The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-23 00:00:00

THE DISTURBANCES AT DERRY.

Some details of the proceedings in Derry on Monday
are given in the local journals.. They shew more clearly
the difficulties which the authorities had to contend
against in enforcing any degree of submission on the part
of the obstinate set of men who assume the right to hold
their annual displays in despite of every opposition. At
one o'clock on Monday the Apprentice Boys met at Cor-
poration Hall to continue the celebration, which was
commenced on the previous day, and carried out to an
extent which might have satisfied them under other
circumstances.' About two o'clock a number of
"roughs" entered the city, some of them carrying
sticks, but the police intercepted them and prevented
a collision. After conferences with the resident magis-
trates, who were firm in refusing to allow any further
demonstrations, Mr. Ferguson took the chair in the
hall, which was filled with the apprentice boys. It did
not require a large multitude to pack it. He gave-an
account of his. interviews with Colonel Hillier, who, he
said, had warned him that if they attenipted', to march in
Procession they would be dispersed at the point of the
bayonet, and that if they shewed their flags out of
the windows "an armed raid would be made upon
them by her Majesty's troops." He said he had protested
emphatically against the infringement of the right of
public meeting. He had also been told that if the bands
played any tunes other than those included in a list to be
submitted for approval to the authorities, " an armed
raid" would be made upon them. To this intimation the
meeting responded, "We defy them." A resolution was
passed, on the motion of the Rev. Richard Babing-
ton, seconded by Mr. Thomas Mooney, to, the effect—
" That we protest against the action of the self-consti-
tuted authorities, who have taken upon themselves to
issue a - proclamation. - agaiiest our - time-honOtire-d'
Celebrations, and in the most unconstitutional manner to
trample upon our rights." Another resolution, which
was passed with acclamation, pledged them " ever to
commemorate the heroic deeds of their ancestors," and to
hold the civic celebrations on the 12th of, August and
18th of December. This was followed by; a resolutior
proposed by Mr. John Rea, solicitor, of Belfast, whose

