The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-18 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) (TWOPENCE.

the night iedvanced the prisoners beams exceedingly dis-
orderly, at 8, st singing in a loud and boisterous manner,
proceeding then to hurrahs and cheers, and getting on by
degrees to a coutpte riot. Many of the men who would
have been glad to save remained quiet were compelled to
leave their berths by 6;0 violence of the more turbulent.
Hitherto the practice had been kept up of placing
one of the warden in the prison during the night.
The warder who was upon thin duty upon this occasion re-
mined during these proceedings In fear end trembling until
he was at length withdrawn. He reported that the number
of the violent rioters ma about 30 or ,0, who rushed up and
down the prison from end to end, becomkg thereby more and
more excited. At one time they made an attack upon the
bars under the hatchway, at another time they directed their
efforts to the after bulkhead (the partition which di-
vides off the prison from the rest of the ship). For my own
part, knowing the effect which may be produced by the mere
brute foroe of so large a body of powerful men in a state of
violent excitement, I entertained very considerable appre-
hension that the bulkhead would give way.
I need not say that during all this time great alarm pre-
vailed among the women and families of the soldiers and
warders, they all left their bertha and the pieces which they
usually occupied, and, as they bad done the night before,
came crowding in a terrified manner late the caddy and up
on the poop.
Front nearly the commencement of tie dishirbenee the
guard had been under arms, and the men mustered and
furnished with cutlasses, ready for any emergency. When
the bulkhead and bars were attacked, which was per-
haps about 12 o'clock, a party of the guard was marched
to the bars, down the hatchway, in order to intimidate the
rioters, with a show of firing in upon them. The prisoners
then assailed the officers and surgeon-superintendent with
the most violent abuse, telling them the mode in which
they would be murdered respectively when they got them
into their hands ; two were specified who were to " walk the
plank," another was to be cut up piecemeal—they even
threatened the manner in which the women would be treated.
The appearance of the soldiers at the prison hare seemed,
however, to have the effect of restraining their actual
violence; and, after a time, the tumult gradually subsided.
By about one o'clock quiet was again restored.
After this the prison still contiaued in a very unsatisfactory
and unquiet state, sundry acts of violence and petty thefts
having been committed amongst the convicts. On the night
of Monday, Oct. 12, about eleven o'clock the officer on guard
came to the surgeon-superintendent to report that an aggra-
vated assault had been committed upon one of the convicts.
After some consultation it was determined that a party should
enter the prison immediately and wire the offenders. The
surgeon-superintendent, accompanied by the mate of the ship
and two or three of the soldiers, proceeded to act upon this
determination, and it appeared that a party of the most despe-
rate of the prisoners (no doubt the same men who bad
occasioned the previous riots) had been plundering several of
their fellow-prisoners, especially taking biscuits; many of the
prisoners were thereby exasperated against them, bpd readily
rendered assistance in bringing forth end bending out several
men who were known to be the principal rioters,. The gene-
ral desire to get rid of the whole party was manifested by
their pulling out and passing up one man before he was even
demanded. Ten men were in this way taken from the pri-
son, put in irons, and kept to main corporal punish-
ment in the morning. This flogging they received soon
after daylight, but there being no place for separate confine
meat, they were released in the course of the morning and were
allowed to mix again with the rest of the prisoners. The evil
effects of the ship not being provided with a place of separate
confinement for refractory prisoners now became more than
ever apparent. What could be worse, or tend more
immediately towards renewed riot, than that these
men, lashed into fury by their punishment, and
thinking to be revenged upon the other prisoner. who
had given them up, should immediately have the opportunity
given to them of exciting the passions of their comrades, and
of instigating them to further violence f For my own part I
entertained so strong a belief with respect to the generally
unpromising state of affairs, that in the entree of the fore-
noon I requested the surgeon-superintendent, the captain of
the ship, end the commanding officer to allow me to expels
my views to them. These officers kindly assembled in the
surgeon's cabin, and I then formally stated my belief that
things were getting worse and worse, and that I fully ex-
pected that unless some effectual steps were taken to put
down the rioting, serious disturbances, attended with blood-
shed, and probably loss of life, must inevitably accrue. I
ventured to propose as a remedy that we should put
into some English station, either Ascension Island
or Bt. Helena, in the expectation of meeting with a
ship of war bound for England, with a view to transmitting
again to the mother country some five or six of the most
desperate of the prisoners. This plan, however, appeared to
be impracticable. The surgeon and the commending officer
expressed an opinion that they would not be justified in
giving up the prisoaers ; and the captain stated that, from
the present position of the ship, great delay and difficulty
