The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-06 00:00:00

poses of drilling. Possibly the detectives were wail

ing to capture a large number thus occupied when,
the reported arrival of Stephens bringing matters
to a crisis, they received the Lord Lieute-
nant's warrant to make the arrests, which they
did yesterday, when the three sham doctors,
whose names are probably assumed, were con-

veyed to Mountjoy Prison. Several other im-
portant arrests were made about the same time.
Among others, Patrick O'Connor, brother of James
O'Connor, bookkeeper in the office of the kid,
People, who was sentenced at the late Special Com-
mission to 7 years' penal servitude. The prisoner
was an assistant auctioneer in Garland's sale-room,
Merchants-quay. lie was arrested at 17, Queen-
street, and with him a young man named Richard
Bracken, lately a clerk in Messrs. Mander's brewery,
from which he was dismissed in consequence of his
neglect of business and suspected connexion with
the Fenian conspiracy. At this place the police
found a quantity of newly-cast bullets of the most
improved pattern. These two parsons were also
lodged in Mountjoy prison. Another wasJ. Hicke3 ,
who had been imprisoned on the same charge, and
had but recently been let out on bail, and who seems
to have at once resumed his treasonable practices,
according to the information received by the police.
At all events, they considered him a dangerous per-
son to be at large. This person, who is a plasterer,
was arrested at Kingstown, where several other per-
sons were taken into custody. Among them J.
Clancy, a shipper's agent in the employment of Pal-
grave and Co., and 11. Byrne, a teacher, who had
also been liberated on bail. N. Walsh a labourer,
had been arrested there on Sunday night.
The press was excluded from the meeting of Cork
magistrates; but the substance of what was said
and done has transpired, and was to the following
effect :—Lord Ferwoy strongly urged the adoption
of a memorial to Government praying them to order
the swearing in of special constables in every part
of the country, and impressed ou the magistracy to
set the example by enrolling themselves as special
constables in their respective districts, and inducing
their neighbours to do the same. lie thought such a
step would effectually prevent all danger. The Earl
of Bandon moved the adoption of the memorial, and
Mr. N. Duncan seconded the proposition, which
was opposed by Mr. L. J. Shea, of the Rennies,
who stated that their true course was to ask the
Government to grant just and conciliatory mea-
sures to Ireland, particularly to the tenant-farmers,
who h;.l so much to complain of in their present
depressed condition. Such a step as that now about
to be adopted by the meeting was calculated to ex-

cite great dissatisfaction among the people. Mr.
C. O'Brien supported Mr. Shea's opinions in simi-
lar remarks. The great majority were utterly averse
to entertaining the proposition, on the ground that
they were not there for any political object, the
subject introduced by Mr. Shea being of that cha-
racter ; that they were met solely to preserve the
peace of the country, and they would not entertain
any other topic. The chairman decided in favour
of the majority, and the proposition that the me-
morial be agreed to and forwarded to Government
was agreed to, Messrs. L. J. Shea D. O'Sullivan
and C. O'Brien dissenting. , ,
A man named O'Callaghan, was brought up at
Crossheady Police-office, Cork, on Monday, for
using seditious language, and telling the policeman
who took him into custody that the people would
have revenge for all the tyranny practised on them
when Stephens arrived. Ile came from Scotland,
had plenty of money, and no occupation. He was
remanded for eight days. It is stated that the
streets of the city of Cork were never so quiet as
they are at present. There is an utter absence of
the rowdyistn that hitherto prevailed,
especially on
and Monday mornings, T
Sunday nights
o some
nervous persons this extraordinary quiet is ominous,
like a dead calm before a storm.
A similar remark
might be made with respect to
Dublin, in which there is almost a complete absence
of crime, which, however, has been the case for
some time. The Commission of Oyer and Terminer
was opened yesterday by Judges O'Brien and Chris-
tian and the Lord Mayor. Mr. Justice Christian
addressed the city and county Grand Juries, and
said that in the city there were but eight cases to
come before them, all of an ordinary character, and
that in the county the judges had barely escaped
the compliment of white gloves, there being but one
case.

