The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-23 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON MONDAY EVENING, SEPT [MBE It 23, 15367.

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPT. 23, 1867.

Seine most important statements have recently
been made concerning the rebellion in Jamaica, and
the information which Capt. EDENBOROUGII has to
impart. There has beAi some extraordinary per-
venal; in this matt; r, if not wilful mismanagement,
and the more fully we investigate the case the more
completely we are convinced of the importance of
the evidence which the Captain gives, and the in-
consistency of those who would not take it. Capt.
EDENnonoucit volunteered to go out to Jamaica,
in order that he might be examined by the
Royal Commission ; but he was never sent,
and no means were taken by the authorities to
secure his evidence being taken in this country.
Thus writes Mr. HAMILTON HUME, the Secretary to
the EYRE Defence and Aid Fund ; and certainly his
case is a very strong one. Captain EDENBOROUGH
has been away from England for the last two
years, and this is the reason why the EYRE Defence
Committee have not been able to direct public at.
tention to his evidence. A commissioner was ap
pointed by Baron BRAMWELL to examine the

Captain, and " after eight hours of the severest
cross-examination by counsel his evidence re-
mained unshaken." It is worthy of notice
that the appointment of this Commissioner
was most violently opposed by the Jamaica
Committee, but to no purpose, as the
event has proved. The affidavit of Captain EDEN-
BOROUGH is most important, and it is much to be re-
gretted that so little heed was paid to it at the right
time by those engaged in examining into the intri-
cate affair. Nothing can possibly be plainer than
the statements made by the Captain, and all who are
not hopelessly prejudiced must recognise the signi-
ficance of the statement that he makes, and the
direct implication of GORDON thereby male. In
the month of June, 1865, the Captain was at
Kingston, in Jamaica, being the commander of a
schooner called the Happy-go-Lucky, which was
cruising in the offing. While in Kingston Cap-
tain EDENBOROUGH had an interview "at his
request, with GEORGE GORDON at a house in King-
ston. During this interview GORDON stated that
he wished the interview to be kept a secret, alleging,
as a reason for the request, that he was connected
with the Government of Jamaica. GORDON was
. well aware that the Happy-go-Lucky was an armed
ship, and bad on board munitions of war, &c.,
before he made his wishes known respecting it. He
said that be wished to purchase the vessel and the
arms, if possible. Afterwards he treated for the
arms only, and directed where they should be
landed. Further on GORDON was desirous of
chartering this vessel for a voyage to the Island
of Great Inagua and back, to receive on board
a refugee Haytian general, and one or two other
Haytians. GORDON added that at Inagua there
was a quantity of ammunitions of war concealed,
which had arrived from the United States, and
which munitions he wanted to be brought to
Jamaica and landed in the neighbourhood of Black
River. This was the same spot where he wished to
have the arms landed that :,he was to obtain from
the Happy-go-Lucky.
During this interview GEORGE GORDON was ac-
companied by a bright Mulatto, whom he intro-
duced as a Haytian general, and Captain EDEN-
BOROUGH afterwards saw this Haytian very frequently
in Kingston. GORDON said that a sum would
be paid down on account before the vessel started,
and in the event of the proposed voyage to Inagua
being taken, he referred to a mercantile house in
Kingston who would become responsible. Both
these proposals thus made by GORDON were de-
clined by Captain EDENBOROUGII. During the
conversation that ensued GORDON and his Haytian
friend inquired as to the practicability of converting
" ordinary small boats into torpedo rams, against
vessels blockading ports, &e.." Captain EDEN-
BOROUGH thought they might refer to the Spanish
squadron, then blockading the island of San
Domingo, and that GORDON was, in conjunction with
certain Haytians, organising an expedition at Black
River in Jamaica in the cause of San Domingo.
