

George Williams skid: I am chief superintendent of the
Liverpool detective force. I was present at the detective-
office on the night of the 20th ult., when Detective Marsh
and the other officers brought the prisoner Deasey in. I
examined the box in the presence of Deasey. I was present
when he was searched, and assisted in searching him. In
his waistcoat watch-pocket I found two pieces of paper
(produced). The box is 21t. long by 161 n., and it is a few
Inches above 21 t. deep. The box was not locked. It was
tied round tightly with tarred cord. It is what you can a
spring lock. It will go to and lock, but with the slightest
oscillation it will fly open. Marsh handed me a key. It
fitted the lock. I had the box removed to a room, and I
said to Deasey, "This is your box, and I am going to open
it to see what it contains" In his presence I raised the
lid. The first thing I saw was a canister bound neatly
round with a canvas covering. There was a space between
that oae and another one I found, They were upright, with
the hole on the top. In the spaces left in the box were saw-
dust and hay. Between the two boxes there was a small
parcel labelled "chlorate of potash," and bearing an ordinary
chemist's label. Another parcel, similar contained and was
labelled "powder sugar." Another bit of paper contained
"red orbiment." Another paper or parcel contained three
taps. On the top of the left-hand side canister were an old
coat, some bread, and a razor wrapped up in pieces of
paper. They were claimed by Deasey. I sent for Dr. C.
Brown, and on his arrival I handed the box and its contents
to him.

By Dr. O'Feely ; It was not a lock ordinarily found on
such a box. lam quite certain Deasey claimed the:c,oat.
It was a very old one, and we got rid of it as soca as pos-
sible. Ile also claimed the razor. I saw Flannigan, but did
not mention Deasey's name to him. Flannigan did offer
an explanation about the revolvers. I made no inquiries.
He said the revolvers and the beard and the contents of the
bag were his. (The bag was here produced.) He did not
say he had had the beard for two years and went about
joking with it. (Beard and revolver produced.) Deasey
said that Murphy was the man who had despatched him from
Cork and that he would identify him it he was brought into
his presence.

Samuel Wilkinson Canning, sergeant in the Royal Irish
Constabulary at present stationed at Liverpool, said: I was
in company with Inspector Marsh when he arrested Deasey.
Previous to going to the detective-office, I assisted in search-
ing him in a hut at Waterloo Dock-gate. I there found a
small book in his waistcoat pocket.

_
Mr. Marks: It seems a small memorandum-book very
much reduced.

Witness; I found an entry in it "Acid nitrick 1.421"
The same night I went to Button, near St. Helen's, in com-
pany with Johnston. I went to the house, 24, Convent-
road. The prisoner Flannigan was not in. At that time I
saw a tin box in the bed room pointed out to me as
Flannigan's. Johnston ordered it to be removed to the
kitchen, where it was left in the care of a police officer.
I then went to look for Flannigan, found him in Sutton
Oak, and brought him to his house, 24, Convent-road.
When we arrived at the house I pointed the box out to
him, and asked him whether it was his. Be said it was.
I asked him what the box contained, and he said,
"Wearing apparel." I then asked him for the key of the
box, which he produced on a ring with other keys.
I opened the box and found inside a black hand-bag and
wearing apparel. I asked him what the bag contained. He
said he really could not say, for the contents were private
matters. I opened the bag with a key, which the prisoner
Flannigan pointed out to me on the bunch. The bag I found
contained a six-chambered revolver (five of the chambers
were loaded) a box of revolver cartridges, a false beard (pro-
duced), and also a tin canister containing a white powder.
I brought away everything I found. Besides the things in
the box. I found a bottle containing liquid. I left it, not-
knowing what it contained. It will be produced to-day. I
asked him what the liquid was for. He told me he wail sub-
ject to an inward pain, and was in the habit of taking a few
drops of it occasionally. I also asked him what the white
powder was, and he told me it was tooth-powder.
By Dr. O'Feely The box contained wearing apparel.
There may have been two suite, and there were some shirts.
The box was quite full. He did not say at first, "Here is
the key ot the bag, you can open it," I asked him for the
key first, and he then pointed it out.

