The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-21 00:00:00

'THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING; DECEMBER 21, 1867

TEE ALLEGED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND
THE UNITED STATES.

The leading diplomatists of Russia are about to
meet at St. Petersburg to discuss the foreign policy

of the Empire. Baron BUDBERG, who proceeds
from Paris to be present, General IGNATIEFF, and

Prince GORTCHACOW are among those who take

part in the deliberations, and they are the three
most concerned. Prince GORTCIIACOW retires from

the Foreign Office, and it is probable that one of

the other two will be his successor. Baron BUD-
BERG represents the progress of peaceful industry,
General IGNATIEFF the more traditional plicy of

Russia, which means a march to the Bosphorous,
and the sway of Asia. The choice of the CZAR
must, to a greater or lesser degree, be influenced
by the meeting, and on that choice, to a greater or
lesser degree, will depend the tranquillity of the
world. A growing uneasiness, extending from
India, is felt in England at the progress of Russia
in the East, and on this subject there is a remark-
able article in that ablest of English reviews, the
Spectator. The band, it says, of 7,000 English
gentlemen who rule in India, and are prepared, on
certain subjects, to act as one man, are visibly being
seized with its periodical fever fit of war, which no Go-
vernor-Generalhas hitherto been able to withstand.
Unless supported in England, Sir JOHN LAWRENCE
is likely to be pressed into the field and pushed into
the mistaken policy of occupying Affghanistan. 'The
Sulieman is India's true frontier, and Calcutta (the
only impregnable city in Asia) its true base, where
the railway system begins and ends. Quettah, which
a great officer was on the point of seizing in defiance
of orders, alleging " that it was better he should
be broke than Englishmen disgraced," is ca-
pable of being made very strong. But of
what value would be such a fort against Rus-
sia, considering that if India be true to Eng-
lish rule, neither Russia, nor all Europe com-
bined, could affect England's position in a
country where armies would be consumed as fast as
they could be poured in. But if, on the other hand,
the natives rose in rear of the English, the nearer
they were to the sea the better. An advance
beyond the natural boundary of the mountains
would be but in aid of the invaders, short-
ening their distance from their base, by that
most desolate and difficult of valleys from the
Khyber to Herat. There, embedded in mountains,
where Hindoos were worse than useless, the inhabi-
tants would surely turn on the occupiers, whether
English or Russian. No policy could be more fatal
than to push the boundaries beyond the present
limits, marked as they are so distinctly by nature.
The Anglo-Indian takes it for granted that the
Peninsula is the object, but he may be in er-
ror ; and, if so, Russia, in pushing her con-
quests up to the British frontier, might prove
a better neighbour than the wild Affghan moun-
taineers. The fever fit extending from India
affects England differently. Russia aims at Con-
stantinople—lndia is a mere feint—so argues the
Englishman. With Coustantinopls; in the pos-
session of Russia, the balance of power is gone
in Europe, and the conviction is strong that other
conquests are but mere outlying posts secured to
aid that grand object of Muscovite ambition.
When the periodical panic approaches it is
heralded by all sorts of rumours, and it must
be amusing to diplomatists who are pursuing
the quiet tenour of their way to learn the deep and
terrible plots attributed to them. Just now Mr.
SEWARD is supposed in many minds to be one of the
central figures of a conspiracy for England's anni-
hilation. 'There is, they believe, a secret treaty be-
tween Russia and the United States. These over-
shadowing Powers of the world act together in
sympathy, bath young, vigorously growing, and
gigantic in proportions. Each has a " manifest
destiny" believed in as an article of faith by its people
—the one to rule the E ist ; the other to rule the
West. There can be no jealousy, bee tuse they
cannot clash, and the enemies of both are those who
fear the predominance of their power. What more