The Waterford Chronicle says :
" The Lord Lieutenant of the county of Waterford has
called a meeting of magistrates to assemble at Dungarvan
on Saturday next, for the adoption of measures to insure
the preservation of the peace of the county."
The young man Charles Jones, printer, arrested
at Enniskillen for sedition, has been discharged. So
also has the young gentleman arrested at Drogheda,
who used seditious language in a railwry carriage.
The magistrates at Dunleer, county Louth, dismissed
the charge against him, but cautioned him " not to
do it again."
A deputation from the Non-subscribing Presby-
terians waited on the Lord Lieutenant yesterday
and presented an address, in which they said—
" We, the committee of the Association of the Non-sub-
scribing Presbyterians of Ireland, comprising four ecclesi-
astical bodies, distinct in jurisdiction,but unanimous in ad-
herence to the great principles of the Reformation, viz., the
sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, the right of private
judgment, and the rejection of human authority in all
matters of faith—embrace the opportunity afforded by our
first meeting since your Excellency's appointment as Lord-
Lieutenant to tender to your Excellency, on our own behalf
and in the name of the churches which we represent, our
humble and dutiful congratulations on your attainment of
the high office to which you have be called by her Most
Gracious Majesty."- en
They declaredo themselves to be the friends of
civil and religion liberty, and of the national system
of education and the gneen's University—systems
as beneficial in resultstheirrtle3tias they were admirable
in their conception ; al
viewed with regret
the recent inroads up'm them.
They said, in conclusion—
" We entreat your E
3xaceeellaenicoya
ntozpyoartl
sout of us
3 to our Most
GraciousSovereignasp b
sincerely
attached attached to the constitution of these real)lj ,
gratcful fur the many blessings which, uncle; DinviZelele'llY
deuce, we enjoy under her mild and benignant reign." -
His Excellency thanked them and added
It is in your power to render considerable assistance to
the Government by exercising the influence which you
naturally possess over those around you, and I receive
with great satisfaction your assurance that your efforts will
be directed to that end. From your position as ministers
of the Gospel you have especial advantages in estimating
the results of education in this country, and the opfttions
you express are therefore tho more valuable. It is a
subject to which too much importance cannot be attached,
for on tho impression received in early years must in a
great measure depend the future conduct of all classes;
and it must be the wish of alt to whom the social condition
of this country is a matter of interest, as it will bn the 1111-

remitting object of the Government that its benefits should
be as widely diffused and rendered as extensively avail-
able as possiblo."
In the Dublin district the number of deaths from
cholera registered during the week was 65, being an
increase of 12 on the number during the previous
week ; one half of this increase is attributable to
the fresh outbreak of the disease in the Eathmines
district, in which six deaths from cholera were re-
gistered. Cholera and choleraic diarrhoea are very
prevalent in the town of Wexford.

EVENING.

Two blacksmiths named Kearney were arrested
in Dublin to-day, also a man named Connolly ; at
Kingstown, Mr. Mackay, a respectable grocer, was
arrested. They were all lodged in Mountjoy Prison
under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. The
Governor of Richmond Bridewell has applied for a
military guard to protect that prison. Increased
accommodation for troops is being provided in
Dublin Castle.

Three persons named Wilson, Dillon, and Ste-
phenson were arrested in Mullingar on Tuesday
under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

MALTA, Dec. 1.---Her Majesty's screw storeship
Mega3ra, Capt. Dunn, left Fort on Friday morning
for Spithead. Capt. Griffin, 84th Regiment, 53 in-
valids and time-expired men from the garrison, a
large number of naval supernumeraries, Mr. Hebden,
Mr. Baker, and Mr. Wroot, proceeded. in her. There
have been no other movements in the fleet. The
Tyrian, gunboat, Lieut.-Com. P. J. Murray, will
probably go back soon to Candia to be stationed
there, as her light draught of water renders her
especially fit for such service. The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamer Ceylon, which arrived
on the 29th ult. from Southampton, had a case of
smallpox on board, and consequently on entering
port hoisted the yellow flag. As smallpox already
exists in this island, but happily to a very limited
extent, she was admitted to pratique, and the invalid
taken on shore. The case was of a severe nature.
We learn by telegraph from Constantinople that a
fresh outbreak of several cases of cholera occurred
there on the 21st ult. In Sicily the disease is steadily
decreasing. In consequence of official information
received the officer administering the Government
has directed that quarantine on Algeria be increased
to 15 days, and that arrivals from Smyrna be sub-
jected to a quarantine of five days. The quarantine
on vessels with a foul bill of health from London and
Liverpool has been reduced to five days, but no offi-
cial notice has yet been issued to that effect. The
Tunisian Government steamer Bechir, which arrived
here to load wheat for that Government, was a few
days ago seized at the instance of three Maltese
merchants for claims against the Bey of Tunis.
Telegrams were immediately despatched to Tunis
acquainting the Government with the fact, and the
vessel has since been liberated in consequence of
arrangements come to with the Bey's Government.
The Wivern, 4, turret sloop, Capt. llug`a, Bur-
goyne, V.C., and the Research, 4, armoured sloop,
Commander Grant, will be readyfor sea by the 10th
inst., and expect sailing orders for the coast of Ireland.
The Hector, armoured frigate, Capt. Luard is
complete in her outfit, and is expecting orders to sail
to-morrow to join the Irish coast squadron.
Capt. James G. Goodenough, R.N., appointed to
the Victory, flagship at Portsmouth, for service in
the iron frigate Minotaur, has joined the former I
ship, and entered upon his duties iu superintending
the outfit of the Minotaur, as flagshipof the Channel
squadron on its assembling at Spithead in May
next. Capt. Goodenough, who is only 36 years of

