The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAI 1)333,141D0NT Federal C

HOUSE OP COMMONS.---This Day.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 20 mit•utes past 12.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Anglesey Central Railway— Dulas Valley Mineral Railway
—Okehampton and Lidford Junction Railway—Ringwood,
Christchurch, and Bournemouth ltailway--and Watford and
Rickmansworth Railway.

FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
The house went into committee on this biil, and the con-
si'eration of the clauses occupied the remainder of the

sitting.

IRELAND.

- -

DUBLIN, July 2.
Mr. W. Smith O'Brien, having recently returned
from Poland, was requested ley a number of gentle-
men of different denominafions to deliver a lecture
on that country, and its present struggle for inde-
pendence. He readily complied with the requisi-
tion, and the lecture was delivered yesterday even-
ing, in the round room of the Rotunda, which was
crowded greatly in every pact. It was feared by
some that be would mix up the case of Ireland with
the discussion, which would cause dissension, and in-
jure the cause of Poland. He promised to abstain
from doing so, and kept his word. The chair was
occupied by Mr. P. P. M'Swiny, town councillor.
Mr. Smith O'Brien was received with unbounded
enthusiasm, many of the audience waving their
hats and handkerchiefs. He said he was proud
to hear from those cheers that after so long an ab-
sence the feelings of the Dublin people were the
same towards him as they had been in former times.
Much of the lecture was (coupled with a review of
the history of Poland and its former efforts to effect
its emancipation. When in Poland Mr. Smith O'Brien
learnt that the local agents of the British Government
speak of the Poles as revoiutionists, and an intelli-
gent Russian officer, with whom he had a long con-
versation, took it for granted from all the evidence
which had fallen under his observation that the Eng-
lish Government are favourable to Russia rather
than to Poland. Before he arrived at Cracow he
was disposed to believe that Austria, from motives
of policy, was adopting a strict neutrality between
the contending parties; but he found, on the con-
trary, that all the agencies which she can employ.
without openly espousing the cause of Russia, are
set to work to assist the Russians and to injure the
Poles. Persons coming to Cracow and the principal
towns of Galicia with a view to cross the frontier
are frequently seized by the police and lodged in
prison, even though they may be duly furnished with
passports. The Austrian police, who are said to bs
in the pay of Russia, aro ever on the watch to seize
arms intended for the use of the insurgents, so that
not more than one out of every three muskets that
are purchased abroad for their use ever reach them.
The lecturer said that he entertained hopes of the
ultimate success of the Poles, even if left to them-
selves. By keeping to the s 3 stem of guerilla war-
fare, and aided by the shelter of their numerous
forests, they will succeed if they can keep up the
national enthusiasm. He related instances of Rus-
sian cruelty and brutality, and made an earnest
appeal to Irishmen to aid the Poles in their noble
struggle to cast off the Russian yoke. He would
not advise any young Irishmen to go out to Poland
to fight, unless he might have an opportunity of
doing it ender the protection of France. If his
age were 25, instead of 59, he would certainly have
made a campaign in Poland before his return to
Ireland ; and if any young men who could com-
mand a sufficient amount of money to defray his
own expenses, and could endure privation, were
anxious to go to the aid of the Poles, he would not
dissuade him, even if he were his own son. He
should, however, know something of the German,
French, or Polish language. The lecturer put his
peroration in the mouth Of some future citizen of
emancipated and independent Poland, whom he re-
presented as saying,—" When we were in the last
extremity of despair, when we were made the sport
of diplomacy by the statesmen of Europe, when we
received from mighty and wealthy nations nothing
beyond barren expressions of admiration and of sym-
pathy, we learnt that there was an island in the
West, the inesaasseenes of which were among the first
of the nations of the earth, ate- eteod forth and !..-
claimed that nothing less than the entire independ-
ence of Poland ought to satisfy the conscience of
Europe, upon which the successive partitions of our
country have weighed like the remorse which follows
a crime; and the inhabitants of that island, at a
moment when they were themselves suffering many
calamities, tendered to us such assistance as they
could afford. The rich man gave according to his
wealth, and the poor man gave according to his
poverty, but all gave something for the redemption
of Poland. Blessed be the men of Ireland ! Blessed
be that land of saints ! Blessed be that land of
heroes ! My countrymen, if you desire to earn the
gratitude and blessings of a sensitive and heroic
race; if you desire to win eternal renown for your-
selves and for your country; if you desire to per-
form a sacred duty which shall be acceptable to
your consciences and to your God, come forward
now in support of oppressed Poland, and, imitating
the custom of our ancestors, let the cry be, ' Ireland
to the rescue ! Ireland to the rescue of Poland!'"
Professor Key Jnagh reed a letter from Archbishop
Cullen, expressing sympathy with the Poles, regret-
ting his inability to attend the lecture, and promising
his mite should a subscription be opened in aid of
the heroic and suffering Poles. Mr. Dil Lou, barrister,
one of the "men of '48," in moving a vote of thanks
to Mr. S. O'Brien, expressed his regret that Ireland
could not send a division of 10,000 men to aid the
Poles, who on the plains of Poland could test the
merits of their national weapon the pike. There
seemed to be magic in the last word for some of the
audience, for it excited their enthusiasm to the
highest pitch. Mr. Crane, a former lieutenant in
the Pope's Irish Brigade, seconded the motion. Mr.
J. O'Donnell, of Limerick, moved that committees
be formed in the towns of Ireland, and that the
ladies should be solicited to give their aid, following
the example of Mrs. Wilde, who was on the plat-
form, and whose presence was hailed with loud ap-
plause. Professor Hennessy, of the Catholic Univer-
sity, brother to the hon. member for King's County,
attempted to address the meeting, but he could not
get a hearing. There were loud cries from the audi-
ence of " Illuminations !" and, although Mr. Hen
nessy endeavoured by gestures to gain a hearing, the
groaning, and hissing, and shouting of the word
" Iliuminationa!" continued, so that he could not
speak. The Professor, finding he would not be
heard, resumed his seat, andthe people cheered with
renewed vigour at their triumph. A committee was
proposed, which included the names of Archbishop
Cullen, Mr. W. S, O'Brien, The O'Donoghue, M.P.,
Mr. P. Hennessy, M.P., Mr. D. C. Heron, Q.C.,
Mr. J. B. Dillon, and Mr. Gregory Martin. The
meeting was addressed by Mr. W. Burke, Professor
O'Sullivan, Mr. Devitt, and Mr. F. Morgan, and,
after voting thanks to the chairman, the vast
assembly dispersed.

