DAWSON, Vice-Consul to Consul-General Merritt, January 28, 1882

Mr. Dawson to Consul-General Merritt.

Sir: Mr. I. Hart, of Carrigtwohill, near Queenstown, called on me to-day and stated as follows:

His brother, Michael Hart, is at present under arrest in Clonmel jail under the inclosed warrant. He is a naturalized citizen of the United States, and has sent me his certificate of naturalization for inspection.

I. Hart is anxious to have his brother released, and asked for my advice. I recommended him to get his brother to write to the chief secretary, Dublin Castle, stating that he is a citizen of the United States, and that if freed from arrest that he will conduct himself properly and peaceably while in this country and will conform to its laws. Hart thought it advisable to notify the nearest consul of his being in jail, in consequence of having seen a paragraph in a newspaper that the President of the United States had been requested to ascertain the number of Americans under arrest in Ireland.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,