age, has been employed over 19 years at sea. He
entered the navy in 1844, and after serving some
time in the Excellent gunnery ship, was advanced

to lieutenant June 23, 1851, and from September
following until May, 1854, served on the south-east
coast of America in the Centaur. He was next
employed for a short time in the Calcutta, 84, at
Devonport, and from February, 1855, to the close
of the Russian War served in the Hastings. From
September, 1856, to August, 1857, he was senior of
the Raleigh, 50, on the East India and China sta-
tion, and from the latter date until promoted to
commander, February 26, 1858, served in the Cal-
cutta, 84, on the same station. Ile continued in

the Calcutta as second-captain until July, 1859 ;
and in September following was appointed to com-
mand the Renard, which he retained until Septem-
ber, 1861. He was second-captain of the Revenge,
73, attached to the Channel Squadron, from July,
1862, until po3ted, May 9, 1863, and at the close of
that year was despatched to America to report on
the artillery used in the contest then going on.
From November 1, 1861, to April 19, 1866, lie
commanded the Victoria, 102, flag-ship, in the
Mediterranean.

In the report of the trials of the Palliser elon-
gated sl'ot at Portsmouth on Monday, reported in
The San of Tuesday, there was this somewhat re-
markable circumstance, that of the total of seven
shots fired from the 7-inch gun at 6-inch and 7-inch
plates bolted on 42 inches of solid timber, while six
of these shots effected no more penetration than
might reasonably be expected from iron shots of the
ordinary character, the seventh shot not only pierced
through the 6-inch plate, but also passed through
the 42 inches of solid timber behind the plate. It
was thought by some present at the trial that this
startling difference in the results might be owing to
some defect in the wood backing or previous weak-
ness at the back of the plate itself. The plates, how-
ever, have now been taken down from the timber
bulkhead, and au examination of both the plates
and the timber of the bulkhead proves both to have
been perfectly sound, and therefore offering the
greatest possible amount ofresistance, in their form
and
weight of structure) to the imp act of the shot.
The effect of Palliser's shot upon iron plating must,
therefore,
according
plates
ctleinar.
w a
gtho the data obtained from the
trials on board the T underer, be of a very irregular
and uncertai
cter. Some experimentalfiring
results
brittle
at armour la
begun some months since at
Portsmouth with three Whitworth
shell made from
compressed steel.
The obtained, while prov-
ing the metal rather tn
pene-
tration of a ship's side, for coKaplete , nevertheless promised to be
of a highly important character, and were to be re-
sumed with other shells of a less brittle nature. They
have, however, never been resumed, nor has any
explanation been given of the cause. These shells
carried large bursting charges, and Mr. Whitworth
stated at the time of the trial that the shells could
be made from tough or brittle metal, as might be
found desirable.
Intelligence was received yesterday morning at
Portsmouth-dockyard of the stranding of the Swedish
corvette of war Oradd on the West Kentish coast,
between Dungeness and Ityde harbour, at a part of
the beach marked on the Channel charts as Jowry
Gap. Subsequent reports received in the after part
of the day stated that the vessel had been abandoned
and that ten lives were lost. A telegram from the
Admiralty to the authorities at Portsmouth re-
quested information relative to the tugboats in the
port and other disposable steam power which could
be sent to the Oradd's assistance, but a strong south-
west gale and thick rain precluded all thought of
assistance being sent to the unfortunate vessel had
vessels been available at Portsmouth for the purpose.