natural than that the two should combine to support
each other's policy. The indications of such a com-
bination are too clear it is alleged, to be mistaken.
Russia has ceded to the United States her territory
in America, thus wedging the British possessions be-
tween two portions of the United States, and throwing
into American hands the harbour of Sit.ka. A. strong
combination having been effected along the Northern
Pacific, Mr. SEWARD has turned his attention to .
the Atlantic, and secured the most central point
in the West Indies as a rendezvous for the American
fleets. While thus strengthening his bands in both
oceans, they add he has given countenance and en-
couragement to Fenianism, and kept open a cause of
quarrel in the A.labama claims. Here then is a mighty
field of operations, embracing the world, and, if
successful, ending in the humiliation and downfall
of Great Britain. Plausible as all this may be,
there are obvious facts overlooked in the calculation.
The United States is the last country in which such
a conspiracy could be carried out. Foreign as well
as other policy is directed by the people. No doubt
Mr. SEWARD and some influential men have means
of giving a bent to the national mind, but only
when the national mind inclines in the direction.
If a nation has to be consulted, there is an end
to secret diplomacy. Any Minister of Foreign
Affairs might form strong notions of the course to be
adopted, and endeavour to work on them, but he lives
at the breath of the people, and he and his notions
may be blown into obscurity by the merest change
of feeling. Russia can act on traditional policy,that is,
the policy of a ruling clique, until a revolution comes
and sweeps that clique away. But the United States
can only act on a national policy, which must
in the main be a policy of justice and moderation,
or it cannot stand. That the United St rtes could
take up as a portion of the national policy to base
self-aggrandisement on the destruction of England
is a mere hallucination. There may be many in
the States who hate England, and they may give a
noisy expression to the feeling, but it finds no place
in the national mind. Russia may seek to extend
its empire to the Archipelago, and even to absorb
India, but America can gain nothing by such moves.
Canada she feels assured will drift into the Union, and
the States are now aware of the difference between a
voluntary absorption and a conquest. Talk, how-
ever, is of little value when compared with acts.
The policy of the United States is bettor enunciated
by the proceedings of the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Navy, which show in the reduction
of armaments the intentions of Government. Gen.
GRANT has just ordered 19,000 men to be struck off
the United States' Army, leaving that lately stu-
pendous force barely 42,000 men. Mr. WELLES
reports that during the past year the navy has been
reduced by 40 vessels and 480 guns. Trade and
finance, dislocated by the war, are in too critical a
position to be trifled with, and the whole effort of
the American people is now being directed to sup-
port the national credit, and to re-establish the
industrial interests of the country, which their keen
intellect tells them is the true foundation of na-
tional prosperity.—Anglo American Times.

NITRO-GLYCKRINE.—Another disastrous accident
bas happened with this recently-introduced blasting oil.
Unless means aro taken by the manufacturers to prevent
explosions causing such lamentable results as that which
occurred at Newcastle on Tuesday a valuable blasting
agent will be lost to miners and quarriers. If this be the
case, however, the manufacturers of it will have themselves

to blame, for explosions of nitro-glycerine during trans-
port or storage ought to be unknown. Nitro-glycerine dis
solved in two or three times its bulk of methylated spirit
is quite inexplosive, and, when required for use, the adli-
tion of water will precipitate the oil, the layer of water
and spirit merely requiring decanting off. The nitro-
glycerine separated iu this way possesses explosive pro-
perties quite as active as the original oil, which, indeed,
is frequently rather improved than otherwise by the treat-
ment. The process we have described is sometimes used.
At Newcastle a part of one canister was found after the
explosion marked " safety solution of nitro-glycerine in
wood naphtha." It is, however, quite certain that there
must have been a quantity of oil present either entirely un-
treated or treated with an insufficient quantity of the pro-
tecting fluid. It should be remembered that nitro-glyce-
rine dissolved in a small quantity of methylated spirit
or of wood naphtha in warm weather might crystalise out
in winter when the temperature approaches the freezing
point of water. Probably this is what occurred. Ship-
ping agents and railway companies should refuse to re-
ceive nitro-glycerine unless protected in the manner
already indicated.— Chemical News.
Two United States' naval vessels, the De Soto
and Monongahela, were wrecked by the recent hurricanes
in the West Indies, and part of the crew of each were
lost.

FURTHER FENIAN ARRESTS.

The following appeared in our latest edition of yester-

day :

Nearly a week has elapsed without any one, ex-
cept the three prisoners already brought before the
magistrate at Bow-street, being arrested, but at
length it is believed that four persons have been

captured who are likely to be found as having
taken a prominent part in the late Fenian outrages.

. _
It was rumoured that they would be brought be-

fore the magistrate at Marlborough-street Police-

court. This idea, however, was erroneous, as all
cases of this description would of course be brought

to Bow-street.

