Page:My Life in Two Hemispheres, volume 1.djvu/336

 Mr. Duffy and the others in England and Ireland, Mr. Duffy having exhibited no desire on his own part for clemency, and not having made any concession. I am satisfied if Mr. Duffy offered securities for the future the thing would be done that is my conviction I may be mistaken. As for any feeling of a vindictive character, he over and over repudiated anything of the kind.—I am, my dear sir, yours very truly,

"Charlton S. Ralph, Esq."

The convicted prisoners in Richmond were, however, allowed a generous liberty of action, the prison being under municipal control. The following note from Meagher to one of his friends, M. R. O'Farrell, must be unique in the literature of détenus:—

"We are to have a little soirée here on Monday evening, and we warmly unite in requesting the pleasure of your company. We shall have something of a supper and a dance of course. The Governor has most kindly given us the use of his apartments, and desires me to intimate to all our friends his wish that they should ask at the hatch for the Governor.

"Richmond Prison, May 5, '49."

My determination to put the Government slanders to shame by reproducing my life and character such as they actually were was very successful. The venerable Bishop of Dromore, who had been my friend since the soirée at Newry so often referred to; Dr. Moriarty, the head of All Hallows Missionary College; George Petrie, and William Carleton, who stood at the head of Irishmen of letters; and, above all, the reformer of his age and country, Father Mathew, eagerly answered the call to speak of me as they knew me. The effect was decisive on the jury and the audience. I shall not recall their evidence which was generous beyond my merits, but I cannot refrain from publishing the letter in which Fathew Mathew acknowledged the call to be a witness:—

", 17th November, 1848. ",—Though your letter is dated 'Newgate Prison,' I was delighted at receiving it. It was