_
Dr. James Campbell Brown, public, analyst of Liverpool,
said :—The packets found in Deasey's box contained the
substances they were labelled to contain. The realgar, or
red orbiment, was not labelled. The bottle of oil of vitriol
or strong sulphuric acid was not labelled. If the three solid
substances were mixed together, and were then touched with
sulphuric acid they would burn violently or the chlorate of
potash and sugar mixed without the realgar would burn
violently if touched by the sulphuric acid. I do not know
that the realgar would add intensity. It is used to make
Indian fire. The tin cans contained about a quarter 'of a
hundredweight of a mixture of wood sawdust with a little
chalk, saturated with nitro-glycerine. The lower part of
the canister contained nitro-glycerine in the proportion of
83 per cent, about the middle it was 76 percent,, the dryest
part at the top 67 per cent. —an average of over 75 par cent.
The proportion of chalk was variable—about 2 per cent, on
an average. I noticed the lid at the bottom of the mqlster
was fastened in by fresh putty. On tbe top c,2 the canister
there is a hole corresponding to a cut hole, in the canvas,
which leads by a tin cylinder, sln, long and lfin. in
diameter, open top and bottom into the canister. A small
piece of newspaper was loosely stuffed into qtat
tli
cylinder. - A cora fitting the hole NM lying lam in the
wooden box. I examined the tb.ree braes) taps found in
the box and one I ho.-4e and examined. After care-
ful conz,idaation, I found that it could not be used except
for the material in the box, I than tried how it could be
used with ins articles found in the box. I int';.'e4 the
chlorate of potash and sugar, and put it in, tho si,aoe between
the inner and the outer cylinde: ;a the lower part of the
tap. The two boles i 44 the Miler cylinder were covered by
about eleven folds (if a rell of paper, similar to what news,
papers are printed on. The paper was Ughtly tied on whin
I found the tap by a very strong flaking-Wide oord, by
means of two grooves in the tap. After placing the mixture
In the space that I have just mentioned, I mewed the bras.

work up as it was before, turned the tap off, poured the 00„
of vitriol into the portion of the tube above the tap, Osseo
the instrument in an upright p)sition, turned the tan ell
and went to some distance to watch it. (A. laugh.) In tee
minutes I went back and unscrewed it, and found that tin
sulphuric acid had only eaten half way through the roll 01
paper. I cleaned out the instrument, re-charged, and re'
placed it as it was at first, having put fresh portions of tha
same paper over the holes, but two folds les, of paper. le
eighteen minutes the tap exploded, so that if I had cool'
pleted the first experiment it would have exploded in
twenty-two minutes. This was outside, in the college '
grounds.
By Dr. O'Feely : It could be used as an explosive the saute
way as gunpowder. I have not tried its violence, but it i%
rather more violent than gunpowder. There was a roue!
proportion required to produce explosion. There must nO%
be too much sugar or too much chlorate. Apart these sub'
stances are not explosive. The potash, when touched by
of vitriol, chlorate of potash, and sugar might explode 11,
struck. It depends upon the strength of the blow. I woula
define as an explosiveper at the mixture of chlorate of potal
and sugar.
William Alexander Brown Procurator Fiscal for $l
city of Glasgow, said he received on the 24th of Januar/
from the witness Brander a parcel containing a tin ha,
two pieces of braes tube, and a small paper bag containing
a substance resembling sawdust. The pieces of brass were
labelled.
Dr. O'Feely made a formal objection to the admission Of
this evidence, but the magistrate said he thought he wee
bound to receive it.
Vivian Deering Majendie said: I am Her MajestYl
Chief Inspector of Explosives. On the 24th of J 111211.14
last I held an inquiry into an explosion at Glasgow. ITv
ceived several articles from the Procurator Fiscal. Merl
were caps, a packet of some material of the nature of sair•
dust, and a large tin bonnet-box. I handed them after el
return to London to Dr. Duprd. With reference to the
packing of dynamite, the regulations are that it require%
So be packed in a doable package, and each inner package
must not contain more than 101 b., and the whole pac
must not weigh more than 50b. One or both of the pa
St.
ages must be waterproof. That was the only lawful meth**
of packing it. For industrial purposes dynamite is used 10
the form of cartridges, of about a few ounces each. The
explosive described by Dr. Brown as having been found le,
the can is known as lignine dynamite, which is not license*
for manufacture or importation into this country. TWO
instances of the use of lignine dynamite in this country hale
come to my knowledge.
Dr. ()Feely: I formally object to any evidence relating to
a felony committed elsewhere.
Mr. Raffles: Very well; we make a note of it.
Witness: First, the explosion on the canal bridge sore.
the Fossie-road, Glasgow, on the 21st of January last;
other in the case of the explosion at The Times publishing
office on the 15th of March last—these are the only cases le
which lam aware of its use. There are instances of its pre'
Bence in this country that lam aware of. It was present in
the case of some infernal machines found in Liverpool 113
1881. The dynamite found in the form in the can could be
used industrially, but it would be contrary to all experience
that it should be so used. I have never heard of it being 110
used.

