On Jan. 2,1866, the fourth Fenian congress assembled in New York. More than 400 delegates attended from Canada, Australia, and all parts of the United States. The old constitution was restored and O'Mahony reinstated as head centre. These proceedings were accepted by a military convention held in New York, Feb. 22; but the hope of a permanent reconciliation soon ended in a worse misunderstanding. The sentences pronounced in Ireland on the prisoners did not seem to damp the courage of the Fenians. On Feb. 24 Lord Wodehouse wrote to the English home secretary that as many as 500 Irishmen from America, thoroughly reckless, and possessed of considerable military experience," were known to be engaged in swearing in members throughout the country; adding.

"The disaffection of the population is alarming, and is day by day spreading more and more through every part of the country." Parliament on Feb. 17 suspended the habeas corpus act. A large number of arrests were made in Dublin, and before the end of March 670 persons had been taken into custody, the number reaching 756 at the accession of the Derby ministry in July. The excitement of the Irish element in America became uncontrollable. Meetings were held in the chief cities, and the central office in New York was urged to immediate action. O'Mahony was at length formally impeached and deposed by the senate, and Col. William R. Roberts was elected in his stead. While Roberts was preparing to move on Canada, O'Mahony was induced to consent to an attempt to occupy the island of Campo Bello, New Brunswick. A steamer was purchased in New York early in April for the purpose of carrying arms to Eastport, Maine, a few miles from Campo Bello. The command of the expedition was assumed by Major B. Doran Killian. Five hundred men quietly gathered at Eastport, and awaited the arrival of the steamer with the arms. But O'Mahony, who was still recognized as president by a portion of the Fenians, had countermanded the sailing of the steamer, and ordered the New York Fenians at Boston to return home.

From Portland was now sent a schooner with 750 stand of arms, the offering of Fenian sympathizers; but the arms were seized by the United States authorities, and Gen. Meade having arrived and telegraphed for troops, the Fenians dispersed and made their way home as best they could. On May 10 Stephens arrived in New York, apparently confident that both parties would yield to his leadership. O'Mahony, in order to facilitate a reunion, gave in his resignation, which was accepted, and Major Killian was removed from his command. The Roberts party immediately came to an issue with Stephens on the proposed invasion of Canada. This Stephens decidedly opposed, urging that all present efforts should be to raise money for the purpose of helping "the men in the gap" in Ireland. These men, he said, numbering hundreds of thousands, needed only money to win their independence. All this while both factions continued bitterly to assail each other's motives and acts. Under the military direction of Gen. Thomas W. Sweeny, an officer of the American army, the Roberts party began to act about the middle of May. On the 19th 1,200 stand of arms were seized at Rouse's Point, near the Canadian frontier, by the United States custom-house officers.

From the 29th to the 31st bodies of Fenians from various points of the west and southwest moved toward Canada, and a new seizure of arms was made at St. Albans on the 30th by the United States authorities. The Canadian government put the entire militia of the western provinces under arms, and they took the field under Sir John Mitchell, while companies of volunteers and regulars were sent to the various threatened points. On June 1, 1,200 or 1,500 Fenians under Col. O'Neil crossed the Niagara river at Buffalo and took possession of an unoccupied work called Fort Erie. On the 2d they were attacked at a place called Limestone Ridge, and held their position, losing several killed and wounded and many prisoners. They withdrew the same night, and 700 were intercepted by the United States gunboat Michigan. Subsequently Gen. Barry, in command of the frontier, paroled 1,500 upon their promising to return to their homes, and to desist in future from any violation of the neutral-ity laws; the officers being required to give bail to appear and answer when required for an infraction of the laws. The Fenians continued to pour into Buffalo, but were ordered back by their commanding officers. Along the frontier of Vermont Gen. Meade concentrated a large force of United States troops.

The president issued a proclamation of neutrality, and gave orders for the arrest of the Fenian leaders. On June 7 Gen. Sweeny and his staff were arrested in St. Albans, Roberts in New York, and several others in Buffalo. Roberts having refused to give parole or bail, was detained in jail for several days, and then released. During this period large sums of money were contributed; and the proposed rising in Ireland was made the occasion of a final call for funds, issued Aug. 25, 1865. From that date up to April, 1806, the sum of $250,000 was contributed by the Fenian brotherhood, of which the British government intercepted $42,000, and $3,500 were lost by an agent in Ireland. To counteract the effect of these disasters Stephens pledged his word that there should be a fight in Ireland within the coming year. In September Roberts summoned a congress in Troy, which was numerously attended. The case of Col. R. B. Lynch and a priest named McMahon, who had been taken prisoners at Limestone Ridge, tried, and condemned to death, served for a time to keep alive public attention in the United States; but through the good offices of the American government, these sentences were commuted.

In December Stephens called a meeting of Fenian centres in New York, in which future plans of action in Ireland were discussed. He was opposed to any overt attempt under present circumstances; and to convince his followers that his advice was not the result of personal fear, he professed his readiness to go at once to England and allow the British authorities to do their worst upon him. But while rejecting this offer, the party of action would not accede to their chief's prudent counsels. About 50 persons were sent, in conformity with the promise of another rising wrung from Stephens, as "commissaries" to Great Britain; among them were the two "centres" Kelly and Dea-sy, and Godfrey Massey.-The invasion of Canada, the publicity given in America to the designs of the Fenian leaders, the agitation fostered on both sides of the Atlantic on the occasion of the condemnation to death of Lynch and McMahon, and above all the exact information obtained by the British authorities from agents in the Fenian ranks, caused a second suspension of the habeas corpus act, Aug. 10. A reward of £2,000 was offered in November for the apprehension of Stephens, said to be on his way to Ireland; fresh regiments were sent to the latter country; and 97 leading emissaries of the brotherhood were arrested and imprisoned under the viceroy's warrant.