" Captain " Mackay, the Fenian accused of attacking Messrs.
Allport's gunshop and other adventures, and of killing a police- man while resisting arrest, has been sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment. He made a most touching speech, which greatly affected the Court, admitted that he had had a fair trial, did not affect to despise his sentence, but trusted that God would enable him to bear " any penalty incurred for glorious old Ireland," denied that the Fenians intended to divide the land, and warned Eng. land to redress the grievances of a country determined to perish or be free. This man is evidently one of a high, almost poetic character ; his career shows that he would make a consummate soldier, yet Government is compelled, on account of those very qualities, to treat him as a public enemy. That is the kind of waste of energy, and patriotism, and intellect which this wretched movement involvei.
Previous page
