The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

The Fenians at Chester.

The following is a summary of the information
now in the hands of Mr. Fenwick, the chief con-
stable of Chester, the doubtful points of which ap-
pear to have been in a great measure confirmed by
the experience of the last two days :
The Fenians have recently organised in New
York a band of 50, whose special mission it is to
proceed to England and Ireland, and endeavour to
resuscitate the dying brotherhood. These men are
understood to have arrived in England. Fifteen
of them are stationed in the metropolis, and there
form a Directory. Eight of them are ex-officers of
the American army. There are also similar Direc-
tories at Liverpool, at Manchester, at Leeds, at
Glasgow, and at Birmingham. For some time past
these Directories have been making arrangements

to concentrate their forces upon some place which
was to have been named on Friday. This was not
done, but a meeting was called for Sunday at
Liverpool, and it was then resolved to attack Chester
Castle the following day, seize the arms deposited
there, cut the telegraph wires, tear up the rails, and
make good their escape by rail to Holyhead, and
trust to fortune to get across to Ireland. What
arrangements were to be made for their reception
in Ireland has not transpired. It was also under-
derstood that they would attack the Banks and
jewellers' shops. It was also given out freely at
the meeting why Chester Castle was selected. Up
to midnight on Sunday Chester was not protected
by more than half-a-dozen soldiers, on guard at the
Castle, and twice as many unarmed policemen in
the city. Under their protection were no less than
9,000 stand of arms (a few weeks ago there were
30,000, but the bulk have been removed for con-
version into breech-loaders), 4,000 swords, and
900,000 'rounds of ammunition, in addition to
powder in bulk. There were also stored iu another
part of the Castle 900 stand of arms belonging to
the Militia ; and in a small building in the city were
200 stand of arms belonging to the Volunteers. It
was stated that the whole force stationed at the
Castle was one company of the 54th Regiment, and
that they were disaffected. It was stated in proof
of this that they had admitted Fenian officers,
shown them through the barracks, the armoury,
and, in fact, permitted them to acquaint themselves
thoroughly with the place.
The first intimation received in Chester of the
intended raid was at 12.30 a.m. on Monday by Mr.
Fenwick from Mr. Superintendent Ryde and De-
tective Inspector Carlisle, of Liverpool, and was to
the effect that an ex-officer of the American army,
who produced his commission as an officer in the
Fenian service, had revealed the whole plot to them.
The Mayor of Chester lives at Broughton-hall in
Flintshire, so Mr. Fenwick at once saw Mr. Maysmor
Williams, the Deputy-Mayor, and from him went
to the commandant of the detachment at the Castle.
Prompt measures were taken, and the commandant
telegraphed to the Assist.-Adjutant-General at
Manchester for a reinforcement. They next went
to the station, and gave instructions for the trains
to be watched as they arrived. At 2.30 a batch of
30 fellows arrived from Liverpool, and were evidently
under the command of au officer. They marched
up and down the platform by twos and threes, and at
length took possession of the first-class refreshment
room. They were soon followed by further detach-
ments of from 30 to 60, from Liverpool and some
from Manchester, all of similar appearance. These
dispersed quietly into the town. Early in the morn-
ing the Volunteers were called out, but as there was
some doubt whether they could act except in case of
invasion a telegram was sent to Mr. Walpole, and
his answer was that Volunteers ought not to be
employed in their military capacity in quelling
disturbances, but in point of.. law they would be
justified in acting as individuals in aid of the civil
power, and in a serious emergency they might use
their arms if necessary. The Volunteers were there-
upon sworn in as special constables. By the assist-
ance of the police at Liverpool and Manchester the
Chester police were kept apprised of the different
departures of suspected bodies of men. At 3 o'clock
it was ascertained that over 500 of these men had
arrived. About the same time it was ascertained
that a number of their officers had been in Chester
over night. Early in the afternoon the strangers
became much bolder, and assembled in threatening
bodies. Fortunately at this time a company of the
54th Regiment arrived from Manchester, and the
police are strongly inclined to think that this fact
saved the Castle from an attack early in the evening,
Affairs went on quietly up to 4 o'clock, when a train
from Manchester and Staleybridge brought a rein-
forcement of 400 in one batch. Later on 40 men
men arrived from Halifax, and 70 from Leeds.
Shortly after 5 it was ascertained that the Fenians
numbered from 1,400 to 1,500. A number of men
who were supposed to have been leaders collected at
a house where the police had been informed they
would meet for orders.

Spies and scouts had been sent out among the
Fenians early in the day, but found them extremely
reticent, and could get no clue from them. At 6
p.m. those souts brought information that the men
were forming in column on the Liverpool and other
principal roads.

Captain Smith, the county chief constable, had
draughted a body of the county constabularyiuto the
Castle to assist the military. Telegrams were for-
warded from time to time to the Secretary of State.
A copy of the following anonymous letter sent to
Major Grey, chief of the Liverpool Police, on
Monday morning, was received by Mr. Fenwick in
the evening, and coincided singularly with the in-
formation already in his possession :

"Dear Sir,—You could do your country much service,
as at present there are 600 mon in Chester, to be increased
by night to 700, to take the arms and ammunition of the
garrison ; and, as the garrison is disaffected, it is supposed
they will do it with it little loss. They are to leave Bir-
kenhead by every train from the first in the morning. All
to ba there by seven at the latest. They leave in numbers
of from 50 to 60 in every train."