The following officers have been placed under
orders to embark with the reinforcements of Royal
Artillery about to be despatched to India during the
present season—viz., fir BeEgal, Capt. R. Oldfield,
Capt. G. Hanand, Capt. Syme, Capt. W. Delane,
Capt. J. A. Bazalgette, Lieut. C. W. Townsend,
Lieut. T. C. Nicholas, Lieut. W. S. Alexander,
Lieut. G. C. Baylay, Lieut. C. F. B. Grey, Lieut.
H. F. Smythe, and Lieut. C. B. Beadwell. For
Madras—Lieut.•Col. A. W. Macintyre, C. 8., Capt.
H. M. G. Purvis, Capt. W, F. B. Lawrie, Capt.
M. C. Lawson, Lieuts. J. Featherstonhaugh, A. J.
Lovie, H. P. Macarthy, C. F. Cambier, M. J. Sex-
ton, E. Johnson, H. Roberts, J. B. Knox, and G

Black. Fnr Bombay--Capt. S. Hoskins, Capt. G.
F. Worsley, Capt. G. Twis.t, Lieut. T. W. Major,
Lieut. H. Geary, Lieut. M. J. Clarke, Lieut. M. A.
;..;naldecutt, Lieut. C. H. Campbell, Lieut. J. H.
Humphrey, Lietit. W. S. Langley, Lieut. H.
Wateley, Lieut. H. D. Richmond, and Lieut. E.
W. Butler.