The prisoners were brought before

Sir Thomas Henry, and their names are Nicholas
English, 8, Holland-street, Hanover-square ; Pa-
trick Mulvaney, 20,Sherrard-street,Golden-square;
Wm. Desmond, 10, Cross-street, Regent-street ;

and John O'Keefe, 10, Smith's-court, Great Wind-

mill-street.

Mr. Poland, instructed by the solicitor from the
Treasury, prosecuted.
It was understood there was a fifth man in cus-
tody, but this was to be taken as an entirely sepa-

rate charge.
Mr. Poland said he appeared to prosecute the
four men at the bar for treason-felony. A warrant
had been issued for their apprehension, and they
were taken into custody last night by Sergeant
Cole. With regard to O'Keefe, he must state
that he had been in custody on Saturday and dis-
charged ; but it was thought right to re-arrest him.
He did not propose to do more than give evidence
to justify a remand, and then perhaps they could
be brought up with the others on Monday.
Charles Cole, Police-constable, said—l had war-
rants last night for the apprehension of the four
prisoners. At 10 o'clock last night he went to the
Lion and French Horn in Poland-street, Regent-
street, which is kept by a person named Kava-
nagh. He had known the house before. Ile
had seen all the prisoners at that house

many times. He knew they were particular
friends. English lived in Poland-street nearly
opposite. lie used to keep a leaving-shop in
Dudley-street. Witness did not know whether he
had worked at any trade of late. He knew that
Mulvaney lived in Sherard street ; he is a tailor.
He saw English and Mulvaney at the French Horn,
and 14 or 15 other persons there. He was in plain
clothes. Bunce was with him in the same way.
Other officers in uniform were with him. When
he went in he saw Mulvaney standing up and
English sitting down on a form. Bunce took hold
of English, and witness said, " English, I hold a
warrant signed by Sir Thomas Henry at Bow-street
for your apprehension for treason-felony." He got
up in a great rage. I said, " I have told you we
are police-sergeants, you have no excuse, here is the
police constable in uniform by our sides, to
prove we know what you are." I then touched
Mulvaney on the shoulder, and told him I held a
warrant for his apprehension. He said he did not
understand. I repeated what I had said before,
and added, " You must go with me." English
Ithen became very violent, and was obliged to be
dragged away by force. When he got outside he
I was much more violent than he was before. I then
saw him thrown or knocked down on the floor.

