The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING,

completed, and shortly to be occupied. No, gen-
tlemen, I am proud and happy to say we are
prudent, domestic, social, charitable, and very
respectable. There is scarcely an actor in the Hay-
market company, that besides his lodging in Lon-
don, in order to be near his duties, but owns his
little box in the country, while some of them are free-
holders, and with a stake in the State. Is not this
respectability ? And also, as a body, we can boast
that we are unstained with crime, although at
Sheffield the other day the spirit moved a certain
Quaker to attack the actors and the theatres, and
which attack I read in that excellent dramatic paper
the Era—to be sure his arguments were totally
demolished in that journal, by an intelligent per-
former in the Sheffield company ; yet it would be
curious to know how this Quaker obtained his pe-
culiar notions of a theatre—whether he reduced the
brim of his hat, fastened a collar on his coat, and
paid to the gallery—or whether he had never en-
tered a theatre at all, but derived his deduction
from the intolerant and pig-headed ideas of the sec-
tarians. But be this as it may, we can truly and
honestly tell broadbrim that no member cf the dra-
matic art was ever hung at Newgate—(laughter)—
and which is more than the Society of Friends can
say of their demure body. Another erroneous no-
tion appears to be entertained by a bigoted portion
of the public, that behind the scenes of a theatre
must be a sort of a pandemonium. (Hear, hear.)
How often have I beheld the awkward astonish-
ment of a visitor, who has never been there before,
to find it quite a scene of decorum, with the actors
and actresses only anxious about their duties, and
even looking upon the stranger as an intruder. See
him introduced to the green-room, where, if he has
not done so on entering it, he is politely told he
mdst take off his hat, that being an ancient piece
of etiquette, and which is observed to this day in
all respectable and legitimate establishments. I
once introduced a clergyman behind the scenes—
(roars of laughter)—he had evidently made up his
mind that his sense of propriety was to be very
much shocked, still he wanted just to have a peep,
for once, only for once; but he found everything so
quiet, so orderly, so all that was businesslike and
correct, that he told me when he went away
he was so mistaken in the opinion he had
formed of what he should see, that really he did
not care to come again. (Laughter.) I have ad•
vanced these refutations of ignorant ideas respect-
ing us, to prove to you if possible that, when you
are disposed to be generous towards the actor--
as I know you will be to-night—(applause)—that
your generosity will be bestowed upon worthy ob-
jects—upon those who have been industrious and
careful in youth—upon those who, should they in
old age require their annuities, will only have to
thank their own prudence for their independence,
combined with a grateful feeling towards you who
have helped them to it. (Applause.) I have now,
gentlemen, to inform you that our beloved Queen
has sent us her annual donation of one hundred
guineas—(cheers)—while I am sure; not only from
the encouragement she so continually bestows upon
our art, but from the ancient loyalty of theplayers,
there is no class of her subjects who more deeply
sympathise with her in her recent domestic afflic-
tion than the English actors. (Hear, hear.) Now,
gentlemen, I hope you will be liberal to-night, if
only to emulate our generous and enterprising
chairman. Some of you, like him, have, I dare say,
many irons in the fire ; but we ask you to draw one
red hot, to warm us up this evening. And while
again referring to our chairman, I certainly con-
fess to have been one amongst others who opposed
his obtaining a music and dancing license for the
Alhambra, because we considered the rights and
privileges of the theatres were being encroached
upon, and by establishments under no control. But
that has nothing to do with the cause for which
we meet here to-night. I—(as Mr. Box says to
Mr. Cox)—may say to him " I have no animosity
against you"—(laughter)—while he, as Mr. Cox,
may reply, " And I have no rooted antipathy to
you." " Very well." (Laughter.) It was Mrs.
Bouncer's fault that we came into collision. Mrs.
•Bouncer meaning an embodiment of the Middlesex
magistrates. Gentlemen, I conclude with leaving
our cause in your hands, and :calling upon the
stewards to act to-night with double diligence, to
leave no purse unopened, no cheque unfilled, when
I have no doubt the donations of this evening will
equal, if not exceed, those on any other occasion.
Mr. Buckstone resumed his seat amid loud and
enthustic applause.
Mr. ARCEDECKNE proposed in appropriate terms
"The Drama," which was responded to by Mr. B.
Webster, Mr. Brougham, and Mr. Fechter.
Mr. Sergeant BALLANTINE gave the "Health of
the Chairman," eulogising his private, public, and
professional character.

