, 1881-08-31

IN VI S'AS ~
first, because the knowledge of the facts
might have proved an obstacle to the
detection of the offenders and, secondly,
from a natural desire not to create alarm.
But secrecy in these days has ceased to
exist, and now that the circumstance is
generally known, it is right that the lacts
should be authoritatively stated. More
than three weeks ago the Government
received information OF the consignment
to Liverpool, and then on their way from
America, OF a number of internal machines
concealed in barrels OF cement. l accor-
dinghy communicated at once with the
Con. m~issione.s Of Customs, and a conf
Dental agent Of the Customs aud u metro
politan police officer were despatched
from London to Liverpool to await the
arrival of the vessels which bad been de.
signated. These officers reached Liver
pool only a few hours before the arrival
Of the first OF the vessels. The cargoes
were accordingly searched 10 concert with
the police and the Customs authorities at
Liverpool, and in the first vessel six OF
these machines were discovered in a bar
rel said 10 contain cemeut and four more
were found IN the second vessel, concealed
ia the same manner. The machines con-
sist of a meal box divided into two com-
partments. the upper portion containing
asix- hour clockwork movement so arranged
as to ignite a detOnator to be hereafter
inserted, which was to communicate with
the lower compartment, containing IL
cartridges, each charged with three ounces
of u nitro-lignine compound which resem'
bled, but which has proved not to be-
dynamite 1t is, however, of a highly
dangerous character-of the character OF
gun cotton. | have had the material
caretuIly examined and experimental upOn
at Woulwich. Each OF the ten boxes
contained a charge Of over 2Ib of explo.
siye, and une OF the barrels contained In
all nearly Il stone weight OF this nitro
lignine compound. 1t is impossible TO
eetimate the fatal effects OF even an accl,
dental concussit n on such a material. l
need not say that Her Maiosty's Govern
ment have employed and are employing
every resource at their disposal to detect
the ~consiguees in England ADD the con
sigr ots in America of these machines.
The actual history OF the despatch CT
these machines is under investigation in
America ana remains 10 De aSCeftalned.
But on The face OF them they appear to
be the precise and literal fulflment of
PROJECTS openly avowed aDd declared in
the Irish Feuian Press OF America. Week
Wy week for the last nine months open
threats and public invitations to general
outrage and private assassination have
been circulated, aud subscriptions for
these purposes have been openly collected
10 the United States and actually expend-
ed Tor these purposes. More than one at.
tempt OF the kind has been made in
England by miscreauts hired and des-
patched from America for this purp ose,
aud their work tas been publicly claimed
by their instigatOrs as q reward of past
snd a motive for fresh subscriptions. /
thought it my duty at an early period OF
this Session, 10 the debates on The Arms
Bill, 10 call the attention of this House to
these publications, their avCwed object,
and their necessary results. Some silly
and incorsiderate people-tO use u mild
term-made light OF these atrOcious teach
ings, and disparaged all attempts to
restrain or punish these Indictments to
crime. But Her Majesty's Government
have not regarded them as things to be
laughed at or neglected. They knew well
the gravity of the case, and have not been
the dupes of the mischlevous ~tallacies of
their apologists. The principal origin of