The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-19 00:00:00

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF SMITH O'BRIIII\
ANTI CONVIC r AGITATION.
Hobart Town papers received to the beginning of
September are chiefly taken op with the all-absorbing
topic—anti-tranaportation. The ill-faith of the Colo-
nial-office on this subject appears to threaten the dis-
memberment of that vast colonial empire known as
Australasia; it promises to b 3 the rock on which the
home government will split unless the evils be averted
by mi uist ere giving way arid sendiag the moral pest else-
where. The conduct of the Colonial-office on this all-
important question has secured for Sir William Den-
nison the detestation of the colonists, who, in example
of the Sydney folk, have convened their monster
meeting and demanded the immediate recal of the
governor. On the 81h August a public meeting was
held at Launceston, and attended by the most respect-
able settlers on the northern side of the island. A
petition to tho House of Commons was agreed upon
denouncing the non-fulfilment of the promise made
by the imperial government as " a breach of good
faith, derogatory to the honour of the British satin
and altogether opposed to that enlightened, just,
and generous policy which, as the parent state, it
should exercise towards a remote dependency."
Another topic of discussion and of excitement was
the rumoured escape of Mr. Smith O'Brien to Cali-
fornia, which was generally credited. The attempt
to escape was made, but proved abortive. Tho fol-
lowing particulars of the event are taken from the
Colonial journals :
The following is given by the Colonial Times :—Ellis, of
the Victoria, had socepted the government tender to convey
a Nos prisoner, ke , to Port Arthur. That the Victoria
wee mutely prooseding on her route to California, and, as
petnicasly arranged, had touched at Maria Island to convey
Smith O'Brien to hie destination. And that agreeable to
wash as arrangement, when the Victoria had landed her
boat be take Smith O'Brien on board, he and all the crew
IMPS immediately seized by the coestabitlary. Such is the
NOOK which, if tree, would of coarse absolve all parties
Simseened from any criminal ietention, bat that the vessel
awl stew, as well as Smith O'Brien, have all been nixed on
that suptalon is a tact of whiel there can no lorger be a
doubt, as we have it from the my best authority. The
Adrertiter's version:—On Sunday and Monday the Victoria
wader, commanded by a am aimed Bilis, was ob-
served hovering about the blood, the wind being light until
evening, when it fell eelm. Shortly before sundown, Mr. S.
O'Brien, wbo, notwithstandiug his avowed iuteetion of
essapieg, should an opportunity offer, has considerable
libert allowed him, went down to a send cove, one of the
kw places where beats generally land, and just as be reached
the discs a boat with this men put in, end he rushed up to
hY middle to meet it. A countable on duty, who was a
wades of the set, covered him with his piece and called to
Ma to forbear, mosting this by rushing at the boat and
kaocking a hole in her bottom with his combine. He then
=loat to all four the folly of resistance, and required
I submit quietly, which they did. The 0111001 is
abases, meantime, having mimed his prisoner, ease rushing
down the beach, and secured him while still in the water.
He was then conducted to his house, and the three man con-
fined for tranentimion to Hobart Town. A whale boat, with
lit hands, was sent on board the cutter, seized her, and
brought her in. She, too, with the parties on board, will be
seat up immediately. It has not been thought necessary to
impose any restraint on Mr. S. O'Brien greater than that to
which he was previously subjected.

COURT MARTIAL ON MAJOR

A Ooneral Court Martial anenthled on the ground
floor of the main gaud in Fort William on the 19th of
October to try Major John Barden's, of the 44th N. 1.,
on the following charges
" 1. For scandalous and infamous conduct, unbecoming
the character of an officer and a gentleman, in having, at
Surackpors, under cloak of the almost paternal authority
with which he had been entrusted by the father of Mrs.
Sheltoo, the wife of Lieut. Shelton' of the 38th Regiment
Native Infantry, in pursuance ors bias endeavour to seance
the affections of that lady, written to her, on or about the
22nd of August, 1850, a highly unbecoming note, and
afterwards authorieed a person named H. P. Downing, an
attorney, to communicate clandestinely with Mrs. Shelton in
his behalf.
" 2 For most disgraceful conduct in having, at Barrack-
pre, on the evening of the 24th of August, 1850, persisted
entering the house of Lieutenant Shelton, with the en
press purposed speaking to that officer's wife in his pre-
sence, in dlereferd of Lieutenant Shelton's positive and
repeated prohibition; in having persisted in remaining there
in spite of Lieutenant Sheltots'e remonstrances and opposi-
tion ; in having, while there, basely availed himself of his
superior strength to inflict personal chamieement on Lieat.
Shelton ; and in having, shortly after Leaving the house,
returned again in company with Lieutenant Sholtmes coma-
minding officer, and in having takes that mortality to
communicate with Mrs. Shelton.
" 3 For dimmest's' conduct in baying, at Bursckpon, a
day or two after these occurrenose, dant:lastingly received
from Mrs. Shelton a note en the subject of them, which note
he brought forward at a court of inquiry on the 27th
of August, 1880, as a justification for his intruding him-
self into Lieutenant Shablea's home, as alleged la the mooed
eltssgs."
sot guilty.
Tha ris4•ll4l= now opens& the proceedings. He
mid It was with extreme regret that he saw so old an officer
ea the prisoner arreignek at three most serious charges.
These charges were bred an bets whisk, if proved, would
fully bear oat the terms by which his sound was charac-
terised therein. He than peoseedad to rood the names, as
stinsienly explanatory of the foots, and to all Lieut. Shel-
ton, limo last whams kg the prosecution.
Liniment Shelton mid—On the 23rd of August last,
M. lithos nate to Calcutta only in the met, with
pronleim driven there by Major Hartlmun. is his
hum on a must or invitation I had 41vm Major Bartle-
MIMS MI the previous afternoon. A little after one psi.
d that day, I west into my wile's bedroom, to see if my
Mires wen misispo he they had been reported to bo. Os
=die head of my wile's bed, I mann a Man lying
ne Ow mos .ad the piU. The pillow oms
MO old sell Ow, mai the War was vegyxmrn
meg Hats-
eignien at soling • Isnot la mit • I poomohri
Mena to amoshie it. It was without Oradea, or address,
or iguanas ; bat it was la Major Borthesea's handwriting.
It was oonshod in terms whisk Mahn mid Mann me,
and from no nose ol tionominiont, end melon Maness is it,
I could net doubt hr wham it was banded. Ivs meek
dientagni, and I did not know what to do. The Mond
shim I would have ocesulml was khan is O&M&
OWN to the hops that there might be some soblehe
no we mg, sad in the Mame of the only Mend I maid
kin ansulted, I obtained loan, and penman to Chloalla
Ligtaking with ass this ditorreen anti sad anent
isiesis note, to a Mend of mins (Mr. Owls) who is
eit illmmoy, to obleia his opinion on that handwriting.
Xigir WI" inngrord.my lowstabrutrasto Bung;
bet eat NNIMIOI, eel I 11111.11111 teri t
o sty rum is • state
Wer bienity, km
mmosee m. This might
heel tea woo. at sinus in my room
=ea nrmeeie eel I tell km of the diploma, I had
Jib hasseimy es MR Into fatally matters honor
Zion= StaAnoiminsrosrues oenamitsivintlithigail