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I informed him of the fact of my having had an interview with the chief of police at Midleton, and that I was under the impression his brother would be released provided he would sign the undertaking which I advised him to offer.

From what I could gather, Michael Hart is not disposed to sign any such undertaking. He evidently values the opinions of his friends in this country more than his liberty, and he also thinks it would be cowardly to sign any pledge for his future conduct or to accept release, except unconditionally.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

G. B. DAWSON, Deputy and Vice Consul.

[Inclosure 48 in No. 331.]

Mr. Hart to Mr. Dawson.

CLONMEL GAOL, February 22, 1882.

SIR: In a letter from my brother he tells me you don't understand my letter or know what I am going to do. If I have said in my letter to you that I was not an American, and did not mean to be one, I was referring to the copy of his excellency's, where he said he wanted me to understand that I could not be an Irishman and an American at the same time, and perhaps that is how I said I did not mean or pretend to be an American, and my motive in making that remark was I never meant to be an American born, or went under the pretense of being one, and that I was not ashamed to be born in Ireland. But, though being a foreign born citizen of the United States, I think I have a right to claim all the rights and protection while in a foreign country which is accorded to native born citizens; and as to informing you what I was going to do I don't know that myself. If my health will permit, when released from here, my stay will be very short in this country, and I think it's hardship enough to be put behind bar and bolt in an English prison when pursuing my daily avocations in a law-abiding manner, without showing further causes of hardship.

I return you my sincere thanks for the interest you are taking and the trouble you have given yourself in my case.

Your obedient servant,

[Inclosure 49 in No. 331.]

MICHAEL HART.

Mr. Lowell to Mr. Barrows.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, February 8, 1882.

SIR: The principles upon which I have based my action in all cases of applications to me from naturalized citizens now imprisoned in Ireland under the coercion act are those upon which our government has acted, and in case of need would act again. I think it important that all such persons should be made to understand distinctly that they cannot be Irishmen and Americans at the same time, as they now seem to suppose, and that they are subject to the operation of the laws of the country in which they choose to live.

You should inform yourself of the facts in each case as it arises, and ascertain whether there be any peculiar hardship in it which would make it an exception calling for immediate and energetic protest. In that event it would, of course, be necessary to send me a full statement of the case, with whatever confirmatory or illustrative evidence it was possible to obtain. In all other cases, it would be enough if you report to me names, dates, and charges in each case, and guide yourself in your answer to applications for protection by the instructions already received from this legation, being careful always not to vary from the language therein employed.

I am, sir, &c.,

J. R. LOWELL.

[Inclosure 50 in No. 331.]

Mr. Lowell to Lord Granville.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, March 6, 1882.

MY LORD: I have the honor to acquaint you that I received yesterday from Mr. Frelinghuysen a cable dispatch in cipher, of which the following is a translation : "Referring to the cases of O'Connor, Hart, McSweeney, Walsh, McEnery, and Dalton, American citizens imprisoned in Ireland, say to Lord Granville that, without discussing whether the provisions of the force act can be applied to American citizens, the President hopes that the lord lieutenant of Ireland will be instructed to exercise the powers intrusted to him by the first section, to order early trials in their and all other cases in which Americans may be arrested."

In transmitting this dispatch to your lordship, I venture to hope that, considering the importance of the matters to which it refers, it may receive the early attention of Her Majesty's Government.

I have, &c.,

[Inclosure 51 in No. 331.]

J. R. LOWELL.

Immediate.]

Lord Granville to Mr. Lowell.

FOREIGN OFFICE, March 6, 1882. SIR: I have the honor to state to you that I have lost no time in communicating to the proper department of Her Majesty's Government the letter you have addressed to me this day, communicating a telegram you have received from your government relative to the case of citizens of the United States who have been arrested under the protection of person and property (Ireland) act, 1881.

In reply, I beg leave to assure you that this matter will receive the immediate attention of Her Majesty's Government.

I have, &c.,

No. 25.

GRANVILLE.

No. 333.]

Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, March 17, 1882.

SIR: I inclose herewith a copy of a letter to this Department from the Hon. Nathaniel P. Hill, a Senator from Colorado, in relation to the imprisonment in Ireland of Mr. James L. White, a naturalized American citizen, on a charge of being "reasonably suspected." I will thank you to inquire into the circumstances attending the arrest of Mr. White, and to report the facts to this Department with as little delay as practicable, meanwhile taking any action in reference thereto which you may deem expedient under the general instructions to your legation with regard to cases of this character.

I am, sir, &c.,

FKED'CK T. FRELINGHUYSEN.

[Inclosure in No. 333.]

Mr. Hill to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
Washington, March 14, 1882.

DEAR SIP: It is represented to me by persons in whom I place confidence that Mr.

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James L.White, a naturalized American citizen, has been for several months incarcerated in jail at Naas, Ireland, on the charge of being "reasonably suspected."