GORDON spoke of a West Indian Republic, and asked
if the men on board the ship would take service,
where they would be well paid. The captain told
him that he had mistaken the object of his visit to
Jamaica, and declined his proposals. So far as
Captain EDENBOROUGII thought of this matter
at all, after the interview was over, he be-
lieved that the proposal which GORDON had
made to him bore reference to the war be-
tween the Dominicans and Spain, or to the
revolution ai Cape Haitier, but he felt " suspicious
of the whole transaction, as I did not see or under-
stand wha-, the said GEORGE GORDON was aiming at
or intended." After GORDON had left him the cap-
tain spoke to a person, and asked if he were a par-
son, as he wore a white necktie and had spectacles
on, but he was told that he was Mr. GORDON, a
member of the Assembly. He wished to know who
he was on account of his having said that he was
connected with the Government, and be did not
understand in what capacity it was.
In the month of July of the same year, more
than a month after this interview, the neighbour-
hood of " Black River" was in a disturbed state,
and the authorities found it necessary to send her
MAJESTY'S ship Bull Dog to preserve order there.
It is to be observed that a photographic carte de
visite of the late GEORGE GORDON has been shown
to Captain EDENBOROUGH when he was in Jamaica
at the early part of this year, and he instantly
recognised it as the likeness of the man with whom
he had had two interviews at Kingston. He saw,
besides, portraits of GORDON in the shop windows
at Kingston. Now comes the extraordinary
part of the affair. Captain EDENBOROUGII mentions
that when the news from Jamaica arrived
in England at the end of the year 1865, connecting
GORDON with the insurrection, he was in England,
and, adds he, " I deemed it my duty to acquaint the
Right Hon. EDWARD CARDWELL, then her MA-
JESTY'S Secretary of State for the Colonies with the
fact of my said interview with the said GEORGE
WILLIAM GORDON. I wrote the said Mr. CARD-
WELL a letter thereon, dated December, 1865, and
no application was ever made to me, either in Eng-
land or Jamaica, to give evidence before the Royal
Commissioners." It is much to be regretted that
this evidence was not sought for, and a great
injury has been done to Mr. EYRE thereby; but
whether it were in Lis favour or otherwise, it was
the duty of the Colonial Office to have inquired
into the matter. It shows that there was very little
inclination to have the affair sifted, because the
affidavit goes on to say that when Captain EDEN-
BOROUGH was in Jamaica this year he saw Dr.
BOWERBANK, the custos of Kingston, and he
expressed his regret that he did not see him in
London in January, 1866. He had bad an inter-
view with the Under Secretary of State for the
Colonies, who told him that the captain's evidence
was not procurable, as he was then away
from England ; but, in fact, he was then in
England at the same address as when he wrote to
Mr. CARDWELL, and he did not leave England until
the month of February. This shows there was no
zeal displayed on the part of the Colonial authorities
to inquire into. the affair, and it confirms the un-
favourable impression already created as to the
treatment which Mr. EYRE experienced from the late
Government. There has been a want of manage-
ment in this Jamaica business from the beginning,
but it is at any rate satisfactory that these facts
should have been brought to light, and great credit
is due to the EYRE Defence Committee for the zeal
which they have displayed in the affair. Mr.
ll.orwroN HumE has written a letter, dated last
Saturday, to the effect that a great deal of discussion
has arisen on account of the publication of the affi-
davit
of Captain EDENBOIIOt7GII, and he declares that
the Captain " courts the strictest examination," if
any further inquiries be necessary after what has
taken place. There can be no doubt whatever as
to the identity of GORDON, because the photograph
that was shown to Captain EDENBOROUGII has been
shown to some Rho were well acquainted with him
in Jamaica. The time has gone by when any more
tolerance can be given to the prejudices of those
who do not wish to know the truth.

