-To O’Mahony from James Stephens-April 22, 1862

22 Apr. [1862], Dublin. 'Brother, The death of our friend [Michael] Doheny is to me as heavy a blow as I have received for many a year. I cannot bring myself to dwell on the event for the present and in truth can hardly notice it. Now that he is gone, where could we find his like ! I beg of you to convey to his family all that my affection could say on such an occasion. I shall write to them myself soon as I can, or rather when I think my words can be read by them with somewhat less pain than at present;

for now I deem their sorrow too sacred to be broken in upon.

'To write something worthy of him will be to me a labor of love and sorrow. As you must be aware however from the tenor of my recent letters that anything worthy of both him and me is just now beyond my power, I must take time. I propose to write a memoir of him—a vol. which might be published at, say, a shilling. Such a volume would have a large circulation here, and the profit would be useful to his family. I will not listen to—nor do I apprehend—a refusal on their part. In order to put me in a way to accomplish my work with something like satisfaction to myself and the public, it will be necessary to get possession of essential facts, etc. His family, I am sure, will have no objection to place in my hands any letters, papers, etc, calculated to help me out. You too ought to be able to do a good deal in this way, as you must have or can procure papers, etc., containing his writings, speeches, etc. Many friends yonder will doubtless give willing assistance in this way. Please initial his articles, as that will spare me the trouble of such an examination as would enable me to know them from internal evidence. In short, do your best to put me in the best way of doing justice to my dear old friend.

'The Goulas [A. M. Sullivanites] have come out. To say that they do the informer's work to the best of their ability is only what you expect. The production is vile in execution as in intent—I have seldom read anything as miserable as a composition. This alone would damn it. But of course the animus of the thing condemns it to manifold damanation. I do not hide from myself that it is dangerous; yet would I not take a great deal and have it unwritten. They cannot survive it very long. The feeling against them, even among outsiders, is one of intense loathing and aversion. What the brothers feel I leave you to guess. The second part (to appear next Saturday) promises awful things about the MacManus committee. The members of that committee are so popular in the country that no man could speak against them without injury to himself. What the Felonsetters will gain by an attack on them is more than they bargain for. To the part already published we deem an answer unnecessary and unwise at this side. At your side however be guided by your own judgement; though I cannot see what is to be gained by bandying words with such carrion. All friends here are admirably firm. But money, money, money is the need. Your fraternally.'