The Admiral Codrington, iron schooner, belong-
ing to a private firm at Rochester, having recently
boon sunk in Chatham harbour in consequence of
striking against the claw of some of the Govern-
ment moorings, is ordered to be placed in No. 4

dock at Chatham, and repaired at, the expense of

the Crown.
A telegram was received at Aldershot on Monday
evening ordering the Tlst highland Light infantry,
Col. W. llope, C. 8., and the 48th (Northampton-
shire) Regiment, Col. Aplin, to be held in readiness
to move to Ireland at a moment's notice. The heavy
baggage of each regiment was ready for conveyance
to the railway station yesterday morning, but the
route not having arrived it was unloaded and stored
in the huts again. The Tamar will probably con-
vey the 48th to Queenstown, as, after landing the
39th Regiment at Belfast, she was to call at Devon-
port for the 65th Regiment, ordered to Aldershot,
and the same special train conveying it from Ports-
mouth will return with the 48th. The 71st Light
Infantry will probably be conveyed to Ireland by
the Orontes, now on her way from Kingstown.
Both ships, it is believed, have been detained by the

heavy gales from the south-west, which have been
blowing without intermission for -the last 36 hours.
An order was received by telegram yesterday at
Chatham garrison, from the Horse Guards, direct-
ing the immediate despatch of the 28th company of
Royal Engineers to Ireland, for carrying out any
engineering operations for which, their services may
be required. The 28th company-will be augmented
to its full complement of non-commissioned officers
and sappers from the depot companies at head-
quarters. The official inspection. of the company
took place yesterday, and, should the route be re-
ceived from the Horse Guards, the officers and
men will leave Chatham for Ireland to-day. Lieut.
F. Mascall and Lieut. R. Calro'cv, who are absent
on leave, have been ordered to join the 28th
company forthwith, in order to proceed with it to
Ireland. The Royal Engineers will be stationed at
Cork, in readiness for service whenever required.
The Ist Battalion 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment,
now stationed at Shorncliffe, is under orders to move
to Aldershot t.

Major-General Taylor, Inspector-General of Ar
tillery, has this week made his annual inspection o.
the forts, guns, &c., in the eastern district. Cap
tain M'Cartney, 100th Regiment, and Lieutenan

Grange, 16th Regiment, are under orders to join
their respective depots at Colchester.
Lieut. J. Day, attached to the Ist division of the
Depot Brigade, Royal Artillery, is ordered to pro-
ceed from head-quarters to Woolwich, for the pur-
pose of going through au extended course of gun-
nery instruction.
The workmen employed in the factory and other
establishments at Chatham Dockyard have made
application for an additional day's holyday on the
day preceding Christmas-day, the additional time
thus granted being previously made up by the hands
working extra hours. This will obviate the neces-

sity of lighting up the furnaces and the fires in the
factory for one day only, and allow of the work-
men taking a holyday from Saturday afternoon un-
til the following Wednesday.
A number of workmen are now employed in the
smithery at Chatham Dockyard in the removal of
the roof of the quadrangle, to allow of the erection
of an additional 40-ton steam crane, to be used in
lifting the heavy masses of iron required to be
forged in the smithery, under the operations of the

steam hammer, the erection of a second crane being

rendered necessary in consequence of the large
forgings now executed in the smithery for the iron
clad ships building.
Commander Henry Tryon died at Surbiton on
Tuesday last, aged 73. Ile entered the navy
January 14, 1809, as ordinary on board the Sirius,
36, and assisted at the capture in September, 1809,
of the town of St. Paul, Ile de Bourbon, together
with all the shipping in the harbour, consisting of
the French frigate La Carolina, two prize Indiamen,
and a brig of war. He contributed also, in July,
1810, to the reduction of the Ile de Bourbon itself,
and thefollewing month took part in a series of ope-
rations which terminated in the self-destruction of
the Sirius and Magicienne, 36's, and the capture of
the Nireide and Iphigenia frigates. In the follow-
ing December he aided at the conquest of the Mau-
ritius. He brought to England one of the prizes,
LaMancha, and in May, 1811, joined the Havannah
36, engaged successively in the Channel, Adriatic,
and North America, and where he saw much active
service, and was wounded at the cutting out of some
vessels of Tremiti, and obtained a gold medal from
the Austrian Government for his conduct at the
capture of the strong fortress of Zara, after an in-
vestment of 13 days. While on the American sta-
tion he was present at the attack upon Bal-
timore, and was again, in Dec., 1814, wounded and
taken prisoner in a cutting-out affair on the Potomac
River. lie regained his liberty at the peace, and,
on March, 1815, was promoted to lieutenant. From
September to November, 1837, he was Admiralty
agent on board a contract mail steam-vessel, and
became retired commander Jan. 10, 1861.

