Extract

L'.ndon, May 31, 1848. Iea.rSir. - In tny list letter, I mentioned tnat iMr. Mhchell, llie editor of ihe "United Irishman," was undergoing his trial for felony under the recently passed " Crown and Govcrnmenl Sccunty Bill." The jury having returned a verdict of "guilty," he was sentenccd to fourteen years transportaron, and was, next day, after a very nffecting farewell interview with his wife and fatnily, taken, under an escort of dragoons, on lioard a ship bound for Spike Islam), Bear Cork, tliere to await the iiilingof aconvict vcssel. The scène in court at the passing of the sentence.was most extraordinary. From all quarters of the court, peoj.'le presst'd forward to shake hand3 with him, (ome throw boquet3 of flowers, hamsters in their golier gowns nnj wigs, jumpèd over the rabie, in order to crive a laat expreasion to ihcir sympatiiy wit tlie prisnner ; thejudge who passed the sentenc?, hastily left the bench, but rcturnod in a few minutes, whilo the otlieiwho remaincd, could not conceal his cir.otior. Several persons were taken into castody fnr these manifeslations, which were cons'cícred a contempt of court ; but were shortly after liberael. Mr. Holmes, Mr Mitchell'a counsel, who liad defended his cliënt, merely o.i the principie that the English government in Ire and being an usurpatiori, it could not be wrong to waewar, or to excite !o war against it; and then said that every word (ie had uttered, as MrJMitchelfs Rdvocate was the expression of his own delibérate con viction, for which hewasinditidually resnonsible, and that the Attorney Genera) miglit irosecute him. ïf he chose. - The judge immediateiy c-tlled upon the court m proceöd with other business. Feeling strongly, as I do, the bitter wrongs and oppressinns under win-h Ireland has so long groancd, it is iinpossibio for me not to sytnpa ihvzc even with thi'se who a similar feeling has goaded on to madhess or to crime. Without, therefore, defending Mr. Mitcueli, whose grand aim i:j all his writingi, was to preparf freland for an armed revolt ngninst the gov ernment no doubt that the British Govei-nmenr, is the firs: and great criminal.