The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-14 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 13, 1867.

Those who have hitherto persisted, in spite of
warning, in declaring that the Fenian movement or
agitation was not so extensive as it was reported to
be have had a contradiction which they will not
easily forget. A scene of almost unparalleled ex-
citement and confusion took place yesterday in the
neighbourhood of Clerkenwell. No blame can at-
tach to any one, for the daring and the cunning of
the attempt were quite beyond calculation. In-
formation bad been received in the morning by the
police authorities to the effect that an attempt at
rescue would be made on behalf of the Fenian
prisoners then in custody at the House of Deten-
tion. Detectives were, in consequence, placed in
the streets adjoining the prisons ; but, although the
miscreants who succeeded in perpetrating the out-
rage were actually observed, no effort was made to
stop them, because they were to all appearances
engaged in the ordinary traffic of business. Look-
ing at the subject as we do now is, of course, very
different to being mixed up in the affair at the
time, because so much may be effected in a moment,
and cause such serious consequences, as it takes
long to realise and to get over. Some persons—
three men and a woman according to some ac-
counts—were seen to wheel a barrel into Corpora-
tion-lane, and they stopped outside the prison wall,
where some say a fuse was inserted into the
hole where the bung had been, and immediately a
most terrific explosion took place. It is impos-
sible to exaggerate the fearful scene, for it almost
surpasses description in its suddenness and horror.
Such was the shock that the wall of the prison was
blown down, and the effect was felt at a great dis-
tance. The most deplorable result of the mur-
derous attempt was in Corporation-lane, which was
chiefly tenanted by women and children at that
hour, and when the persons in the neighbourhood
rushed to the scene of action they were met by most
dreadful sights. It is difficult to say how many lives
have succumbed to this dastardly attempt, but at
any rate the number threatens to be a considerable
one. Meanwhile, we know that there is a long list
of sufferers in the hospitals, besides those whose
property has been destroyed. The most deplorable
feature in the case has been the destruction of little
children, who have been frightfully mangled and
injured. As for those unhappy victims they must
not be neglected, and, indeed, we have no fear that
sufficient efforts will-not be made to repair, so far
as money can do, the misfortunes they have
so undeservedly met with.

As for the perpetrators of this outrage their
cunning would have over-reached themselves had
their immediate object been gained, for if the
prisoners had been at the time of the explosion in
the usual yard for exercise they would have been
the first victims of the calamity themselves. The
chief thing that attracts notice is the cruel spirit so
manifestly displayed in these Fenian outrages ; it in-
deed almost surpasses belief in these more moderate
days in which we live. At any rate, whatever be the
cause of this vindictive course of action, the Executive
will have to meet it and deal with it in the proper
spirit, and neither be too severe nor too lenient.
By this time, through the length and breadth of the
land, there will be one common opinion as to
Fenianism, and the indignation felt will need no
efforts of description to do it justice. The only way
to avenge for the reckless and vindictive line of
action thus taken, is to suppose that the object of
the leaders of the Fenian conspiracy is to inspire
fear and spread consternation among the commu
nity, and those who obey their mandates display a
zeal and ingenuity worthy of a better cause. As to
their daring outrages being successful beyond the
moment that is quite out of the question ; but what
we have to do with is the prevention of any more
of their attempts, and the punishment of those
who have committed themselves to so fearful an
extent in the prosecution of their mad designs.
As to Fenianism itself honest men of all shades of
political opinion, of every sect and creed, can feel
but contempt and abhorrence for it, and all heroism
or patriotism, or whatever other name it was called
by by its advocates, has been sufficiently dis-
pelled in the barbarity of an attempt which
spared neither sex nor age, and confounded
in the sacrifice all who might happen to be
in the vicinity, no matter how little they
had to do with the matter in dispute.
With the spectacle of this, the crowning effort of
Fenian outrages before us, it is enough to declare
that justice Must take its course, and that all hope
of leniency being any longer extended to those
who follow such a course is over. The majesty
of English law must not allow these reite-
rated attempts to rescue prisoner/5 who have