THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEMy Lords, reports respecting the alleged 331 doings of Fenians in Ireland—and some of them of a very grave character—have been current throughout the town last night and this morning. Under these circumstances, the noble Earl opposite will doubtless pardon my asking, Whether there is any information in the possession of the Government which he can give to the House? I am sure your Lordships and the public will be glad to know the exact state of things in that country at the present moment.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYMy Lords, I can so entirely understand the anxiety which the noble Marquess and your Lordships must feel with regard to the unfortunate circumstances which have occurred within the last twenty-four hours in Ireland, and I also so fully recognise to the fullest extent the duty on the part of the Government of withholding nothing from your Lordships, that though the information which we possess is only such as can be received by telegram, and is, therefore, in the highest degree meagre and unsatisfactory, I am perfectly ready to state, without reserve, all the circumstances that have come to our knowledge. Yesterday afternoon we received information by telegram that between Mallow, Valentia, and Killarney the telegraphic wires had been cut; and by telegrams subsequently received we learned that they had been repaired and that the company were regularly patrolling the line for the purpose of its protection. Last night, a little before eleven o'clock, we received telegraphic information to the effect that an outbreak had certainly taken place—we do not know in what numbers, or how far armed—but that at Cahirciveen the coastguard station had been sacked, and that a messenger—a mounted policeman with despatches—had been shot by a body of insurgents. I am happy to say, however, that we received information this morning that, although the man had been shot at, he was not killed, but his arms and his horse were taken possession of by the mob. Our information further went on to say that great apprehensions were entertained in the town of Killarney, upon which it was said that the mob were marching. That, as the noble Marquess knows, is distant from Cahirciveen about forty miles. Killarney, at the time, was utterly unprotected; but provision for the safety of the place was made by sending instructions immediately for the movement of troops by express trains from Cork, Tralee, and also from the Curragh. We received in the 332 course of the night three subsequent telegrams, the last of which informed us that the first detachment from Cork had arrived at Killarney, and that the second was expected there in the course of a few hours. I learned to-day from Lord Strathnairn that a detachment of 500 men were on their way from the Curragh, and had already arrived at Mallow. It is satisfactory to learn that these measures afforded great relief to the minds of the people of Killarney, and that no further outbreak has occurred, except, as we understand, that the police barrack at Kells, eight miles from Cahirciveen, was attacked by the same party which visited Cahirciveen. We have not heard that they have approached any nearer to Killarney, nor have we heard of any symptoms of disturbance in any other part of the country. It will also be satisfactory to your Lordships to know that we have arrested an officer in the neighbourhood of Cahirciveen, who when arrested was proceeding on a car to take command of the insurgents, and was taken with strongly criminatory papers in his possession. I believe that the feeling of anxiety and alarm which this sudden outbreak produced has greatly subsided. At a conference which I felt it my duty to hold last night with his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and Lord Naas, Chief Secretary for Ireland, it was decided that Lord Naas should proceed to Ireland at once, and he accordingly did so at a very early hour this morning. A telegram from Lord Strathnairn states that he goes over to Dublin by the mail to-night. I have no reason to believe that this is more than a local outbreak; at the same time, notice has been given in every direction that the utmost vigilance is to be exercised. Instructions have been given to the General commanding the district and to the Admiral upon the station, to be on the look-out, and the Government will neglect no precautions that may be necessary to crush this apparent rising before it goes further. This is all the information that I am able to lay before your Lordships. It is all the information which has been received up to a late hour this afternoon, and further than that no means exist at present of obtaining information. I trust, however, that the measures taken will prove sufficient to put this mad insurrection down. It is most satisfactory to know that in no other part of Ireland is there the slightest appearance of outbreak, or of 333 any sanction haying been given to these proceedings.
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEI am anxious to learn front the noble Earl whether he is of opinion, or can form any opinion, that these insurgents or invaders came from the direction of the sea? The reference which the noble Earl has made to the Admiral upon the station leads me to ask whether it is probable that these people approached Cahirciveen along the common roads of the country or from the sea coast?
§ THE EARL OF DERBYI have given your Lordships the whole of the information I possess. The occurrences have only taken place within the last twenty-four hours, and the intelligence being forwarded by telegraph, we cannot at present obtain further information than that which I have already detailed.