The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-23 00:00:00

work and agricultural work, and of course that is
very trying to the complexion under the fiery
sun of Prance. (Laughter.) But lam sure that
neither we in the north of England, nor they
would wish to see the women not taking an active
part in agriculture. (Hear, hear.) It is one of the
reasons why the peasantry in the north of England
are better off than those in the south. (Hear,
hear.) I ant sure that my friend Mr. Roebuck
must excuse me if I venture to say that I trust our
neighbours on the other side of the water will con-
tinue to devote, both sexes, their attention to
agriculture, and will not be deterred from it by
any observations of any person, observations which
I fear were dictated at a moment when the feelings
were distempered by sea-sickness. (Cheers and
laughter.) Gentlemen, I beg leave to thank you
for the kindness with which you have attended to
these few remarks. I am sure we shall better
hear from the judges of the proficiency we have
attained in the agricultural profession, and I hope
you will cordially drink success and prosperity to
the Cumberland and Westmoreland Agricultural
Society. (Loud applause.)
The toast was drunk with all the honours.

Several other toasts having been proposed, the
meeting separated.

THE OUTBREAK AT PORTLAND.

" An Eyewitness " gives the following account of
the outbreak at Portland :
" As it happily falls to the lot of few to witness
the real strategy of war in our own island, I think
an account of a charming little week's campaign
within a few hours of London may be interesting,
especially as it was so admirably managed that not
a drop of blood was shed.
" I found myself on Saturday, the 11th inst., at
Weymouth, and, having taken a conveyance to visit
Portland, I learnt from the driver that the prisoners
in the convict establishment there were reported to
be in a very dissatisfied state, and were expected
to strike for wages,' his belief appearing to be that,
besides being well housed and fed, they received
the usual rate of 12s. or 15s. per week. However,
having taken up my quarters at Portland, I soon
discovered that a dangerous conspiracy was reported
to be organised, and expected to break out on Mon-
day, when the prisoners went to their usual work
in the stone quarries, out of which the Breakwater
is formed. I ascertained that the numerical forces on
the part of the authorities were about 200 civil
guards and warders and 150 Wexford Militia in bar-
racks, on the Vernehill fortification in course of
construction, and about half a mile from the
prison. On the other side the enemy mustered
1,500 strong. To understand the position, I must
explain that the stone has been excavated for a
distance of about 500 yards backwards from the
prison, and rather lower than the level of the
ground upon which it stands, leaving at the
curved face, where the work now proceeds,
steep irregular walls of rock varying from 10 to 50
or 60 feet high, in some places perpendicular, at
others gradually sloping, and at others cut into the
form of steps as the stone has been removed. The
quarries are also separated into. east, west, and
middle divisions, by raised tramways, along which
the stone is conveyed to the Breakwater in wag-
gons. The. Government quarries are also adjoined
by free quarries, and the bridge which carries the
tramway of the latter overlooks the former. On
Monday morning, having pocketed a friendly
revolver, I took up a commanding view of the
operations. At about a quarter-past 7 o'clock
a.m. the convicts might be seen advancing two
abreast, in parties of various numbers, according to
the working arrangements, and each party guarded
by two or more warders in proportion to its respec-
tive strength. The stream poured from the prison
gate in regular order for perhaps 10 minutes, by
which time about 1,000 of the most formidable
ruffians I ever saw had emerged (the remainder
having turned into the various workshops adjoining
the prison), unshackled in any way, and selected
for their strength on account of the nature of the
work to be performed.
"Perfect order seemed to prevail, and little would
a casual observer have dreamed that he stood on the
brink of such a volcano of murder, lawless vie-
, lence, and mischief as the men quietly doffed their
convict frocks and commenced their usual works ;
but it was quite clear to the initiated, from their sullen
appearance, from the state of hesitating expectancy
they were in, and from the delay in commencing
work, that all was not right, and each from the
way he looked from one to the other seemed to
distrust his fellow. The morning was lovely,
sunny, and warm, and the work had proceeded
for some time as usual, when suddenly a loud
yell was raised, and 30 or 40 convicts rushed from
their work, and, as was preconcerted, jumped on a
raised tramway, shouting to their comrades to join
them, and pressing forward to the point of concen-
tration. Not an extra guard appeared upon the
ground, and to all it seemed as if the authorities
were taken completely by surprise •, but at the first
rush the prearranged signal passed from sentry to
sentry, a picket of 12 Wexfords sprang down the side
of the quarry, charged in close order with fixed bayo-
nets along the tramway in shorter time than I can de-
scribe it, and met the band of conspirators, to their
utter astonishment and dismay. They halted, hesi-
tated, and then fled, evidently not relishing the
cold gleaming bayonet and the loaded Enfield, and
were then driven into a corrugated iron shed erected
for shelter in case of rain, where the warders chained
them under protection of the guard. But in the
meantime the bugle was sounded, and armed men
sprang from behind the rocks and out of places of
concealment, and before the main body of convicts
had recovered from their first surprise every salient
point was occupied, the communication between the
quarries cut off, a cross fire established from every
side, and reserves held in readiness to assist in case
of violence on any part of the works. The effect
has been instantaneous; the thrown-down pick and
shovel were resumed with deep and sullen curses,
and the captured prisoners marched off to confine-
ment. As the day passed on small spasmodic
rushes of desperate men took place, but the
swords of the warders and the front of the Wex-
fords repressed any tendency to violence, and
they were easily captured. Some of the con-
victs admit Asir plan to have been to rush from all
outlying parts of the quarries, to concentrate in the
centre, and arm themselves with the tools, such
as hammers, picks, &c., then overpower and murder
the guards, burn the prison, plunder the villages,
and make their escape to the mainland before
assistance could arrive : and I am quite convinced
that had they been allowed even a few minutes to
concentrate a most desperate scene of bloodshed
would have ensued, but all the arrangements were
so admirably made and contingencies provided for
by the director Captain Gambier' and the Governor
Captain Clay (at whose dispoial the military are
placed), and their plans so promptly and vigorously
carried out under the chief warders and their
assistants, that the satisfactory issue I have de-
scribed was attained without the loss of one life.
"On Tuesday all the convicts appeared sulkily
quiet, and proceeded to work as usual, but without
any appearance of alacrity, when suddenly the
same shouting was heard, and a body of between 20
and 30 were seen rushing from the western quarry
towards the centre.. These were promptly met by
a body of Wexfords on the raised road between the
quarries, and the same scene occurred as on the
previous day The conspiracy then assumed the
dogged, sullen form of small numbers at a time or
individuals throwing down their tools and walk-
ing quietly into the sheds and surrenderine.
themselves. This continued throughout the.
day, and partially so on Wednesday, when,
the convicts apparently no longer being able
to xesist the conclusion that they were over-
powered, this subsided. On Thursday, on walking
round, I inquired of an experienced warder if he
thought it was all over, to which he replied that he
judged from their "phizzyhogs' that it was, as they
were all so down in the mouth.' I then inquired
if there were any more likely to leave their work,
to which he replied (pointing out a remarkably
athletic fellow, upwards of six feet high) That
man was wavering, but I have been trying to point
out the folly of it, and hope he will not commit him-
self.' I then asked what description of a man he
was, and received for answer the follow*. curious
reply He is a natural Irishman, Sir, with grey
eyes, as -wicked as a foumart, and has often been in
trouble.'

