HC Deb 12 February 1867 vol 185 cc284-8
COLONEL FRENCH

I wish to put a Question with reference to a statement in the morning newspapers that 800 persons in the course of yesterday took possession of Chester Castle. That the alarm was so great that the inhabitants were sworn in as special constables, and that that alarm extended to Her Majesty's Government, a regiment of Guards having been sent down last night by special train. Will the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department let us know what truth there is in these statements, and what reason there is for supposing the movement to be a Fenian one? I am informed that the gathering was really nothing but a collection of roughs to witness a prize fight that was coming off in the neighbourhood.

MR. WALPOLE

Perhaps the best answer I can give to the Question of the hon. Gentleman will be to state, in as simple a narrative as I can, all the circumstances leading to the inquiry he has made of the Government. On Sunday morning last I received a communication stating that there was unusual excitement among those who are generally acknowledged, or, at any rate, believed to be Fenians in the town of Liverpool. It was stated that they were meeting together with unusual frequency, and that there was some apprehension that a movement was about to be made on their part. In consequence of that information, on Sunday afternoon I sent down a person specially to inquire into the truth of those statements which had been communicated to me, and to report as soon as possible what information he could obtain for the Government. Soon after I had reached the Home Office on Monday morning a telegraphic message came from the Mayor of Chester, stating that a large number of strangers were in the town and neighbourhood; that they were believed to be Fenians; and that the apprehension was they were about to attack the Castle, for the purpose of obtaining the arms and ammunition stored there; and the telegram also stated the numbers of troops there were in the town, and expressed a wish that an additional force should be sent down. Upon that information being conveyed to the Home Office, I directed that a company of troops should be sent from Manchester to Chester, in addition to the troops then stationed there. Later in the day I received a report from the person I had sent to Liverpool, and according to that report it had been ascertained that on the previous Friday evening there had been held a meeting of Fenians, who had resolved to attack the town of Chester on the Monday morning for the purpose of obtaining the arms and ammunition contained in the Castle. So far, the report received from Liverpool corresponded with circumstances mentioned in the telegrams which came from the Mayor of Chester, and this correspondence gave a serious aspect to the affair. Still later in the day I received two other telegrams—one with reference to the calling out of the Volunteers in case the troops in the Castle should require additional support, and the other a general telegram as to how they were to act. With regard to the first, I replied that the Mayor ought not to call out the Volunteers in their military capacity; that it would be their duty to aid in preserving the public peace as much as it was the duty of any other civilians to do so; and that in case of emergency they would be justified in using their arms, not in a military capacity, but as I have stated. With regard to the second telegram, I replied that the Mayor had better put himself in communication with Major General Sir John Garvock, who commands the troops in the northern division of England; and a further telegram was sent to General Garvock, instructing him to put himself in communication with the Mayor of Chester, and so save telegraphic messages coming to the Home Office. That was all that had been done up to the time the House met yesterday. Yesterday evening, while my right hon. Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was making his statement to the House, I received a further telegram from the Mayor of Chester, and it was as nearly as possible in these words— 400 more have arrived, making in all 1,200 in the city. The town is in a state of excitement, and more troops are required. On receipt of the telegram I communicated with the heads of the Departments as much connected with such a subject as is my own, and we consulted as to the course that had better be taken. We agreed, inasmuch as there was no specific statement that these strangers were armed, and inasmuch as there was a great absence of details such as would justify the Government in adopting extraordinary measures, to send telegrams to the Mayor of Chester and to General Garvock. That addressed to General Garvock inquired whether the strangers in Chester were armed; if so, whether he required any further force; and, if he required such force, to what extent. That sent to the Mayor was to this effect— Telegraph directly what is the state of the town at this moment, and whether anything further is needed. We determined not to send any troops in addition to those which had been sent until we got an answer to those telegrams; but my Colleagues agreed with me that, if we did have an answer, then I should be at liberty to communicate with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, and that such measures might be adopted as might be deemed advisable. I ought to observe, that in the interim we had desired that a battalion of Guards should be in readiness in case they were needed; and also that a train should be kept under steam ready for their conveyance. I received no answer to either telegram until this morning. I received the answer to the Mayor's telegram first, about one o'clock this morning, and from General Garvocdc about a quarter past four. The telegram from the Mayor was to this effect— There are 1,500 strangers in the city: they have come from Liverpool, Manchester, Halifax, Stalybridge, and other places. The town is in great excitement. Please telegraph directly to Manchester for more military. All our other means of prevention are exhausted. I considered what was best to be done under these circumstances, and upon these reports. I wrote to the Brigade Major of the Guards, sending the letter through my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, stating that I thought he had better send down 500 Guards for these reasons—first of all, because it would be very detrimental to denude Manchester of troops instead of sending them from Lon- don, and it was important if any outbreak occurred, that Liverpool and other towns in the neighbourhood should be as much protected as Chester; in the second place, I thought that prevention was better than cure; and thirdly, I believed that instead of waiting for morning, if it was known that the Guards were in Chester when the people rose from their beds, it would have a greater effect by inspiring confidence among the good and peaceful inhabitants, and striking terror among the evil-disposed. It was under these circumstances that the troops were sent. Three hours afterwards I received a telegram from General Garvock, who did not take so gloomy a view of the affair as had been taken by the civil authorities. He thought the troops in Chester were sufficient for its protection. I have no detailed intelligence beyond what I have now given to the House. I have no detailed intelligence received to-day. I hear that several of these men went away last night or early in the morning; I hear further that several of these strangers were in Chester two days; but, until I receive fuller information, I am not able to communicate to the House anything beyond what I have briefly and plainly stated. I have given no opinion as to whether this is a Fenian outbreak or not; but the circumstances unquestionably point in that direction. I trust the course the Government has taken will meet with the approbation of the House, and show those, if there be such in England, who wish for an outbreak, that they will be sure to be repelled without promoting the mischief they intend.

MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any information as to whether the strangers in Chester were armed; what their conduct was; what they did; and whether they threatened the Castle or made any other demonstration?

MR. WALPOLE

I have received no information down to this moment as to whether they were armed or not.

MR. OWEN STANLEY

wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, or the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for War, what the military force at Chester Castle was on Friday last?

MR WALPOLE

I hope the House will not press for that information till tomorrow.

MR. OWEN STANLEY

said, he would give notice of a Question on the subject.

LORD ELCHO

I think it right—as I am in possession of a telegram from Chester from Earl Grosvenor, who went down yesterday afternoon—he being in command of the Chester troop of Yeomanry—that I should Inform the House of its contents. It arrived at four o'clock this afternoon, and is to the following effect:—"Was serious. Timely information saved the town. All right now."