, 1853-11-05
Escape Of John Mitchell, the Irish Patriot


John Mitchell, the Irish exile, escaped
from Van Demen's Land, and arrived in
San Francisco on the 10Th ult., accompa-
MED by his wife and children. No words
of fours can express the delight with which
we welcome this gallant and sterling patriot
10 the shores of California. Since Robert
Emmett offered up his pure life on the
scaaold, in vindication of his country's
rights, no such man as John Mitchell has
ever flung himself into the breach, in de-
fence Of lHsh Independence.
The Irish exiles of lS4S have never, as
is well known, admitted the validity Of
their pretended trials and convictions before
juries packed by the English Government.
They hold themselves captives in the hands
Of pirates, and have no scruple in escaping
out Of the power of their enemies, whenever
they can do so, without violating their pa
role of honor, an obligation which must be
observed even with pirates. The last pris-
oner who has escaped their clutches, and
fed for refuge under the American Flag, is
John Mitchell, who arrived az we have sta
ted, accompanied by his wife and children,
they having about two years ago followed
him 10 his place Of bondage The circum-
stances Of his escape are briefly these -
Mr.. P. j. Smyth, of New York, (himself a
rebel Of ls4S), went TO Van Deiman's
Land, with the express mission to rescue
some one or more Of the Irish State Prson>
ers. Nothing could have been easier than
10 escape, if they could have thought of
doinsso clandestinely, and without regard
10 their promise but in order TO discharge
themselves of that obligation, they felt it
necessary 10 formally withdraw their parole
before the proper authority, and present
themselves to be taken into custody. The
parole is q the effect that they would not
escape from the colony so long as they held
a" ticket Of leave" which gave them a
species Of liberty, within a certain designa
ted police district; but this " ticket Of
leave is thing which may at any time be
taken away by the convict authorities, or
Resigned by the prisoners.
Now, while Mr.. Smyth was in Van Del
mans Land, and before any movement
whatever was made, by any Of the prison
ers, the local Government, by means of
some of their eves-dropping detectives, had
learned his real views, and Mr.. Smyth was
actually arrested, held in custody for three
days, and most ignominiously abused, under
warrant directed against John Mitchell
Mr.. Smyth, in short, was taken for Mr..
Mitchell, under the false and insolent as
sumption that Mr.. Mitchell was abscond-
ing" whilst he was all the time living qui-
city at his cottage in Boutwell,, and was un-
der parole of honor not to abscond. This
was gross outrage on Mr. Smyth, and an
outrage hardly less gross on Mr.. Mitchell.
lie now at length resolved to avail himself
oi Mr.. Smyth's offer of assistance, and leave
The Island, not clandestinely, but openly
Accordingly, he wrote and dispatched the
following note 10 the Lieut.. Governor, Sir
"H, Denison.
boutwell,, Sih June, 1858.
SIR Il hereby resign the 'compara-
tive liberty called ticket-of-leave,' and
revoke my parole of honor. shall forth
with present myself before the police mag
Iarale Of Boutwell,, at his police office, show
MN this letter, and offer myself 10 be taken
inIo custody.
am, Sir, your obedient servant,
"JoHN Mitchell"
The next day, the 9th June, Mr.. Mitchell
and Mr.. Smylh rode in together 10 the