Michael Hart to Frederick Dawson, February 22, 1882

Mr. Hart to Mr. Dawson.

Sir: In a letter from my brother he tells me you don’t understand my letter or know what I am going to do. If I have said in my letter to you that I was not an American, and did not mean to be one, I was referring to the copy of his excellency’s, where he said he wanted me to understand that I could not be an Irishman and an American at the same time, and perhaps that is how I said I did not mean or pretend to be an American, and my motive in making that remark was I never meant to be an American born, or went under the pretense of being one, and that I was not ashamed to be born in Ireland. But, though being a foreign-born citizen of the United States, I think I have a right to claim all the rights and protection while in a foreign country which is accorded to native-born citizens; and as to informing you what I was going to do I don’t know that myself. If my health will permit, when released from here, my stay will be very short in this country, and I think it’s hardship enough to be put behind bar and halt in an English prison when pursuing my daily avocations in a law-abiding manner, without showing further causes of hardship.

I return you my sincere thanks for the interest you are taking and the trouble you have given yourself in my case.

Your obedient servant,