Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Thurston to Mr. Seward,
No. 152.]
United States
Consulate, Toronto,
December 6, 1866.
Sir:. I have the honor to transmit the
enclosed letter, at the request of Colonel Lynch. I am, with
respect, your obedient servant,
D. THURSTON, United States
Consul.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D.
C.
Mr. Lynch to Mr. Seward
Military Prison, Toronto,
Canada, December 6, 1866.
Sir: I had the honor and pleasure of
being introduced to you many years ago by an old and attached
friend of yours, the late Richard Murphy, of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, who, if I recollect right, lived with you at Auburn.
Little did I then expect that I would be now addressing you from
a condemned felon’s cell, in Canada. But my case has been laid
before you, and the Rev. Mr. McMahon and myself are under a deep
debt of gratitude to you and to our government for your prompt
interference in our behalf. I went to Canada as a peaceable
American citizen, a non-combatant, to report the incidents,
&c, &c, of the Fenian campaign, not expecting to be at
all interfered with, having violated no law. Mr. McMahon was
similarly situated; he was there as a minister, attending to the
wounded and dying, and administering the rites of his church,
without distinction. By your direction a new trial has been
applied for, which the judges have denied, though we could prove
beyond all doubt that we had no military connection with the
Fenian organization. The matter now rests with the
governor-general, who it is supposed will commute the sentence
to a term in the provincial penitentiary. But we implore you to urge our free
pardon, and not allow us to be sent as common felons to
the penitentiary. We are innocent of having done any wrong, and
could prove it if we were permitted. To men of our age and
condition in life it would be worse than death.
You have always been the friend of our race and religion, an in
the name of humanity save us from this humiliation. We are
satisfied you would be willing to do anything in your power for
the prisoners, and we make this appeal to you in the hope you
will procure us a free pardon; and we take this occasion to
state that the United States consul, Mr. Thurston, has been
unremitting in his kindness and attention to the interest of the
prisoners, and deserves our warmest gratitude.
Trusting you will forgive the liberty I have taken in addressing
you, and once more begging your kind offices in our behalf,
I have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