Mr. White was for two years a member of the city council of Denver, Colorado, and is said to be a peaceable, quiet man, well-disposed towards good government. He left Denver about the 22d day of July, 1878, and returned to Ireland for the purpose of visiting his aged father and staying with him the remainder of his life. Very respectable parties in Denver offer to vouch for the intelligence, sobriety, and integrity of Mr. White.

I would respectfully request that inquiries be male in this case, and if the facts will justify, that such steps may be taken as will be necessary to secure his release. I am, sir, &c.

No. 26.

N. P. HILL.

Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.

[Telegram-cipher.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, March 3, 1882.

[States that the cases of our citizens under arrest in Ireland is the occasion of inquiry in the House of Representatives, and instructs Mr. Lowell to use all diligence in regard to the late cases, especially of Hart and McSweeny, and to report his action by cable.]

No. 27.

Mr. Lowell to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

[Telegram-cipher.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

London, March 4, 1882.

[Reports his action in McSweeny's case. On 10th June, 1881, Mr. Lowell instructed the vice-consul at Belfast to ascertain the cause of the arrest, and, if innocent, to present the matter in the competent quarter, and ask that McSweeny be released or brought to trial. The same day Mr. Lowell asked Lord Granville to furnish particulars in the case. The Irish under-secretary at Dublin meanwhile informed the vice-consul at Belfast that the prisoner was reasonably suspected of inciting persons to assemble unlawfully and commit riot and assault. No further means of ascertaining the justice of the accusation were open to the vice-consul. Later, on the 29th of June, Lord Granville informed Mr. Lowell that, irrespective of the nationality of the arrested parties, whether native or alien, in no case could information be given beyond the statements of the warrant of arrest. Mr. McSweeny having asserted his innocence, Mr. Lowell communicated this circumstance unofficially on the 8th of July, and asked that the case might be considered favorably. Mr. Lowell was thereupon distinctly assured that McSweeny could not be discharged from custody, his conduct having brought him under the statute.

In the case of Hart, the vice-consul at Queenstown was told by the inspector of police that Hart had incited to non-payment of rent, and

was a dangerous, good-for-nothing, troublesome character, who was perhaps involved in more serious matters than those which led to his arrest. The vice-counsel was informed by a brother of the prisoner that the latter would not subscribe to an undertaking to conduct himself according to law, if he were set at liberty. .

Mr. Lowell adds his belief that both of the prisoners are no more innocent than the majority of those under arrest, and promises full statements with copies of all papers by mail.]

No. 28.

Mr Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.

[Telegram-cipher.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, March 4, 1882.

[The Secretary of State refers to the cases of O'Connor, Hart, McSweeny, Walsh, McEnery, and D'Alton, and directs Mr. Lowell to inform the British Government that the President hopes that, without discussing the applicability of the existing coercive statute to citizens of the United States, the lord lieutenant of Ireland will be instructed, under the first section of the act, to exercise the discretionary powers conferred thereby in these and all cases of imprisoned Americans by ordering prompt trials.]

No. 29.

Mr. Lowell to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

[Telegram-cipher.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, March 7, 1882.

[Mr. Lowell reports that the instructions in Mr. Frelinghuysen's cipher dispatch of March 4, 1882, have been obeyed, and that Earl Granville has informed him that the matter will have immediate attention.]

No. 30.

Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.

[Telegram-cipher.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, March 16, 1882.

[The Secretary of State refers to his telegram of the 4th instant expressive of the President's wishes as to early trials and states that the President, though desirous of not seeming unreasonable, would be relieved if, without having to wait for general action regarding coercion

act cases, he could inform Congress that his request regarding the Americans has been complied with.]

No. 31.

Mr. Lowell to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

[Telegram-cipher.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

London, March 17, 1882.

[Mr. Lowell acknowledges receipt of the Secretary's telegram of yes terday and states that Lord Granville has promised a speedy answer.]

No. 32.

Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.

[Telegram.]

WASHINGTON, March 25, 1882.

Mr. West has asked me this morning to use my good offices to secure to William Lane, a British subject, held in Detroit prison for trial, the trial which he asserts he is unable to obtain. I have telegraphed to the attorney-general of Michigan to inquire into the facts in order that they may be fully reported to Mr. West, and have said that the Presi dent desires that he will use his best endeavors to secure to Lane the early trial which Lane asserts he cannot obtain.

In informing Lord Granville of this you may say that we are still without the information respecting the trials in the Irish cases which your telegram of last week led us to expect, and that the President hopes that Her Majesty's Government will see its way to an early and favorable answer.

FRELINGHUYSEN.

No. 33.

Mr. Lowell to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

[Telegram-cipher.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

London, March 29, 1882.

[Mr. Lowell reports having just had an interview at the foreign office. Lord Granville expressed regret at delay in answering our request for early trials of the American prisoners, and stated that it had been caused by necessity of consulting authorities in Ireland. He stated also that he was unable to encourage Mr. Lowell to expect a favorable answer. A reply in writing is looked for by Mr. Lowell within a day or two.]

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