By Dr. O'Feely : Nitro•glycerine is the effective exploidl'e
12 this compound, and tis not, by itself, under the Fa'
plosives Act, a licensed explosive. It needs to be used 10
certain forms to which the generic term dynamite is applied'
There is only one factory for dynamite in effective work is
this country. There is another in a state of paralysis o
to an explosion in November last. ' There is no local ins
tion, but there is Government inspection. The inspector",
go over the sheds and stores where dynamite is kept, and 11,. •
it were manufactured it is impossible that we should nOll
know it.
Re-examined by Mr. Mark.: It is not only illegal to mantle
facture it, but the possession is illegal.
-

Mr. Marks: Is there any dynamite factory In Ireland!'"
Witness: No, none.
Mr. Raffles: That is to say, no legal factory.
Mr. Marks: That is what I meant.

By Dr. O'Feely : Dynamite in its legal form is a very COP:
siderable article of commerce.
August Dupre said: I am professor of chemistry, doctor a
philosophy, and member of the Royal Solety. I have beep
connected with the Government Explosive Department fot.
some time. On the 2nd of this month I received a number
articles from Colonel Ford. There were a small packet 01 •
powdered sugar, some powdered chloride of potash, a p „lea
of red orpiment, a mixture of chlorate of potaw
and sugar, two bottles containinc, sulphuric aci'l.
and a large parcel containing a tin can (produced)'
stitched round with canvas, that contained 281 b.
Bfor.. of lignine dynamite. The average percentage
nitro-glycerine was 70 9. I had one of the taps given w,
me by Colonel Ford. I have heard Dr. Brown's theory 0!
the use of the tap in conjunction with the can. I ha,'
tested that theory myself, and I find that it is quite cot'
rent, so far that the tap is very well adapted for such *
purpose. The maximum time that I was able to obtain DI
the tight wrapping of the paper was nearly 41 minutl!
before an explosion took place. The minimum time woo*
minutes and 40 seconds. The paper had bi>en several Meal
rolled and unrolled, and was in creases, and the paPst
would not go closely round. It showed, however, that th''
time could be regulated. I remember receiving on 06
27th of January last several articles from Colonel Majendit ,
The articles were a small quantity of lignine dynamite AZ!
SD oval-shaped tin bonnet-box, also containing some of OP
same lignine dynamite. On the 2nd of February I had tsro
taps handed to me also by Colonel Majendie. One of the
taps is practically identical with the three taps found 01
Deasey, and spoken to by Dr. Brown. The articles hand"
to me by Colonel M.ajendle formed practically a similar
machine to that spoken to by Dr. Brown. The taps sive°
him by Colonel ilajendie had contained something. 8001
were moistened inside with sulphuric acid, and had _II°
doubt contained that acid. On the 26th of March, the o+l.
following the explosion at The Times office, I received $001_,•
articles from Colonel Ford. They were a japanned
shaped bonnet-box and a small parcel containing 'iglu":
dynamite. The box contained a quantity of wet liguhr
dynamite. It had been on fire and had been extinguishet
Two pieces of towelling were also in the box. There was •
hole in the top of the box. I also remember the exViosie*
at the Local Government Board offices, on the 15th of arclh
the same day as the explosion at The Times office. I eV''
mined the thibris caused by the explosion, I found a gre',:
number of small pieces of tin plate, and they showed the'
had, no doubt, been parts of some tin vessel shattered hi
the explosion. The pieces have been preserved. There 00
be no doubt that the explosion had been caused by a ran
compound, of which dynamite is the generic name;
was very evident.
A large number of witnesses—workmen and policerne°
tn give an account of the eroloston ill 4
Glasgow. and to trace the various portions of the euplOtlrr. '
engine which were subsequently discovered in the debris.
tbenezer Mears, acting sergeant of the London polio..
deposed that he was in front of The runes office, Londe
on the night of the 15th of March. He heard a noise liX*
the explosion of a fog signal at the back of The Times °file&
On going there he saw a box about 211. from the wall of
the printing office, which was like a bonnet box.
found near it pieces of smouldering towellifig, which P"'
extinguished by putting his foot upon them. After
a few minutes he went back to the box, in which he
a few grains of sawdiu.4. Round the box and on the sillA
the window he found sawdust. He took the things to ta*
police office.

