The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-30

| Interesting Letter from John Mitchell
The following letter from John Mitchell 10 his former
editorial associate. Thomas Deyn Reilly now al Wash
lngon, 10 private letter. written the eve OF his Ia
king the bold step Of escaping in the face of the auhor-
ties. without violating his parole
] boutwell,, Van Dieman's Land,
| April 26, 1858.
MY DEAR REILLY: have now passed nearly FIVE
years IN captivity 10 the English enemyfour eev-
Gu months and fourteen days; for my days have gone
oy hsavlly and had time count Them II endure il
any longer fear the iron will enter into my soul and
coode-i fear The virtue. that TO say. the pluck will
nave gone out OF me.
Nothing could be easier than TO escape without risk
from thus den OF all the dsvls, if VIC could but conde
sced TO fly clandesney in violation OF our word OF hon
o.. = Is enough to say that 10 entertain this thought
would make US as bad as the British government.
The parole is the only chain that binds us we are the
prisoners OF our own word mot OF Sir William Denison
and his abject cut-throat constahies
Now, am going 10 explain to you why have come
70 he determination OF formally Withdrawing this parole
and surrsndsTing myself into the hands of my iaers,
WHO must thsreafter hold me as they can.
| When the British government called me "feionD by
act OF their canting Parliament need not tell you nv
friend, ,.;n how loudly they lied need not relate how
0 justice; under how fraudulent pelence of law hey
procured what they falsely called conylc,ion' agans
me WIN what wicked speed they chained me and car
sight OF man. or The enemy. thank God of their
empire Their name and their naon) need not remind
you win what barbarian JOY their whole press screamed
derousy they have been civzng our poor country ever
since lhe present object Of my writing is merely 10 put
you 10 OF some personal matters which wish
10 explain clearly 10 some friend
u seems that we Irish exes have been treated with
cismency by our enemies This the Queens viceroy
amtmsi for this the caniing press OF England takes
credit. We have been exempted. they say, from con.
vict labor in the gangs. (Which had deserved,)
ana nave been INDUCED with comparative liberty and
ticket OF leave!
mean frat n ri pyOua al of fha Ia
ands acs OF clemency in my own case, and shall begin
at the beginnings
First. On the very day mock trial closed was ar
ayed IN gray convict garments, and had my feet boled
INTO IRON feters The clothes, indeed removed inn
medaely AFTER but the CHAINS aud was carried to
ns place oi ny embafkaon chained, in police van,
win constabes pistol al my
second On the same day OF my mock trial police con
stables were sent to break into the office of my newspa
took possession OF account books SO that those who
owed debts could not be called upon to pay them and
thus her sacred Majesty the Queen of England robbed
wife and children OF all their means under that fa se
preence OF trial and in open violation therefore, ofose
laws which uhey say is her sacred office guard
Ihird was kept ten months in solitary cell OF
erty than any OF the real convcis that place nsomuch
that my health failed, and The medical superintendent in-
formed me, and certified TO the British government thai
Il detained there much longer must die,
Fourth. While lay there between death and life,
almost The only news that penetrated to me from the
outer world informed Of the indignation of The Brit
officers OF their pirate ships lsenemen worthy OF an
honeser servceO because they had spoken TO cour
eously; because they had shaken hands with me; be-
cause they had suffered to sill in their cabias Chains
dungeon, and convcts Iaons, said the great British
public, were good enough for the elon. So the outraged
admiralty had make inquiries and give TO
satisfy lie angry public, and those worthy ocers mar
rowly missed the honor Of being cashsred from the
praie service Now you may Judge whether all this fer
ment on such subject must have not been CALLING
and singing chained than the actual chains,
dungeon. and convict raiions.
Fifth. After two months delay, consider the med
cal officers report, was al length put board the Nep
tune experimental convict ship. destined to
band cargo of felony nj the Cape OF Good Hope The
British ministers, indeed. knew that should most prob
ably never land al The Cape, where, accordingly,
did land; but after five months voyage TO the Cape,
and FIVE months detention al the Cape, all in close
clean and M unhealthy cavity under the poop deck Of the
mans Land Tue voyage OF the Neptune from Ber-
muda Van Dieman's Land, had lssi,d Just enc year
minus thirteen days.
ness, found that all the real criminals board The Nep
une n consideration OF the hsrdships OF their long
voyage and deteniion" were TO be landed free but that
(though also had had long voyage and detention,
aud though these were much greater hardship to me
than TO them) was still 10 be kept prisoner. This
more than three years ago; and prisoner an STILL
Seventh. Before being allowed even the Comparative
liberty" o ticket oi leave, promise cxaced from
me iha, would not use that comparative liberty make
my escape Now, this idea oil the parole ed
not out OF courtesy, God knows 10 but security
10 ,hem-lhe only security they could have that we
would stay one week in the island. About this there
must be no mistake. II we had been dealt with here
any OF the classes OF real convc,s are had got
the ordinary ticket OF leave without PAROLE bad been
hired oot TO setiles pass. .hojcs-we would all in
slsntly have lett the island Then If you ask why give
the promise al all i-why not demand to be put on the
footing OF the genuine convicis at 1.-The answer
IL, we had no such alternative Mr. Brien did at frst
refuse; but insead oil dealing with him with
dinary prisoner they confined him remote Jail.
der custody rigorous mine al Bermuda. where
by he also was in danger OF losing his life In shot
curiy not for benefit; and they exacled under the
penalty oil lingering death in a dungeon.
Eighth. The governor Of this colony, alter first
monstrapg with his employers about The consider alton
they showed us In treating Us as genemen"-that Ia,
~ persons capable OF giving parole o honor al aook
care Al lsastto make that high privilege vaIueless to
"a possible We are subjected (no,w outstanding the
parole) TO sfcter police surveillance than the trme
vcis We are not allowed to live in the district IA
common convIcs are, nor 10 vst one another a. common
convics may must report ourselves to the police
mag srate ot respective dungeon districts
month, and that personally, that keepers
face 10 face, and make feel month that our
thieves have only TO report themselves twice the year,
and not personally Within The last fortnight too, while
WAS staying quietly AT my Registered residence" here
gentleman Travelling through the country, was arrested
eighty miles Oh for under warrant for my apprehen
sion as absconder," and kept three days and
all IN my name This seems gross outrage upon The
gentleman but feel that grosser outrage by far
upon me- The sole apology made 10 either of IL that
The thing a mistake You can see, therefore, how
parole is respected the enemys side, and how
much get in return for giving them that security This
however, il not ALL The colonial government Tin per
ormance, no doubt OF its duty) has used all its social
Inf ~ sotn hon