We are glad to find that the Manchester Trades'
Union Commission arc determined to do their work
thoroughly, and although they have completed the
investigation of the cases immediately before them,

they have only suspended, not concluded, their
labours. On the rising of the court on Saturday
Mr. PICKERING said that they had information in
their possession which would induce them to adjourn
6 the inquiry for the present, and that they would
give orders that all boxes, books, and papers should
be returned. Due notice, he said, would be given of
the resumption of their proceedings, and no doubt
there will be a good deal more brought to light
whet) a little time has been given for the collection
of evidence. One of the great difficulties in the
, way of getting at the truth in all these matters is
that witnesses are afraid to come forward. The
commission indeed may protect them at the time,
but they dread the consequences afterwards. If
they are to be marked men, and every word which
they utter is to be weighed against them by men
, whom they have too good reason to know are
daring and unscrupulous, it is no great wonder
if they shrink. Under the circumstances it is
perhaps only surprising that so much should
have been elicited. When men shrink from the
light it is generally a pretty sure sign that they have
something to hide, and the inquiry has been very
coldly received,by the friends of Trades' Unions.
This, however, is very short-sighted policy, since a
system based on intimidation and oppression cannot
possibly last. Those who wish to uphold the right
of combination among workmen for pacific purposes
would do more wisely to exert themselves in every
way to remodel the whole system. Trades Unionism,
as it at present is shown to be, cannot last among
us. Let us see what are its main principles. A
system of arbitrary dictation, which allows no man
to judge for himself where he shall work, how he
shall work, or for how many hours he shall work ;
which forbids him to bring up his boys in the way
which he thinks most desirable; which exacts from
him a certain sum of money, in regular fragments ;
and which keeps him up to the strict observance of
all its rules by threats of the severest
punishment. Neither is a man allowed to
choose between the advantages and disadvantages
of joining a Trades' Union. If he does not join he
runs great risks, he experiences great difficulty in
getting employment owing to the intimidation
exercised towards the masters, and it is very pro-
bable that he may pay for his independence with
broken bones or injured eyesight. The masters in
their turn are subjected to such a perpetual system
of watchfulness and persecution that they are
afraid or unable to select the men best
fitted for their work, to encourage the
industrious and energetic, to promote the
talented and ready. All must go on as it begun.
The man who might raise himself from the ranks is
kept down, and fined and fettered till he loses heart
and grows indifferent, or carries his abilities else-
where. Our Government have often been blamed,
and with justice, for the scanty encouragement
which thoy give to native talent. Plans, inventions,
and suggestions are coldly received by the heads
of departments. Delay follows delay, refusal
is succeeded by refusal, until, after years
of fruitless expectation and wearisome dis-
appointment, the troublesome genius is beaten
off the field, and room left to those respectable
mediocrities to whom official favour and patronage
properly belong. More than once it has happened
that the inventor, so hardly used at home, has found
more honour elsewhere. Captain BLAKELY is not
the only gifted man whose services England has
forfeited, and neither press nor public spared the
redtapists of office when the story came to light.
But all the while the very same thing was going on
throughout our Trades' Unions ! The only notice-
able difference was, that whereas the Government
always professed to be anxious to encourage merit
and stimulate invention, our workmen did not
shrink from confessing the truth. They boldly
declared that all men must be on a level, and that
he who dared to excel his fellows by force of native
talent, of personal sacrifice, of indefatigable
industry, must pay penance accordingly. The
effect of this it is not difficult already
to detect, and without fail we shall see
it more and more clearly as time goes on.
English goods are no longer first in the market—
English workmanship is no longer a guarantee for
good work—England is no longer the land where
every man may work his way if he will. It is the
land of a widespread and intangible social despot-
ism, which curbs a man's ambition and cramps his
energies, which takes hope, and heart, and interest
from labour, and destroys that honest pride in
doing one's best in one's calling, which every
man may and should have, be he Prime Minister or
chimney-sweep. Other countries less subject to
this secret and deleterious influence are rapidly out-
stripping us. Contracts are naturally taken where
there is some security of getting them fulfilled in
time, and where the contractors can hope to make
a margin for profit. We are not the only people
in the world who can do industrial work. Un-
doubtedly we have commanded some branches of
trade—thanks to our natural mineral wealth and
to the ability of our workmen ; but if the one
advantage is to be counteracted by the ex-
cessive rate of wages, and the other to be
forfeited by bringing down the best men to
the level of the lowest, we cannot hope to keep our
place. France, Belgium, Germany will soon out-
strip us ; nay, in many instances, they have already
done so. Our trade is suffering from long continued
depression, and instead of endeavouring to restore
confidence, and get the slowly moving wheels once
more into vigorous motion, our workmen stand out
here for increased wages, there for reduced hours,
in one part for specified privileges, in another
for particular observance of some trade regulation,
letting matters grow worse and worse. We are
glad to find that so many British workmen have
been visiting the French Exhibition. They will
find there convincing proof of what their insular
vanity finds it difficult to believe without seeing
—the great progress which Continental nations
have made in manufactures of all kinds. Compe-
tition brings every one to their proper level. The
best work and the cheapest work will always ob-
tain the preference, and complaints have latterly
been made that English work is neither so good nor
so cheap as some other people's. Let our unionists
take care lest, in striking against their employers,
they should in the end prove to be striking against
themselves. They cannot command the industry
nor the capital of the world. They may ruin indi-
vidual masters in their own vicinity ; they may
hunt out " knobsticks" from their neighbourhood,
and force every independent man to join their
ranks. But when all is done they cannot compel
purchasers and contractors to come to them if they
get better served in France or Germany. They
may depend upon it the days of monopolies have
gone by. The monopoly of capital has long been
done away with ; the monopoly of production has
been swept aside; the monopoly of labour must
follow. Unless our trades' unionists can turn the
world backwards, forbid the telegraph wires to
carry commercial and manufacturing orders as well
as political news ; unless they can stop steamers
from importing manufactures and merchandise, as
well as exporting discontented workmen ; unless
they can convince the thrifty workmen of the Con-
tinent that idleness is better than working for good
wages,:they will find, we fear, that the world is
too wide for them, and that its markets will never
stand empty waiting the pleasure of particular
classes.

CORRESPONDEJNCE FROM PARIS.

