The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-11

most pure love and high enthusiasm for America
proved by the confidence the Ir,sa people feel IN
every one known TO be purely American. When
Mr.. James Bergen, OF New York, was In Ireland,
and Ireland was in connection, the simple fact
that he was a native of the United States centred
upon HIM the strongest and most lively feeling
60 that, during his long Imprisonment In Newgate,
Dublin. as a suspected American sympathizer, he |
had friends Innumerable, who daily, and with |
heartfelt interest, watched his course and conduct.
On his release from an Incarceration OF one hun |
dred and fourteen days, he would have bee Toasted
beyond the endurance OF any ordinary individual,
but he declined all public demonstrations; and
avoiding dinners from associations clubs and
parties, chose only the hospitality Of some Of the
gentlemen who had previously been his fellow-prl
soners. At some Of these private dinners he met
some of the leading men of Ireland
Our space will afford Us only room to describe
a few incidents.
Just after the suspected attempt at an escape,
under the bad auspices Of that ungrateful scoun-
drel, Hutchinson, the policeman, whom Mr.. Duffy
had lifted from abject misery and insigni6cance,
Charles Gavan Duffy, Richard Dalton Williams,
Kelvin, and lied O'Dogherty, were removed
10 the part of Newgate where Mr.. Bergen, Mr..
Ryan, and some forty others, were confined. I'm
medlately on their reception, it was proposed to
give those distinguished gentlemen dinner, and,
although neither the Astor House nor Gresham's
He,e were in requlsltion, and it was contra bones
mores in Newgate to eat, even decenty, it was 80
contrived, IN defiance of all law and rule,
that Newgate should, for the first time In
fifty years, witness one meal of victuals. The
fiesta was not, perhaps, recherche as if Messrs
Coleman md tets or TOhn FIOrpnce had
had supreme command; but, even under Yam
kee auspices, there was sort OF ceGd mule
faltha about it which made every one remember
that he at home, and, therefore, bound to love
loyalty, in way which may, hereafter, improve
the British rule in old Ireland. At the same time that
the dinner to Mr. Duffy, etc., was progressing, the
poor, but salworth and honest sufferers tor Balm
{ AIRY were being fed with the first meat dinner
which some OF them had tasted for years; and, by
the way, it is worth while to state tnat although
most OF these men, like their compeers, labor hard
IN the coal Mines from day TO day, they scarcely
know the taste of animal food; and yet, in a state
OF positive misery, they were ready to strive for
Ireland's Independence Where were the we'll fed
and purse proud then =! At this dinner, Mr.. Der.
gen presided as chairman, assisted by Cornelius
r. Mahoney; and if Lord John Russell could have
knowledge of Irish affairs, and might, perhaps,
have made decent man OF him. This dinner
took place on the 22d of October, 1913; and Its an
niversary to be celebrated for ever, by the par
cipants and their descendants, wherever they may
be, as day especially devoted to Ireland.
On the 25th day of November-the anniversary
OF the evacuation Of New York by the British
troops-Mr. Bergen received notice that Mr.. Ryan
| nd HIM a1f to he Eharofed Ha Cd
disgrace of the British to be properly celebrated
In all his dispatches to government (published),
and by his Irish fellow prisoners, who will pro-
badly remember evacuation day quite az well as it
should always be remembered in New York.
On the 10Th, as Mr.. B. had to await the signing
of his release, his fellow prisoners determined to
give Mr.. Ryan and himself finishing" ban
quet. BY management, the splendor of this enter
tsinment surpassed all hotel pretenslons. New
gate belonged to the Prisoners for the time, and it
echoed to the loud song of the "Star Spangled
Banner" as sung by Mr.. Bergen, chorused by
his fellow prisoners, and applauded by the listen.
ing and admiring hundreds Of out side citizens"
to the great dread of the Dublin police.
At this, the last OF the "Newgate outbursts,"
the following address, written by Charles Gavan
Duffy, was presented by committee consisting of
| tuc lOlOWIuB ScuucNcH, VZ:-SudIlcb GaVdu
Duffy, chairman; Edward Troaton, vice chair
man; John Lawless, James Doyle, James Fran
els Lalor, John Martin Burke, Eugene Martin,
Jonn Evans, Francis Harvey, Charles Henry
West, M. D., Cornelius R. Mahoney, secretary;
| viz. -
NxwoArr, DUBLIN, Nov. 20, ls4s
To JAMES BERGvN, Of New York and RICHARD r.
RYAN. Esqs.-Gentlemen We cannot permit you to
quit this prison. where through long and most event
ful period you have shared captivity without Of
sring some distinct expression Of the respect and
regard with which ysur conduct and bearing have I'm
You have borne the many privstions and the not uu
frequent insolenoe Of authority which make imprison
ment heavy, with manly courage and forbearsnos;
and your associates bear willing testimony to the cor
, ana anfIns a1dnes: with which you have en-
others
Accept personal gratitude and at the Same time
bear back with you the expressions Of profound |
gratitude and respect the free nation Of which you
have the happiness to be cxep for their services
generous reception Of exies We trust hereafter
to be able to thsnk America .s she ought to be thank
ed; but, meantime you will be witnesses that We
are not unmindfa or migrate.
Mr. Bergen also received innumerable test.
monals from the friends of the United States.
Among them we select the inscriptions on the
hkenesses Of Terrence Bellew McManus and Tho
mas Francis Meagher, which he brings to this
country Under the likeness Of McManus is IN
scr1bsd in his own chiros, the following words -
To JAMES BsRexr, Of New York.-As token Of nv
esteem for the manly part he has taken since his ar
rival, and during his imprisonment, in this country.
Richmond Prison, Dec. 8. 1S48
TERENCE BRLLRw MoMANus.
And upon the portrait of himself, the distln-
guished and highly accomplished patriot and
orator has written:
To JAMES BERoEr, OF New York
feel sincere pleasure In presenting this slight testi-
mopy If my esteem and admiration, beg Of him to
aooept It In remembrance Of one who deeply regrets
that he had not the happiness Of longer acquain-
tance with him. and that his vst to Ireland was not
rendered memorable BY the triumph Of the for
the momentAry failure Of which both have suffered
imprisonment. THOMAS FRArcB MEAoHEs,
Member Of the Executive Council Of Five
Richmond Bridewell. Dec. 8, 18l0