A.
Sir: With reference to your letter of the 16th instant, relative to the case of Edward McGingan, at present confined in Mountjoy prison, I am directed by the lord lieutenant to acquaint you that his excellency has reason to believe that this man is a natural-born subject of the Queen, and that he does not feel it consistent with his duty to ralease him from custody. I am to add that, in giving you this reply as a matter of courtesy, his excellency thinks it right to point out that no evidence is adduced that McGingan is a citizen of the United States, either natural-born or naturalized; and that in the case of naturalized United States citizens the production of their papers of naturalization is the only evidence which can be accepted as satisfactory.
W. B. West, Esq., United States Consul, Dublin, Ireland.