ASTRONOMY, "SEDITION," AND ARREST
"_--and there is one stirring hour ... when a wakeful influence goes
abroad over the sleeping hemisphere.... Do the stars rain down an
influence?_"--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
During his leisure moments at Eltham Mr. Parnell took up the study of
astronomy with the vigour that always characterized him when he was
interested in a subject. He had picked out from my bookshelf a book
of stars--one of Sir Robert Ball's, I believe, that I had bought at
random one day, and became at once interested. From the teaching of
an old friend of my father's I had a fairly good knowledge of
astronomy, and, though by no means well up in the latest research and
discoveries, I was able to tell him much of the stellar systems that
was new to him. Finding how he devoured the little book of Sir
Robert Ball's, I got several of the latter's interesting works for
him, besides Herschel's.
Then Mr. Parnell told me of a magnificent telescope he had at
Avondale, and sent for it. When this arrived he sent for a few sacks
of Portland cement, with which he made a pedestal in my garden, and
himself mounted the telescope upon it. He made an ingenious
arrangement whereby the slightest touch would tilt the telescope to
the desired angle, and we spent many nights, he and I, watching the
stars and following the courses of the planets till they faded in the
dawn. Then he thought of how near to us was the Observatory at
Greenwich, and got a permit to {109} go over the Observatory. After
that, on the days when my aunt had her readers with her, I used to
accompany him to the Observatory, where we spent many hours.
He could always absorb very quickly any knowledge that appealed to
him, and he soon had the pleasure of teaching me much about the
latest discoveries, and about a subject intensely interesting to
him--the wonderful way in which the telescopes used in the great
observatories of the world are made.
In time this study of the stars began to worry him too much, and he
reluctantly gave up all serious work on the subject. He said it was
all too immense and absorbing to think about in a life that was
primarily concerned with politics. But the pedestal remained, and
still we occasionally mounted the telescope and kept vigil with the
stars through the summer night.
On April 7, 1881, Mr. Gladstone had introduced his Land Bill into the
House of Commons. It was a better Bill than the Irish Party had
reason to expect, but it had grave defects, and the Irish had not
been consulted; while the Government's policy of coercion and
Forster's attitude towards Parnell and his followers made
co-operation between the Liberals and the Irish impossible.
Parnell's policy was to hold aloof and press for amendments. After
being crippled in the House of Lords the Bill became law. At a Land
League Convention held in Dublin on September 14 a resolution was
adopted, on the suggestion of Parnell, that the Act should be tested
by selected cases. "Nothing," said Parnell, "could be more
disastrous to our cause or our organization, and to your hopes of
getting your rents reduced, than an indiscriminate rush of the
tenantry into the Land Courts."
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A few days later Parnell was drawn in triumph through the streets of
Dublin. The same day Forster wrote to Gladstone suggesting that
Parnell should be arrested under the Coercion Act.
He suggested, moreover, that in his next speech at Leeds, on October
7, Mr. Gladstone should impeach Parnell and his policy. Gladstone
obeyed. The people of Ireland, he cried, wished to use the Land Act
and Parnell would not let them, but "the resources of civilisation
were not yet exhausted."
Parnell retorted with passion and scorn in his famous Wexford speech
delivered on October 9.[1]
"Suppose they arrest you, Mr. Parnell," asked an Irish member, who
dined with the Leader on the evening of the speech, "have you any
instructions to give us? Who will take your place?" "Ah!" he said,
deliberately, looking through a glass of champagne which he had just
raised to his lips. "Ah, if I am arrested Captain Moonlight will
take my place."[2]
All through 1881 Parnell was constantly paying flying visits to
Ireland, and also to various parts of England, working up the
"League," addressing meetings and privately ascertaining for himself
how far the temper of the "reactionaries" could be trusted to do the
work he wished without becoming too greatly involved in the tactics
of the "Invincibles" proper. He came home to me now always between
the times of his journeyings up and down {111} the country, and if it
was not certain that I should be alone he would write me a formal
though friendly note or letter that anyone could have been shown, in
which was given some word or sign that let me know a place or time of
meeting him, either in London or nearer my home. On some of these
occasions my duties to my aunt would keep me, so that I might be an
hour or more late in arriving at the place where he awaited me; but
never once in all those years did he once fail me or leave the place
of appointment before I came, even though it might be at the loss of
the mail train to Ireland, and leaving some thousands of people
waiting in vain for the speech he was too far away to make.