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and doing so
said that his love for theatricals and the drama
commenced with his earliest youth, for his father
was the friend ofDibdin, of Elliston, and the Barry-
mores. In referring to the allusion of Mr. Buck-
stone to his having so many irons in the fire, he
said that if he had not known his friend Buckstone
so well he should have supposed from his allusion
that he was an old washerwoman. (Laughter.)
There were many sorts of irons, but he (the ehair-
man) had avoided fiat irons, although he must con-
fess that the Italian irons he had occasion to use
were rather hot to the fingers—(laughter)—and
scorched him not a little.

The toast of " The Bar" was proposed by Mr.
HUGGINS, and responded to by Dr. SPINCKS.
Mr. CULLENFORD read the list of donations.
Amongst them were tie Queen £lO5, E. T. Smith
£lolos, Baron Rothschild £lolos, Mr. Tite, M.P.,
.£lO lOs ; the total sum announced exceeded £4OO.

COLLISION AND SINKING OF THE

AMERICAN SHIP JUNIATA.

LAMENTABLE LOSS OF LIFE.

Yesterday the Board of Trade received from the
receiver of wrecks at Liverpool a report of the
total loss of the Juniata, outward bound from that
port for Baltimore, resulting from collision with
the ship Joseph Fish,. also from Liverpool, bound
for Key West, wind, took place off the Irish coast
on the morning of the 16th inst. ; and it is inferred
that her captain, first officer, and ten of her crew,
met with a watery grave.

The report contains the sworn deposition of
Captain Young, master of the ship Joseph Fish,
from which the subjoined particulars of the melan-
choly catastrophe are obtained.
The Joseph Fish, 1,119 tons, sailed from Liver-
pool on the 14th inst., with a cargo of salt, shipped
by Messrs. Boult, English, & Co., for St. John's,
New Brunswick. Everything went on well till
Saturday, the 16th. It was about 1225 a.m., very
hazy weather, and the wind blowing fresh from
w.s.w. The ship was under canvas, steering S.
by W., when Captain Young observed a ship
standing towards him on the port tack. She
proved to be the American ship Juniata, Captain
Wilson, from Liverpool for Baltimore. Observing
this, he ordered the helm of the Joseph Fish to be
put hard to port, but almost immediately the
ships came in contact, the Juniata striking
the Joseph Fish en the port bow, Ho had
previously seen the lights of the ship 'for at
least 20 minutes before the collision, and, being
on the port tack, he expected she would have kept
away; but finding, as she approached, no attempt
was made to do so, he called out to his men to put
the helm aport, which brought the Joseph Fish's
head to wind, and the force with which she was
struck by the Juniata canted her head to the north-
ward, and he saw the Juniata founder in about five
minutes afterwards. This occurred about ten miles
S.E. of the Tuskar Light. The crew of the sink-
ing ship cut away the boats and launched them, but
only one survived. This came alongside, and on its
people getting on board he ordered three of his men
to go in search of the rcissing boat, which they did,
and after being away one hour and a half returned,
being unable to find any trace of it. He then put
back to Liverpool to repair the damage the ship
had sustained.

The receiver of wrecks states in his report that
the collision might have been avoided had proper
attention been paid to the rules laid down, as the
lights of both ships Were visible twenty minutes
before the collision.

