The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-12 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Tins DAY.—Morning, 7h. 20m.—Afternoon, Bh. Om.
To-Monnow.-Morning, Bh. 40m.—Afternoon, 9h. 20m,

ttt
--A

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCT. 12, 1865.

Those who thought the Fenian conspiracy was
getting out of date in interest and importance will
find themselves mistaken in their reckoning. As
time passes documents are found which throw light
on the proceedings, and reveal some strange secrets.
The most astounding circumstance that has yet
occurred, however, since the commencement of the
affair has beer the seizure of Captain UNDERWOOD
O'CONNELL, who holds a commission in the Ameri-
can army. He stands charged with coming to this
country for the purpose of promoting the Fenian
conspiracy, which he has made great efforts
already to further in America. His capture
is the most important thing that has yet
taken place, and it is certainly a conclusive
answer to those who denied that the American
agency was very active in this matter. Mr. BARRY,
in his speech on the prosecution, declared that
many of the statements he had made at the outset
of these trials would no doubt be substantiated
before the close of the investigations. One portion
of his remarks has already been verified to the
letter. He stated that " trained military leaders
were promised from America to take the command
of the insurgents in Ireland," and-while ho was
making this statement Captain O'CONNELL was on
his voyage to Ireland. It appears that documents
were found upon him that proved his complicity in
the conspiracy, and not being forewarned he had not
thrown them away, as was the case with some others
coming over from America. Some of those papers
in question bear the signature of OITAHONEY, the
New York Head Centre, and thus the collusion is
clearly proved. In one of these great confidence is
expressed in the ultimate success of the Fenian
movement, both in " The
America and in Ireland.
Irish spirit," it is said, " is thoroughly ar*sed from
Labrador to the Gull of Mexico," and care intuit be

........i---
taken that the cause does not languish in Ireland.
It appears that the Irish expect great things
in the way of subsidies from the organiza-
tion in America, and indeed O'MAHONEY de-
clares that the question of success depends upon
money. This letter is dated January, 1860, so that
we may judge how long the movement has been in
course of formation. Mr. BARRY'S affirmation con-
cerning the Irish People newspaper being the recog-
nised organ of the Fenians is also proved abun-
dantly in these documents that have been brought
into court. O'MAHONEY states that a subscriber to
this paper is as good as an actual member of the
F. B. So the profits derived from it go to support
the organisation at home.
In another letter allusion is made to the fact of
assistance being afforded in America for the train-
ing of leaders to support the cause in Ireland. One
of them, dated Fenian Headquarters, New York,
contains special reference to the matter. It is writ-
ten by O'.IIIAHoNEY, and he states that the death of
General CORCORAN is a sad blow, but that he did
not depart until he had " made some hundreds of
excellent young officers of the true Fenian creed,
pressing closely upon his heels in the race of
renown, and the army of Ireland's redemption
will not want, in any case, enough and plenty of
able officers to fill every possible grade." Such
language proves that it is now high time some
strong measures were adopted to crush this move-
ment, and it is sad to find how much mischief has
been done already in compromising those who have
hitherto borne respectable diameters, and filled
stations of some importance. One of the Queens-
town Commissioners has been arrested on a charge
of high treason, and great consternation was thereby
created in the locality. At the same time another
arrest was made in the person of a young man, who
was seized on board ship, having taken his passage
for America.

It is impossible to overrate the misery thus pro-
duced in households by these numerous arrests,
and in many cases the prisoners are the victims of
craft and cunning, and the agitation that is so
grandiloquently called a national movement is, in
fact, nothing but the working of certain evil spirits,
whose restlessness and love of mischief induce them
to mix themselves up in the affair, and drag many
down with them to ruin and misery. Upon the
accounts received Mr. BARRY asked the Court to
send Captain O'CONNELL for trial, and again re-
marked how correct he had been in his allusions to
commercial interference. These documents, he
might well say, " threw light as to how the
organisation was carried on in America, and that
the subsidising of the Irish branch of the Associa-
tion
appears to have been carried on by the trans-
mission of various sums of money, small as com-
pared with the resources of England, but consider-
able, having regard to the class of life of the persons
who appear to be principally engaged in this con-

spiracy."