Sergeant Lawley, of the London police, proved the Mgr
tion of him of the articles referred to by the last 'Also'
The tin box in question contained sawdust, a few portjollg
of old towelling, and some portions of newspaper. 101
transferred the articles to Colonel Ford, H. A., at the Hont•
Office.
. Colonel Ford, one of Her Majesty's inspectors of _Or
plosives, was then called, and the evidence given by
when the prisoners were last before the court was rein
over. On the morning of the 16th of March the wIInI
Lawley came to the Home Office, and he received from NM
the tin box and the other articles he had mentioned. (3,1
the same day he handed them as he had received then) w,
Dr. Dupre. On the 30th of March he was in Liverpool, gnu
received a number of articles from the Liverpool pollon''
eight in all. First, a tin box, packed in sacking; secondlh
a packet labelled chlorate of potash; thirdly, a pack"
labelled powdered sugar; fourthly, a small sample of 11
white powder which was given him from a tin box; flithll,
a small red substance, which looked like sealing-Wall
sixthly, a brass tap (produced); and, lastly, two bottles co_W
taming fluid. He took all of them to London with tin
exception of the brass tap, the potash, and the powdertv,
sugar, and handed the two bottles and the sample of while
powder he had received from the canister to Dr. Dupre 00_,
the 2nd of April. He also gave him samples of the chloral',
of potash, the powdered sugar, and the small red substanoll

The prisoners reserved their defence, and wsre oar
mitted for trial at the Assizes, the magistrates reftV
to comply with an application for bail made on be .
of Flannigan,
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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE or LORDS, April 9, the Earl of Lytton called
attention to the recent action of the Government in India,
ePecial reference to its effect upon the status of the
communities, and upon their relation to the British
wower.
orA lengthy debate followed, in which Lords Kimberley,
Dart.
enbrook, Northbrook,and Salisbury, among others, took
The subject then dropped.
THE EXPLOSIVES BILL.

...:rhe Standing Orders relating to the introduction and pro-
Of Bills having been read,
103.14 rd Kimberley, on the responsibility of the Government,
the House that there were circumstances which
'6,llusred it necessary for the public satsty that the Bill for
, elnendment of the law relating to explosive substances,
b 'eh had been passed by the Commons that evening, should
:gassed by their lordships through all its stages at that
The noble lord then briefly explained the scope of
e various clauses.
ti4Lsrel Salisbury criticised the wide scope of the interpreta-
(4 clause, and observed that permanent inroads on our
~-„_ranal law would be made by this Bill in allowing the
""etnination of a prisoner and his wife, and by compelling a
fn to answer, even though his answer might criminate
e elf. He denied that a case had been made out for the
o°,,rte proposed by the Government in a panic; but the
.40ettion d not had notice, and were not in a position to
%ttiresa their opinion.
Alter some observations from Lord Kimberley, the Lord
aneellor replied to the objections of Lord Salisbury.
tolarti Leitrim joined in the complaint of Lord Salisbury as
N.!" Permanent character of the Bill, as did also Lord
—subrook.
The Standing Orders were suspended, and the Bill was
*eked through its various stages.
tilletr Lordshi
even o'clock
pa adjourned at twenty-five minutes past
min the IlotteN or COMMONS, Mr. A. Giles took the oath and
seat for Southampton in the room of Mr. C. P. Butt, who
'NI been appointed one of Her Majesty's Judges.