67 



but which I consider very material. The former was the person on whose report of 

 his conversation with Mr. Thomas Lipsett, my son's name was so maliciously 

 introduced ; and the latter's testimony clearly disclosed who the person was, who 

 really exercised the control over the sea and land forces assembled at Kildoney, 

 and bv whose orders it was that the sloop-of-war's boat's crew armed with loaded 

 muskets wns sent to Burulrowes under the command of a newly-promoted con- 

 stable (without the knowledge of the Sub-Inspector of the district,) to protect 

 the Bundoran men, while fishing on the ground which Mr. Cassidy had heretofore 

 enjoyed the peaceable possession of. With respect to the foul caiumYiy said to be 

 contained in page 25 of Dr. Shell's pamphlet, any person wishing to satisfy 

 himself as to the fact, may easily do so by looking at the Record Book of the 

 Ballyshannon Petty Sessions. 



" Being refused a copy of the Report of the Investigation forwarded by Mr. 

 Drummond, the stipendiary magistrate, to the government, I cannot pretend to 

 say under what impression Lord Fortescue acted, when he thought proper to lay 

 the case before the Lord Chancellor ; but that he did so, I think, was fortunate for 

 me, as his Lordship had not been long enough in office to have been made 

 acquainted with MY PRIVATE OBJECTS or the MOTIVES of Dr. Sheil. 



" If Messrs. Tredennick and Hayden can quiet their consciences with the sedative 

 contained in Mr. MacDonald's official, I think, I may rest at ease, under the honour- 

 able and unanimous acquittal of a jury of my countrymen and neighbours, most 

 of whom attended during the entire of the inquiry, taking unprecedented interest 

 in the proceedings, and who were not beholden to any ' garbled statement of 

 evidence,' given by Dr. Sheil or any other reporter, (if such was the case). 



" In the meantime, I hope we may all profit by the very useful hint given us by 

 our worthy and pious Rector, and prepare ourselves for that tribunal, where 

 neither private nor public opinion will be regarded, nor any evidence required. The 

 allusion made to the letter of Colonel Conolly is unworthy of notice. 



" I have, Sir, extended my letter to much greater length than I intended when 

 I commenced, and have to apologize for taking up so much of your valuable columns 

 it being my first attempt in this way, I hope you will excuse me. I promise 

 you it shall be my last on the present subject. 



" I remain, your obedient, servant, 



" THOMAS J. ATKINSON." 

 " Cavan Garden, 14M Sept. 1841." 



" To the Editor of the Ballyshannon Herald. 



11 Ballyshannon, Sept. loth, 1841. 



" SIR, The Rev. Mr. Tredennick, in the Herald of last week, has made un- 

 accountable imputations against me, calculated to injure me as a professional 

 man, and to damage me in public opinion, and has assigned motives for my pub- 

 lication of the late investigation which I totally disclaim. He also holds out a 

 threat of bringing the matter before a Court of Law, and says, I may yet have to ask 

 the clemency of tbe judge ! If he brings the case before any Court of Law, I will 

 have an opportunity of redress for the injury his last publication has done me ; 

 and for the present, I consider it the most prudent course to remain silent, and 

 not to publish a variety of materials, which exist, for my defence against the general 

 impression sought to be created by Mr. Tredennick, to my prejudice. I could 

 answer his attack, and disprove all his assertions ; and as to the evidence given 

 before Mr. Drummond, and published in the pamphlet, the people of Ballyshannon 

 were present at the investigation, and can judge for themselves whether the pub- 

 lication is not a fair and impartial report of the evidence, as it was delivered on 

 the 20th and 21st of July, in the Town Hall in Ballyshannon. 



" I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 



" JOHN B. SHEIL, M.D." 



