The Express.
London, England, 1848-09-02 00:00:00

TREATMENT OP TAF.c9NVICT MITCHEL AT

itiiKUUDA.

Lord G. BENTINVK wished to ask a question, of
which he had given notice, relative to the treatment
which had been awarded to the cobvired felon Mitchel
since his arrival at Bermuda. Certain reports from
Bermuda had been so widely circulated that he
ton it to be absolutely re ze i 5......
only fur the vindicatim of the government itself, that the
public should be set right upon the subject. He had re-
ceived a letter from a person connected with the legal pro-
fession in Bermuda, from which he would read a short
extract to the house. The writer said :—" I wish it were
asked whether Mitchel did or did not mess every day with
the officers of the Scourge on the voyage oat, it being well
known here that he did so.' Distils° reported that on taking
leave of him the officers of that steamer shook bands with
him, and that the lieut. neat commanding justified his COR-
I duct under a letter from the Lord. Lieutenant of Ireland,
rather ambiguously worded, but whisk at least desired the
commander of the Scourge to remember Mr. Mitchtl's
former pUllitioo." The letter further stated that aims hia
arrival he had a private room en board the hulk,
a servant to wait on him, wore his own ordinary clothes in.
stead of the convict drew, an I had not been required to do
any convict work. He (Lrd (I. Bentinck) also found that
similar reports had found their way to /tarries, the flow
York Herald stating that Mitchel still wore his own clothes,
was not asked to work, and was treated with 'eery roreet
consistent with his safe custody. Ile was allowed books, but
neither pen nor paper. He did not himself believe that any
officer in the Queen's service would shake hands with a coo-
sided felon, and he was perfee'll confident that the Secre-
tary of Stets would be able to tell the house that no &Wee-
tion we.. made between men of station or education and the
meanest convict, when they became subject to the penalties
of the law. He begged to add that he did not believe Load
Clarendon capable of writing the letter imputed to him.
Sir G. GREY said that a question similar to that of the
noble lord had on a previous occasion been put to him by the
hon. member for Poole, and his present answer must be sub.
*tonally the same sake bad given on that occasion. He had
communicated with the First Lord of the Admiralty, end
had been assured by him that no information tending ti cor-
roborate the reports in circulation had been received. The
First Lord stated that the prisoner Mitchel had been removed
to armada, not in an ordinary convict ship, eta account of
the delay attending that mode of transport, but in her
Majesty's steamer Scourge, which was about to sail (or
that destination, with instructions to the commander to take
stray proper security for the safely of Mitchel, while
there was any possibility of escape, but when fairly out at
sea to give such indulgence in the way of exercise as the state
of his health required. It was however, expressly ordered
that a !operate cabin should be provided for him in which to
take his meals, and that while in a sentry was to be stationed
at the door. The best answer he could give to the latter
portion at the noble lord's question would be to read an ex-
tract from a despatch which had been received nom Gover-
nor Elliot, doted the 22nd June. The right hon.lentleman
then read the despatch, which stated substantially that on
Mitch. l's arrival he was handed over to the officer of the
hulk, and was examined by Dr. Hall, who reported tnat he
was suffering from Winks disease, and was incapable of out-
door convict labour. In consequence of this report he was
sent on board the Tornados hospital ship, where he was em-
ployed in the convalescent ward for sick officers.
ford G. BENTINCE.—kIor g with the sick officers?

Sir 0. GREY apprehended tbat he was employed in at-
tendance en the sick officers. With respect to his dress he
had no exact information.