MR. JOHN F. TAYLOR.

    To the Editor of “United Ireland."

Sir,—­You would not, I am sure, allow intentional misstatements to appear in your columns, and I ask you to allow me space to correct three erroneous observations made about myself in your current issue—­

1.  The first statement is to the effect that I owe everything I have, or that I am, to the Irish National Party.  I owe absolutely nothing to the Irish Party, except an attempt to boycott me on my circuit, which, fortunately for me, has failed.

2.  The second is to the effect that I made “frantic efforts” (these are the words, I think) to enter Parliament, and besieged Mr. Dillon’s house during the time when candidates were being chosen.  I saw Mr. Dillon exactly twice, both occasions at Mr. Davitt’s request.  Mr. Davitt urged me to allow my name to go forward as a candidate, and it was at his wish and solicitation that I saw Mr. Dillon.

3.  It is further said that I begged a Crown Prosecutorship.  Fortunately, Mr. Walker and The M’Dermot are living men, and they know this to be absolutely untrue.  I was offered such an appointment, and, contrary to my own judgment, I allowed myself to be guided by Mr. Davitt, who thought the matter would be misunderstood in the state of things then existing.  I believe I am the only person that ever declined such an offer.

    As to general statements, these are of no importance, and I shall
    not trouble you about them.—­Yours very truly,

    JOHN F. TAYLOR.

    P.S.—­The introduction of Dr. Webb’s name was a gratuitous
    outrage, Dr. Webb and I never assisted each other in anything
    except in the defence of P.N.  Fitzgerald.  J.F.T.

    To the Editor of “United Ireland."

Dear Sir,—­As my name has been introduced into the controversy between yourself and Mr. Taylor, I feel called upon to substantiate the two statements wherein my name occurs in Mr. Taylor’s letter of last week.  It was at my request that he called upon Mr. John Dillon, M.P.  I think I accompanied him on the occasion, and unless my memory is very much at fault, Mr. Dillon was not unfriendly to Mr. Taylor’s proposed candidature.  This visit occurred some three months after Mr. Taylor had, on my advice, declined the Crown Prosecutorship for King’s County, a post afterwards applied for by and granted to a near relative of one of the most prominent members of the Irish Party.  With Mr. Taylor’s general views on the present situation, or opinions upon parties or men, I have no concern.  But, in so far as the circumstances related above are dealt with in your issue of last week, I think an unjust imputation has been made against him, and in the interests of truth and fair play I feel called upon to adduce the testimony of facts as they occurred.—­Yours truly,

    MICHAEL DAVITT.