The New York herald., 1879-03-03
THE AMNESTIED COMMUNISTS.

THE pARDoNED COMMUNISTS OF NEW GALE
DoNIA-DEspATCH OF TRANSPORTS FROM
FRANcE-rHE LEADING COMMUNISTS WHO
ARE EXPECTED BACK.
From the Daily News.l
Although the amnesty is not voted, yet couple OF
sailing transports have already left France for New
Caledonia, in order to bring back the Communists
who are about to be pardoned. They the
Navarin and the Var, and three others will sail
within month from W. All these ships the
same which took out the convcts in 1s723 and they
each of them fitted up so as to carry $50 pas
sengers. besides the crews As mt present arranged,
the departure from Noumea will take place the
9Th Of June the transport being timed to arrive at
Alden the 5th of August, at Port Said the 18th
and at Touion the 25th. All the repatrated exiles
be landed at Toulon, and it is understood that
once they have set foot French soil they will be
allowed to 60 where they please. public subscrip-
ton is being raised to supply the wants of the need
lest Of them and the Municipal Council OF Paris is
going to MAKE grant of 900 for the same
purpose This is almost necessary, Tor very few
of the exiles have found their sojourn in New Gale
donia paying business The late National Assembly
having voted, in an unwse lit of sentmentalsm. that
labor should not be made compulsory for the polit
cal convicts. most Of them have been living in
ratons, they Lad ill-nade huts to live and they
spent most of their time in incoming about with
their hands in their pockets waiting for news from
France which might haply bring them tidings that
the long expected amnesty was at hand.
VOYAGE THERE AND BACK.
Probably the passengers from New Caledonia will
travel home more comfortably than when they un-
dertook their voyage out. NJ. Henri Rochefort,
though his assertions about official msdoings must
he often taken gran0. has written account
which is in the main true about the hardships which
the arst dsporss had to endure the convict ships.
They were penned by the half dozen in strong
wooden cages, where there just for them to
squat budding one another. Twice day bucket half
fun ofsoup was passed into each the men not
being allowed to have tins. helped themselves with
wooden spoons. Their drink was water. which they
swled out OF an iron jug. the ration being limited
TO quart day per man even when they were pass
ing through tropical attiides where thirst RACES.
There not enough light in the cages for the
prisoners to read, so they were fain to sit or
the half hour every day when they were sum-
moned to the upper deck. in patches OF
of marines with loaded rifles. 1t naturally told
heavily the female convicts, of whom there were
many--two or three being women of education, like
Louise Michel. the schooistrcss. 1t is said that
the voyage home the cages will be dispensed with
and the prisoners will have three substantial meals
day. with coffee and a ration OF wine. They viii be
treated captves. however, until they have touched
French soii-which means chat ia case OF insubordi-
nation they will be subject to heavy penalties.
LEADING COMMUNISTS.
The number of men to be .repairiated from New
Caledonia amounts 70 about three thousand; but
there will be many more who will return from exile
in England Belgium. Switzerland and America. Eng
lsh speaking readers probably familiar with the
names Oh Tue itauIIx WHO Will now
have the doors of France reopcned to them. They
VI. Eliscc kcclus (the distinguished geograpEer,
whose transportation was commuted to ten
years Of exile the petition of the late Earl
Sisnhope and many other Englishmen) aud NJ. Ar
thur Ranc, LONDON correspondent of NJ. Gainbetta's
journal. the Rpbtiqr frdacaise After these, toaoo
inierrdjio in point oI merit come MN. Henri Roche
fort, OF Ldnferne celebrity Paschal Groussct, and
Olivier Pain. who managed the foreign affairs of
the Commune; Clnse-et, tho general who had
thoughts at one time of leading the Fenians, and
who mas been sketched Ia "Lothair;" Mcgy, who
o1rttx he ffrtfa Al. Vtt,tr
the Empire; Felix Pyat. once most charming,
writer plays and literary essays in times long
before he dabbled in politics; Piotol, the artist,
whose caricAturcs have been appearing for the last
ve years in some London comic papers: Jules valles,
the journalist &C. One would be glad to add that all
these proscripts had borne themselves with dignity
during their exile but this is not possible Perhaps the
least said tho subject the better, recent LAM
poon lcveilcd at NJ Grevy by jules Valles suggests
tAc fear that this inprudent writer has been
much chastenod by his experience; but 1t must also
inspire with tho hope that the new President y
clsmoncy will induce him and others to turn a
leaf with all despatch The Commune OF 1871
Is not thing to crow about.