The survivors consist of the second officer of the
Juniata and twelve others, among whom is Capt.
John S. Milbourne and a bey named Wm, N. Young,
e to Baltimore, their ship
who were passengers borne
having been lost about six weeks since. Capt. Mil-
bourne appears to have first got into the boat that
is missing; but finding it stove and fast filling with
water, he jumped overboard and swam to the other
boat, which picked hint up.
The sufferers in the first boat were the captain,
the chief mate, and tes seamen. Captain Young,
of the Joseph Fish, reolleuts seeing the boat afloat
before the Juniata sank; but soon afterwards it
disappeared, and he supposes it to have gerie down,
and that all in it were lost.

The loss of the ship is reported to be about
£lO,OOO.

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Hence the power these remarkable remedies possess of
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invigorating the nerves. They may safely be employed in
every disease at any stage.

MARCH 26, 1861.

THE CONVICTS AT CHATHAM-.

Although it had been confidently anticipated that
the coercive measures adopted since the last muti-
nous outbreaks at Chatham had so far succeeded
that no farther attempts at any disturbances would
be attempted by the prisoners, there is still a vast
amount of discontent rife among the inmates of the
establishment, and the elements of discontent are
still seething, ready to burst forth on the first oppor-
tunity. Since the late outbreaks there have been
several minor instances of insubordination, but
nothing to justify any fears of another revolt until
a few days since, when information was obtained
from one of the convicts, who had be©n put in pos-
session of the secret, of the intention of a number
of the prisoners to seize the warders, and after
securing possession of the keys of the building to
release the prisoners and effect their escape, after
first setting fire to the building. From inquiries
instituted immediately the above information was
conveyed to the Governor, Captain Powell,
no doubt was entertained that the prisoners
intended putting their plan into operation
the next day, and failing in their endeavours, to
repeat the attempt last Sunday. Captain Powell
and the other officials of the establishment at once
adopted the most prompt measures to prevent any
uprising of the prisoners and a renewal of the out-
break. A message was instantly forwarded to
Major-General Eyre for the assistance of the mili-
tary, and about 300 troops of the line, each provided
with 10 rounds of ball cartridge, were at once
despatched to the prison, and placed at the disposal
of Captain Powell. The time proposed for the
outbreak was the moment when the whole of the
convicts are being released from their cells, at the
termination of their dinner, to resume work. Until
recently the convicts employed on St. Mary's
Island—several hundreds in number—always ate
their dinner in a building on the island, built for
the purpose. Directly after the outbreak which
occurred a few weeks since on the island, orders
were given that in future the prisoners were to be
removed to the prison to dine, and this order has
ever since been carried out. Consequently, on the
day of the intended outbreak there were upwards
of 900 convicts in their cells, the number of pri-
soners now in the establishment. Since the last
convict outbreak peremptory orders have been
issued to the whole of the warders to fire imme-
diately on the convicts should they make any
attempts at insurrection, and attack any of the
warders. For this purpose the rifles with which
the keepers are armed are now loaded with buck-
shot, the effect of which when fired among a mob
of prisoners would be most deadly. During the
time the convicts were at dinner the warders were
disposed about the prison, the majority being kept
out of sight, while a number were stationed in the
area below, ready to fire up into the galleries along
which the convicts would proceed on being re-
leased from their cells, should they attempt any
interference with th e warders. The troops despatched
to the prison were drawn up outside, with bayonets
fixed, reader to enter the prison immediately a pre-
concerted signal was made. The guard, always on
duty in the prison, was also placed in readiness to
act on the instant. The prisoners in the cells,
being unaware that their intentions had become
known, or that any preparations had been made
to suppress the outbreak, began the disturbance
by the customary yellings and shoutings, and
throwing their cell utensils about. Amid the
noises thus made could be distinguished the shouts
of " Down with the black —; "Kill the —,"
and other menacing expressions, which appeared to
be used chiefly against the principal warder, Mr.
Kinch. At the usual hour the prison cells were
thrown open, and the convicts ordered to resume
work. On the prisoners emerging, however, and
seeing the preparations, no attempt at any disturb-
ance was made, and after several of the ringleaders
had stared at each other with significant looks they
all quietly marched off to their work. Four of the
ringleaders in the shouting were, however, seized
and placed in irons. On the prisoners being locked
in their cells after their return from work in the
evening, the same noises were made, and two more
of the convicts were placed in irons. From infor-
mation given to Captain Powell it was expected
that an outbreak would be attempted on Sunday
during the time the prisoners were in the exercise
L ground prior to attending divine worship. Similar
precautions were again taken to prevent a sudden
surprise, and orders were issued on Saturday night
that only one half the convicts were to take their
exercise at once. It was, however, considered more
prudent to let the whole of the prisoners exercise as
j usual yesterday morning, and not the least attempt
at an outbreak took place. Capt. Gambier, the
director-general of convict prisons, has attended at
Chatham to make inquiries relative to this last at-
tempt at outbreak, and is also expected at the prison
this day. Six of the ringleaders are now in irons
and in separate cells awaiting the punishment which
will be inflicted on them. During the past week a
large number of convicts, whose periods of penal
servitude have expired, have been released from the
prison, 10 or 12 having been discharged daily.
The course which has been pursued by the autho-
rities since the former outbreak is shown in the
orders issued, and now suspended in the prison.
The first is as follows
GENERAL ORDER.
" The convicts at Chatham must be reminded that
their crimes have rendered them liable to the most
rigorous imprisonment for the whole of their sen-
tences, and must be made to understand clearly
that the many advantages which have been ex-
tended to them in stages, gratuities, and classes,
are merely matters of indulgence, and are not in
any respect necessary parts of convict discipline.
"They have been most kindly sanctioned by the
Government as an encouragement to that good con-
duct and industry which the law gives it power to
enforce, and with a hope of producing a feeling of
gratitude and a contented and submissive temper
and condition of mind ; but these hopes have been
most cruelly disappointed.
" Those whose folly and wickedness have been
the cause of this must now reap their fruits, and
those who have allowed themselves to be misled by
bad example, though not criminal to the same ex-
tent, will also take their share of punishment.
" It is plain from the recent outrageous conduct of
the great body of the prisoners, either that they do
not understand their real position, and the extreme
lenity with which they are treated, or that, if they
do understand them, they are so incredibly weak
and foolish as to be ready at the call of any design-
ing villain to sacrifice all in the vain attempt to
resist authority.
"The Secretary of State has been pleased to
direct that :

