e good and virtuous. You will
also see that there is no necessity for my father, mother,
sisters or relations fretting about me. When I leave this
world it will be (with God's help) to go to a better, to join
the angels and saints of God, and sing His praises for all
eternity. I leave a world of suffering for one of eternal joy
and happiness. I have been to Holy Communion, and, please God,
intend going shortly again. I am sorry we cannot hear Mass;
the good priest is not allowed to say it in this prison.

Give my love to my father and mother, to Mary, Ellen, John
Phillips, Tim, Catherine, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Farewell.

From your affectionate brother,

MICHAEL O'BRIEN (_alias_ William Gould).

The following is one of Allen's letters to his relatives, written the
day before his execution:--

Salford, New Bailey Prison, Nov. 23rd, 1867.

TO YOU, MY LOVING AND SINCERE DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT HOGAN,

I suppose this is my last letter to you at this side of the
grave. Oh, dear uncle and aunt, if you reflect on it, it
is nothing. I am dying an honourable death: I am dying _for
Ireland_--dying for the land that gave me birth--dying for
the Island of Saints--and dying for liberty. Every generation
of our countrymen has suffered; and where is the Irish heart
could stand by unmoved? I should like to know what trouble,
what passion, what mischief could separate the true Irish
heart from its own native isle. Dear uncle and aunt, it is
sad to be parting you all, at my early age; but we must all
die some day or another. A few hours more and I will breathe
my last, and on English soil. Oh, that I could be buried in
Ireland! What a happiness it would be to all my friends, and
to myself--where my countrymen could kneel on my grave. I
cannot express what joy it afforded me, when I found Aunt
Sarah and you were admitted. Dear uncle, I am sure it was not
a very pleasant place I had to receive you and my aunt; but
we must put up with all trials until we depart this life. I am
sure it will grieve you very much to leave me in such a place,
on the evidence of such characters as the witnesses were that
swore my life away. But I forgive them, and may God forgive
them. I am dying, thank God! an Irishman and a Christian.
Give my love to all friends; same from your ever affectionate