No. 146.
Mr. Hoppin to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of the United States,
London, October 3, 1882.
(Received October 14.)
No. 256.]
Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that on
the 21st of September last I received a telegram from you, of which the
following is the substance:
Ascertain accurately and inform us why an exception is made in
the case of Brophy, who, it is understood, is still
imprisoned.
I at once caused an unofficial inquiry to be made at the Irish office to
obtain the information you desired. There being no person there who
could answer the question, I addressed a note to Lord Granville on the
22d ultimo, of which I inclose a copy. Not having received an answer to
this note, Mr. Nadal, at my request, went to the foreign office and saw
Sir Julian Pauncefote. He was informed that a telegram had been sent to
Dublin on the subject, and that whenever the reply arrived it should be
communicated to me. Being still without an answer I addressed a second
note to Lord Granville on the 28th of September, and on the 30th of that
month I received a reply from his lordship on the subject. I inclose
copies of the communications.
I sent you a telegram on the 30th of September, to the effect that I was
only that morning informed, after repeated inquiries of foreign
minister, that Brophy was released on the 19th, and was then in
Dublin.
* * * * * * *
I have, &c.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
256.]
Mr. Hoppin to
Lord Granville.
Legation of the United States,
London, September 22, 1882.
Urgent.]
My Lord: I have just received a telegram
from Mr. Frelinghuysen of which the substance is as follows:
“Ascertain accurately and inform us why an exception is made in the
case of Brophy, who, it is understood, is still imprisoned.”
[Page 301]
I beg leave to remind your lordship that this William Brophy is a
naturalized citizen of the United States who has been imprisoned in
Ireland under the act for the protection of person and property, and
whose case has already been the subject of a correspondence between
your lordship and this legation. It has been stated in the public
journals that one William Brophy has been released from prison, but
either they have not learned this at Washington or there is some
question there as to the identity of the individual. May I therefore
ask your lordship kindly to inform me as to the facts in this matter
that I may send an early reply by cable to the telegram which I have
communicated above?
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
256.]
Mr. Hoppin to
Lord Granville.
Legation of the United States,
London, September 28, 1882.
My Lord: Referring to my note of the 22d
instant, to which I have not yet had the pleasure of a reply, I
trust your lordship will pardon me if I repeat the request therein
contained, that I may be informed whether William Brophy, an
American suspect, detained under the protection of person and
property (Ireland) act, and whose release from prison is said to
have been announced in the newspapers, has been really discharged. I
have been requested by telegram from the Department of State at
Washington to ascertain the facts in this case.
I have, &c.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
256.]
Sir J.
Pauncefote to Mr. Hoppin.
London, September 29,
1882.
Sir: In reply to the inquiries contained in
your notes of the 22d and 28th instant relative to William Brophy, I
have the honor to inform you that I have to-day ascertained from the
Irish Government that he was released from custody by order of the
lord lieutenant on the 19th instant, and is now in Dublin.
I have, &c.
(In the absence of Earl Granville).
