No. 132.
Mr. Lowell to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of the United States,
London, August 8, 1882.
(Received, August 19.)
No. 417.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 402, of the
19th of July last, I have the honor to forward herewith the copy of a
letter which I received to-day from Lord Granville, by which it appears
that the lord lieutenant of Ireland, on the 14th of July, caused it to
be intimated to Messrs. O’Mahoney, McSweeney, and Slattery that he was
still willing to allow them to be released on the terms of their leaving
the country, but they have all refused to accept this offer, and his
excellency could not consistently with his duty allow them to be at
large in Ireland, in the present state of the country.
Lord Granville further states that an unconditional release had been
granted to John Gannon, and that William Brophy, who had consented to go
to America, and at one time was making arrangements for his departure,
had not taken any further steps in that direction. The reason he would
give for this is probably the want of means as stated in my dispatch of
the 19th July.
Lord Granville calls my attention to the cause of Brophy’s imprisonment,
that he is declared to be reasonably suspected of being guilty, as
principal, of the crime of murder.
I have the honor, &c.,
[Page 287]
[Inclosure in No. 417.]
Lord Granville
to Mr. Lowell.
Foreign Office, August 5, 1882.
Sir: In the letter which I had the honor to
address to you on the 8th ultimo, relative to the case of six
American citizens who have been detained in prison under the
protection of person and property (Ireland) act, 1881, it was stated
that as Messrs. O’Mahoney, McSweeney, Slattery, and Gannon had not
accepted the terms on which their discharge had been offered to
them, they were still detained in custody; and that Messrs. McInerny
and Brophy had been released.
I now beg leave to acquaint you that I am informed that on the 14th
ultimo his exeellency the viceroy of Ireland caused it to be
intimated to the three first named of these prisoners that he was
still willing to allow them to be released on the terms of their
leaving the country, but that they have refused to accept this
offer, and his excellency cannot consistently with his duty allow
them to be at large in Ireland in present state of the country.
Upon a full consideration of the case of John Gannon, his excellency
has ordered his unconditional release.
With regard to William Brophy, who, as was stated in my letter of the
8th of July, had consented to go to America, and at one time was
making arrangements for his departure, I am informed that he has not
taken any further steps in that direction. For the particulars of
the grounds stated in the warrant for this man’s arrest, I beg leave
to refer you to No. 204 in the list laid before Parliament, of which
a copy accompanied my letter of the 8th ultimo. You will observe
that he is there declared to be reasonably suspected of being guilty
as principal of the crime of murder.
I have, &c.,
