LIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ.

"RESPECTED VICE-PRESIDENT AND BROTHER.

"Heartily approving of the course you have taken in refusing to
devote to the concerns of another people any of the time which
your own constituents and countrymen feel to be of so much value
to them, we, your brethren of the '82 Club, take this occasion
of recording our increased confidence in, and esteem for you,
personally and politically, and our determination to sustain and
stand by you in asserting the right of Ireland to the
undistracted labours of our own representatives in Parliament.

"We, sir, like yourself, have long since 'abandoned for ever all
hope of obtaining wise and beneficial legislation for Ireland
from the Imperial Parliament'; nor would such legislation, even
if attainable, satisfy our aspirations. We are confederated
together in the '82 Club upon the plain ground that no body of
men ought to have power to make laws binding this kingdom, save
the Monarch, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. From that principle
we shall never depart, and with God's help it shall soon find
recognition by a parliament of our own.

"Upon the mode in which the House of Commons has thought fit to
exercise the privilege it asserts in the present instance--upon
the personal discourtesy which has marked all the late
proceedings in your regard, we shall make but one comment, that
every insult to you is felt as an insult to us and to the people
of Ireland.

"It would be idle and out of place to offer condolence to you,
confined in an English prison for such an offence. We
congratulate you that you have made yourself the champion of
your country's rights, and submitted to ignominy for a cause
which you and we know shall one day triumph.

"(Signed)

"COLMAN M. O'LOGHLEN, Vice-President, Chairman.

"May 9th, 1846."

"BROTHERS OF THE '82 CLUB.--I receive this address with pride
and satisfaction.

"I recognise in the '82 Club a brotherhood of patriots, who have
volunteered to take the foremost place in contending for the
liberties of Ireland, and who may vie, in regard of ability,
integrity and sincerity of purpose, with any political
association, consisting of equal numbers, which has ever been
united in voluntary confederation.

"The unqualified approval accorded to my conduct by such a bod