The British Captives iu Abyssinia.

TO TILE EDITOR OF TILE SUN.

Sfit—On the 29th of November you were so good
as to insert a letter which I have just received from
Suez, giving recent information respecting the un-
fortunate prisoners in Abyssinia. 1
have sin 2e seen letters from Mr. Stern and Consu
Cameron to their families, and have been allowed to
make the following extracts from them,to which I am
sure you will not refuse to give that publicity which
your widely-circulating journal alone can afford.
Mr. Stern writes from Magdala, under date Aug.
25 last, as follows :
"The faint glimpse of hope which a few months
ago diffused a flickering glimmer over our future is
again eclipsed, and once more eight of us, inclusive
of Mr. Rassam, Dr. Blanc, and Lieut. Prideaux,
are in chains. . . . Our present more rigorous
captivity is to be attributed to an alleged report that
English, French, and Turkish troops were on their
way to invade Abyssinia. Mr. R. protested against
the veracity of this statement—nay, every one of
us would have discredited the story even had it been
confined to a mere military expedition. On th e
same day that he charged the British Government
with duplicity, he also reproached me with the stale
offence of having traduced his character by throw-
ing doubts on his lineal descent from Solomon. I
tendered my wonted apology for this oft -repeated
crime, but his Majesty said he would not pardon me
till I had atoned for the sin by rendering him some
service. In the evening of the same day he made
fresh proffers of his friendship to Mr. Rassam, and
also told Mr. Rosenthal, and particularly myself,
that we should not indulge in unpleasant surmises,
as he had nothing against us ; and, like the rest of
our fellow-prisoners, we drank his health in good
araki, provided for that purpose from the Royal dis-
tillery."
On Sept. 15 Mr. Stern again writes :

" How long this captivity will yet last it is utterly
impossible to conjecture. Some think that before
long matters will come to a satisfactory solution ;
others, on the contrary, prognosticate a disastrous
termination."

Consul Cameron writes under the same date as
that of Mr. Stern's last letter, and quite in the same
tone :

"It is evident that there is a crisis approaching
on us all, and God alone knows whether I shall
escape with life. The King still writes friendly
letters to Mr. Rassam ; and, for the first time since
our being chained anew, sent a friendly message the
day before yesterday to Mr. Stern and myself. He
is expected here. Some say he will make friends
with the Metropolitan, who is still a prisoner here.
If things take the other turn we may all be involved
in the quarrel, and that seriously."
The letters, from which the foregoing is extracted,
were forwarded from Aden by the Acting Political
Resident there, through her Majestt's Consul-Ge-
neral in Egypt.
if
nr
oeLmn at
it Later
aesndseoLwv samhhy
balsya
s, however,
tthleetVictoria,ter calledb e e been
whichh reer received evoi
evnses d dire
is
ct
herel (as
way
to Suez, whither she came to take on board Colonel
Merewether, with Mr. Talbot and the six English
workmen who have been engaged, under the gua-
rantee of the British Government, to enter the ser-
vice
of the Emperor Theodore.

In the letter of my Suez correspondent it is said
that Mr. Rassam, Captain Cameron, and the rest,
were still in chains at Magdala. But I have been
informed on unquestionable authority that Messrs.
Rosenthal and M'Kclvie had been allowed to remain
at Gaffat ; that Messrs. Kerans and MiKelvie had
offered their services to the Emperor, those of the
former having been rejected, but those of the latter
accepted; and that Messrs. Bardel, Malierer, Steiger,
Brandeis, Ellsler, and Schiller had also entered the
Emperor's service.
4s these circumstances are not alluded to by either
Consul Cameron or Mr. Stern, they must have oc-
curred after the date of their letters of Sept. 13,
and it may be inferred that they are the result of
the Emperor's expected visit to Magdala, and of the
anticipated " crisis." The fate of the writers of
those letters, as also of Mr. Rassam and his party,
was not mentioned, so that there is something yet
to be learnt.

Aly correspondent, who evidently had not been
told all, says that the news brought by the Victoria
was of about six weeks' date from November 16,