Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: In regard to the subject of jour despatch No. 1905, of the 11th instant, and the letter enclosed with it, I have only to observe that it appears from the statements made in the newspapers that Mr. Meany was charged before one of the police magistrates of London, on the 31st of July, 1862, with an attempt to obtain money under false pretences. And although discharged it was not until after that date that he appears to have emigrated to America. Hence it must be presumed that he cannot be a naturalized citizen of the United States. Mr. Meany was arrested in the streets of London and taken to Ireland, on the ground of complicity with the designs of Mr. Stephens and his associates in that country and the United States. So far as the details of his examination have been reported in the newspapers, the evidence adduced to prove the charge seemed singularly weak. I will communicate further with Mr. West, the acting consul at Dublin, on the subject, and report to you at a future time whether anything can be done to relieve him.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.