(FRO.II OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.
The Moniteur gives the following miscellaneous
newa:—

A Royal decree has been published at Berlin,
regulating the representation of the annexed pro-
vinces in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies. It
fixes at 80 the number of new Deputies in the fol-
lowing proportions-12 for the Duchy of Nassau,
86 for Hanover, and 18 for the Duchies of Schles-
wig and Holstein.

The Budget of the Confederation of Northern
Germany, including receipts and expenses, amounts
to about 280 millions of francs.

On the Ist of October all the contingents of the
troops of the Confederation of the North will take
the oath of fidelity to the Prussian flag.
The Diet of Hungary is convoked for the 29th of
this month, and the Austrian Parliament (the
Reichsrath) will assemble on the 23d inst. Im-
portant measures will inevitably be brought forward
in both of these assemblies.

The Paris papers continue to be much excited at
the Circular of M. de Bismarck. I do not translate
extracts, because almost all the arguments and ob-
servations upon it are couched in a similar strain.
Thy consider this circular in the light of a mani-
festation on the part of Prussia of her determina-
tion to profit by the plea of a desire for German
unity to " let slip the dogs of war" against any
power who shall dare to oppose her views. These
journalists, after taking it for granted that near or
distant the absorption of the whole of Germany by
Prussia may be imminent, abound in speculations
as to which will be, or ought to be, the attitude of
France when there can be no doubt respecting the
ambitious designs of Prussia. The opinion seems
to be almost general that the balance of power is
even now compromised or threatened, and France
particularly, by having at her frontiers a vast empire
intoxicated with her first victories. One of the
papers remarks upon the tone of irony and satire
which pervades M. Bismarck's circular.

M. Dano, lately Minister of France in Mexico,
and his wife have arrived in Paris.

The death is announced of a man of lugubrious
memory, aged 84, who was formerly executioner
for the department of Corvezo. He was assistant
executioner at the time when the brothers Robes-
pierre, Saint Just, and other members of the Con-
vention, were successively put to death. He seemed
to take pride in the part which he played during
those sanguinary periods, and made a sort of boast
that he had given his valuable assistance at more
than 100 executions. lle had withdrawn from the
profession, and lived in comfortable retirement at
Noyo, where his father was executioner before hi,n.

Several Paris papers having published articles in
which they treat the " situation" as evidently drift-
ing to wards war, " desired by France, but not wished
for by the Emperor," according to one journal, the
Siecle, replies to them in a tone which merits grave
consideration. That journal says:—" Who thinks
of interfering with the internal affairs of Germany ?
Who threatens Germany ? Who desires to throw
obstacles in the way of her aspirations? But
although we respect the rights of a great people,
does it follow that we ought not to watch the course
of events, and hold ourselves ready to defend our-
selves, in the case foreseen by the eminent writer to
whom we allude ? (This refers to an article in the
Journal des Debats, by M. Marc Girardin, in which
he argues that since the battle of Sadowa France is
justified in being mistrustful of Prussia.) No, at-
tentive neutrality is commanded by prudence.
Great changes have been accomplished, others
are in preparation, the conditions imposed
upon Governments by ancient treaties no
longer exist, and those proposed by new treaties
are yet imperfectly arranged and in a state of em-
bryo. At the same time ambitious views
are disclosed. In the second Chamber of the
Grand Duchy of Badan an influential mem-
ber, M. Laney, after having spoken of Austria,
mentions Alsace, " that other German province.
To shut our eyes and go to sleep is not the way to
dispel uneasiness and reassure the public mind. In
periods of agitation security can only be maintained
by keeping vigilant sentinels at their post. Atten-
tive neutrality is a precaution. It is not hostility,
or even mistrust."

The Fenians at Manchester.

-
MANCHESTER, Sunday Afternoon.

