The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-26 00:00:00

ESCAPE OF THE POLITICAL CONVICT JOHN

MITCHEL.
-4D-

The Ilubart Town aurier publishes a letter, ad-
dressed by Mr. Mitchel, to a friend, dated June 9,1853, of
which the following is a passage:
Finding that warrants bad been actually issued some
weeks ago against me as en absconder, under which war-
rants a gentleman was hunted like a wild besot, and even
taken prisoner by mistake, as John Mitchel, en absconder—
while I was an the time quietly living at my cottage, and
under parole of honour not to abscond—l felt outraged by
this insult. I had net reclaimed my parole, had intimated
no intention of reclaiming it, and perceiving how little
value the convict authorities placed upon that security, and
how little respect they paid it (though it has been mr only
fetter for three years), I resolved to withdraw it is due
form, and let them try how they could hold me without it.
I therefore addressed the following note to the Lieutenant-
, Governor : _ _ _

" Bothwell, June 8, 1853.
" Sir —I hereby resign the' comparative liberty ' which is
called ticket of leave, sad revoke my parole of honour. In
pursuance of this determination, I shall forthwith present
myself before the police magistrate of Bothwell, at his
police-office, show hint this letter, and offer myself to be
taken into custody.-1 remain, sir, your obedient servant,
" JOHN MircitsL."
This day (Thursday) being post-day from Bothwell, rode
into the village, accompanied by my friend —. I went
to the police-office (where, as usual, a constable was on
guard outside the door), walked into the magistrate's room,
where I found the police magistrate and police clerk ;
and, addressing the former, said, " Sir, I have written
to the Lieutenant-Governor, and have thought it
right to show you a copy of my note," placing
it in his hands. He said, Am Ito read it ?', "If
you please," I replied, " it was for that purpose I gave
it to you." He then looked at the letter for a mo-
ment. " The purport of that note," I said, "is very plain
—you see, it is to revoke my parole." He looked at me
as if for further ezplasation, so I repeated what I had
said : " You observe my parole is now at an end, and I am
here that you may take me into custody." Then, feeling
that my business there done, and that he had the op•
portunity which I was b...nd to allow him, I turned, and,
after wishing the magistr-te good morning, put on my hat
and left the room. The moment I was out of the office
door, and while I was still in the passage, he and the clerk
made a load outcry, calling on the chief constable (whose
office is at the ether side of the is) to secure me. The
constable, who officiates as cleric to the district constable,
immediately rushed out, calling on me to stop. The other
constable on guard at the door had fortunately occupied
himself in holding two horses, so that:Lir:end and my-
self passed him without the necessity of any violence,
and we were instantly in our saddles. 1 not see the
district constable at all. This is precisely and accurately
what passed. Once mounted, we stayed no further parley,
but rode off; and it is outside the purpose of my present
writing to tell you any more.

ACCIDENT AT THE FRENCH COIIRT.—We read in
the Mottireur de P Oise :—The imperial palace at Com-
plague is every day receiving distinguished visitors, and the
influx of strangers into the town is very great. The weather
on Friday was fine enough to admit of a stag-hunt, which
their Majesties honoured with their pretence. All the
persons invited went in the costume of the due of Louis XV.
to the place of meeting on horseback; and a considerable
crowd of other persons also repaired to the spot on foot, on
horseback, and in carriages. The stag was found, but for
more than an hour ho could not be made to quit the spot
where he had stationed himself. The animal having
been only • short time before brought to the forest
of Compiegne, was not: perhaps acquainted ;with the
haunts of the place ; it dared not dash out before the dogs
and the impatient crowd. After repeated efforts to make
the st2g run, it at length started, but immediately after-
wards turned and stood at bay. It was then that several
accidents which threw a veil of mourning over the fete
occurred. Two horses, one ridden by M. Fonld, Minister
of State, and the other by M. Dalarue, the head keeper,
were knocked down and wounded, but their riders happily
escaped injury. Mmde. Thayer, wife of the director-
general of the Post-office, and daughter of M. Arrighi de
Padoue, a senator, was the victim of • frightful event. The
stag, kept is check by the hounds, attacked the horse of
Mmde. Thayer, which was severely gored by the animal's
antlers. The rider wu thrown, and her foot, catching in
the stirrup, the leg was fractured, and she lay senseless
on the ground. Medical assistance was instantly on the
spot. She was taken up and carried into the house of one
of the keepers until measures could be adopted to convey
her to the palace. The Empress appeared to be very deeply
affected at this distressing accident, and could not restrain
her tears. Madame Thayer, in the midst of her sufferings,
evinced the most remarkable courage and sangfroid We
are informed that she is going on as favourably as possible ;
the injury she has sustained is only a simple fracture of the
leg. At the commencement of the hunt some carriages ad-
vancing at • gallop ran against& barrier by the side of the
Beaux Monts; shafts and springs were broken, and car-
riages smashed, particularly that in which Madame de
Wimpfen, wife of the inspector-general of the forest of
Comphigne, was seated, but fortuutely no one was in-
jured."
THE CHOLERA IN MILLBANK PRlSON.—Yester-
day Mr. Bedford held en inquest on the body of Sarah
Howard, aged 48. She was received into the prison in
November, 18.11, under sentence of transportation for ten
years ; and had been in separate confinement up to the 3rd
of March, on which day she was removed into the infir-
mary. She returned to the ward in the July following,
but she complained very much at the change, alleging that
she could not eat the ordinary dist. Oa the 17th inst she
was taken ill, and in two days afterwards choleraic symp-
tomssupervened. She died on Saturday last. The jury
found a verdict of " Asiatic cholera," of winch the medical
Ulcer laid it was a decided can