Sometimes I would become conscience-stricken on such an occasion, but
he would only comment that one speech more or less was a little
matter, and what was lost by a speech not made was amply compensated
for by the deepened impression of his mystery and power gained by the
people. "For it is the strange thing I found out early in political
life," he would say, "they think I'm much more wonderful when I do
nothing than when I'm working hard."
MORRISON'S HOTEL, DUBLIN,
_September_ 10, 1881.
MY DEAR MRS. O'SHEA,--Will you kindly address and post enclosed.
I am quite recovered from my attack, and the doctor says that I
shall be able to travel in a few days.--Yours very truly, CHAS.
S. PARNELL.
The enclosure was the following letter:--
MORRISON'S HOTEL, DUBLIN,
_September_ 10, 1881.
MY OWN WIFIE,--I know that you must have been much {112} worried
yesterday by my failure to send you a few words, but my Beauty
will forgive her own husband.
Your wire has been put into my hand as I write, and shall have an
instant answer.
It gives me so much pleasure to know that your trouble has not
returned since I left, and that my wires give you pleasure. Your
King thinks very very often of his dearest Queen, and wishes her
not to be sad, but to try and be happy for his sake. Everything
is going on very well here, and your King is much satisfied.
MORRISON'S HOTEL, DUBLIN,
_September_ 25, 1881.
MY OWN LOVELIEST,--I send you these few words to assure Wifie
that her husband always thinks of her and hopes that she is well
and happy. YOUR OWN KING.
_October_ 4, 1881.
MY OWN WIFIE,--I have satisfied myself, by two separate tests
to-day, that there is a good deal of silver in the dark stone of
which there is so much in the old mine. In fact nearly the whole
lode consists of this (the miners are working in it in the North
Level). I cannot say how many ounces there will be to the ton
until I get it assayed, but if there should be six or eight
ounces to the ton it ought to pay to work.
YOUR OWN KING.
MORRISON'S HOTEL, DUBLIN,
_October_ 7, 1881.
MY OWN WIFE,--I called to-day to see him[3] on my return from
Dungarvan, but he was out, and I waited for him three hours.
Calling again at eleven to-night, he was again out, but returned
just as I was writing to make an appointment for the morning. He
says that he leaves to-morrow (Friday) evening, and stops to
shoot on Saturday in Wales, and goes on Tuesday to Paris to see
the Papal Nuncio, who he says has requested him to come. This,
then, is the last letter I can send you for the present through
Eltham, so I hope to have the other address from you to-morrow
morning.
My dearest Katie must have been very lonely ever since. {113}
Did she get my three letters? Her husband has been so busy he
has not even had time to sleep, but he has never been too busy to
think of her.
I can go over to London early next week if I may see you. Should
I remain in London or go down to you?
With numerous kisses to my beautiful Queenie.
C. S. P.
_October_ 8, 1881.
MY DEAREST LITTLE WIFIE,--Your husband has been very good since
he left you, and is longing to see you again. He has kept his
eyes, thought, and love all for you, and my sweetest love may be
assured that he always will.
To-morrow I go to Avondale, thence to Wexford on Sunday, whence I
return Monday morning and hope to be with my Queenie on Tuesday
or Wednesday at latest.
Everything in Dublin has been settled up pretty satisfactorily,
and I trust only to have to make an occasional appearance in
Ireland during the rest of the autumn and winter. ALWAYS YOUR
KING.