Bunce got hold of him, and some one had hold of
him behind. There was a vast crowd, and En ;list
halloed out, " Now, my boys, for the revolvers.'
After some difficulty I got him to the station. Mul
vaney was quiet. When he cried out, " Now, my
boys, &c.," there was a mob, and I saw about a
dozen round Bunce. There were other constables
outside. He did not know how many there
were. They should not have been able to get them to
the station-house unless they had had a good force. I
then went to 10, Cross-street, Regent-square.
Wm. Desmond lives there. He is a bootmaker and
a volunteer in the 46th Middlesex. I found him in
the second floor front room. I said, " Desmond I
hold a warrant to apprehend you for treason-
felony." He said, " Mr. Cole, nothing of the sort
with me." I said you will have to :go. He said
there is no reason why one Desmond should be bad
that I should be bad. On searching the room he
found a life preserver, rifle, and bayonet. He went
quietly to the station. Searched him and found
nothing on him. At two o'clock he went to Smith's-
court, Windmill-street, and knocked at the first
floor door. I could here there was some one in the
room, and on their refusing to answer I put my
foot against the door and burst it open. I saw
O'Keefe ie a little room. He pretended to be
asleep, but Bailee said, " Get up Jack." He
looked at me and said, " What do you want
now?'' This man, alluding to Buile, took
me on Saturday night. I got turned up for that,
and shall soon get turned for this. I told him what
I apprehended him for now was a different affair
altogether. Ile went quietly to the station. On
Monday, the 17th of December, James Vaughan
called on him at his house, and gave certain in-
formation.
The prisoner Desmond said what Mr. Cole had
stated was quite correct, except that he said, " If
one Desmond was in trouble there was no reason
why he should."
O'Keefe said that they treated him well last night,
but they put a revolver to his head on Saturday.
Mulvaney said that he did.
James Vaughan said that he lived in Farmer-
street, Golden-square. Ile was a tailor. He
knew Timothy Desmond, a man in custody, but
not here to-day: He had known him five years,
and he was a tailor, lie knew Win. Desmond, the
present prisoner. He had known him 18 months.
He knew English, and had known him four or five
years. O'Keefe he had known two years.
O'Keefe—Please to look at me. I don't think
you do know me.
Witness—Yes Ido perfectly well. He thought
that O'Keefe was a shoem %ker. He bad known
Mulvany 18 months. He was a member of the
Fenian brotherhood. He became so in 1865. An
oath was administered, to him by Timothy Desmond,
the other prisoner. The form of the oath was, "I
promise, by the divine NIA of God, to do all in my
power to obey the laws of the Society F. B. to free
and regenerate Ireland from the yoke of England."
When the oath was administered he kissed the
book. Timothy Desmond used the words. The
name of the society was used short--F. B. it means
" Fenian Brotherhood." We were the only per-
sons present. It was at a place called Duck-lane,
Goward-street, Soho. It was in the open air.
He knew that it was the practice only to administer
the oath when there were two together. One sworn
could swear another. If a member swears in a cer-
tain number of men he is raised. He had been in
the habit of frequenting the Lion and French Horn
publichouse, Mrs. Kavanagh's. He had met all the
prisoners there on different occasions. He believed
them to be members of the Fenian brotherhood. Ile
remembered a meeting that took place on a Sunday
three months ago. Before that meeting Timothy
Desmond spoke to him three days previous. Ile
told me then there was going to be a meeting held
at Kavanagh's. lie said that the watch raffle had
got too stale : they were going to try a meeting for
the Church to see how that would take. Mick,
meaning English, had got the room from Kavanagh.
He told witness to be there early, and try to fill the
room before others came in. Witness had contri-
buted to some of these watch raffles. They were
held week after week for the purpose of buying
arms. Timothy Desmond meant, when he said
that the raffles were getting stale, that they should
have a meeting for the purpose of buying arms. He
had attended the raffles himself. Desmond said
that the arms were wanted " damned bad." No-
thing more took place then. Witness saw
Desmond again on the Saturday. He went
into Kavanagh's parlour with him. He said
that a number of the people would be led to believe
that it was for the Church, and we should all try to
be there, as Father O'Connor was going to give a
good lecture. On that Saturday night he saw at
Kavanagh's three now at the bar—English, Mul-
vany, and O'Keefe. They were in his company
and Desmond's in the same room. It was whispered
that there was a warrant out against them. He
made an arrangement to meet Desmond the next
day, and they went to Kavanagh's. When they
got there they saw English, Mulvany, and O'Keefe
there. English was very busy. Father O'Connor
was in the parlour and another man with him.
Desmond asked English if he had not better go
inside. Ile said, " Not yet, for he had got the tem-
perance on, and it would 'not do to have meetings
like that in a public-house with Father O'Connor :
they might have visitors whom they did not care to
receive. They then went inside the Temperance
Hall. That Owe is next door to Kavanagh's.
There were about 150 or more there alto-
gether. He was amongst the number. It was
given out that this was a meeting to build
a church in Ireland. There were no bills
or tickets printed. Ile believed there were
cards, but he did not see them. He had never
seen Father O'Connor before nor since that night,
the prisoner Mulvaney, Father O'Connor, the
Chairman, and some one else on the platform whom
he knew. O'Keefe and English were standing up
against a door till the hall was nearly filled. Then
O'Keefe came inside the hall. He did not see Wil-
liam Desmond there. The hall was full. O'Keefe
and English were on the look out to see no con-
stable or detective should come in, and they were to
give us the tip. No money was paid for entering,
The chairman first spoke, and said they all came
there for a charitable purpose, and to hear a lec-
ture on Ireland which Father O'Connor would give
them, Another party spoke next, and then Father

O'Connor spoke. He said he was not prepared to
give a lecture, and said he would speak to them a
little on Ireland. They all knew, he supposed,
what he cline there for. Of course he came there

to get contributions to build a high church. He
then laughed and the people clapped, which led
witness to believe they all knew what they came
there for. He said it was a mistake for the

people to think that the clergy were against
the people. That they were not. Timothy
Desmond then hollowed out —" How about

