-To O’Mahony from Charles Kickham-January 18, 1864

18 January 1864, Irish People office, 12 Parliament street, Dublin. Disappointed. at not receiving a reply to his 'hurried note,' but glad that O'Mahony had already sent

financial help before Kickham's letter reached him ; 'were it not for this timely aid we should have gone down before now.' Has had a long conversation with W. Power [James Stephens], who is convinced 'all is lost if the paper goes down.' Nearly all the 'best men' agree with him ; they feel that if the paper were once properly established it would provide the revenue needed. 'It has been put as a test to the country, and P. can have no confidence in the country if [it] cannot or will not support this project.' Only in the few districts 'where the true state of the case has been laid before them' are our men doing their duty. Once P. has been enabled to tour the country he would bring the circulation up to 15,000 'on this side of the water,' and he thinks that O'Mahony could secure a circulation of 5,000 in America. This would be a tremendous success ; ' our cause would assume a position at home and abroad which would secure for it the respect of all friends of liberty in every quarter of the globe'. On the other hand, ruin is inevitable if the Irish People is a failure. The best men are determined 'to pin up the cause as a failure if this project cannot be successfully worked. In fact, our ship is at the moment among the breakers and if you cannot come to our assistance we are lost. If you cannot raise ^300 within one week after the receipt of this letter, all is over.' Asks O'Mahony to implore all his friends to beg or borrow the money; the monthly remittances could be used to make up the amount; if necessary, use the proceeds from the Chicago Fair. Suggestion that 'some of our leading men' should go to America to inform O'Mahony of the urgent need for funds to stave off disaster not favoured by P., who considered a letter from Kickham of greater value and of less expense. 'Now I have written to you. For God's sake do what is required.' Is certain the Chicago men will do their part. Of the 5,000 copies of the paper to be sold in America 1,000 'must be taken by subscribers paid in advance/ and the subscriptions sent to Ireland within a month.

Is too disturbed at present to write at length. 'I feel overpowered when I think how much depends on your response to the appeal I have made to you. I have implicit trust in you. I expect a reply from you that will heal old wounds and save the good old cause from the peril which threatens its very life.'