THE YELYERTON CASE.—This case was set down
for bearing in the House of Lords for Tuesday last, but it
is doubtful if it will come before ;heir lordships this session.
Mr. Thelwall, of Hull, who recovered a verdict against
Yelvertun in Inland for Alt's. Yelverton's mainte-
nance, is taking proceedings against the major in ',England
to enforce the payment in the Engliih court*.

derate Prizes,

" writer in the Times says : —The Confederate
',in Margaret and Jessie, formerly
merchant steams—.
the British snip the Dou,11_"8, but now owned in
Charleston, and commanded by a: gain Wilson,
of the Emily St. Pierre, left th yort
on Wednesday, the 27th of May last, with a
cargo of cotton and sixteen or eighteen passengers,
and having succeeded in eluding the vigilance of
the blockading squadron arrived on the Saturday
following eft' the Island of Eleuthera, one of the
B:lisma Islands.
In order that the subscquen t events which occurred
may bo clearly understood, it is necessary to explain
that the Island of Eh inhere is one of the largest of
the Bahama group; it is fram 60 to 70 miles long,
running from east to west, with an average width of
from two to siN miles, The extent of the north side
of the island is washed by the broad Atlentie, and
it is considered a very wild and dangerous shore.
Being one of the most fertile of the Bahama Islands,
it is thickly populated, and has large and valuable
fruit plantations, where large quantities of pine-
apples are annually exported to England.
It was on the north side of this island of Eleuthera
that the Margaret and Jessie was on Saturday
morning, and about 10 o'clock, the land being dis-
tant about 25 miles, a steamship was observed,
which immediately gave chase. An animated pur-
suit now commenced, but the Margaret and Jessie
being a very fast vessel the pursuing ship could
approach no nearer than four or five miles, until,
about 12 o'clock, the land was ahead of the Mar-
garet and Jessie about the same distance. Tne first
shot was now fired, but it fell short, and both vessels
held on at full speed for the land, the cruiser firing
shot after shot, shell after shell, in quick succession.
Both vessels soon arrived within the distance of
three miles from the land ; but British territory has
long since in this part of the world ceased to afford
any protection against acts of aggression from
United States naval officers, and the war vessel
continued to pour in shot and shell, interspersed
with grape and canister, as she neared the Margaret
and Jessie, which she was now enabled to de, as the
latter vessel had sought the protection of the land,
at a distance of 300 yards, and could get no nearer.
The cruiser had approached to a distance of within
1,000 yards from the shore, and it was now observed
that the American ensign was flying at her main
peak, and from this position did she continue to
hurl a continuous storm of missiles on her prey.
Among the passengers on board the Margaret and
Jeesiewere two French ladies who bravely stood on the
deck exposed to this tremendous fire. Capt. Wilson,
of whose courage it is unnecessary to speak, from
the moment his vessel was under fire placed him-
self on the paddle box, and with the utmost cool-
ness gave his orders. Finding that the intention
of the patties on board the cruiser was to destroy
his vessel—in doing which they cared not if they
murdered those on board of her—the ladies were
urged to take refuge in the cabin. Captain Wilson
directed the course of the vessel to be changed to
the west in order that she might coast along the
land. This was done, and she continued to skirt
the land et a distance at no time exceeding 400
yards, so near in fact that she took the bottom on
several occasions.

No sooner was it observed on board the cruiser
that the Margaret and Jessie had changed her course
and was coasting, than her course was alsochanged,
and she was run along abreast of the land, and at a
distance varying from 500 to 1,000 yards from the
beach, and now was enacted one of the most un-
justifiable outrages to neutral rights—the most
barefaced violation of territorial jurisdiction,coupled
with the most murderous intent, that the annals of
civilised warfare has ever chronicled. For more
than an hour and a half did this vessel of war of the
United States, at a distance of not more than 1,000
yards from the shore, and within British territory,
continue to pour broadside after broadside of round
shot, shell, grape, and canister at a defenceless mer-
chant ship crowded with passengers and crew,
whose escape was impossible, and while she was
from time to time grounding upon the shore of neu-

