Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-08-13
Last Scene in the act Of England's Ty-
ranny towards the Irish Patriots.


1t is always sad duty, says the N. Y.
Sun, to us to chronicle unsuccessful patri.
otism bound in the chains of tyranny.
While the following scene of the bravest |
of patriots bidding farewell from convict
hulk TO the land they loved t:not too wisely !
but too we'll" and to the friends who will I
hold their memory and patriotism in last.
ing reverence, creates feeling of sadness,
there is in it also much to excite our hope
that brighter day will yet dawn upon the
liberties of Ireland. We give the Incl.
dents of that scene in full from the Dublin
Freeman's Journal:
cat that painful moment, when they
were about to be separated for ever, per-
haps, from their friends and tho land they
loved so we'll, they displayed the utmost
degree Of calmness and fortitude. Their
demeanor showed that they were, as from
the beginning, prepared for 'either fort.
une" and that either on the scaffold or
consigned to the convict ship, they were
men who would neither blench nor trem-
BILE at their fate. Their language and
bearing demonstrated that they could very
easily and calmly suffer the laws ven-
|
their feelings and aspirations were far
higher and more noble than any into
which particle of self could enter
Their thoughts were still about the coun.
try and the good old cause not what
their own destiny54or sufferiDgs might be.
My last words on leaving the country
(said the brilliant and devoted young pat.
riot Thomas F. Meagher) shall be don't
give up the good old cause Such were
the feelings of those noble hearted and un.
duunted men, even at that moment when
others in their painful position might rath-
or be overborne by despair and sorrow
than entertain a glimmering hope for the
prosperity Of their native land-that land,
for their love Of which they were condemn.
ed to the penalty of exile.
At about half past eleven o'clock, n
squadron of the carbineers, under the COM
nand Of Capt. Custance and Lieutenants
Sherston and Philamors, arrived at the
prison, and shortly afterwards gentle
man from the Castle, bearing the order for
the depa rtation of the four state prisoners
The van was then driven up 10 the door,
and the governor called out the names oil
William Smith O'Brien, Thomas Francis
Meagher, Terence Bellew McManus and
Patrick O'Donohue from the order, and
requested them to take their places in the
vehicle. Mr.. O'Brien had previously ex-
pressed to Inspector Stokes hope that no
detective would be placed in the van with
himself and his fellow prisoners, to which
the Inspector replied there should not
The last moment previous 10 departure
having arrived the prisoners were once
more surrounded by their friends s-many
of them ladies-oi whom they took ten.
der and affecting farewell. MIR. 'Bren's
lady, sister, and the Rev. Mr. O'Brien, his
brother were with him from an early hour
in the morning. The Rev. MIR. Meagher
S. ]. uncle to Mr.. T. F. Meagher, anc
I several female relatives were present; q:
, we're his wife, sister and other relatives o
Mr.. O'Donohue, and several ladies an,
!, others, relations of Mr.. McManus. We
shall not attempt to describe the most pain
f full scene that presented itself at this mo
ment. The friends of the 'convicts,' a
f the law calls them, betrayed the mos, in
tense grief; but their own demeanor wa:
marked by the mahlness and tor.itude lha
distinguished them all through, and even
at q lime when their enemies menacet
them with the traitors DOOM On ,akin,
his place in the van, Mr.. Meagher said il
, a firm tone, 4 feel prouder man leaving
, the country even thus than many who re
main in it, fAnd so do l. responded Mr.
O'Donohue. The other gentlemen mad
no observation; but no man who saw then
could doubt that, if it had been their fate
they would say dulce est pro patria nor
] with as much forti,ude and resignation a
3 they now bid farewell TO their friends AM
, native land"