-To O’Mahony from J. Hamilton (Stephens)-March 1, 1865

1 Mar. 1865, Dublin. 'Brother, Your letter and all George's [George Hopper] have been received. Also two money-orders—the first for three hundred and eighty pounds (^380) and the second for ^225 (two hundred and twenty-five pounds).

'These acknowledged, I may observe that we seem specially protected by Providence. Otherwise how account for our being still alive? This night fortnight was one of such anxiety as even 1 had scarcely ever experienced. A boat had been signalled in the morning. Did it bring us good tidings? If not, I could not see how we were to survive the following day. Nor do I see it now that the danger is past and gone. We had to pay a certain sum—a comparatively small sum—next day, and if your letter had not reached us I don't see how we could have found the trifle on which our very existence depended. Should anybody at your side say or insinuate that this looks bad in us here, this is my answer: we have been heavily burthened here from the first; the best—those to whom we could apply under any circumstances and over and over again—have been strained almost to ruin; and generally, and even considering our immense superiority in numbers, the money given here has been far beyond the donations at your side. Of course, this has been given in a very small degree to me. Still, it is a fact and in my opinion a fact that should be made known to our friends yonder that much more money has been devoted to business by the home partners, even considering their numbers, than by those abroad. And surely the contrary should be the case. However this be, the friends abroad should come to no hasty conclusion on this head till they know what has been done and suffered by those at home.

'Your letter (rather George's, with the first order) came and we were saved. Good news of another kind also came, and so we were not only saved for the moment but cheered and led to hope that all would be well. Your letter as well as George's could not fail to produce a good effect. Your hopes about the Convention [Cincinnati, Jan. 1865] had been fully realized, and unless the general body should prove worthless (a thing / can never admit) our wants would be supplied at last. This is so fair a picture that I could not cloud it by a doubt or word of disapproval of any kind. Therefore I say: work on like men, fulfill [sic] your promises, the expectation held out to us and all Ireland will soon bless you, as we do now.

'But may we not suggest a good deal more prudence in our regard ? It would be a fatal error to suppose that we can be exposed as formerly. Shortly I hope to be able to write at length on this head. Meantime the public prints must show you that we must needs be cautious here. Arrests are being made for the least manifestation of disaffection, and everything is set down at our door. The paper I send by this post will show the danger to which your indiscretion exposes us. The bearer [—Quinlin]¹ of your last letters, etc, is now in prison. This is the story as it happened. He left Liverpool on Saturday evening under the influence of drink. He quarrelled with parties aboard, said he was a ——, and threatened to shoot folk. He was put in irons for this, yet strange to say was allowed to go on shore on Sunday morning. He was still intoxicated. He went to the office, Parliament street (this, I hear, was expressly contrary to your instructions). Unable to get admittance he then went to a certain hotel. Here he met a friend, to whom, without any knowledge or introduction, he told all. Fortunately the friend was a man of tact. He found from your messenger that the letters (only think of it!) were in the hands of the steward. Both went together to the boat, my friend remaining on the quay till your messenger brought him the letters. Your messenger went back to the boat; my friend drove away in order to secure the letters and had not gone one hundred yards when he saw detectives and police going aboard the boat. Your messenger was arrested, brought up next day and remanded. I cannot know till to-night when he will be brought up again.

'Everything we can do shall be done for him. And yet how little he deserves this at our hands. But for the providential meeting with a good man, several would ere this be compromised and all of us exposed to danger and ridicule. There is a lesson in this. Only thoroughly reliable parties should ever be sent over with letters and documents. I trust that the officers you mean to send shall be men to give satisfaction.

'The sum I asked for—{,1,000—was for the months of January, February, and March. Though I received none till the middle of February, the full sum—according to my original calculations—will be needed for

the time stated—end of this month. I shall require—absolutely require—a much larger sum for April, May, and June. But of this by next post. Yours fraternally.'

Endorsed: Doc. "B 4" No. 4 March i '65. C.E. (Across text, p. 6), C.E. No. 4. March i 1865.