Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1878
No. 190.
Mr. Hoppin
to Mr. Evarts.
London, September 11, 1878. (Received September 26.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose copies of further correspondence upon the subject of the pardon of Edward O’M. Condon since the last dispatch in relation to this matter.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Welsh to Lord Salisbury.
London, August 21, 1878.
Dear Lord Salisbury; I have this moment received your letter of 16th instant, conveying to me the intelligence that the cabinet had recommended to Her Majesty the Queen to remit the remainder of the sentence of Condon and his companion Melody without delay. I must express to you and to your associates my appreciation of your gracious acquiescence in my request.
I am, very sincerely,
The most honorable the Marquis of Salisbury, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Welsh to Lord Salisbury.
London, August 21, 1878.
Dear Lord Salisbury: Will you kindly inform me whether the pardon for Condon and Melody will be sent to me for delivery to them or go to them directly, and you will add to the obligation by saying in what prison they are and whether I may be permitted to see them.
Very sincerely, your obedient servant,
The most honorable the Marquis of Salisbury, &c., &c., &c.
Lord Salisbury to Mr. Hoppin.
Sir: I addressed to Her Majesty’s secretary of state for the home department a communication with sense of Mr. Welsh’s letter of the 21st ultimo relative to the convicts Condon and Melody, and I have the honor to acquaint you that I am now informed that facilities have been given to Mr. Welsh to see the men in question, and that on the occasion of his recent visit to the home office he was told that the same course would be adopted in the present instance as in former cases of a similar kind.
I am further informed that as soon as the pardons have been prepared they will be sent down and read over to the convicts for their written consent to the conditions attached; on giving which the pardons will be delivered to them, and they will be set at liberty.
In conclusion, it is stated that Mr. Welsh or any person deputed by him, for whom he would vouch, can obtain permission to see the convicts.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Liddell to Mr. Hoppin.
Dear Sir: As the time is approaching for the liberation of the two Fenian convicts at Portland and their transmission to America, Mr. Cross desires me to ascertain whether any arrangements have been made by their friends or Mr. Welsh as to providing them with a passage and outfit; for those matters will have now to be attended to, as the pardons will be ready before very long.
I am, dear sir, truly yours,
- A. F. LIDDELL.
- W. J. Hoppin, Esq.
Mr. Hoppin to Mr. Liddell.
Dear Sir: The only one of the two convicts for whose pardon we have been instructed to apply is Condon.
Mr. Welsh, on the 28th of August, before he left town for the Continent, had an interview with Condon, under the permission from your office, and told him if it should be necessary he would see that he was provided with proper clothing and a passage to America. He had no instructions from Washington to do this, but acted entirely from his own humane impulses.
I have to-day received a note from Mr. Oliver, honorary secretary of the “Political Prisoners Visiting Committee,” who requests Mr. Welsh to use his influence to obtain the privilege for the physician of the committee to visit the prisoners before their release or embarkation. I shall send this note to the foreign office for Her Majesty’s Government to take such action upon it as they may think proper.
Mr. Oliver states that this committee receives and “provides all necessary” for political prisoners on their release, by which I understand that they furnish the proper outfit.
I do not know whether this would be consistent with the arrangements of the government in the present case.
I can only say that it is Mr. Welsh’s desire that all proper provision should be made for the health and comfort of Condon and his safe passage to America, and if this be not secured from other sources, that he will advance the proper funds for the purpose.
I am, my dear sir, truly yours,
Hon. A. F. Liddell, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Hoppin to Lord Salisbury.
London, September 7, 1878.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 5th instant, informing me of the course that will be taken by Her Majesty’s Government in communicating to Condon and Melody the conditional pardons which have been granted to them, and also stating that Mr. Welsh or any person deputed by him, for whom he would vouch, can obtain permission to see the prisoners.
The only one of the two men for whom we have been instructed to intercede is Condon, and I have to acquaint your lordship that Mr. Welsh, accompanied by the second secretary of this legation, had an interview with Condon at Portland prison on the 28th ultimo. He went to the Continent on the 2d instant, as he has already had the honor of informing your lordship, and will remain there for several weeks, so that he will have no occasion of again availing himself personally of the permission to see Condon.
I beg leave, however, in referring further to this part of your lordship’s note, to say that I have this day received a letter from Mr. W. J. Oliver, the honorary secretary of the “Political Prisoners Visiting Committee”, requesting Mr. Welsh to interest himself to obtain the privilege for the physician of that committee to visit the prisoners prior to their release or at all events before their embarkation.
I have not the pleasure of the acquaintance of any of the gentlemen composing this committee, and my only information respecting its objects and purposes is contained in their secretary’s communication.
I shall, therefore, take no further steps in relation to their note beyond transmitting a copy of it to your lordship, stating at the same time that, although my government has given no instructions on the subject, it will undoubtedly desire that Condon should have all proper medical treatment, sufficient clothing, and a comfortable passage to America, for the expense of all which, in case no other provision should be made, I am authorized by Mr. Welsh to say he will be personally responsible.
I need scarcely add that both Mr. Welsh and myself are fully aware that Her Majesty’s Government, which has already shown such wise clemency in procuring the pardon of Condon, will continue to do all that is just and humane in making the proper preparations for his release.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Liddell to Mr. Hoppin.
Dear Sir: Thank you for the information you gave me in your letter. I send you one line, to inform you that arrangements are being made for the transmission of the prisoners to America without troubling the United States minister further as to the payment of any expenses. I expect they will go early next week.
Yours, truly,
- A. F. LIDDELL.
- J. H. Hoppin.