At night Mr. Johnson, the Mayor, convened a
public meeting, which was most earnest, and over
500 citizens were sworn in as special constables, and
paraded the town in large bodies throughout the
night. The following magistrates—The Mayor, Mr.
Maysmor Williams, Major French, Mr. C. E.
Walker, Mr. A. Potts, Mr. Frost, Mr. R. Frost,
Mr. Rogers, and others, were in constant attend-
ance for the purpose of swearing in special consta-
bles, and for advising on the action to be taken. It
was deemed advisable to call out the yeomanry, and
for that purpose the permission of Lord Grosvenor
and Lord de Tabley was telegraphed for. Lord
Grosvenor replied that he would come down by the
night mail, and accordingly he and Lord Richard
Grosvenor arrived in Chester at 12 48 on Tuesday
morning, and remained with the magistrates through
the night. Before leaving London Lord Grosvenor
communicated with the Commander-in-Chief, who
at once telegraphed that he had ordered a battalion
of Guards by special train to Chester. During the
night the Fenians evidently came to the conclusion
that the preparations were too much for them, and
as the night advanced parties of tens and twenties
were seen leaving on foot for Warrington and other
neighbouring towns.
Although all danger of any serious attempt had
died away after the town's meeting, the police were
kept on duty, as many suspicious characters were
still to be seen in the streets. About 9 o'clock yes-
terday morning two haversacks with green bands
and a quantity of ball cartridges of private make
were discovered on a piece of vacant land close to
the railway station. Shortly after this three or four
suspicious-looking fellows were arrested in the sta-
tion yard, and being unable to give any satisfactory
account of themselves were sent back to Manchester,
whence they said they had come. After this all was
quiet again, except the assembly of a large crowd in
the station yard, until a quarter to 11 o'clock, when
a special train conveying the Ist Battalion of Scots
Fusilier Guards drew up, and as they formed on
the platform, 500 strong, they were received by the
inhabitants with a cheer which showed how much
their anxieties were removed by their arrival. They
were divided into two detachments, one of iv Lich was
accommodated at the refreshment-room of the Rail-
way Hotel, and the other at the Assembly Rooms
until arrangements could be made for quartering
them. All Chester turned out to welcome their de-
fenders, and it was conceded on all hands that with

HER MAJERTY, &c•

OSBORNE, Feb. 12.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon with
Princess Louise, and her Majesty and her royal
highness walked and rode on ponies this morning.

THE PRINCE OF \VALES AND THE ROYAL HAR-
RlERS.—Yestorday morning, at ten o'clock, his Roya
Highness the Prince of Wales, accompanied by tho Prince-.
de Teck and attended by Major Teesdale, arrived at Wind o
sor from London, and drove to New Lodge, the residenc
of the Belgian Minister (M. Van de Weyer), where the
meet had been fixed for the Prince's harriers. After
hunting for some time on the land in the vicinity, their
Royal Highnesses, who had enjoyed some capital sport,
hares being plentiful, returned to town.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.—Their Royal High-
nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duko of
Edinburgh, attended by the Marchioness of Carmarthen,
Major Teesdale, and the lion. E. Yorke, visited the Strand
Theatre last night.
Prince Soltykoff arrived at his residence in Eaton-
square last evening.

The Marquis of Hartington leaves town this
morning for Melton Mowbray.
The Earl and Countess of Clarendon will leave
Grosvenor-crescent on Friday for The Grove, near Wat-
ford, Herts.
The Earl of Bradford comes to his mansion in
Belgrave-squaro to-day from Weston Park, Salop. Tho
countess and family are not expected for a few days.

The Earl of Abingdon and the Ladies Bertie aro
expected in town the latter end of the week from Wytham
Abbey, Borks, for the season.

The Countess Dowager of Essex received a select
party at dinner last evening, at her residence in Belgrave-
square.

Lord and Lady Penrhyn and the Hon. Misses
Pennant, have arrived at Wicken Park, Stoney Stratford,
from Penrhyn Castle, Bangor.

Lady Chelmsford, who has been confined to her
residence in Eaton-square for a few weeks past by indis-
position, is now much better.

Lord and Lady Suffield are expected in town to-
morrow, from Gunton Park, Norfolk, for the season. _

Lord and Lady Belper and family arrived in
Eaton-square, last evening, from Kingston Hall, Notts, for
the season.

Lord and Lady Skelmersdale are expected in
town in a few days, from Windsor, en routs to Latham
House, Lancashire.

