APPENDIX. 



THE following letter from a talented and independent magistrate, and grand 

 juror of the county, relative to the late "Delicate Investigation," has been 

 received by Dr. Sheil : 



" Holy Hill, Strabane, Sept. 6, 1841. 



" Sir, I send you ten shillings, for as many impressions of a piece acted by her 

 Majesty's servants, in the town-hall of Ballyshannon, on the 20th and 21st July 

 last, by order of his Excellency the Lord- Lieutenant ; the denouement of which 

 that is, ' the thorough investigation and clearing up of the case ' is considered 

 matter of rejoicing, though I cannot imagine how any one, but those receiving 

 money at the door, could rejoice at such an exhibition. 



"A gentleman universally esteemed a magistrate of twenty years standing is 

 put upon his trial, caused to hold up his hand for two days at the bar quo 

 crimine ? quibus indiciis ? quo teste? nil horum, verbosa et grandis epistola venit a 

 Kildoney and the highest law authority within the realm, after the lapse of 

 twenty-six days, pronounces that there was no charge against the magistrate. 



" We are told that little wisdom is employed in the sublunary government of the 

 world ; and if we want a proof, this pamphlet, which should be in every body's 

 hand, affords a strong one. Passing over the public trial of a magistrate (and 

 such a trial !) without a charge against him passing over the decision commu- 

 nicated at a morning visit of a member of Parliament, by word of mouth only 

 is there not other matter in this pamphlet calculated to cause uneasy feelings 1 

 Does it not show us our people schooled into outrage and contempt of law ? 

 Does it not inform us that our country is afflicted with naval blockade and 

 military occupation ? and are not intolerable contributions the consequence of 

 such a state of things ? Providence, perhaps, may put an end to these evils ; but, 

 if we aid ourselves, Providence will sooner come to our assistance. 



" I had, on its first formation, a partial opinion of the late Ministry. I soon 

 ceased to have a good opinion of them. What their successors may be, time 

 will tell ; but your pamphlet, amongst many other damning records of contempt 

 for the public and their opinion, leads me to think that the friends of impartial 

 justice in Ireland, have little cause to lament the downfal of Lord Melbourne's 

 administration. 



" Yours very truly, 



"JAMES SINCLAIR." 

 "To J. B. Sheil, Esq. M.D. Ballyshannon." 



The Dublin Evening Packet, in noticing the investigation, thus writes : 

 "At a recent meeting of the inhabitants of Ballyshannon, for the purpose of 

 congratulating Thomas J. Atkinson, Esq., of Cavan Garden, upon the result of 

 an investigation of false charges preferred against him, in his capacity of a 

 magistrate, one of the speakers, Dr. Sheil, a ' Liberal,' said 



" ' I say, without fear of contradiction, that this counti-y never was more 

 peaceable or tranquil than it is at present, and that to keep up a large police 

 force in the County of Donegal is to inflict a tax on the public without necessity.' 



