William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, January 15, 1867

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

Sir: The honorable Godlove S. Orth, of the House of Representatives, has brought to the notice of this department the case of Captain Charles Underwood O’Connell, a citizen of the United States, who was arrested in September, 1865, on board the steamer City of New York, at Queenstown, on a charge of complicity with the Fenian movement, In December following he was placed on trial at Cork, convicted for having on his person some Fenian papers, and sentenced to ten years’ penal servitù le in the quarries at Portland, England. It appears that his clothing, arms, private family papers, and his commission as captain in the United States army, were taken from him by the police authorities, in whose possession, they are still supposed to remain.

I will thank you, in making the case known to her Majesty’s government, to use your good offices in behalf of Captain O’Connell, with a view either to effect his release or to obtain a mitigation of the sentence he is now undergoing.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,