William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, April 3, 1866

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I enclose herewith a copy of a communication which his excellency Frederick Smyth, governor of New Hampshire, addressed to me, in regard to the improper arrest and imprisonment in Ireland by the officers of her Majesty’s government of Cornelius Healy, a citizen of the United States, upon a suspicion of being engaged in the Fenian movement. The state of the prisoner’s health seems to render this case one of peculiar hardship, and one which requires prompt relief. With a view to this end I will thank you to bring it to the attention of the government of Great Britain. If the evidence submitted herewith is not considered sufficient to warrant her Majesty’s government in releasing Mr. Healy, this government considers it desirable to become acquainted at the earliest convenient moment with the grounds upon which any justification of a continued detention of the prisoner is based.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

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I, John Ferguson, of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire, on oath, depose and say that I am a physician, and have practiced in said Manchester during the past four years; that I was surgeon of the 10th regiment New Hampshire volunteers from August, 1862, to August, 1863; that I am and have been well acquainted with Captain Cornelius Healy, of said Manchester, during the past four years; that after his resignation as captain in the eighth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers, in 1864, I was his attending physician. He was suffering from “chills and fevers,” a disease contracted while in the United States service, and all other means having failed in restoring him to health, I recommended him to go to Ireland, believing that a change of climate would be beneficial to his health. He accordingly sailed for Ireland in the autumn of 1865. It was upon a certificate of ill health, given by me, that he obtained his discharge from the army.

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State of New Hampshire, County of Hillsborough, ss:

Personally appeared the above-named John Ferguson, on this 21st day of March, A. D. 1866, and subscribed and made oath to the above deposition. I further certify that said John Ferguson is a physician of good reputation, in said Manchester, and all representations made by him are entitled to full faith and credit.

Witness my hand and official seal.

{2 cent rev. stamp}

Petition.

To the Honorable William H. Seward Secretary of State:

Respectfully represent the undersigned citis ens of New Hampshire, that Captain Cornelius Healy, of Manchester, in said State, was born in Ireland about the year 1835, and emigrated to the United States about the year 1847, setting in said Manchester, where he has since resided; that he became a citizen of the United States, and was elected and served as a member of the house of representatives in said State; that he was commissioned as first lieutenant, and afterwards as captain, in the eighth regiment New Hampshire volunteers, in which regiment he served with distinction from 1861 to the fall of 1864, when he was compelled to resign his position on account of ill-health. His constitution having become so impaired as to render his restoration to health doubtful, he was advised by his physician to visit Ireland for its benefit. (Physician’s certificate enclosed.) He accordingly sailed for Ireland in the autumn of 1865.

Accordingly, to the best of our information and belief, he was arrested at Tralee, in the county of Kerry, Ireland, in the month of February, 1866, by the British authorities, and thrown into prison, where he now is. Believing that he is not guilty of the violation of any international law, or of any of the laws of Ireland or Great Britain, and that he has been unjustly imprisoned, and is now-unlawfully held in confinement, we would respectfully petition that such necessary action may be taken in his case as will secure him his freedom and a speedy vindication of his rights as an American citizen.

FREDERICK SMYTH, Governor of New Hampshire.

WILLIAM G. CLARKE, Attorney General of New Hampshire.

JOHN HOSLEY, Mayor city of Manchester.

H. R. CHAMBERLIN, City Treasurer of Manchester.

JOSEPH E. BENNETT, City Clerk, city of Manchester.

SAMUEL UPTON, Justice of Police Court, Manchester.

D. J. CLARK, Postmaster, Manchester.

E. M. TOPLIFF, Associate Justice Police Court, Manchester.

ISAAC W. SMITH, Assessor Internal Revenue.

JAMES B. STRAW, Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue.

ISAAC W. FARMEE, Assistant Assessor Internal Revenue.

JOSEPH NICHOLS Inspector of Tobacco, Snuff, and Cigars.

GEORGE W. MORRISON, Attorney, Manchester, N. H.

WILLIAM W. BROWN, late Surgeon 7th N. H. volunteers.

E. W. HARRINGTON.

W. D. BUCK, M. D.

S. CHENEY of Cheney & Co.’s Express.

JOHN G. SINCLAIR,

HERMAN FOSTER, Attorney at Law, Manchester.

L. B. CLOUGH. Attorney at Law, Manchester.

HAWKES FEARING, late Colonel 8th N. H. volunteers.

WILLIAM R. PATTEN, late Captain 11th N. H. volunteers.

GEORGE H. HUBBARD, late Captain 10th N. H. volunteers

C. H. HURLBURT, Agent C. M. & L. R. R.

C. W. STRAIN, late Captain 10th N. H. volunteers.

JESSE F. ANGEL, late Major 10th N. H. volunteers.

J. C. YOUNG.

WALTER CODY, late Lieutenant 3d N. H. volunteers.

DAVID L. STEVENS, Deputy Sheriff.

JOSEPH B. CLARK, Hillsborough county.

E. S. CUTTER, City Solicitor of Manchester

DAVID CROSS, Judge of Probate for Hillsborough Co., N. H.

THOMAS CONNOLLY, late Major 8th N. H. volunteer infantry

PHINEAS ADAMS, Agent Stark Mills, Manchester, N. H.

JOHN KELLY, late Brevet Lieut. Col. and A. Q. M., U. S. V.

ISAAC WHITTEMOEE.

GEORGE A. BARNES.

JOHN COUGHLIN, late Lieutenant Colonel 10th N. H. volunteers.