The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

utter ruin.
Mr. Churchwarden WieLcOoks made use of similar argu-
ments.
The Rev. T. E. THORESBY said unless the Government
came to the assistance of Clerkenwell, many of the
sufferers would not receive anything like an adequate
compensation for the injuries they had sustained. lie
nova inform the right hon. gentleman that the com-
mittee had that morning passed a resolution, which was
as follows :—" The objects for which we apply to the
Government are—firstly, for an amount sufficient to
meet the damage done to the buildings, and, secondly, for
an amount sufficient to grant annuities to those who have
received permanent injury. The reasons which make it
necessary to seek the help of the Government are :-1.
The amount of subscriptions received and probably to be
received, will not be more than equal to the relief of the
sufferers who have been blown out of their homes, having
their furniture and their tools destroyed, and their em-
ployment lost. 2. It is nearly certain that the county is
not liable for any of the damage done, and therefore no
hew can be exPected from that source. It is feared, there-
fore, that unless the Government come to the assistance
of Clerkenwell, the heaviest sufferers will be left to sink in
utter ruin. Inasmuch as the suffering and loss were
caused by an attack of the Fenians on one of her Majesty's
Government
the event is national, and one in which her Majesty's
Government may with great propriety render assistance
in this most deplorable and overwhelming outrage and
emergency."
Mr. E. J. THOMPSON said the committee wished to know
whether, supposing those very generous private subscrip-
tions coming in she, 1 fall short, they might rely upon
obtaining from the Government the implied promise that
they would step in and enable them to place the sufferers
in possession of those social and moral benefits which they
enjoyed before the commission of the outrage. Whether
the Government or the county were liable was a legal
question which would be shortly determined ; but it was
perfectly clear that some one must pay. If they appealed
to the country at large it was probable they might get a
sufficient amount of money, but the question was whether
if such a resource fell short the Government would come to
the rescue.
A conversation then took place as to the tenure of the
possession cf the demolished and injured houses ; after
which,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said: I have
iistened with very great interest to the statement you
have made, and I cannot help expressing my opinion that
you have all shewn a great deal of public spirit in Clerk-
enwell by the way in which you have come forward to
relieve the necessities of the sufferers by the late calamity.
Your worthy incumbent also deserves a great deal of
respect and praise from the country at large for his inde-
fatigable efforts in this matter. I must say that, acting
under the great excitement which naturally arose at the
moment, and the absorbing nature of the outrage, the
Government came forward in order to supply the more
pressing necessities of the sufferers ; but still I cannot help
thinking that the question as to the necessity for funds has
never yet been really put before the country, nor has any
adequate idea yet been given of the actual amount of damage
done. There is, as you are all aware, deep sympathy in the
minds and hearts of the people of this great nation, and I
doubt not you will receive a ready response if those sym-
pathies are only properly appealed to ; but still, at the
same time, I and others with whom I am associated
have felt that we should like to know what amount you
would be likely to require before we come forward with
Governmental assistance. So far as the Government is
concerned, I may at once tell you that the sympathy of
the Cabinet is as fresh as ever ; but I do not think your
cause would be at all injured if you were now at once to
appeal to the sympathies of the country at large. I thhik
some general statement of the effects of the calamity, of
the various classes of sufferers and the several kinds of
sufferers, would do you a vast deal of good and bring you
all the assistance in the shape of funds you may require.
I have no doubt you will take some action in that direc-
tion, and I should think if you were to call another public
meeting you would give the adjoining districts an oppor-
tunity of contributing towards the general fund. I say
general fund, bet wise I consider this a general thing ;
and as you wilt have doubtless to appeal to other districts,
it is just as well that you should take advantage of it at
once. There are also other modes of accomplishing the
same result—such as publishing letters in the various
leading journals signed on behalf of your committee, and
I think the whole of your case should be at once
laid before the public. That at least is my impression,
for, as I told you, I do not think the case of the sufferers
in the various branches of trade and manufacture carried
on in Clerkenwell has yet been netorc the country in that
complete form in which I think it might be. You should
prepare a statement which would not only show the various
classes of the sufferers, but at the same time a fair estimate
of the complete loss sustained and the amount necessary to
supply every little necessity, and then I have not the
slightest doubt you would find that 'ample funds won' 1 be
provided to reach them. Again, I may frankly tell you that
I know persons—in fact, I myself have wished to hand in a
subscription to the funds -who did not know where such
sums as they might wish to have applied to the purpose
were to be sent ; and beyond this we have heard that the
class of people who have suffered would have all their losses
made up out of the funds that have already been subscribed.
Now all you require may, I think, be accomplished by some
of the means I have suggested, so as to put the case
completely and fairly before the country, which, as I
have said, I believe has not yet been done ; and I think
that would best be done by calling a public meeting out-
side Clerkenwell.
A MEMBER of the DEPUTATION : Supposing that after
doing all you have suggested there remains still a de-
ficiency, how is the loss to be made up to these poor
people ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER : I would not con-
template such a state of things, for I am convinced, if
there is a fair appeal made, there will be ample funds
forthcoming to meet every just claim. Of course, the
subscribers would look to the committee of management
for the proper distribution of the .funds. You know
it is not desirable that Government should always inter-
fere in such cases, but this is e ses .of a very peculiar kind,
and I may tell you that reason the Government
acted as they did was pecause tley thought that probably
some days, or even weeks, mightcelapse before a com-
mittee could be appointed and be in possession of an
adequate fund to relieve the sufferers, and as it was very
desirable that a sum sufficient to meet their immediate
necessities should be at once distributed, we thought it in-
cumbent upon us to take immediate action. However, 1
may say this, if you appeal to society and society turns t,
deaf ear to that appeal, then we shall be in a position to
deal with it ; but such action on our part does not appear
to me to be at present necessary. You must all, I think,
feel that the sympathy with the sufferers is very general,
and I cannot help thinking that if you adopt the means
I have indicated you wilT get ample funds to meet every
emergency.
After a brief conversation as to what the committee have
already dune, the deputation thanked the right hon.
gentleman and withdrew.

ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE LEEDS GASWORKS.

LEEDS, Thursday Evening.

A Fenian case has been heard to-day at the Town Hall,
Leeds. Two Irishmen, one named Patrick Brady and
the other John Reilly, were charged with having been
found, under very suspicious circumstances, in the imme-
diate vicinity of the Leeds Gas Company's extensive
works in Meadow-lane, Leeds. It appeared that late on
Christmas night the prisoners and three other men were
seen near the works, moving about in so suspicious a
manner that it was thought advisable to communicate
with the police.. A constable joined in watching the sus.
pected men. One of them was heard saying to
another, " Well, you have been a lamplighter,
and you will know exactly how to do it." The
constable summoned assistance, and when the Irishmen
saw the officers approach all five ran away. They were
followed, and the two prisoners were caught. The other
three managed to escape. When they were taken to the
Town Hall the prisoners refused to give any account of
themselves. They would not say either where they lived
or what business they followed. When before the magic
trates, Reilly stated that he came from Newcastle, am
had at some former period been employed at the Leed
Gasworks. Brady also stated that he had been a labourer
at the works for the la4Lt fiwelvit months. They were botl
remanded for a week.