The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-30 00:00:00

Irtlank

AN AMERICAN INVASION in Um described, in the fol•
lowing curious communication in reference to a
Transatlantic regiment, the 09th, published in the
Evening Mail :
Berm, Oct. 26.—1 am glad to see that the Everting
Mail has directed the attention of the Government to the
proposed landing in this country of a regiment of limed
men from America, commanded by Colonel Ryan. There
are just grounds for the exercise of caution in this matter,
is I am sorry to inform
..ou that seditious societies have
been discovered in this neighbourhood as well as in other
places in the west of the county of Cork. They are also
creeping inland, and have made some progress in the
neighbouring county of Kerry. A strange peculiarity
pervades this movement. The members of the society
bind themselves not to divulge their plans to the priests,
and where spoken against from the altar they denounce the
priests as despots, as bad as the rest of their tyrants. 'Fhey
are supposed to derive inspirations from America, and
money also. They declare their intention to rise in arms
whenever there may be any difference with France or
►merica. The Government is, I believe, aware of these
tads. At present the whole thing is very contemptible.
The strange point in the matter is excluding the priests,
and without them they can do nothing beyond producing
another cabbage•garden campaign.
AN ECCENTRIC AND BENEVOLENT INDIVIDUAL IN
Con has banded to the mayor the following
humorous epistle, the cream of the joke being that
the letter did really inclose the genuine bank notes
to the amount of five hundred pounds sterling :
" Ballyhooly, Oct. 21, 1858.—Dear Mr. Mayor,—l
beg to inclose a prize value 500/. to be raffled for in
tickets of 11. each, more or less, the proceeds of
which to be distributed at Christmas, among the
helpless, of all creeds and denomiustions.—Yours
respectfully, TIMOTHY TIGHTROOTS. N. 8.—1 feel
quite satisfied you will select a few good names for
the committee that will give the utmost confidence
both in the drawing and distributing.—T.T. The
Right Worshipful the Mayor of Cork."

A DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE REV.
ALEXANDER NIXON was made in Donegal on Sunday
last. The circumstances are thus detailed in a local
paper: —On the day in question Mr. Nixon was
returning from church, accompanied by his wife and
daughter. The party travelled in a close carriage.
When about a mile from Falcarrah Mr. Nixon's
attention was attracted by three persons on the road.
They were dressed in women's apparel, but there
was something strange in their appearance. It is
said they had been noticed on the road earlier in the
day, and had been mistaken for women of loose
character. As it turned out they were really men,
dressed in the clothes of the other sex. The three
seemed to be under the influence of drink, and were
conducting themselves in a way to justify that
assumption as the carriage came forward. One of
the fellows sprang to the horses' heads nod stopped
the vehicle ; another began, as is stated, to dance
outrageously on the road ; others say the second
ruffian seized the coachman and held him ; but, be
this as it may, Mr. Nixon put his bead out to see
what had interrupted his journey. This seems to
have precisely answered the calculations of his
assailants. No sooner had the head of the gentleman
been protruded from the carriage window than the
third fellow fired at him. The weapon used was a
pistol, and the shot passed through his face. Enter-
ing at the side of the head, fronting the ear, the
'lugs smashed through the jaw-blade, carrying away
two or three teeth, and came out at the opposite
eheek. The deed done, the ruffians fled. No doubt
they thought they had killed their victim. Fortu-
nately, however, such was not the case, for it was
found that the wound, though serious, was not
mortal. Some of the slugs were found subsequently
in the bonnet of Mrs. Nixon. It is unnecessary to
say that the ladies experienced a severe fright, and
were well.nigh ovenome by the horrible nature of
the bloodthirsty outrage. Running off, some declare
that the ruffians parted with their female habiliments,
on as not to encumber themselves in their flight.
They went towards Muckish mountain. A bailiff in
,the employment of Mr. Nixon is stated to have fol-
to.wed them for some distance, but, on coming up
with them, one of the men turned, and, presenting a
?mei, swore lie would have his life it he came a step
further. The other then desisted, and the fellows
Pet off. We have not heard anything tellable as to
tishether any of the country people were by at the
ofme
that, the attempt on Mr. Nixon, although it is said
while the ruffians were making their escope,
ei.eral persons whom they encountered did not offer
%Impediment to their progress. Various rumour:,
e of them intrinsically untrue, are afloat on this
441:tt:161 Of the story, but for the present we forbear to