would be mentioned by making either of the islands which
I mentioned, Tho correctness of my opinion, however, as to
the posture of affairs was fully borne out before the close of
the day. In the course of the evening one of the mrders
reported that the men, whilst upon deck, had appeared to be
in a disturbed and excited state, that they had been endea-
vouring to procure offensive weapons, had contrived to secrets
some sticks, and that the boatswain missed five belaying
pins which he had seen in their places in the morning. In
fact, it was evident that a serious riot was intended during
the night. Upon the receipt of this intelligence the surgeon
determined to retake the men who had been flogged in the
morning, and to keep them in irons and separate from the
rest of the prisoners during the night. Six of the men were
brought out and made fast accordingly. Seeing no prospect

of getting the ship freed from these leading rioters, I an
opportunity of having a further conversation with the cap-
tain of the ship in the evening. I repeated again to him
what I had said in the morning—that I was firmly per-
suaded, unless something were done to prevent it, the
prison rioting would get worse and worse, and would be
eventually attended with very serious consequences, and I
urged upon him the imperative necesaity of finding a place intim
ship which could be fitted up as arefractoryprison. I suggested
the hold, but he said it would be quits impossible to fit up
any place there. At last he thought of the forecastle. It Is
the practice in convict ships to have the sailors in the after
part of the vessel, and therefore the forecastle (usually °cou-
pled by the sailors) is in convist ships available for other
uses. The captain came to the conclusion that this place
could be fitted up as a refractory prima, and the plan, when
announced to the surgeon and the commanding officer, was
warmly approved of. By the evening of the neat day, Wed-
nesday, the 14th, all the arrangements were complete; •
chain was fixed in the forecastle on the starboard aide, and
the six riotous prisoners, being already In irons, were made
fast to the chain. They persevered in their Insolent bearing
even up to this time, and said to the surgeon end those who
were faatening them, in a threatening manner, "You will have
to pay for this." Up to this time scarcely a night had passed
without some disturbance or act of violence occurring in the
prison. lam now writing sixteen days after the six ring-
leaders were separated from the other prisoners, and no dis-
turbance of any kind has occurred in the prison during that
period. These men hare not only boasted of their achieve-
ments in breaking out of gaols and freeing themselves from
irons, but they have given proof of their skill in the last
named accomplishment; they are therefore watched with un-
tiring vigilance. Some of their colleagues h►ve attempted to
confer with them, while taking their daily airing on deck.
These men have been paraded before the guard, that their
pergolas may be known ; and they have been informed that
they will be punished in a summary manner if they are again
detected in communication with the prisoners in the
. .

forecastle. One day • written communication from
these men was intercepted. It was an earnest appeal
to the other prisoners. written with considerable spirit,
exhorting them to hold well together, to be tree
to one another, to make common cause with the sufferers in
chains, together with an admonition not to forget the traitor
who had betrayed them. It is not known who is particularly
alluded to in this last expression, probably one of the pia-
MeV who waisted in giving them up to the surgeon. I
must now mention another circumvtance, as tending to Blur
trate the state of affairs in general.
A gang of eight or ten prisoners had been employed dur-
ing the whole time as deck-washers for the fore-part el the
ship. The heed of this gang was • fat, batty, good !miaowed
looking prisoner, named J—, formerly • senor, who is
known throughout the ship as "Boatswain All the
men of the gang hare appeared W eendont theonstree he

quiet orderly manner, and to do their work satisfactorily (A--
is one of them, and has hitherto behaved himself apparently
with great propriety; being quiet and respectful in his de-
meanour and active in the discharge of his duties). They
ere on deck nearly the whole day, and are permitted to move
about the ship and tat., part in whet is going on in a way
which ia not allowed to the other prisoners. On Friday,
Oct. 23, one of the warders overheard some of these men in
conversation, and he gathered that a plot for taking the ship
was on foot amongst them. Although ate did not hear
enough to gather any certain information, the eurireell-suPar•
intendent considered it quite necessary to make a counter
move to defeat any scheme which might be going on. Ile
had himself perceived (or thought he had
pered,..o a differ-
s:lce in A—'s manner, for the last few days; he L`terefore
displaced hell the gang, viz. those whom he fudged
most likely to be tools in the hands of boatswain 3—, and
put in their places men who in other departments, lead
conducted themselves well, and appeared to be worthy a
trust. Helm reasons for thinking that it would not be poll'
tic to displace J— and A— at the present thne ; the
changes which have been effected here have been made
without any words or explanation. He observes that I—,
although not displeased himself, shows evident algae in hie
looks and manner of being much put out and diseonced ad,
and he is thereby greatly confirmed in his belief that NC le
MUM was in contemplation, and that the warder was or 4
mistaken in his suspicions ef what wee going on.
