42 



and intelligent magistrates, Captain Ferguson, the Rev. Mr. Pakenham, and 

 Mr. Davis, between whom and myself I am proud to say there never has 

 been a difference of opinion on any subject connected with our official 

 duties. 



" That I have been enabled to refute the foul calumny attempted to be 

 brought against me and my two sons for it was not sufficient for my slan- 

 derers to confine the accusations to myself I am in a great measure 

 indebted to the kind and honourable support of you, my friends, who during 

 the late investigation cheered and supported me by your presence. Any 

 anxiety or uneasiness occasioned me by those false allegations has been 

 far overpaid by the distinguished honour you have this day done me, in 

 thus unanimously, without distinction of creed or politics, coming forward 

 to express your kind opinion on my conduct, and which, as long as life is 

 spared me, I shall remember with pride and gratitude. 



" 1 beg here also to acknowledge, with sincere thanks, the enthusiasm 

 exhibited by my more humble neighbours in their demonstrations of kind 

 feeling and regard towards me, and to congratulate them and you that one 

 part of the evidence of my accusers is happily verified ; namely, that there 

 is no more peaceable or quiet country. 



" That this friendly feeling between all classes of this neighbourhood 

 may long continue, and that you may all enjoy health, happiness, and pros- 

 perity, is the sincere wish of, gentlemen, 



" Your very obliged and faithful servant, 



"THOMAS J. ATKINSON." 

 " Cavan Garden House, Sept. 1, 1841." 



For the subsequent proceedings in this business, and the 

 letter of Norman MacDonald, Esq., the Under-Secretary, to the 

 Rev. George Tredennick, see the Appendix. 



I shall now proceed to give an account of the Lough 

 Foyle Salmon Fisheries, and the endeavours made to infringe 

 on the rights of the Honourable the Irish Society. 



LOUGH FOYLE FISHERIES. 



The Report of a late Visit to Ireland by a Deputation from 

 the Irish Society of London has brought to light some very 

 curious facts to show the encouragement given in high quarters 

 to illegal fishing in the Lough Foyle Fisheries, in the counties 

 of Donegal and Londonderry ; a practice which, even viewed 

 independently of the unjust infringement on the Society's right 

 to those fisheries, manifestly tends to the demoralization of the 

 lower classes, who in these immediate districts have but re- 