" 1. The whole of the gratuities credited to con-
victs, who have taken part in the late disgraceful
proceedings shall, for the present, be considered as
entirely forfeited.
"2. That all remissions of sentence and other
privileges attached to the stages and classes shall
be withdrawn, and that convict discipline in a more
rigorous form shall be enforced until the great body
of convicts shall, by good conduct and industry,
earn a claim to a favourable consideration of their
respective cases.

‘; 3. With regard to the ringleaders in the late
outrage, the letter R' will be placed against each
name in the books, in order that their cases may be
speedily considered.

" The licenses already issued for the discharge of
men during the present month are cancelled in the
case of all who took part in the recent disturbance.
" Any further misconduct of the same outrageous
character will be punished with far greater severity,
and the most decided exercise of the power which is
given by law to the prison authorities for the re-
pression of insubordination and disorder.

" JOSHUA JEBB, Major-General,
Chairman of the Directors."
" Note.—The following were the numbers in the
different classes :—Nos. 1 and 2, 774 ; No. 3, 123 ;
No. 4, 68 ; No. 5, 14; No. 6, 62; total, 1,041."
It was apparent from the first that a large pro-
portion of the prisoners took no share in the out-
break, and the Government and officers were, there-
fore, unremitting in their endeavours to separate
the ringleaders from those were spectators only.
As 12 of the officers were in the corridors of the
prison during the time of the disturbance they were
enabled to give such information as eventually led
to the adoption of the plan promulgated in the fol
lowing order, by which justice appears to be meted
out to the whole body, as far as circumstances would
hermit