The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-04-11
From the London Timesl

\ good deal of anxiety prevails in the North of
England with regard to the movements of the Re
mans. 4 large number of the lower order OF the
Irish are employed in the factories, iron works
and iron ship-building yards of the Tyne and Tees,
and in ONE of the pit districts of Durham and
northumberland, and of late midnight drillings
and other such like have been observed
among them. All the garrsons and barracks are
now guarded by soldiers, and there is not much
danger of an attack in that direction, and if the
Fenians do make any rash outbreak. IL il very
likely n good account would be given of them.
Fears, However, are entertained of street outrages,
and. If such were to occur, they would be almost
certain To bring on a conflict between the lower
orders of English and Irish, and the consequences
might be serious, if Judged by the tremendous on
slaught made upon the Irish by the population
when an outbreak of Fenianism occurred at New
castle races a year and a quarter ago.
On Friday and Saturday great excitement was
caused in Berwick by a report which was spread
TO the effect that the Fenians intended TO make an
attack upon the barracks, and seize the arms and
ammunition stored there. 1t appears that last
week n letter which bears the post-mark of Ber-
wick-upon-Tweed, and which was addressed to a
certain person in Manchester. accidentally fell into
the hands of the officers connected with the dctec-
tive police force in London, and which infinitely
detailed a plot for the purpose of seizing the arm
ory at Berwick-upon-Tweed. The letter, with the
omission of names and initials, is as follows {:
: Dear -: Received yours can make short
work of them no guard kept at night; barrack
walls easily scaled there are 800 or 400 carbines
and about so rifles kept in the armory also, six
field pieces and seven 32-pounders, beside amuni-
ton for the volunteers. No one in the barracks
but tile militia staff and families, about thirteen
soldiers in all, and a number generally out at
night. We will easily manage it in one night,
and-[hcre followed particulars as to the move
ments of certain members of the Fenian body
which are suppressed for obvious reasons. We
can number So, with-and -, all true. BE
| am making arrangements ith-[several persons
and towns mentionedJ-to bring the bags, which
will come during the week. We can muster from
$50 to 200. We will settle and be at peace in
about Il month. We are sure of success. Don't
expect assistance from the soldiers and the bar
racks, but If they do We will do the usual. We
hope to have it settled by this time next month"
After this sentence followed some writing in
cypher, which of course is unreadable. On this
letter being received by the police authorities in
London, Sergeant langley was dispatched to Ber-
wick-upon-Twced. Upon his arrival he found
thar the sta tement relative to the armory was
infinitely and particularly correct, and that the
formidable garrison of thirteen was the number
Of soldiers who guarded it. After receiving his
communication from London, the Mayor, MIR.
James PurvIs, Immediately convened n meeting of
tic magistrates, to take steps to protect the arm
ory. This meeting was attended by the COM
mander of the armory and the commander OF the
gunboat, and measures were promptly carried out
which entirely removed any apprehension that
might arise as to any Fenian attack. The matter,
of course, although for reasons of public safety it
was kept as quiet as possible, eventually oozed
out and created a great excitement in the old
town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.