_ .
Maynooth." Father O'Connor said, " I was not
prepared for that." He then said, " tell you, al-
though the clergymen take an oath they take it to
be loyal to their God, the Church, and then to their
country." He thea proceeded farther, and O'Keefe
said, " Bravo, you are not like Father Moriarty or
Cullen." At the end of his speech he said, " You
think L.oland almost dead, but believe me she

has got a kick in her yet; and, believe, me, that
kick will 1,2 through the belly of John Ball."
Ile was speaking altogether about fifteen or
twenty minutes. The sentiment as to John
Bull was received with great clapping and
cheering. A collection was then made. Mul-
vaney went round on one side, and another party
on the other side of the hall. The collection. was

made on a plate. It was passed round the room
from form to form. Mulvaney took the chair, and a
vote of thanks was passed to the chairman. They
then left the hall. Ile did not know what they
collected. He subscribed 6d. that night. The

people on the platform who had the money went
inside Kavanagh's. Neither before nor since had
he ever seenO'Connor or the chairman. On the

inesd ay after this he went to John-street, Golden-
square. He went with Timothy Desmond to a
public house there. He went inside. There were
about thirty other men there. He saw all the pri-
soners there except William Desmond. lie did not
know the name of the house. He was told by

Timothy Desmond that the " Boss" was to be there
that night. He understood that to mean the Head
Centre, and he was to come from Manchester. lie
did not come. They waited till 10 o'clock. It
was about half past seven when they went there.
English said that it was no good waiting, that the
" Boss" could not come on any occasion. He said
something very important must have detained him.
He afterwards took part in a raffle. It was osten-
sibly for a destitute widow and children, but it was
in reality to buy arms. Timothy Desmond told
him so. On Tuesday last the 10th December
Timothy Desmond and the prisoner English came
to his house in King's place, and Desmond said that
he had brought Mr. English round with him to know
about the cards, and the money for them that was
owing. \Fitness had purchased some cards, ten
white ones and two green ones. The price of the
white cards was sixpence and the green ones one
shilling. He got three from Timothy Desmond,
but the initials of Mr. English were on the back of
each of them. He had had them .three weeks. The

lot would be 75., and that sum and 6s. that he
had borrowed o Desmond, was owing. He sold
the cards he bought to different parties. The cards
were to aid the wives and families of the Manchester
prisoners. There was to be a meeting addressed
by Clinton Hoey. None of these tickets related to
the Bower Theatre. They said that the money was
wanted very badly, and he told them to come down
on the Friday night. Desmond asked him
whether he would go to Stangate with him.
He said he could not, as he was rather busy.
Witness asked Desmond to come down on Friday
night, and English s:tid, " No, you can't ' • I will
come down." On the Friday, Timothy Desmond
came to him about half-past oue or two. He
halloed out " Ahoy !" He said " Halloo, Ted,
have you been muddling it this morning ?" He
said " No, I have been having a little drop." He
said his son Danny had gone to sea that morning.
He asked witness's wife if she had seen anything
his wife. She said " No." Witness said, "'You
don't mean to say your wife's hooked it then."
He said, " Yes, she has, and by the God that
made me she'll never lay eside me again." My wife
says, " Don't be foolish," and he said " Goody"
and kissed her, and said he was to take a jump. He
did whisper to witness, and told him the trick should
be done between half-past three and four o'clock,
as Anne Justice had found out the right time for the
prisoners to exercise in the yard. He said that it
must be done. Witness asked him what, and he
says to blow up the House of Detention. He says,
" When I am gone, Many, I don't expect you'll
see me no more, unless you do a corpse, and if I am
off and unarrested, the next ',lace will he
Milbank. O'Keefe will do the trick, with Bill
Desmond, for Massey, Corydon, and Davauey.
So, Minny, good bye, and pray for me
when I am Wasted into eternity." Ile
then. squeezed my hand very hard an:l kissed me
and then left. Ile s Lid that Justice hid found it

out by going in with Casey's dinn:•r. Ile said that
witness was not to give any money to his wife, but
to Englis!i, and if he did not come down for it to
give it to no one but his d tughter Polly. His wife
was not near enough to hear. English came to him
that evening exactly 5 minutes past seven o'clock.
He was in a very excited state. He sail, " For