tral territory.
Fortunately, however, for the lives of those on
board the Margaret and Jessie the practice from the
V COOGI vr ao c.t...t.GUitigly Ude, 1111 U. alLiivu6LL
showers of grape and canister fell like hail around
the ship, no round shot cr shell struck her, but
most of them passed over and were observed to
strike and explode upon the land among the plan-
tations, creating clouds of dust, with fragments of
stone and branches of trees intermingled, until
about half past 3 o'clock an 8-inch spherical shell
struck the ship bn her starboard side, and passed
through into her boiler, upon which she filled with
water, and sunk not 300 yards from the beach.
The vessel had sunk near a point of land called
James Point, and here there is a town called James
Cestern, which extends across the island, the prin-
cipal residents being farm labourers and fishermen.
The shot thrown from the cruiser fell thickly around
the dwellinghouses, destroying the woods and plan-
tations in the neighbourhood, and forcing the people
to seek protection at the base of an adjacent hill
which fortunately intervened : while one shot passed
over the island and fell within a few yards of two
fishermen who were in their boat near the shore, to
their no little dismay. The standing wood in that
neighbourhood iy the most conclusive evidence of
the ravages done by the shot and shell, fragments of
which have been picked up and have been taken to

Nassau.
No sooner was it observed by the parties on board
the war vessel that the Margaret and Jessie had
been sunk, than her course was changed seaward ;
in a few minutes she was brought to anchor, and
preparations were made to send off boats. Seeing
this, and remembering the fate of the Blanche, the
passengers made all haste to quit the vessel and get
to the shore, which was barely done when two
armed boats were seen approaching, only eight
minutes elapsing from the time they left the side of
their ship until they were under the stern of the
wreck. The mate was at this time just leaving for
the shore, and in answer to an inquiry from him
" What ship is that ?" an officer in the boat, who
was in the uniform of the United States' Navy,
answered " The 'Wilted States' ship Savannah."
This was a palpab.e falsehood, as she was a steam
paddlewheel vessel, brig-rigged, with what is
known in America as a "walking beam" above
deck, and there is no vessel of that class in the
United States' Navy named the Savannah. It is,
however, now known that the ship was the Rhode
Island, the same which only a few weeks previously
chased a British ship, the Syrius, and fired upon
her within British waters within sight of the city

of Nassau.
The passengers and crow of the Margaret and
Jessie remained exposed throughout the whole of
the night upon the beach, and afterwards taken to
Nassau in wrecking vessels. The Bahama wreckers
having succeeded in stopping the shot hole in
the ship's side, they got her off and carried
her to Nassau, where they have instituted an Ad-
miralty suit for salvage services.
It is rumeured in Nassau that the captain of the
Rhode blend has sent a communication to the
United States Consul there, in which he states that
he was at no time within four miles from the
land when firing at the Margaret and Jessie ; but
there is one incontrovertible fact which will give
the lie to this assertion, and that is, that after a shot
had sunk the Margaret an:.: Jessie the cruiser pro-
ceeded some distance out and then came to anchor,
"buncombe''
and the charts of the coast will conclusively estab-
lish that at a distance of event ne mile from the
coast there is no soundings. nkee
itself will scarcely persuade the British public that
a ship could anchor in the ocean.

The Price of Gold.

—-- -
quotation of gold at Paris is about i per mills pm., and
The quosterling. On
with the
comparing these rates English Mint price of f.:3
standard
ndon is 13 }
the short exchange on London is 25.22 i per £1
17s. Wad. per ounce for
perraluthaerkr
nearly 2-10thb I,er cent• dearer in London than in Paris.
golds
perl4
price a is
therefore,sl sterling.
short
oemxcl-lii
aa
nmgbeurogn theLc
dard gold at the English hint price
-t,an
than 1-10th per cent.
more
anlidytandeviscebos
dearer in is,
London than in Ham-
burg
the course of exchange at New York on London for bills rtt
60 days' sir,ht is 1551 to 156'1
gold is about 42i per cent. per cent., and the premium on
on tie. importation of gold t these rates there is a profit
from the United States.