The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

Tug LI7I Or THZ FINIANII AT THZ CONVICT Palm'.
—Mr.. O'Donovan Roma has favoured the Irishmen
with the following dieeription of her visit to her husband
at Portland Prison :—"I supesi I ought to write of
my visit to Portland, but Miss O'Leary's letter has
embodied early all that has to be said. I saw Roma
this day week—got quite a privileged interview, for he
was allowed to sit down and talk to me in presence of
an officer. Ho wee not permitted to say scything of
his treatment, but I could see by the great change in
his appearance bow harsh it has been. This much he
told me, and the officer did not contradict it that his
eight was failing, that he went into hospital for treat.
meet, but on being sent to scour the floors and closets,
and do all the foul work of the place, he preferred rink.
iog the chanoca of getting blind, by coming out and
returning to the usual labour of quarrying the white
stone for ten hours of the day. When saying this I noticed
that very little precaution is taken to preserve the man's
sight, for the convict cap, when on, merely eoweres the
croon of the head. Hen burnt nearly bleak from
exposure to the sun ; his hair—what little is left
on his head —swiss faded; and his fase is
furrowed from sweat and toil—so furrowed, indeed,
that I was tempted to think they did not revel in
pocket handkerchiefs. Portland is a very barren
Island, and the me to me seems stronger there
than any place I had ever been— possibly from attraction :
of the water all round it. However, the priaonen
working in the quarries and on the heights are exposed to
the full influence of the weather, and there is no mach
thing on the plasm as a shed to keep the rain from, as
asserted by 'A.' in ths Ulster °beer's?. I remembered
to ask the officer that much, and he appeared amused
at it; but of course I could learn nothing of the
indignities the men are subjected to. as the officials
won't allow them to tell their relatives anything relative
to treatment. I saw the crib from which the rest of the
prisoners must look on their friends. The difference in
favour of my interview was oceasioaed by the Home
RecretarT responding affirmatively to my request that
Roam might be allowed to hold the baby in his arms, born
sines his conviotioo. You may publish this if you
think well of doing so."
Tics CH•NZZL FLCIT. —The channel fleet, consist.
log of the Liverpool, screw frigate, the four iron
clad s, Caledonia ( dag ship), Achillss,Hector.and Pallas,
and the Helicon despatch steamer came into Portland
Roads and cast anchor at about eight o'clock on
Tuesday morning last. The following history
of the recent movements is given in the
Time, :—Torbay.—On Thursday morning, the 9th
inst., the channel squadron getup their molars. The
Admiral led them out towards the Start Point; a
fresh breeze from north-west was blowing, with a
heavy swell from the westwards; they were in two
lines as before, the flagship Caledonia leading the
weather line, then the Hector, then the Liverpool.
On the port beam were the Achilles and Pallas.
Nothing ID the way of evolutions took place that
day. Towards evening sail was made, the five
vessels standing away watts-west, under steam aod
sail, clew hauled on a wind, and standing off and
on, with difficulty making any progress towards
Falmouth. When morning dawned, the Achilles
and Pallas were a long way astern. The Litard was
about 30 miles on the port bow. About eight
o'clock signal was made "prepare two targets" to
each ship. About 9.30 they all went to general
quarters, the battle was begun. Fisch ship dropped
a target overboard and steamed slowly wand it at
1,100 or 1,200 yards. The firing of shot, shell, and
grape was kept up incessantly for two hours. The
four trowels& formed • magnificent marine " quad-
rilateraL" There was quite «tough swell on to try
their gunnery capobilities, of which it may be [early
said that the aim was quite as correct as is generally
seen from wooden ships under similar conditions.
The engagement terminated • little before noon by
the discharge of a concentrated broadside of shot and
shell from one battery of the Caledonia, the effect of
which seemed formidable enough, as, far and near,
along the foaming and furrowed bosom of the ocean,
the storm of projectiles swept on. The consumption
of coals daring the last 24 hours showed that the
Liverpool had used 18 or 19 tone, and the irowelads
about one-third more. In theafteroma the flagship
steamed towards Falmouth,- all five ships anchored
there at five p.m., and the Helioon then came in.—
Plymouth, Monday evening. —Yesterday at noon
the armour-plated ship, Lord Clyde, hove in sight
from the eastward and proceeded down channel
dose to the land. At four this afternoon eight ships
belooging to the channel squadron hove in sight
from the westward, under steam. They consisted of
six armour-plated ships, a frigate, and a dispatch
boat. Admiral Yelverton was leading in the Cale-
donia, followed by the Achilles. The Liverpool was
in the tear. Towards five o'clock they set their
head rile, and continued their course to the east-
ward. Al seven o'clock they were off the Bolt-head,
under full steam.