The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 12, 1848.

and men of the Royal and East India Company's sappers and
miners, upon the space of grouna between the left of Chatham
lines and the old Hernwork, which is bounded at one
extremity by the Terrace bastion, and at the other by Prince
Frederick's bastion. The citadel to be preserved consisted of
the two bastions referred to, with the surrounding lunatic&
tions, occupying an area of about 1.50 acres, while the field
fur the operation of the besieging party was the valley be-
yond, and separated therefrom on one aide by St. Mary's
Creek, and on all the other sides by an entrenehmtnt 30 felt
deep. The operations yesterday consisted in a surprise of
the garrison by a besieging army, who had previously
invested the ou.works, and thrown up trenches to
within a abort distance of the citadel ; but who, on
the approach of a superior force, had retired for
a time with the intention of renewing the attack when the
reserve army had withdrawn. This opportunity was sup-
posed to have occurred at the commencement of the move-
ments. The public were admitted within the garriadi
and allowed to take up such po+itions as might be accept. d
without danger to themselves. When the staff arrived the
scene presented was exceedingly animated, not less than from
35,000 to 40,1100 spectators being within the lines. The roofs
of the long line of buildings, known an the Casemate Bit
racks, were covered with spectators. The garrison was com-
posed of a squadron of cavalry and detachments of the r.iyal
artillery, of the royal and East India Company's sappers and
miners, and of the prOTilliolllll battalion, including depots of
various regiments stationed at Chatham. The assaulting
party was comp tied of three columns. The left column was
formed of the left wing of the 17th Regiment and one com-
pany of the right wing. The light company of this regiment
was thrown out as skirmishers to cover the lett and centre
columns. The centre column consisted of the royal artillery
and the remainder of the 17th Regiment. The right co-
lumn was compelled of royal and East India Company's
Sappers and Miners, and of detachments of the It. tyal
Marines and of the provisional batalion. In advancing to
the attack this column was preceded by an infantry pontoon
bridge, carried by 100 men of the provisional battalion. On
the word of command being given the three columns ad
vaned simultaneously, the centre and left columns to the
escalade of the outer lines, and the right column to extend
the bridge across St. Mary's-creek, a breach and stockade
closing the passage of that point of the fortifict lions. The
centre and lett columns having advanced to the escalade
covered by their skirmishers, opened a brisk fire on the gun-
ner+ and the infantry lining the parapets, while the
scaling ladders were lowered into the entrenchments
surrounding the fortification, carried across, and placed
against the soap. On the simulants reaching the glade
the garrison opened a steady fire of &fluttery and a ratting
fire of musketry upon them, which they continued until the
besiegers began to menet the scarp, when the garrison re-
tired about 100 yards nearer the citadel. The outer lints
were then taken possession of by the ass.ilante, who turned
the artillery upon the garrison and kept a running fire under
cover of a breastwork. A squadron of cavalry here advanced
upon the assailants and endeavoured to hareem them, but
ultimately withdrew within the inner line. While these
active movements were going on upon the left and centre of
the attack, the right column had succeeded in fixing their
bridge across the creek, and in a few moments
the stockade, consisting of an immense quantity of
heavy timber and earth work, exploded, darkening
the ag over an immense space, and shivering. each
log of wood composing it into a thousand pieces. This was
the signal for the advance of the column across the bridge.
The garrison at thin juncture retired at all points, hut not
without disputing every inch of ground, under cover of a
heavy fire of artillery from the Cumberland and l'rinee
Frederick's taistions. The besieging parties continued to
press the garrison towards the citadel, into which they u.ti-
mutely retired. The assail nits then exploded several mines,
and the garrison having retired from the citadel, the be-
siegers obtained possession. The operations did not close
until after six o'clock.

IRELAND.

Avo. 11.

