Page:The Catalpa Expedition (1897).djvu/80

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
60
THE CATALPA EXPEDITION

presented himself to the police magistrate in Bothwell and surrendered his parole.

"You see the purport of that note, sir," said he.

"It is short and plain. It resigns the thing called 'ticket of leave' and revokes my promise, which bound me so long as I held the thing."

Then they left the magistrate, who was either stupid or afraid to make an attempt to detain them, and, mounting horses, rode through the Australian woods until Hohart Town was reached, when they sailed on the passenger brig Emma to Sydney, and in due time reached the United States. Meagher soon followed. O'Brien declined to have anything to do with any plot for escape while he was on parole, and his honorable conduct was rewarded by a pardon.

After reaching this country, Mitchell founded a paper advocating slavery, and championing the Southern cause in the Rebellion. One of his last acts here was a lecture, the proceeds of which went to swell the fund which was being raised for the Catalpa expedition. Later he returned to Ireland, where, owing to some defect in the criminal law, he could not be arrested, his time of penal servitude having expired, although he had not served it. He was elected to Parliament for Tipperary, was disqualified for a seat, and then reelected. Some turmoil was expected, when Mitchell was withdrawn from the controversy by death.

"Weep for him, Ireland, mother lonely;
Weep for the son who died for thee.