THE LONDON YACHT CLUB.—A ball was given
last night by this club in Willis's Rooms, St. James's,
which, as usual with the entertainments of this club, was
very numerously attended. The company began to arrive
shortly after nine o'clock, and before midnight the large
ball-room, with which every one is so well acquainted, was
thronged. The commodore, vice-commodore, and other
officers of the club were most assiduous in their attention
to their numerous visitors, and, both in respect to the de-
corations of the room and the excellence of the supper, the
entertainment was all that could be desired. Coote and
Tinney's band was present, and in saying this it is need-
less to add that those who devoted themselves to dancing
were satisfied to their heart's content.

NEW POLITICAL WEEKLY MAGAZINE.

The St. Stephen's. No. I. Richard Bentley.

So excellent is the idea of this new periodical that
our only-regret now is that it has not long before now
been in existence. In other words, we should be de-
lighted to know that we had now ranged upon our
bookshelves, within easy reach for reference At
any time we pleased, a long array of volumes, re-
cording thus, week by week, month by month,
year by year, the annals of our political history
exactly after this fashion, just as those annals are
jotted down, hot and hot, sitting after sitting,
session after session, Parliament after Parlia-
ment. Its second title explains its character with
the utmost possible distinctness—The St. Stephen's,
being "A Weekly Chronicle of Politics and a full and
accurate Report of Proceedings in Parliament."
There is an indication, by the way, in regard to it,
if not in the terms of the Prospectus, at any rate in
those of Subscription, that it will be sessional in its
appearance. It is of the compactest size—being 01
a handsome octavo. It is issued, each weekly num-
ber, at a shilling. It extends to about a hundred end
fifty pages, including among them twenty pages of
a very acceptable Appendix—this Appendix includ-
ing within it the Roll of the Lords Temporal and
Spiritual, a List of the House of Commons, and
upon the last page of this, the initial number of
the publication, a list of The Cabinet. A. rivet
view of the new Palace at Westminster is the appro-
priate device upon the cover of The St. Stephen's.
Heartily we wish it success, for it deserves it. It
is the result of a capital idea admirably well carried
out. It cannot possibly prove otherwise than most
acceptable to every Peer and every member of the
House of Commons, to every earnest politician, and
—we can certainly speak for ourselves-4o every
energetic journalist.

Heartsease : A Bouquet of Love Lyrics. Pp. 12$•

T. C. Davidson.
On the eve of Valentine's Day let us commend
to notice this really charming little bijou of exotic
verse, culled from the Poets of all Ages and of
all Countries. The collector, whoever he or ohe
may be, is as the honey-bee that has been
gathering honey all the day (and night, too) from
many an opened as well as opening flower, with °,
result so aromatic and delectable of its kind, that
those who taste of it will certainlybe enabled to
prove each shining hour by experiencing thereby a°
therefrom a genuine sense of enjoyment. The
saccharine sweetness of it is—perhaps, if indulge'
in to excess a little cloying —but, if dipped into her°
andathere with moderation, delicious and melliflunull"
It is the very souvenir fur a votary of St. Valentine.

ANOTHER POPULAR EDITION OF LORD LYTTOO
cc NOVELS AND ROJIANCES.,I_The popular edition
—we should call it at once par excellence—has itlsAt
been commenced by the Messrs. Routledge•
shilling edition, printed in good, clear, large WI
on excellent paper, in a limp cover, embellished wit
a woodcut likeness (really a likeness) of its illustrioli t
author, our English Sir Walter, one Britit
Boccaccio. "Night and Morning," one of his 10"
exquisite productions, leads the way, and extends'
in its present form, to a pocket volume of 373 poges
o,
—pages that it is in every sense a delight to re to
The subsequent volumes are announced
appear at bi-monthly intervals—that is to 0313/0
on the Ist and 15th instant until t
whole shall be completed. It is an inolelll,so
privilege to the reading public, no doubt, On,
enabled thus to obtain for a single shilling a 11"
rary masterpiece, such as " Night and Blorailliy
such as " The Last Days of Pompeii," such as oe
Novel," such as " Ernest Maltravers." it
cannot help thinking and feeling also, that while a
is a privilege to the reader, it is a privilege an be
most enviable privilege to the author also jo
thus widely read wherever the English lang?..,°gitecl
spoken, in palace and in cottage, in the
Kingdom and all her vast and scattered COlo;e50
brought thus home to the " businesse and bus°
of the great mass of his fellow-countrymen.
ntleet-
CROOKHAVEN TELEGRAPII—This line, co- iood
i°
ing Crookhaven with Cork, which was temporarily e of
in October last, has been reopened for the tronsniiss.adap
messages. Watchmen are stationed at the Brow-10'00g
and night to report all steamers from America and P 30,14,
vessels, and advices can now be forwarded direct to
pair
Queenstown, Liverpool, and London. The office 3.t,_„ At
manway is re-established, and an additional satio"
Skibbereen will shortly bo opened.
tO til°
THE PADSTOW LIFEBOAT.—In addition tto
200 guineas, the National Lifeboat 00
Institution
1n 13.wijo
Padstow for the relief of the families of the fly(' l! also
recently perished off that place, the society
granted a sixfold reward to each of the eight I °; of
were saved, and the like sum. to the representsti
those Who were drowned.