The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-29 00:00:00

AY IRISH INCENDIARY.

The correspondent of the Irish Times, writing
from Milliner. on the Stith iost., says :—"An unusual stir
was created in this town to-day by the arrival at the county
gaol, under aponstabulary escort, of Captain Sjdney Smyth,
tau anise innate gentleman whoop eccentric career has just
culminated in the total destruction of his brother's re-
eideuce, with all the furniture and property it contained.
Your readers will not have forgotten the description of the
burning of Perth& Castle, which appeared on the 20th
Jul;., nor the extraordinary circtunatatices attending it.
The castle, a very pretty structure, situate on the shore
of Porthek Bay—a beautiful inlet of Lough Ree—end dis-
tant about two miles from the village of Glanuo, in
'Westmeath, was the residence of Captain Robert Smyth,
D.L. His brother, Captain Sydney Smyth, the author of
this terrible calamity, who had been same time since con-
fined in a lunatic asylum, resided with him until lately, and
was treated with much kindness. The marriage of his
elder brother, however, appeared to have produced a most
unfavourable effect on the mind of the latter, who refused
to live at thecaatle any longer, and betook himself to tome
friends in the county Itosoommon, meditating revenge for
some fancied grievance. Au opportunity coon presented
Welt of mrrying out his intentions, of which he
was not slow to avail himself ; sod the blackened
ruins of what was once l'ortlick Wills testify to
the completeness with which has desire was fulfilled.
Fortunately the inmates escaped, but the value of the
fermium and effects destroyed is estimated at 3,0001.
Immediately after the destruetion of the baildingthe lunatic
fixed his residence in an elevated rat of the ruins, where
be has actually remained same the 214 of July, successfully
opposing all the attempts made to captain him. Armed
with a sword, of which he hail managed to possess himself,
soil furnished with a formidable supply of stow and lois-
saes of every description, which he was ready to hurl on
any 11.06:1:0 intruder, be succeeded for more than a month
in Jet, fug the power of the civil authorities, who have been
unremitting in their endeavours to effect his arrest, which
i: ass foolid impassible to do without ac. rtain less of life.
The only persons he allowed to approach him were two
men belonging to the place, by whose menus food W:l3 con-
veyed to him. It was proposed to render him insensible
by blimg opiates with hut drink, and thee securing him ;
but the attempt was not more successful than several other
stratagems which resulted also ill failure. At onetime he
seems to have entertained the intention of seasping and
making lie way to his former residence, but the constabulary
took anvil effectual mc.uturce as to frustrate his object, with-
draw:ng the baits (non the neighbourhoud, and guarding
the rotas—in fact, subjecting him to a regular siege. The
number of police engaged in watching him oa one occasion
to thirty, accompanied by the county inspector, a
subitiapector. and rosideat magistrate ; but all their efforts
proved fruitless until yesterday, when Sub-Inspector Kirk-
land, ~f (lessen, and his party, succeeded iu capturing him
and briugiug him before Mr. Cronin R.M., who has com-
mitted Mai to gaol to await his trial: He is =questions. Ay
Mouse, nod persists in his threats of further vengeance
against his brutber."

THE BUILDEIte STRINE.—The Loudon masons
having obtained the sanction of the exceutive council of
their soricty, sitting at Bristol, have pieced two propositions
before the 'melees ledges throughout the kingdom, the votes
on which an now being taken, and the result of which will
be officially made known on Monday next. These proposi-
tions are : 1. That the whole of the country join and works
of the London employers who have not accepted the com-
promise be iruniconitely struck, and the men woraieg
thereon called off. 2. 'that the men be celled off the
whole of the country jobs and works of Mears. Myers.
If either of these propositions a carried the men expect it
to exercises considerable influence in favour of Cr. early set-
tlement of the dispute. In the event of the first propos!.
tutu being adopted about SOO men will be thn•wn out ; if
the *cooed only is agreed to, between .100 and 400 will leave
work. I)uring the last few days several of the ScotAt
masons who have been brought over to work in Messrs.
Myers.' y .ird, have left their employ, and reported them•
*elves to the meow,' strike committee. Some of these men
have bad their expenses paid beck to Scotland, mid others
sent to Manchester.