The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-09 00:00:00

SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

Special constables for various parishes in the
Tower Hamlets have been sworn in during the last
three days at the Thames Police-court by Mr.
Benson. Among others, the workmen in the service
of Messrs. Owen and Muton, of the chemical works,
Millwall, and of Furze and Co., brewers, White-
chapel, have been enrolled. Yesterday, Mr. Col-
lett, the general manager of the London and St.
Katharine Dock Company, and Mr. Mumford, the
superintendent of the dock company's police, waited
on Mr. Benson to inform him that the people in
their service, 3,000 in number, and 500 more at the
Cutler street warehouses, wished to be sworn in as
special constables. He wished the magistrate to name
a day on which he could attend the docks to swear in
the men. Mr. Benson said this great manifestation
in support of law, order, and authority was highly
gratifying, and he would do all in his power
to assist. He should see his colleague, Mr. Paget,
and make the necessary arrangements. At a meet-
ing of the special constables, Major John Holt, the
superintendent, said that he had received a letter
from Captain Donald Munro, the superintendent of
the special constables in Mile-end Old-town, recom-
mending a demonstration of the force already sworn
in, and he wished to take the opinion of the meeting
on the subject. The proposed demonstration was
objected to as impolitic and useless by Captain
Barrett, deputy superintendent, and others, and the
unanimous feeling of the meeting was against the
proposal to march through the streets in procession.
At the same time, Captain Donald Munro received
a well-deserved encomium for.his public spirit and
loyalty. A resolution was then moved and carried
that a notice be printed and circulated throughout
the hamlet inviting the inhabitant householders and
others to attend at the Thames Police-court this
day, to-morrow, and Saturday, between 11 and
4 o'clock, to be sworn in and enrolled as specia
constables.

It appears that altogether 540 special consta-
bles have now been sworn in at Colchester. The
local court of Foresters has presented to the magis-
trates the following resolution :—" That this court
views with horror and indignation the late atrocious
outrages committed by a disloyal sect known as the
Fenian Brotherboo ; and, taking into consideration
the circular issued by the mayor of this town, call-
ing upon the male inhabitants of a certain age to
enrol themselves as special constables, does most
cheerfully offer its services to assist in preserving
peace and order."

In Blackburn the authorities have met with the
greatest readiness on the part of all classes of the
population to respond to the invitation to enrol
themselves. It was the original intention to limit
the number to 1,000, but this number has already
been exceeded, and the diffiulty now arises where to
stop. All the principal mills are represented, the
workpeople acting in these cases, under the direction
of their masters ; the tradesmen of the town have
come forward in large numbers. The whole of the
men employed at the gas works are also sworn
n, and among the specials are numbered over 200
Volunteers, the fire brigade, lamplighters, &c. In
addition, there are offers from the congregations
belonging to one or two Catholic chapels in the
town, who are anxious to display their loyalty iu
this manner. The completeness of the arrange-
ments which have been made has done much to allay
the feeling of apprehension recently prevailing, for
it is now confidently felt that Blackburn is in a posi-
tion to take care of itself. There are several thou-
sands of Irishmen in the town, and although the
number of known Fenians is small, yet it is no
secret that money is often raised among them for
the aid of the conspiracy. Among the lower classes
of Englishmen there is a growing and ill-disguised
disposition to take the law into their own hands
and deal summary vengeance in the event of any
Fenian atrocities being perpetrated.

ETON COLLEGE.--The Christmas vacation_ will
terminate on Wednesday next, the 15th inst., with the
return of the Lower Boys, the fifth and sixth forni3 arriv-
ing at the college on tho following days.