Mr. White to Mr. Hay.

No. 732.]

Sir: With reference to your instruction No. 736, of the 1st of October last, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note which I have received from Lord Lansdowne, embodying a report upon the case of Mr. Patrick Lennon, who is detained as a prisoner of war in Ceylon, and who would appear to have described himself, when he took burgher rights on the 1st of December, 1899, as a British subject, born at Armagh, Ireland.

I have, etc.,

Henry White.
[Inclosure.]

Lord Lansdowne to Mr. White .

Sir: With reference to my note of the 17th of October last, respecting the case of Mr. P. Lennon, stated to be a United States citizen, at present detained as a prisoner of war in Ceylon, I have the honor to inform you that a report on the subject which I have received from His Majesty’s secretary of state for war shows that Mr. Lennon was undergoing a sentence of six months’ imprisonment at Johannesburg for assaulting his wife and that he was released by the Boer authorities in order that he might join their First Irish Brigade. On the occasion, however, of that brigade passing through Johannesburg in May, 1900, Lennon remained behind on the French Rand Mine, where he had obtained employment. He was arrested by the British authorities early in September and made a prisoner of war.

It appears that Lennon took burgher rights in the late South African Republic on the 1st of December, 1899, on which occasion he described himself as a British subject, born at Armagh, Ireland.

I have, etc.,

Lansdowne.