Kelly and Deasey, after their rescu 3
on Wednesday The police have reason for suspecting that the
"h ad -cre
s ,
"evening, contrived to double upon
e nt
their pursuers, and have remained hidden in the
Ancoats district of the city. The neighbourhood
is the resort of most of the Fenian sympathisers
hitherto known in Manchester, and on Friday night
it was closely watched. Saturday morning's post
brought to the Mayor an anonymous letter—one of
several such communications which have been re-
ceived during the last few days—intimating that the
fugitives might be found in a house at the end of
Every-street, Ancoats. Mr. Superintendent May-
bury decided that if necessary the place should be
stormed by the police, who are now furnished with
firearms. A party of 50 constables were sent to the
spot, under command of several of the chief officers
of the police force, and arrived there about 11.30
a.m. Their appearance caused great excitement,
and the shutters were soon drawn in most of the
neighbouring houses, while the streets rapidly filled
with an eager but not hostile crowd. The suspected
house is one of the most commodious in the district,
which is chiefly inhabited by the poorer classes.
The police were told that voices had been heard
throughout the night by persons who occasionally
listened at the outside, and there were sometimes
glimpses of light followed by thick darkness. A
considerable number of persons were believed to be
within, and women's voices were distinguished in the
conversation. The shutters were still up at 10 a.m.
Two of the city magistrates, Messrs. Kennedy and
Clarke, had volunteered to accompany the police,
who were all armed with Colt's revolvers. The
house was entirely surrounded, and ultimately
Inspector Garner ordered the door to be burst open.
This was done, and a rush made to occupy every
room of the building, if possible, at once. Only one
man and two women were found in the house, but
there were evidences that it had been occupied by
other persons who had probably made a hasty re-
treat, for they had left behind them a quantity of
correspondence and other papers. This correspon-
dence is now in the hands of the authorities, and
appears to leave no doubt of its connexion with the
conspiracy in Dublin, from which place some of it
is dated. A number of Irish newspapers, several
hats of different sizes, and a portrait of Stephens
were found in the house. The man and two women
found on the premises were taken to the police-
office. It is supposed that if Kelly and Deasey were
not harboured in this house, their friends, upon
whose aid they rely for escape, were in council
there during the night. As before observed, the
house is a comparatively large one for the neigh-
bourhood, rented at £24 a rear, and several of the
rooms were found quite unfurnished.
It will be remembered that when Kelly and
Deasey were set at liberty from the prison van they
ran northwards across some open brickflelds till
they reached the embankment of the Sheffield Rail-
way, accompanied by Allen and a number of the
armed rescuers, having the London and North-
Western Railway on their left flank. Crossing the
Sheffield Railway, they are supposed to have
skirted the eastern portion of the city, passing
through the townships of Gorton, Droylsden, Clay-
ton Bridge, and Bradford. Inspector Williamson,
of the London police force, with Sergeants Rhymer,
Clarke, and Campbell, has been on their track in
this direction. One of them found a brand-new
revolver, which had been thrown away or lost
in crossing the Sheffield Railway, which bears
the marks :—" Mortimer, London, 39,383." It
is an eight-chambered revolver, and six chambers
were loaded when found, the two others
having been discharged. There is some reverse
action in the loading—an improvement patented, it
is said, by the maker. According to the informa-
tion about the further movements of Kelly and
Deasey from this point, it has been learnt that they
parted company at the end of Taylor-street, taking
separate routes, till they reached the township oL

Beswick. Beyond this point Kelly is entirely lost
sight of. Deasey was seen to enter a house there
with handcuffs on and to emerge again freed from
them. At that time he was accompanied by a man
who did not wear handcuffs. On examination of the
house, it was found that the handcuffs had been
struck off by a hatchet upon the sink stone in the
kitchen, the sink stone being made to serve the pur-
pose of an anvil. The woman who keeps the house
says the stranger spoke with the pronunciation so
peculiar to Americans, and says he left her house at
4.20 in the afternoon of the rescue. Thence he went
along the road leading to the neighbouring town-
ship of Bradford, which is called Wellington-road.
The authorities are to be well supported by the
military in ease of need. The officers and men, both
at the infantry and cavalry barracks, have orders to
keep to barracks, ready fur any sudden emergency.
There are 150 men placed on guard at the City
Gaol, under the command of Captain M'Culloch ;
and another guard has now been placed for pre-
caution at the militia barracks, to protect the ar-
moury there.

This afternoon the funeral of Brett, the police-
sergeant shot at the rescue, was celebrated at Har-
purhay Cemetery, and the extent of public sympathy
felt for the poor man's fate was manifested by a large
attendance of civilians as well as of police. The
crowds were so great as to block up all the thorough-
fares leading to the cemetery.
At a special meeting of the city justices, convened
by the Mayor yesterday morning, 21 magistrates
were present, and various measures were resolved
upon for the protection of the gaol and the preser-
vation of the peace.

Since Friday the police have made eight or nine
more arrests, and among them is a man identified as
one more of those who aided in the attack on the
prison van. lie was seen to fire at the horses, and,
after wounding them, to endeavour, by pulling at
their legs, to bring them to the ground.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Sept. 22 (Evening).

Several members of the Left had a meeting this
morning to discuss the present political situation,
and another meeting will be held to-morrow.
The Florence Gazette says that a telegram has
been received, stating that the official declaration
published yesterday on the Roman question had
everywhere been favourably received.
The Opinione announces that the Pontifical Go-
vernment has retired from the province of Frosi-
none. Nearly all the Papal troops are concentrated
at Rome.