In fact the revelations which have been made by
the discovery of these documents is by far the most
important event that has taken place since the
commencement of the Fenian prosecution, and the
corroboration thus afforded to Mr. BARRY'S
statements is indeed surprising. The way is
now made much clearer for those who have
to investigate these matters, and some decided rules
have been laid down for their guidance.
It is now some time since such stringent
measures were adopted as the authorities have
wisely deemed it necessary to take in order to meet
the emergency that has arisen. No doubt it will
take some time, under the most favourable circum-
stances, before the angry feelings engendered by
these prosecutions are done with, and it is the more
unfortunate that this mischance should have

barn ea Tral nil tuna 11Porimin ft rnnre
tranquil, and the people less disaffected than had
been the case for some time. What strikes us
more forcibly than anything else, however,
is the intolerable impertinence and extreme incon-
sistency of the Americans. Had our Government
acted with promptitude and decision during the last
few years we should never have heard of Fenianism,
but it appears to be the fashion on the other side of
the Atlantic to rail at everything English ; and the
extraordinary latitude thus given has been a grand
opportunity for the degenerate and unworthy sons
of the soil who have left their native land, and carry
with them no better regard for its welfare than to
foment discord and to encourage strife and discon-
tent. The affair is trifling in itself as a conspiracy,
but its consequences will not be so easily got over,
and many will curse the day when they first heard
of the Fenians.

Among the most salient points which distinguish
the American national character, a degree of as-
surance has always been reckoned. This may not
altogether arise from the unenviable quality of
self-conceit, but partly from that strong self-reliance
and independence of character which have raised
the American nation to its present high position.
If we wished, however, for an instance in which
confidence passes into effrontery, we should cer-
tainly not have very far to seek. The correspond-
ence between Mr. ADAMS and our Foreign Secre-
tary, if it were not upon a matter of very grave
and serious import, would be almost amusing
from the high and injured tone adopted by the
representative of the United States. In the coolest
and most decided manner Mr. ADAMS informs
Lord RUSSELL that his Government " cannot avoid
entailing upon the Government of Great Britain
the responsibility for the damage," inflicted by the
Alabama, the Stonewall, the Shenandoah, and
others. We might almost be excused for taking
these statements as so many empty words
but for the fact that it appears very probable that
the United States Government will make political
capital out of the matter on the assembling of Con-
gress. The idea of humiliating the Britisher and
of making a handsome profit out of the affair
would no doubt be very well received both in
Washington and New York, for since the termi-
nation of the war, the Americans of the Northern
States, at least, probably believe themselves suffi-
ciently powerful to compel submission on our part.
The latest intelligence from America informed us
that the persons who had suffered from the
depredations of the Confederate cruisers were noti-
fied to give particulars to the authorities, in order,
we presume, that the little bill may be presented in
due form to the British Government. Every argu-
ment, answer, illustration, and remonstrance falls
powerless against the shield of Mr. ADAMS'S
stubborn reiteration of his claims. He is

open to conviction, but convince him if
you can. Lord RUSSELL is no mean autho-
rity on points of constitutional law, and has
certainly experience enough as a diplomatic corres-
pondent. With great industry and pains he cites
examples, taken from American history itself ; he
quotes the decisions of American authorities ; he
tries plain English common sense, and draws con-
clusions that to an unprejudiced observer appear
indisputable, but all in vain. If beaten, like the
English soldier, the American advocate does not
know it, and when argument and eloquence
have been exhausted on the subject he
starts up again with the same formula—England
has built the ships, the ships have injured American
'commerce, England must pay for the injury.
It is calif just to Earl BussELl4 to say that he re-