The Freeman of this morning announces that the
mission of the Rev. Mr. Mackey has been "in a
great degree successful," and adds, that so soon as
he can communicate its result to the parties most in-
terested, the flying column of Gen. M'Donnell can he
removed from their tents, the constabulary again
separated to their stations, and all the necessary pre-
cautions the time required laid aside. I have some
reason to doubt whether the reverend interceder ob-
tained any more than a general assurance that her
Majesty's government would administer the law with
as much leaning towards mercy as was consi'tent
with the public advantage, and that severity would
not unnecessarily be had recourse to.
A veered laden with gunpowder (600 barrels) was
yesterday seized in Dungarvan Bay. It is said her
papers are irregular.
Lord Stuart of Decks, lieutenant of Waterford, has
addressed the magistracy of this county, recommend-
ing them to enrol speciel constables in those districts
whence the constabulary have been withdrawn--a
most judicious precept if the magistrates desire to
have property respected.
After some fencing, legally and personally also—
for we must have these little incidents in our gravest
discussions—the first of the trials of the political
offenders now in custody commenced yesterday. At
three o'clock, the swearing of the jurors having been
completed, the Attorney-General commeneed to ad-
dress the court, and laid the offence before it in calm
and unimpassioned terms. The counsel for the pri-
soners did not proceed to-day on the affidavits of
which they had given not:ce yesterday, and for this
cause I suggested that they received reason to con-
clude that if the court should be of opinion the affida-
vits disclosed sufficient to warrant the postpone-
ment the court would take other steps to bring the
prisoners in another shape before a court of justice
where no motion for postponement would be listened
to. At the sitting of the court the question was again
raised whether or not Mr. Duffy had a right to plead
then and to have his plea recorded, as the arraignment
was complete. Some discussion took place upon this
subject, but the court, deciding in the plain common
sense view cf the subject, held that Mr. Days
arraignment had not been completed as he had not
pleaded, therefore the objection of the crown to re-
cording any plea then niust be allowed. The crown
did not apply for an indefinite postponement of
the arraignment. The Attorney-General, in the
cour-e of this discussiop, openly avowed that
his object was in seeking the postponement of
the record of Duffy's plea, that he did not wish to
conclude himself from proceeding: against Mr. Duffy,
if he should see fit, for high treason. Mr. Duffy
counsel exclaimed against the intimation as uncon-
stitutional, but it settled the question of the affida-
vits and the pleas also. The Solicitor-General and
Mr. Butt had a legal "set-to " &miner this part of
the case, which would be better omitted. Certainly
our legal officials sometimes manifest an absence of
dignified temper not desirable. Su much having
Meshed, the swearing of the jurors was proceeded
with, and here a legal objection was rail). d, which
seemingly came upon the crown by surprise. It was
this: under an old charter of Henry V., the property,
whether personal or otherwise, of all felons was
granted to the lord mayor, corporation, and burgesses
of Dublin. When a burgess of Dublin, therefore,
came to the book to be sworn, Sir Colossi) O'Loghlen
put in a challenge to the Itror on the ground that he
was a party interested, as being by law declared en-
titled to participate in the property of the prisoner
should he be found guilty. This was the substantial
ground of challenge, but it was varied in twa or
three other itistanc, s by the addition of certain aver-
ments (Maimed nesessary by prisoner's counsel. The
crown, on considering the ease for an hour, decided on
demurring to the eh illenge. The demurrer being
handed in, the court allowed it ; but the challenge
and demurrer are placed upon the record, so that if
prisoner's counsel should be of opinion that the point
is of value, a writ of error may be brouse,t thereon.
The prisoner challm‘ged one juror for cause, and
twenty absolutely. 'fhe crown did not order more
than three to "staild by." The jury is, it is admitted,
an impartial one. Several of those called were fined
for non-attendance.

COMMISSION COURT, Aro. 10.
TILE QUEEN T. DUFEIC.—After some discussion (a sketch
of whica will be found above) the motion for postponi-g this
trial was allowed to stand over, the prisoner's attorney under-
taking to furnish copies of the necessary affidavits to the
crown solicitor.
THE QUEEN v. KEVIN Iron OTOHERTY.—FELONY.—
Kevin In sd O'Doherty was then placed at the bar, to take
his trial on the charges on which he was arraigned on the
preceding day, namely, for imagining, devising, and intend-
ing to depose the Queen from her royal style, title, and ho-
nour, of the imperial crown of the United Kingdom, which
imagination, intention, &c., were indicated by articles pub-
lished in the Tribune newspaper, and also for intend-
ing, &e., to levy war against her Majesty.—On the
case having been called on, and proclamation for a jury
having been made, the clerk of the crown called over the
panel, about half ot whom answered to their names.
At the suggestion of the Attorney-General, the Court or-
dered that the absent jurors should be called on a
tine of 20/. each, which produced a slight increase to
the number pre- eet ; but that penalty having failed in pro-
curing the desired effect, the Chief Baron ordered that those
absent shout I be called on a fine of 30/ , and a few addi-
tional jurors held* answered the court proceeded to swear
a jury. At this period of the proceedings a gentleman of
the bar, in robes, complained to the court that he and several
others of the profession were put to great inconvenience,
there not having been any place provided for their areom-
modation.—Sir Colmaa O'Loghlen suggested that the range
of soots over the dock, which were exclusively occupied by
policemen, should he cleared for the accommodation of the
bar.—The High S'ieriti said that the police who occupied
those seats ha•d been placed there by his orders; that the
scene which occurred in the do:k at the commission