Wednesday, October 28.—This morning a displaced mem-
ber of ,7—'s gang was paraded before the guard, togetheer•.
with another prisoner, as men suapected of holding inter.*
course with the convicts in the forecastle. The surgeon had
himself overheard something from them which induced him.
to take this step. In the afternoon this same man and four
other were reported by the sentry as having been in iro- •
proper proximity to the forecastle, and every preparation was
made for inflicting corporal punishment on the chief offender.
There was no evidence, however, that they had actually cora
municated with the prisoners in the forecastle, and, after
making great proudest of more careful conduct for thy
future, they were di/mimed by the surgeon with severe cau-
tions. Three of these were men lately displaced from
the deck-washers' gang.
_ _

Friday, Oct. 30.—Today another prisoner was brought
out and paraded before the guard as one who was to be parti- •
orderly noticed. This is • very young fellow, bearing in his
countenance every indication of recklessness and daring.-
He le maid to be the one who hurled the stone in the hand-
kerchief on the Sth inst. and wounded the chief warder, but I
believe the evidence against him as regards this affair is not
quite satisfactory. He was brought up to-day in coneequenote
of its being reported that he had been overheard to say that
he was ready to lead an attack ; that the bullets would go
over his bead, and that he would break through the barricade.
Monday, Nov. 2.—Yesterday the weather was rather
showery, and we bad the prison service below. I took the
whole service, and Mr. Wright officiated in the cabin. I
performed the whole service, with a sermon, again in the
caddy at 7 p.m. The cuddy was quite filled by the soldiers,
warders, and their families. This morning, I sorry to
say, corporal punishment wee again inflicted. One of the
men punished was one of the six in.irona ; his offence was
threatening the chief warder, and declaring that he would
take hie life. The other two men were punished for smoking
below. The surgeon has exhausted all other means in en-
deavouring to put a stop to this practice, which is, of course,
one extremely dangerous to the whole ship.
You may, perhaps, think that I regret having taken my
passage in this ship, but Ido not regret it at all. The ship
was sailing just at the very time that I wished to leave.
England, and it therefore was the natured and obvious step
for me to take to apply fora passage in her. I consider that
my present position requires of me that I should make myself
acquainted with the transportation system in all its phases ;
and I need not tell you that I have now seen a phase of it
which was before altogether unknown to rue. The horror
which I have of bloodshed, and the apprehension which I
at one time entertained that the prison would become a scene
of murder, hes driven me to more earnest and importunate
L7ryter.r.i,
of Ltphisineffectess erd trietzetreettarsh:aialpr7a
g mind.
Anything which brings us nearer to God must bee source of
spiritual peace and joy.—Believe ma, pl dear Mend, ever
yours affectionately, M
AT HEW PIRTH.

MR. BASS, M.P.—Mr. M. T. Bum met with a
severe accident whilst hunting with Mr. Meynell Ingram',
hounds, at Kedleston, on Tuesday. Very soon after the
hounds had thrown off, Mr. Bar's horse, in taking a low
fence, leaped upon some boggy ground, and in clearing him-
self threw his rider and galloped over him. Mr. Bar re-
ceived several bruises and was a good deal shaken ; be was
also struck in the face by the horse. Lord Scarsdale imme-
diately despatched a messenger to Derby for Mr. Giaborne to
meet Mr. BMW at the King's Head, whither he was conveyed
in his lordship's carriage. Mr. Baas was able to go to his
residence, Byrkley Lodge, in the afternoon.—Derbit Mercury.
