om Cork jail until February, 1867. I was afterwards removed to
Mountjoy prison, and, while there, Mr. West came to me and said he
understood I was an American citizen, and asked why I did not make
that known. I said I had a double reason--first, because I expected
the crown would see they had broken their pledge with me in having
been so soon arrested; and also that I expected my government would
make a general demand for all its citizens. By Mr. West's desire I
put that statement in writing; and I do not think that there is a
word in it that can be construed into a memorial to the Lord
Lieutenant. One of the directors of the prison came to me and asked
me was I content to comply with the former conditions, and I said I
was. I was liberated upon those conditions, and complied with them;
but there was no condition whatever named that I was never to return
to Ireland nor to fight for Irish independence. At that time I would
sooner have remained in prison than enter into any such compact. Now,
with reference to Corridon's information. He states he met me in
Liverpool after the rising, and I stated to him that somebody 'sold
the pass' upon us--to use the Irish phrase. Now, it is a strange
thing, my lord, that he got some information that was true, and I
really was in Liverpool, but not with the informer. The fact is, the
month previous to that I knew, and so did M'Afferty, that Corridon
had sold us. We left instructions at Liverpool to have him watched;
but owing to circumstances, it is needless now to refer to, that was
not attended to, and he came afterwards to Ireland and passed as a
Fenian, and the parties here, not knowing he had betrayed them, still
believed in him. But I knew very well that Corridon had betrayed that
Chester affair, and so did Captain M'Afferty; and if I had met him at
that time in Liverpool I don't think it would be him I would inform
of our plans. I only want to show, my lord, how easily an informer
can concoct a scene. I never in my life attended that meeting that
Corridon swore to. All his depositions with respect to me is false. I
did meet him twice in Dublin, but not on the occasions he states. I
wish to show how an informer can concoct a story that it will be
entirely out of the power of the prisoner to contradict. With
reference to the witness Curtin, whom I asked to have produced--and
the c