God's sake hinny give me as much as you
can." It was money be meant. He said,
"I want all I can get to send some one off."
Witness asked him who, and he sail, " What,
have you heard." Witness replied " No." He then
said, " The House of Detention is blown well
up." lie said he had not seen Desmond, but he
had promised to meet him in an hour, but he did
not. Witness asked him if he would see him that
night. He said that he did not expect he should.
IVitness then gave him two shillings, and told him
he could not give him more, as he was rather slack.
He then said, " Jimmy, for God's sake, get as
much as you can for me." He then left. He was
there about seven or eight minutes ; he told him no
particulars about the explosion. He saw him in
the following morning in Tyler-street. It
leads from King-street to Carnaby-street.
He went out to buy a newspaper. It was
about half-past eleven o'clock when he came out
of the shop. He saw English looking at the pla-
card. He said " Good morning" to him. Ile
seemed then very excited, and sakraloud, " Diabo-
lical!" which word was on the placard. Lie added,
" We will burn the whole of London before Christ-
mas: that will be more diabolical." Witness asked
if he had seen Desmond : he said no, and wished
him good bye. The same day witness came to
Bow-street at about half past 12 o'clock, and saw
the prisoner Keefe in the street. He was standing
outside the publichouse with another man not in
custody. He saw witness, ian over to him, and
asked him if he had seen English. He replied
that he had seen him in Carnaby-street.
He then ran across the road and joined two men.
Ile went into the publichouse, and they began to
talk about the explosion. Some three or four per-
sons were there. O'Keefe was one. Witness said
it was a bad job about the amount of damage done
as regards life, and that it was horrible to think of
it. O'Keefe replied, " A.nything like can't be done
without a great sacrifice." At that time Wm.
Desmond came in. He said to witness, " Hallo,
Miuny, what do you think of that d— fool? She's
come round to me, accusing the of saying that he
was a coward." Witness asked him who it was.
He replied, " Ted's wife. You never heard me say
it, did you ?" lie replied no. 1% itness said it was
a bad job. Desmond replied that it served them
d— well right, that they had no business to be
there at all ; that we sent him back, and told him to
go home and sleep for an hour. This meant Timothy
Desmond. English then came in. The conversa-
tion was then repeated. English said that they
had sent Timothy back, and he had no busin,a3
there ; that was at the explosion. They then all
left, and witness went home. He went on the Sun-
day to Kavanagh's. Ile saw Desmond, English,
and Mulvaney there. They were at the front bar.
English was drunk. He asked Desmond to come out.
Asked him would he go down with him. Ile replied
he would. We all went outside. lie asked Des-
mond where he was going, and he replied to the
" Boss" to take back an answer to a message. He
said he was in Hooper-street, Westminster, but
they persuaded them not to go, as it might lead
to them being suspected. He said the best thing
they could do was to settle Derby, Stanley, and
Hardy. Desmond said there would not be much
thought of doing the trick for them by the public
as what there was over the last affair. They then
went home. He left Wm. Desmond at his door,
Cross-street, Golden•square. It was at half-past
11 o'clock. Ile was at Kavanagh's that night at
10 o'clock with Mulvany. He was in a pri-
vate bar with some others. Ile called Nick
to have a glass of grog. He drank out of the glass
and gave it to William Desmond. Last Monday
he gave information to Sergeant lie had
known him for a number of years. ‘Vitness knew
he was very clever as a police-sergeant. He told
him he wanted to make a statement.
Cross-examined by Desmoud—l have seen you
at the rafiLs often. 1 did not see you at the meet-
ing NN hen Father O'Connor was there. The raffles
were on Saturday night. I came to Kavanagh's on
Sunday to see who was there. I did come to your
house on Tuesday with two young men. You never
said anything about standing on your own defence.
Cross-examined by English—He believed that
Father O'Connor's meeting was private. He did
not say there were no cards. He said he believed
there were, but he did not see them.
Cross-examined by O'Keefe—There were a lot
of strikers at Kavanagh's at that time. A great
many tailors assemble there. There were a great
many tailors drinking at the bar at the time. I
have heard that there is a reward. Mulvaney said
it was no good his asking any questions,
but he hoped that the magistrate would allow him

to see his wife, as he was in delicate health, and
wanted to arrange about his work.
This was acceded to, and the prisoners were then
formally remanded until Monday next.