The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-30 00:00:00

VAGRANCY IN THE NORTH.

In consequence of many complaints being made
by the people of Cumberland and Westmoreland as
to the robberies committed by tramping vagrants, it
was determined at the end of 1867 to enforce the
Vagrant Act strictly. The result has been that
in the year ending Michaelmas 1868, 524 persons
were apprehended I 1 the two counties for begging,
and 374 were committed to prison. The chief con-
stable has reported that the course adopted has been
attended with most beneficial results, and he feels
convinced that if the law were generally carried into
effect tramping vagrancy as a trade would be
speedily stopped. her Majesty's Inspector of Con-
stabulary for the Midland District is in favour of
the system of ticket-of-way passes, and he notes the
difficulty of impressing upon the public that they
support crime by giving indiscriminate relief. This
is an obstacle in the way of reform. Mendicancy
will exist as long as the public encourage it.
THE IRISH RAILWAY QUESTION.

There is great disappointment in certain circles
caused by the refusal of the Government to purchase,
this session, at least, the Irish railways. The real
supporters of the scheme are disappointed because
they thought that Mr. Gladstone would take it up as
another measure of justice to Ireland. The speculators
are in agonies, because having bought in stock,
under the idea that they would soon have to sell to
the Government, they find it now to be altogether
unsaleable. And the very companies themselves are
in despair because they are being ruined more com-
pletely as week by week passes on. Mr. Gladstone
does not absolutely refuse to deal with the matter.
In reply to the memorial so largely signed, the
Premier writes to Lord Clanricarde :
" I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter and
the enclosure, which contains so strong a manifestation of
Irish opinion on the subject of the railways of that
country ; and though I cannot say whether the circum-
stances of the present moment will allow of our giving
the question at once the full and definite consideration it
deserves, I will lose no time in bringing those consider?
tions under the notice of my colleagues."

RIOTS IN DERRY.

Prince Arthur's visit to the South of Ireland
passed off happily and peacefully enough. In the
land where nationality might be expected to clash
with royalty, the people have been warm in their
reception of the young Prince. It has been
reserved for loyal Ulster, for enthusias-
tically loyal Derry, to mark the visit of
his Royal Highness with riot and bloodshed. Not
even the presence of the Queen's son could cause the
postponement of the feud between the Montague's
and the Capulets. Having been fortunate enough to
withstand the siege of James some IFO years back,
the Protestant Orangemen of Londonderry
have ever since loved fighting. The rival
mobs fell to it on "Wednesday night, first
attacking each other, then the police. How it
came about the report hardly explains ; but we
learn that in the melee one man was shot through
the head, one severely through the neck, and two
others seriously wounded. Several of the police
were slightly wounded. • Some houses were wrecked.
'The military were at last called out, and put an end
to the disturbance just before midnight.

THE RELEASED FENIAN PRISONERS.
While this was going on in the North, equally
alarming proceedings were taking place at Cork.
Under the presidency of the mayor the released
Fenian prisoners, Warren and Costelloe, were being
serenaded. Mr. O'Sullivan quite sustained his repu-
tion. He hoped the day would soon come when no
strange nation would be dominant in the land. He
attributed the spirit of concession which had been
shewn by the dominant race either to Fenianism
or to the barrel of gunpowder at Clerkenwell.
The " Manchester' martyrs" he lauded to the skies.
O'Farrell, the attempted assassin of the Duke of
Edinburgh,' was placed among the famous. The
name of the young prince now in Ireland was received
with cries of "He be damned." Warren promised
to turn up again some day with compound interest,
imi England catre in for some pretty abuse. All
this will hardly strengthen the sentiment which was
recently so prevalent that we might melt the hearts
of the convicts by shewing that England can be
strongly generous.

TUE O'FARRELL CONFESSION.
The Dublin Ercning "Wail publisl, es in full the con-
fession with which O'Farrell amused the credulous
Colonial Secretary at Sydney. It occupies some
three columns, but is not particularly interesting.
O'Farrell contradicts the rumour that the Duke of
Edinburgh was shot at in revenge for some affair
of gallantry, so that scandal is disposed of
to far as this precious document can dispose of any-
thing. It contains some very uncomplimentary allu-
sions to the Prince of Wales, and it declares that the
intention of the Fenians was to found a republic in
the three kingdoms, with a confederation of fifteen
States, three for Ireland, three for Scotland, two.for
Wales,- and seven for England. O'Farrell is also
represented as saying that Mr. Gladstone was
induced by fear to take up the Irish question.