Calvin Day to William H. Seward, June 11, 1866

[Untitled]

The undersigned, citizens of the city of Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, respectfully represent that Thomas J. Hynes, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to this country in the year 1857, and who is now about twenty-four years of age, a resident of said city of Hartford, and a naturalized citizen of the United States, and a man of good character and repute, sailed from New York on the 21st of April last for Europe, for the benefit of his health, and to make a visit to his parents, who reside in Cashentray, in the county of West Meath, Ireland, and with the intention of bringing his father to this country with him on his return. That previous to his departure he was in the employment of the State Bank of this city, and obtained a leave of absence from the bank for two months, intending to return at the expiration of that time. A passage ticket for his father was forwarded to him on the 10th of May, and we are entirely satisfied that his journey was solely for the purposes before mentioned, and had no relation to any political movement whatever.

On the 18th day of May, 1866, while stepping from a steamer at the North Wall, Dublin, the said Thomas J. Hynes was arrested as a Fenian emissary, and has since been confined in Richmond Bridewell, as we learn from the public prints and from his brother, Captain James L. Hynes, of Hartford.

The said Thomas J. Hynes has three brothers residing in Hartford, all respectable naturalized citizens, who feel the greatest distress on account of their brother’s situation, and the greatest solicitude for his safety.

On his own and his brother’s behalf we take the liberty to respectfully request that the proper steps may be taken through your department to obtain, if possible, his release from arrest and confinement. His friends have not been able to hear from him since his arrest.