Office of the Historian

No. 125.
Mr. Pierrepont to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
London, July 16, 1877. (Received July 30.)
No. 192.]

Sir: Referring to your instruction No. 161, I have the honor to inclose a copy of the correspondence between myself and Lord Derby upon the subject to which it relates.

I have, &c.,

EDWARDS PIERREPONT.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 192]

Mr. Pierrepont to Lord Derby.

Legation of the United States,
London, June 18, 1877.

My Lord: Referring to my note of the 23d of August last, and to your lordship’s reply of the 14th of September last, I have the honor to say that I have lately received [Page 263] dispatch from Mr. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State, by which I am instructed to invite the attention of Her Majesty’s Government again to the case of Edward O’M. Condon, a convict now under Sentence of imprisonment for life for participation in certain Fenian disturbances. This dispatch covers the copy of a letter from the brother of Condon to the President of the United States, in which it is intimated that the prisoner is in failing health, and that his mother is in great distress and anxiety on his account. I beg to recall to your lordship’s attention the grounds upon which, in a former communication, I asked for a remission of the punishment in this case, and also to state that the Government of the United States, in view of another year of his imprisonment having elapsed, and of the fact that no new disturbances have occurred, hopes that it may be deemed proper by Her Majesty’s Government to extend the clemency which is desired, and allow the prisoner to be released.

I have, &c.,

EDWARDS PIERREPONT.

The Right Honorable the Earl of Derby.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 192.]

Lord Derby to Mr. Pierrepont.

Foreign Office, July 12, 1877.

Sir: With reference to my letter of the 22d ultimo, respecting the case of Edward ‘Condon, who is under sentence of penal servitude for life, I have the honor to acquaint you that I have been informed by Her Majesty’s secretary of state for the home department that he is unable to give any other answer than that which I communicated to you on the 14th of September last, in regard to a mitigation of the convict’s sentence, but that he has caused inquiry to be made as to the prisoner’s state of health, and is perfectly satisfied that Condon is in good health, both physically and mentally.

I have the honor, &c.,

DERBY.

The Hon. E. Pierrepont, &c., &c., &c.