The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-10
THE DAILY DISPATCH
Letler from Mr. Thomas +. Nleagher.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
GLEN Cove, June 5, 1852.

Dear Sir: In consequence OF some mis-
statement regarding my escape, which have
lust seen in Two or three European papers, and
which appear to have been copied from an
Australian paper, / think it right TO set the
true facts before the American public, TO whom
alone now hold responsible.
The remarkable kindness | have experience
ed from the press and the public generally.
ever since my arrival in this noble country.
and the anxiety feel to have il understood
that an not deficient in the honorable spirit
which qualities a stranger TO become its rti-
Zen compel me 10 break the silence which no
act or word on the part of my enemies, could
disturb.
The facts are these -
In the month of April 1851, l was called
upon 10 renew my parole. did so IN wiring,
sud in the following words:
81 hereby pledge my word of honor not to
leave the colony, so long as hold u ticket of
leave"
handed this pledge to the police magis-
trate, in the open court. ANY one can see 1t
who wishes TO refer TO it.
Towards the end of December, the same
wear, came to the determination OF attempting
nv escape. Accordingly, on the Sd of Janu.
ary last, sent the following letter 10 the po-
lice magistrate of the district In which L re-
sided:
LAKE S0rell, Dist. of Campbell TOwn,
Saturday, January 3, 1852.
SIR Circumstances OF recent occurrence
urge upon me the necessity of reslgning my
ticket of leave, and, consequently, withdraw
ing my parole.
write this letter, therefore, respectfully to
apprise YOU that after 12 o'clock tomorrow
nOonI shall no longer consider myself bound
BY the obligation which that parole imposes.
In the meantime, however, should you con-
ceiye il your duty to take me into custody,
shall as matter of course, regard myself
wholly absolVed from the restraint which my
word of honor to your government at present
inflicts.
have the honor to be. sir, with sincere re-
spect, your obedient servant,
T. FRANCIS MEAGHER.
To the Police Magistrate of the District of
Campbell Town.
The police magistrate received this letter at
II O'clock the same morning. / remained in
my cottage, st Lake Soreli, until seven o clock
that evening. A few minutes after that hour.
four of my friends arrived on horseback, and
communicated to me the intelligence that The
police were coming TO arrest me. l went out
with them into ,he bush. and remained there,
about 300 yards from the cottage, until my SER
want brought the news that the police had ar
rived and were sitting in the kitchen. We
mounted our horses Immediately, and rode
down TO the cottage. One hundredyards frCm
it, my friends drew up. | rode on until came
close 10 the stable, which was within pistol
shot of the kitchen door. drew up there land
desired him to go in and tell the police | was
waiting for them. He left me at once, and en-
tered the cottage. Two or three minutes
elapsed; ihe police appeared. The moment
they appeared | rose in my strrups, called
out TO them that was the prisoner they came
to arrest, and defed them to do so. This chal-
lenge was echoed by my friends with three
loud and hearty cheers in the midst OF which
struck spurs 10 my horse, and dashed into
the woods, in the direction of the coast. Ac-
companled by my generous and courageous
hearted friends, reached the sea shore on
Monday afternoon, at a point where boat was
IN readiness 20 receive me. jumped from my
horse, got into the boat, put off to sea and beat
about there for several days, until the ship
came up, which, thank God bore me, at last,
to free and hOspltable land.
In plain words, these are the plain facts of
the cuse. As have written them here, they
were written by one of my friends, at the house
where We changed horses on our way TO the
coast. The manuscript. containing them, was
forwarded next morning, Tuesday, TO the dr.
tor Of the leading journal of the colony, and
bore the names OF my friends, written by their
own hands, in attestation of its ruth. The
gentleman to wbOm il was sent, was instruct
ed not to publish the names that were attached
to II. He was, however, at the same time, re-
quested 10 insert the document itself in the next
number OF his paper, and was left at fuIi and
perfect liberty to show the signatures to any
person who might wish to be satisfied upon the
subject, and would pledge his honor not TO
abuse the confidence reposed in him by involy-
ing The parties concerned in any legal ditti-
Guilty.
The men who youched with their signatures
Tor the truth of the statement they made, and
now repeated, are men of considerable proper
iy and highly creditable position in the colony
and no one there would be rash enough to
speak single were derogatory ofther honor.
have the honor to be your faithful and grateful
servant.
THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.