“With the fact that the government seized papers connected with my defence and examined them—­with the fact that they packed the jury—­with the fact that the government stated they would convict—­with the fact that they sent Judge Keogh, a second Morbury, to try me—­with these facts before me, it would be useless to say anything.”

Judge Keogh proceeded to pass sentence.  “The prisoner,” he said, “had entertained those criminal designs since the year 1859;” whereupon O’Donovan broke in with the remark that he was “an Irishman since he was born.”  The judge said, “he would not waste words by trying to bring him to a sense of his guilt;” O’Donovan’s reply was—­“It would be useless for you to try it.”  The judge told him his sentence was, that he be kept in penal servitude for the term of his natural life.  “All right, my lord,” exclaimed the unconquerable rebel, and with a smile to the sympathising group around him, he walked with a light step from the dock.

The court was then adjourned to the 5th of January. 1866; and next day the judges set off for Cork city, to dispose of the Fenian prisoners there awaiting trial.

* * * * *

BRYAN DILLON, JOHN LYNCH, AND OTHERS.

On Wednesday, December 16th, the trial of O’Donovan (Rossa) was brought to a conclusion in Dublin.  Next morning, away went judges, crown lawyers, spies, detectives, and informers for the good city of Cork, where another batch of men accused of conspiring against British rule in Ireland—­“the old crime of their race”—­were awaiting the pronouncement of British law upon their several cases.  Cork city in these days was known to be one of the foci of disaffection; perhaps it was its chief stronghold.  The Metropolis may have given an absolutely larger number of members to the Fenian organization, but in proportion to the number of its population the Southern city was far more deeply involved in the movement.  In Dublin, the seat of British rule in Ireland, many influences which are but faintly represented in other parts of the country, are present and active to repress the national ardour of the people.  Those influences are scarcely felt in the city of Saint Finbar.  Not in Ireland is there a town in which the national sentiment is stronger or more widely diffused than in Cork.  The citizens are a warm-hearted, quick-witted and high-spirited race, gifted with fine moral qualities, and profoundly attached to the national faith in religion and politics.  Merchants, traders, professional men, shopkeepers, artizans, and all, are comparatively free from the spells of Dublin Castle, and the result is visible in their conduct.  The crown looks dubiously and anxiously upon a Cork jury; the patriot, when any work for Ireland is in hand, looks hopefully to the Cork people.  The leaders of the Fenian movement thoroughly understood these facts, and devoted