" Having ascertained that it was decided to send
the captured prisoners to Milbank prison, I was
curious to see their bearing after they had, as they
fancied, irretrievably committed themselves in the
eyes of the authorities. Accordingly, I waited.till
they were marched out, lightly chained by the
hand to each other, and having accompanied them
along the road, it was Only then that I fully appre-
ciated the extent of the danger which had been
averted, or understood what would have happened
had they obtained the mastery. I can only com-
pare them to a gang of demons baffled in a con-
spiracy against mankind, steeped in crime, and
openly displaying their atrocity, villany, and im-
potent rage at the failure of their plot. But I will
not dwell upon the conduct of these wretches, who
I conclude were not even the. worst, as the ring-
leaders were reser'ved in prison to be flogged.
4, The Wexford Militia, under Captains Pigott
and Alcock, also the warders-and civil guard, deserve
the highest commendation for their steadiness, alac-
rity, and forbearance under the most irritating and
trying circumstances
the
out to the utmost ie stringent
fire a shotentorderscoonrls•eayeriedfictoe
all by the authorities, not to
c
snt urgent, tno eel s i teyr e d otm,
ipne lml e
tahleimfed
. unolenses
to.stand bc-
s
the tuhbealinteor
bayonets of his men and the convicts to
twgen
presence, expressed his determination