The New York herald., 1872-12-23

There Is nothing like consistency. 1t Is
said by poets to be a jewel SO rich and rare as
to be we'll nigh unattainable. For once, at
least. poets are not indebted to their imagine
ton for their facts. and we turn TO the record
of England's Premier for confirmation of a
statement more true than fanciful Clernency
to political prisoners is claimed TO be pre-
vailing English sentiment. Many years ago
Mr.. Gladstone won golden opinions by his
humane efforts to ameliorate the condition OF
political prisoners brutally treated by the
Neapolitan government. When Orsini and
his fellow conspirators attempted to take the
life of Louis Napoleon Mr.. Gladstone was
one of a Ministry that refused to surrender
them, on the ground that the offence was po-
litical. Ten years ago Mr.. Gladstone vehe-
mently advocated the cause of American re-
bellion, declaring that jefferson Davis had
made a nation, and because of this SYM
pathy, gave great impetus to the cause of
Fonianism, which he now is the first to de-
nounce. Only few weeks since statement
was forwarded to the London Times, signed
by several Communist prisoners confined in
the Chateau dOleron, complaining of their
inhuman treatment and the manager of
that journal despatched special commissioner
to France for the purpose Of interviewing the
complainnnts, and devoted four columns of
The Thunderer" to their wrongs. This was
noble, this was entcrprising but has Mr.
Gladstone's government, has the virtuous
Times, shown equal concern regarding certain
Irish political prisoners, tried as Fenians, and
accused of supplying arms to the brother
hood? Does MIR. Gladstone's soul publicly
revolt at it, does the Times publish state
ment vouched for by two witnesses and made
| by Mr.. Reddin, who, having undergone five
years imprisonment for connection with the
rescue of Kelly at Manchester, now issues
forth freed, shattered in body, though not in
mind, his legs paralyzed, his life burden?
Oh, no! And so for the benefit of Mr.. Glad
stone and the Times we copy from the Irish
man the following remarkable evidence of the
way in which moral England follows her own
humane teachings of the manner in which
she tempers justice with mercy =
Immediately after my conviction, AYERS Mr.. Red.
ed % b wereas dhe the
ordinary prisoners cells were merely b0lted l re-
NAMED here IN solitary coninement Miner; nine months
demned to two days bread and water for simply
looking at Richard Burke; also received one days
in aG e
In company with Moorehouse and Carroll, ana while
there, being asked to wheel barrow full Of fifty
wet bricks which had not strength enough to DO
was IN consequence subjected to bread and water
% sess @ bs 1sd 70 s
and water for simply nodding to O'Donovan Rosa,
and because ~ had the temerity TO speak again to
ditlona punishment OF three days. bread and
water. In October; 1870 was taken very III while
Urinary. a warder named Taylor noticing
my condition, had me conveyed into the
ana 1ss sssus q bssSs ssys the % my nsad usss
peremptsorly 1nps ordered lime me out again All
aid whatever. On the following day, being much
| worse, was ordered into the casual ward OF the
without food. The next day was removed into
CELL seven feet long and four feet wide, and con-
and one pint OF arrowroot. was discharged from
this cell on Saturday and ordered into the regular
been an utter mpossibility for me to have reached
1t were 1t not for the kind assistance OF an Ordi
following Sunday twas ordered o. out on on the s pay pay
rade ground to exercise but being, as have
jus. stated totally unable to walk Or in fact to
two ordinary prisoners literally dragged me round
the parade ground, eventually dragging me from
was stripped naked from halfpast ten In the morn.
ing till half-past two in the afternoon ofa cold.
any knowledge OF other than my inability to
perform exercise on the parade ground. This pun
ishment having ended, and being obliged to resume
work on the following day, managed, with the as
sistance OF fellow prisoner TO reach the scafrold
able to stand, sat down on window sill to rest,
my fellow prisoner doing my portion Of the work as
as eS hf to
In order not to compromise my fellow prisoner,
and in trying to do so fell from the scafroldIng and
severely injured my head was then lifted from
the ground and again placed on the scaffold, but
the principal officer finding me unable either to
work or stand was, by his ORDER again conveyed
to the casual ward. The effect OF this inhusian
torturng was to overthrow my reason, for at this
stage can remember nothing until l found myself
pany with the other prisoners, which beneficial
change attribute to the kindly Of
charged from the in1rmary by order of Dr.
Burns, and ordered out to labor and being,
for work, again received three days bread and
water, without even the luxury OF a bed. Imme-
the solitary penal ce--the same that was CON
structed for 0'Donovan Rosa, with an open closet
ledge or Ar the expiration OF this punishment as
| was growing daily worse, was again removed to
feet leave you to imagine, for cannot ted describe
the tortures experienced during this terrible Or
sss SG1 nope mop my sGw not
moved from this cell in the following July and
placed IN the one formerly occupied, seven feet
! by four, and remained in II till August. Towards
the end Of August, DR.. burns being AWAY ON leave
OF absence, DR.. Steele-my frend-had me removed
to the regular ward OF the inhrmary, where re-
NAMED until October, 1S7l-during which time va
rious cruel experiments were resorted to, to test
with red-hot irons, piercing my legs with needles,
&C., the marks OF which still remain was at this
period discharged from the infrmary and SUBJ
| jected to a new punishment by being brought
from the cell every morning and placed I'M a
cold bathroom stripped naked mot with the object
OF administering bath, as you may suppose, but
| as an additional punishment Tor my contumacy),
| and obliged to remain naked all day, not being
able to dress myself until they came to remove me
at night. on January 4, 1872, was permanently
removed to solitary cell, and while there sub
jected to a blistering process my back and neck
A galvanc battery was then applied six times q
day to the wound caused by the blister, which pro-
duced the most excruciating tortures. remained