professional instincts led him to the scene. It
was to the effect that, in consequence of the
" attempted usurpation" by some stipendiary magistrates
of the authority of the mayor —who had not signed the
proclamation—the celebration proceedings) should be
adjourned until next Wednesday week, and that in the
meantime the opinion of Mr. Butt, Q.C., shOuld be taken
on all the questions involved, and especially as to
whether the authority of the chief magistrate is or ought
to be paramount within his jurisdiction and during
his term of office, At the termination of the
meeting, the Britannia and Maiden City bands
played "No Surrender," " The Boyne Water," the
" Protestant Boys," and other airs, which do not har-
monise with their assertion that the celebrations are not
of a party character. The effigy of Lundy was then
brought from its place of concealment and burnt on the
top of the hall amid cheers from the Apprentice Boys
inside, and joyous waving of handkerchiefs and clapping
of hands by their female friends, who witnessed his execu-
tion from the windows of the house, the Diamond. It
stated that a copy of the - magistrates' proclamation
was pinned to the' figure and consumed along with it.
The Hall was surrounded with military and police. Two
bodies of police forced a door of the building and en-
tered with fixed bayonets. A melee ensued, in which the
constables attempted take away the flags and band
instruments. In the midst of the excitement, a rifle,
with bayonet attached, belonging to one of the police, was
snatched out •of his hand, and carried off as a trophy.
The officer in charge of the constabulary fell
over one of the benches and cut his head
against a bayonet. The Mayor then came up and
ordered the removal of the troops. Every person
was searched for arms as he passed out of the building,
and a strict search made inside, but no weapons were
found. In the course of the disturbance some slight in-
juries were sustained by the persons in the hall, and some
arrests, as we have already stated, were made. At the
police-court Mr. Rea refused to give any bail,
complained that he bad been dragged thr"ugh
the streets and detained three hours in custody, and
warned Colonel Hillier that he would bring an action
against him in the Court of Exchequer, claiming £5,000
damages. Colonel Hillier observed.that he had ordered
the arrests to be made in the discharge of his duty, and
he would have summonses issued against the parties. No
charge having been then preferred againit them, the
Mayor discharged them.
The search for the effigy of Lundy by the authorities
was a very ludicrous business, apparently. A "Loyal
Irishman" gives a contemporary the following account of
the matter : --The 18th falls on a Sunday this year, and as
the 'Prentice Boys are Protestants, when this happens,
it is usual to transfer the noisier parts of the
ceremony, and the burning of Lundy, to the
following Monday. In view of the , unfortunate
contingency that Sunday would be a quiet day, the
magistrates and police thought it necessary to create
some little disturbance on Friday and Saturday. At about
seven p.m. on Friday the aforesaid magistrates and
officials were informed. amid breathless attention and
scarcely repressed excitement, that a figure in cocked
hat, with large boots and stuffed with crackers, had
been seen in the band room of the 'Prentice Boys,
and efficient measures were immediately taken, the room
was surrounded, a large body of 13-Ake entered, they saw
—they seized Lundy, a scuffle ensued, lights +ere put out,
the police were put out, the magistrates were vry- much put
out, and Lundy disappeared. In vain the most rigorous
search was instituted, in - vain the police penetrated
private houses, and even entered the bedroom of an
unsuspecting female of the middle class, who had gone to
bed with that sense of security which females are wont to
feel, supposing themselves under the protectilan of British
law. Not under the pillow, not under the. bed, not up
the chimney, could anything like a man in a cocked
hat and top boots be , found. The llisappoiuted
magistrates had nothing for it but to telegraph to
the Castle this alarming state of affairf. It was
then that the Lord-Lieutenant ordered that two troops of
Carabineers should be sent down to Derry h special train
the following morning. At 2.30 p.m. Sat day the Isti-
pendiary magistrate rushed into the pre ence of the
colonel commanding the constabulary, br thless with
excitement :—" Most important information' sir ; I have
two letters informing me that Lundy is con ealed in the
bishop's stables." Instantly they telegrap ed to Lord
ci
Spencer. A search warrant is procur , a party
of police told off, and they proceed to the l?ishop's' (Dr.
Alexander's) palace with all the solemnity nelessary for the
due performance of their important function.) They enter
with ardour on the discharge of this urgent duty. The
bishop's wife meets them ; she assures them there are
many dressed dolls. in her children's room. No, he must
have a cocked hat ; he must have large booU; he must be
dressed like an officer of the 17th century. The bishop's
wife wishes she had such a one, but doubts ff she would
give it up. They search—they find nothing L-they return
depressed and miserable, and telegraph again to the castle.
At eight p.m. a bright idea strikes them. Lun y must be on
the tower of the cathedral. The colonel in erson waits
upon the bishop, and demands the keys of tle cathedral,
that he may place a guard of police there. T e bishop de-
murs. They send for the churchwardens, the, send for the
verger. The bishop finally declines to give up he custodyof
the cathedral ;he puts the keys in his pocke The officials
depart ; they telegraph again to the Castle. , The bishop's
valet begins to pack his clothes, under the inlpression that
' his lordship will immediately be sent t the tower.
Still no Lundy is found, and Sunday passes uietly except
for the intense excitement of the militar and police.
i
After much deliberation the magistrates a e graciously
pleased to permit the 'Prentice Boys to go 6 church, and
while they fill the Cathedral, and stand up to a man when

the organist unexpectedly plays " God save the Queen " as
a voluntary, there is a good deal of action outside, the
policemen and foot soldiers march and counter-march, the
Carabineers gallop up and down the streets, and the
magistrates send telegrams.

Mr. James Noon, 8.1., St. John's Oollege, 12th
Wrangler, 1870, has been appointed an assistant mathe-
matical master at Christ's Hospital, on the promotion of
the Rev. J. H. Newnum to the head-mastership of the
Hospital's Hertford establishment.

THE SHAEN LIBEL CASE.—The Lambeth Board
of Guardians on Wednesday passed the following resolu-
tion with reference to the recent libel case of Catch v.
Shaen i—" That this Board deeply regret that the Lord
Chief Justice of England should have felt himself justi-
fied in the language which he uttered from the judgment
seat, with the weight of his great authority, in refe-
r rence to this house ; and that the Board record their em-
! phatic protest against the severe condemnation passed by
his lordship, and do not hesitate to characterise it as
grossly unjust."