Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: In connection with your despatches No. 1766, of the 21st, and 1769, of the 29th of May, it may be as well for me briefly to report to you the precise state in which the subject of the people claiming to be Americans who are imprisoned in Ireland now stands.
In consequence of the conversation I last had with Lord Clarendon, as reported in my No. 1210, of the 1st of June, his lordship sent me, with a confidential private note, the reports which he had procured from the lord lieutenant of Ireland, touching the treatment of all these cases. The substance of it was to the effect that the invidious discrimination in the right of access to the two classes of prisoners, native and naturalized, had been waived; that those who were natives, and such of the naturalized as did not appear to have been seriously implicated in the conspiracy were in process of liberation, under conditions of departure from the island, and lastly, that only those whom there was very strong reason to believe deeply implicated in the plot, and who had been sent out for the purpose of taking an active share in leading the contemplated military operations, [Page 137] were to be retained in confinement. Among these were specifically designated Burke, Mykins, Gleeson, Kirwan, and other officers in the late war in America, about whom I have been desired by you to make representations. But since this report was sent, it appears from a report of Mr. West that his liberty had been offered to the last named, Kirwan, and refused by him with indignation on account of the condition of departure under guard.
Under the circumstances, I am compelled to confess my belief that most, if not all, of these parties have been, in fact, sent here with a view to the execution of the military part of the Fenian project. But a small proportion of the whole number have been able to prove their naturalization. The native Americans, so far as I know, have been released, including James Smith, the person to whom your despatch No. 1753, of the st May, relates. I shall continue to do all in my power to relieve all those persons who seem to be entitled to claim assistance, either as native or naturalized citizens, even though some of the latter may not by their action furnish very good grounds for intercession in their behalf.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.