On October 11th, Forster crossed to England, having first arranged
with Sir Thomas Steele, Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, that, should
the Cabinet agree to arrest Parnell, Forster would wire the one word
"Proceed."
The same day Parnell returned to Avondale, and on the next night was
back in Dublin.
MORRISON'S HOTEL,
_October_ 11, 1881.
MY OWN KATIE,--I found two letters and two wires from your King's
Queen here on my arrival an hour ago. Your telegram this morning
took a great weight off my mind, as your silence made me almost
panic-stricken lest you had been hurt by that ---- and had not
been able to get to town.
To-morrow I go to Kildare,[4] and shall try and start for London
Friday morning; but I cannot be sure of this, as "something"[5]
may turn up at last moment, and there is {114} also a meeting of
the Executive on Saturday, which they want me to stay for.
However, Wifie knows I will do the best I can, and she will get a
wire from me on Friday, soon after or as soon as she receives
this, telling her what I have done. If I arrive London Friday
night shall go to same hotel and shall wait for my darling.
Will she mind asking for my number?
ALWAYS YOUR OWN KING.
On October 12th, 1881, I was in London on Mr. Parnell's business--to
ascertain the movements of the Government. He, of course, was in
Ireland and had warned me that it would be impossible for him to keep
out of prison much longer, and that any further effort to avoid
arrest would be inexpedient on all counts. I was much depressed
about this and urged him to put it off as long as possible.
My health was then delicate, and I felt an unreasonable fear and
loneliness when he was away from me. He was very tender and
considerate to me, but pointed out that the turmoil and rebellion he
had brought to a head in Ireland must be very carefully handled to be
productive of ultimate good, and that he could "mark time" with the
Land League better in Kilmainham than out, thus rendering this force
more useful to the Home Rule campaign and less wanton in destruction.
Parnell used, but never abused, the weapons of political strife he
forged.
He desired immediate information of the decision of the Government to
arrest him, that he might destroy any papers that, found on him,
might frustrate his plans and cause unnecessary difficulty to those
working with him. So when on October 12th information was sent to
me, at the house where I waited in London in the neighbourhood of
Piccadilly, that a Cabinet Council had been hurriedly {115} summoned,
I wired in code to Parnell and directly after the Cabinet Council I
was able to inform him that Forster had left for Ireland with the
warrant for his arrest.
I could not bear the thought of his arrest, and after writing to him
under cover to a person in Ireland who would, I knew, get my letter
to him, whether in or out of prison, I telegraphed to Parnell again
to know if he could meet me at Holyhead if I started at once. I had
so much of his business in hand now, and he had expected to see me at
least once more before the inevitable separation of his imprisonment.
I felt almost unable to cope with the situation; I was not strong and
I was full of anxiety as to the probable effects upon Parnell's
health of life in Kilmainham Gaol. In addition to my anxiety, the
deception I had to practise towards Captain O'Shea, seldom as I saw
him, told upon my nerves just now. However, Parnell's message in
reply, written in our private code, reassured me. While he still
thought it better to suffer arrest at once, he would not go out of
his way to meet it, and would be careful when in Kilmainham so that
his imprisonment should be of short duration. He would not allow me
to go to the fatigue of a journey to Holyhead, nor would he go abroad
to avoid arrest, and I went home comforting myself as I could with
his confident spirit and loving messages.
On October 13th there was a terrible gale throughout the South of
England, and at Eltham, after a sleepless night, I was up early--far
too early to disturb my old aunt--and wandered out through her park
in the gale. The battling with the wind lifted a little the load of
restlessness and anxiety as to what was happening in Ireland from my
heart.
I was with my aunt as usual all that day, and was {116} glad of the
quiet and rest. The old lady gazed out at the still raging storm and
told me tales of her youth, while I listened to the voice I loved in
the wind outside, saying to me again and again what he had said
before he left me, "Be brave, Queenie. I cannot stay outside while
all these others are arrested, and it is bound to be soon now."