LADY HAVELOCK.—At the meeting of the Bir-
mingham Town Council, on Tuesday, the following letter
from Lady Havelock was read Bonn, on the Rhine,
March 11. Sir —I have this week had the honour to re-
ceive your Feta, accompanied by en address of condolence
from yourself, the aldermen and burgesses of the borough
of Birmingham. I was already prepared for such a mark of
attention by a letter from your town, intimating the lame,
but the deep sympathy expressed for me in my bereavement,
the kind sentiments felt in my behalf and that of my father-
lees children, by so large and respectable a body, and the
elegant and very delicate manner in which this address has
been conveyed to me, have quite overpowered me, and I
cannot find words to express all I feel. The bier encomiums
you have all been pleased to pass upon the heroic deeds of
Sir Henry Havelock, as a soldier and a general, and the
exalted terms in which you have spoken of my beloved hos-
bend as a man, are like sweet incense to my broken and
afflicted heart, not merely because the praises of those we
love are ever precious to no, but because I am so well aware
that the portraiture of his almost perfect character
is by no means overdrawn, and the experience of more than
eight-and-twenty years of domestic happiness only serves to
strengthen this opinion. 8., 1 thank my Heavenly Father
that, even in this crushing and unexpected bereavement, I
have many sources of comfort. Our gracious sovereign has
provided bountifully for my wants, my Dona are nobly fol-
lowing the bright example of their father, and my two
daughters are my best earthly treasures. A shade of regret
might intrude if I were to reflect on the altered prospects of
my fatherless children, but I cannot fora moment indulge
in vain regrets, for oar Heavenly Father ordains all things
for the best, end I have too much confidence In my hus-
band's countrymen to suppose that they can ever cease to
take en interest in the children of Henry Havelock. May I
beg you will do me the honour to convey my heartfelt thanks
to the corporation of Birmingham, and believe me, with
'rely feeling of respect, to be yours very gregully
, HAlrlaali
H. HAVELOCK. J. Ratcliff, Esq., Mayor of Birmingham."
VACANT CLERICAL PREFERMENT.—Atnong the
clerical vacancies which have occurred during tlast few
dayse are the Rectory of St. Peter Port, 0 value
. per annum—the Derry of Guernsey; the tory
of Clonbullogs, Kildare value 500/. per annum ; the
Rectory of Hollymount, 'Mayo ; the itectory of Loughres.
Galway; a Canonry in Ripon Cathedral; the Vicarage of
Great Budworth, Chester, value 6281. per annum ; the
Vicarage of Dagenham, Essex value 8614 per annum ; the
Vicarage of St. Mary Magdalene, Oxford, value 1261. per
an ; the Archdeacottry of Early; the Perpetual Curtsey
of Stratton Audley, Oxford, value 1281. per annum • the
Perpetual Curacy of Milbttrae, Westmoreland. value' 864
per annum; the Perpetual Curacy of Hutton Roof, West-
moreland, value 801. per annum ; the Perpetual Curacy of
Dewsbury Moor, Yorkshire, value 1501. per annum ; the
Perpetual Curacy of East Dulwich Chapel, Surrey; the
Mastership of Dulwich College ; Cavendish Grammar School
(Suffolk), dm The Bishop of Ely will hold a visitation of his
' diocese In the course of the summer.
THE 11tERIFF AT EDINDURGIL—Iire understand
the new Home Secretary, Mr. Walpole, has signalised his
retrace° on the duties of his office by calling our sheriff, Mr.
Mallard, to account for one of his =ay extraordinary judg-
ments in the Police Court. It appears that he imprisoned •
highly respectable servant girl for thirty days because she
picked up a shinier from the floor of a shop on which it had
bra dropped, as she supposed, by herself but according to
other evidenoe by a different person. The highest testimony
was barn to her character by her employers and other re-
,,,ret.,,thi4dawirtstansi,,impeetnot.tenhet inexorable othrabi.lme
mistake,
seourtecuricedme,herby
whichever name it may be called. We are extremely glad
that our new Home Secretary has called the sheriff to account
forLhte coadnot.—Edirodesrph Express.
THE JUDGE ADVOCATE.—Mr. John Robert Mow-
bray, M.P., for Durham, is son of R.B. Cornish, Esc., and
was born in Exeter in 1816. Mr. Mowbay is not indebted
for his place to any vote against Lord Pahnersion, as be
went into the lobby with the noble lord on the fatal night
and voted against his Caucasian leader. Mr. Nowhere
dropped the name of Cornish when he married—as his wife
was the only child of George leer Mowbray,
Bishop Wearmouth, Durham, and Mortimer, Barbs. He
in es, to be • liberal conservadvis nos
proved to be a respectable to
reerber ot
Mtmty, and having the =rebecasetkibi Moceinialvs. unmpos.--.°E
Derry, his return, on
androuldso;reethyncemattsiretbeethasomrshaike.whadaiebue:ttle,shaionwaluelsernmato d;ourninirdswesk.