The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-18 00:00:00

COMPULSORY PILOTAGE.

The select committee on the Compulsory Pilotage
Abolition Bill, itow before the House of Commons, met
again yesterday, when the evidence given related to the
pilotage in the English Channel, the witnesses examined
being pilots from Deal and Dover. ' Mr. J. B. Miller, a
Deal pilot and one of a deputation who have been sent 'to
• represent the interests of the Channel pilots described the
system of pilotage pursued in the channel and stated that
it was compulsory between Dungeness and Gravesend, but
that the seaport pilots were not allowed to take a vessel
up the river beyond Gravesend but were required to
return to their port again, consequently there were prac-
tically two classes of pilots, one engaged in piloting ships
down, and another up. He said that the abolition of the
the compulsory system would be most disastrous
in the Channel, because the existing pilots would
not continue to devote themselves to the busi-
ness, or bring up their sons to it, and in all probabi-
lity if it were thrown open, an inferior class of men would
come in, and the result would be innumerable wrecks in
in a channel so dangerous as the English Channel. As
an instance, he stated that of the wrecks that did at pre-
sent occur in the English Channel, ten vessels that did
not carry pilots were lost compared with one that did.
M. W. Mallett, a Dover pilot and a representative
man, was also examined, and corroborated the statement
of the last witness, adding that in his opinion a pilot
should have the entire command of the vessel, so far as
the navigation of the ship was concerned, but no captain
resigned the ship into the hands of the pilot.
Captain Castle, a large shipowner and practical seaman,
stated that he had navigated the larger class of ships up
the Channel, and gave strong evidence in favour of com-
pulsory pilotage in the Channel. He stated that he should
be very sorry, experienced as he was, to navigate the
narrow seas without it.
The committee adjourned.

THE FENIAN MOVEMENTS IN
BIRMINGHAM.

The apprehension of the three supposed Fenians on
their arrival in London, on Saturday, by train from
Birmingham was, according to the Birmingham papers,
the result of a close system of espionage carried on by the
Birmingham police over the acts of the Fenians and Fenian
sympathisers—of whom there are said to be a considerable
number in the town—for some time past. - That the arms
supplied to the Fenians were made for the most part in
Birmingham has been known for a long period. For
three months the Fenians have been innocently working,
it is said, under almost as complete a surveillance as if
their movements were carried on in the Detective Office.
It is said to be no secret to the police where the guns
are made, or that they are packed in barrels at a
" sham " factor's, and labelled " perishable goods."
The detectives follow the goods from the manufactory
to the warehouse, and from the warehouse to the rail-
way station. They watch the barrels put into the train,
and the Fenians take their tickets, and whilst a con-
fidential messenger accompanies the train to see that
neither the men nor the goods leave the train at any inter-
mediate station, a telegram is despatched to London, in
obedience to which a party of police meet the unsus-
pecting traitors, and not only seize or follow them, but
also the " party " who is meeting them at the station. All
this, it is said, has been conducted in the quietest manner
possible, not a hint even oozing out to put the Fenians
on their guard. There are other matters connected with
the conspiracy, of the operation of which, it is said, the
police have quite as complete a knowledge. Some two
months ago a party of twenty or thirty supposed Fenians
are said to have left Dublin and to have come to Bir-
mingham, where they have taken up their residences.
About a week after ther arrival they were fol-
lowed by a Dublin detective officer, who knew all of
them. By assuming a disguise, and with local help,
he has been enabled to watch the operations of these
newcomers. Their several haunts are well known, and
everything that transpires, whether of importance or
not, is reported to head-quarters, there being always
some Fenians who are willing to betray their con-
federates. That more is known than is generally
imagined is quite certain, and also that there are good
grounds for the precautions that have been taken, and for
the system that has been successfully carried out. Drilling
and practising is said to have been going on in close
proximity to the police cells.

A telegram from Florence announces officially that
a band of insurgents in the province of Grosseto had been
surrounded by troops, and laid down their arms. The
whole body, including their leader, numbered forty-one
persons, and were made prisoners. Perfect tranquillity
prevailed throughout Calabria.

REEL AND THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY.—It is
announced from Fort Garry that Riel has made arrange-
ments with the Hudson Bay Company by means of which
a compromise may be effected. The company is to
acknowledge the legality of the Provisional Govern-
ment except in the North-west, and to advance a loan
of goods to the soldiers. A party of Sioux
Indians appeared at the fort of the Hudson's Bay Company
and made most insolent demands, declaring that they
should kill all the Americans in the settlements. A general
Sioux war is looked for, and the American settlements
are alarmed in consequence, believing that the military
force was not adequate for the defence.

THEATRICAL ITEMS.—The London Figaro says
Mr. Wybert Reeve takes his benefit, and appears for
the last time -it the Charing Cross Theatre, on Friday,
May 20.—A new comedy, by Mr. Albery, is in rehearsal
at the Vaudeville.—Two novelties are announced for next
Saturday. New comedies both at the Charing-cross and the
Strand will be produced. The Charing-cross comedy,
called " Illusions," is by, Mr. Joseph Dilley (a new author)
and will introduce Mr. Danvers; of the Royalty, to Miss
Fowler's pretty theatre. The Strand comedy, by Mr.
George Neville, the actor, is earned " Loving Hearts
and Buried Diamonds." This is Mr. George l‘Teville's
first play; his brother, Mr. Henry Neville, wrote
" The Yellow Passport " for the Olympic.—" The School
for Scandal " is being thoroughly and efficiently rehearsed
at the St. James's Theatre. New and very clever business
bewill . introduced, and the public may be pretty sure that
Sheridan's play will not be produced until it is perfectly
ready.

ACTION FOR BREACH OF PROMISE AGAINST A
WIDOW.—An action for breach of promise of marriage
against a middle-aged widow named Farrell was tried in
the Dublin Court of Exchequer, the plaintiff being a
widower, also advanced in life, and the father of several
grown up children. The defendant lived in Carlow and kept
a pawn-office, at which the plaintiff pledged his affections.
It was alleged that after a brief courtship the widow con-
sented to re-enter the state of matrimony with the plain-
tiff, but that her family interposed, threatened to kick the
lover out, and having thus intimidated him into a tem-
porary retreat, induced the lady to break off the match—
in short, she refused to redeem her pledge. It transpired
in the course of the case that during the engagement
the plaintiff insisted upon nursing the defendant, and
kindly took charge of a number of trinkets and other
articles of value, which he retained with a prudent eye to
contingencies, that he might have security for payment
in the event of the match being broken off and his being
compelled to institute the action. The jury, disgusted at
the highly commercial spirit in which the affair had been
conducted, returned a verdict for the defendant.