The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-14 00:00:00

THE STATE CONVICTS.

There never existed a doubt here as to the authenti-
city of the rythmical effusions palmed upon the State
prisoners by a Plymouth or Devonport paper, as-
cribing curious doggrel to Messrs. Meagher and
O'Brien. The former was as much the author of
" Paddies evermore," in the rendering of, I believe,
the Devonport paper, as Smith ,O'Brien was of an
objurgatory lament on the impracticability of " Ser-
geant Flinn," of the Marines, both of which apptared
some time since in the Irish papers. I have now,
however, a real bona fide letter before me, from the
pen of Patrick O'Donohoe, whose handwriting I have
had full occasion to know in a professional capacity ;
I, therefore, could vouch for its genuineness with-
out being aware of the fact—as I am—that
it has been forwarded through the " Irish office"
(wherein it was opened) to its destination. I have
been handed the letter by a friend, to whom it was
lent; and I have scarcely a doubt your readers will
peruse it with interest. I transcribe faithfully with-
out mentioning names :
" Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Thursday,
13th Sept., 1349, seven in the morning, on
board her Majesty's sloop of war the Swift.
"My dear anchored here last:evening at
eight bells,' as they nautically term it for some
unintelligible hour in this unwonted climate,
after a voyage of sixty-five days. The authorities
here have directed that we should be ready to sail
out of this port at twelve o'clock to- day,* so that we
have merely time to take in fresh water. Mitchel
has not arrived here yet, neither have O'Doherty and
Martin ; and there are serious apprehensions respect-
ing Mitchel, particularly lest the vessel he sailed in
was wrecked.

" Short as is my time for writing, I could not
forego the pleasure of sending a line to you, although
I had already desired, in a letter to -t, that he
should remember me to you in the most affectionate
manner.

" Our journey, so far, has been tedious, dull, and
dreary. We have been tossed about very much,
nothing but calms and contrary winds, with one or
two slight gales. We were driven to a great distance
into western longitude, and were for many days near
the South American coast. The immense heat an-
noyed us a good deal within the tropics, but it is now
a little cold in these latitudes. Still, we are all in
right good health and spirits—not one bit reduced in
bone and sinew, nor depressed in mind, ready for any
fate that may await us, vnd cheerfully to suffer all
pains and p-nalties like Irishmen who are not Infidels.
The regulations observed on board have been very
strict. Tea, without milk, and biscuit morning and
evening; salt pork, or junk, with peas'-soup and
prepared beef soup occasionally, for dinner, and two
glasses of sherry wine each per day. The doctor has.
sometimes, very kindly allowed us a little porter.
We rise at six in the morning, and turn into berths
at nine in the evening, being allowed to go on deck,
two at a time alternately, during the day. We are
constantly guarded by marines. The captain and
officers are most courteous, polite, and sternly kind—
that is, they do not inflict upon us the weight of any
ill-temper of their own, whilst observing
the rules laid down by the Admiralty for