THE FENIANS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 42, 23 April 1866, Page 3

THE FENIANS.

The Feniaa organisation proves more powerful and extensive than was supposed. The state of the country is so alarming that the Government suspended the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland for six months. Hundreds „ of persons, Irish and American, have been '"'sujnmarily arrested. Many of the latter fled from the country, being engaged in drilling, paying, and organising the Irish, and bribing the Queen's soldiers to desert and join the Fenians. Stroug reinforcements of troops have been sent to Ireland, including the Guards. Large quantities of gunpowder, heavy shot, grenades, and shells have been captured by the police in various districts. A Fenian Coitp d'etat was fixed for St. Patrick's Day, 17th March. General Sweeny, the Fenian Secretary of War, who has attached himself to the seceding party under Roberts, has, it is said, issued an important circular order to the Brotherhood. It is understood that it calls for prompt military organisation, and that it promises active and efficient woi'k instead of words. He denies that he has any side issues, as his ultimate objective point is, and ever will be, Ireland. The officers under him, he pledges, will be trustworthy soldiers, who have added to scientific and theoretical knowledge the experience which can only be acquired on the field of battle 1 ; If supported by the true and honest men in the brotherhood, he willjsoon have hostages for the martyrs to Irish liberty now in the hands of the British Government. The general speaks hopefully, and, from the warm support and generous adhesion to his policy which he is receiving daily, he doubts not of the future freedom of his native laud. He advises the brotherhood to leave factionists to their own devices and selfish schemes, and prepare for speedy and practical action. The order states that dreaming, haranguing, and pomposity will be excluded, and that every dollar will be accounted for, and that the results will soon be felt by the Irish people. The Fenian Senate has reassembled. The most interesting portion of the proceedings was the adoption of vigorous measures for stirring up the different circles throughout the country. " Special meetings with closed doors," and " cabinet deliberations on proposals calculated to shake thrones to their centres," are announced to have trauspired in the Union-square head-quarters. CHINA. The extinguished Taeping rebellion is followed by dangers equally menacing from Neinfein aud revolted braves in various parts of the empire. Pekin is in a dangerous posij tion, as the rebels have expressed their determination to sack the capital. The Neiufein have advanced to within twenty miles of Hankow, and the surrounding villages are in flames. The city is crowded with Avretched destitute refugees. The foreign residents are making the necessary preparations to meet the emergency. II. M. steamers Algerine and Tardriff have prepared for action, and the enrolling aud drilling of Volunteers is prosecuted with vigor. Nothing important at Shanghai.