Towards evening, when the storm had cleared a little, and my aunt had
fallen asleep before the fire, I went home to get the evening papers
I always had sent over from Blackheath before Willie came down from
London to dinner, as he had written to say he would do. However, on
my return home I found Willie already there, extremely pleased to be
able to announce to me that Parnell had been arrested that morning.
I knew his news directly I saw his face, and as I was really prepared
for it I did not flinch, but replied languidly that I had thought
Parnell "couldn't keep out of gaol much longer, didn't you?"
But Willie was so fiercely and openly joyful that my maids, who were
ardent Parnellites, were much shocked, and I, being terribly
overwrought, laughed at their disgusted faces as I went to dress for
dinner. It was really the laugh of tears, but that laugh of jangled
nerves and misery did me good service with Willie, and we got through
dinner amicably enough, while he descanted upon the wickedness and
folly of Parnell's policy and the way the Irish question should
really be settled, and would be if it could be left to him and those
who thought with him. He observed me closely, as he criticised
Parnell and his policy, and reiterated his pleasure in knowing he was
"laid by the heels."
I was now quite calm again, and smiled at him as I reminded him that
I was now as ardent a Parnellite as {117} Parnell himself, and had
already done so much hard work for "the cause" that my politics were
far more reactionary that when he had introduced Parnell to me:
unlike his (Willie's) own, which were less so. My heart being in
Kilmainham Gaol with my lover, I was momentarily at peace, and could
ask Willie questions as to the mode of life and prison discipline of
political prisoners. Willie, as are so many men, was never so happy
as when giving information.
The next day I received my King's letter, written as he was
arrested:--
MORRISON'S HOTEL, DUBLIN,
_October 13_, 1881.
MY OWN QUEENIE,--I have just been arrested by two fine-looking
detectives, and write these words to wifie to tell her that she
must be a brave little woman and not fret after her husband.
The only thing that makes me worried and unhappy is that it may
hurt you and our child.
You know, darling, that on this account it will be wicked of you
to grieve, as I can never have any other wife but you, and if
anything happens to you I must die childless. Be good and brave,
dear little wifie, then. YOUR OWN HUSBAND.
Politically it is a fortunate thing for me that I have been
arrested, as the movement is breaking fast, and all will be quiet
in a few months, when I shall be released.
Speaking at the Guildhall on the day of Parnell's arrest Mr.
Gladstone said: "Within these few minutes I have been informed that
towards the vindication of the law, of order, of the rights of
property, and the freedom of the land, of the first elements of
political life and civilization, the first step has been taken in the
arrest of the man who has made himself pre-eminent in the attempt to
destroy the authority of the law, and substitute what {118} would end
in being nothing more than anarchical oppression exercised upon the
people of Ireland."
When he uttered the word "arrest" he was stopped by the audience
rising en masse and cheering frantically. "Parnell's arrest"--I
quote from the "Life of Forster"--"was hailed almost as though it had
been the news of a signal victory gained by England over a hated and
formidable enemy."
Sexton, O'Kelly, Dillon, O'Brien, and J. P. Quinn, secretary of the
League, were quickly arrested, while warrants were issued for Biggar,
Healy, and Arthur O'Connor. Healy was in England, and Biggar and
O'Connor managed to join him there.
[1] Parnell in this speech vigorously attacked Gladstone's policy,
calling him a "masquerading knight-errant" and a champion of the
liberties of every nation except Ireland. He pointed out that
Gladstone had a good word for the late Isaac Butt, and added
scornfully that "in the opinion of an English statesman no man was
good in Ireland until he was buried." By implication he challenged
the Government to arrest him under the Coercion Act.
[2] "The Life of Parnell," by Barry O'Brien.
[3] Captain O'Shea.
[4] He was to have addressed a meeting at Naas.
[5] Possibility of arrest.
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