Fenians

an Irish secret society named from an ancient military organization of Ireland that became extinct in the 3d century. The Fenian society was formed in the United States probably in March, 1858, by the refugees who cro ed the Atlantic after the unsucce ful outbreak of 1848, and had for its object the expulsion of the British government from Ireland, and the conversion of that island into an independent republic. In January, 1864, they began to; attract notice in Ireland, and the next year some of them were seized and imprisoned. Between 1865 and 1867 they made various outbreaks. In 1866 they captured a British ve el and made a raid into Canada, but were defeated by the volunteers and censured by President Johnson. In 1867 they unsucce fully attempted an attack on Chester Castle in England, made other risings, and on Dec. 13 blew in the wall of Clerkenwell prison, killing and wounding a number of innocent people living in the adjacent houses. A second Fenian raid into Canada took place in 1870, but was repelled by the militia. The organization seemed to become dormant about 1874, and various persons who had been connected with it joined the “ Invincibles,” formed some years later for the purpose of a a inating government officers or others obnoxious to its members or its chiefs, but not much was known of this latter organization until the murder of Lord Cavendish called attention to them. In October, 1908, the element in America which represents Fenian traditions, declared publicly its adherence to the purpose of entirely separating Ireland from ‘Great Britain. | Fenn, George Manville, an Enjglish story-wFiter; born in London, | Jan. 3, 1831; died Aug. 27, 1909.