1 recd Oct 4/1916 54 [Questionable reading.]
15 Copaige 28.9.16

D Tomat, a capa, I hope you have not thought it ill
of me that I did not write before now. I have not
written to any of my imprisoned comrades for the
good reason that I could not write as I wished &
say what I would like but as by now the friends
who flocked to show sympathy must be easing off
in their eager anxiousness to be doing something and
writing sympathy to you all. I am just writing to
say that there is nothing to say that I can
write. Individually the boys are all good in
health & if sick at heart yet hopeful. We could
do with some of you home if only to give you a
piece of our minds. A few of that training school
of January are in Cork at work including Wall
Driscoll & Mullane. A group of the city lads assembled
on Ballingeary last Saturday and had a noisy time.
I had a fortnight there during summer during which
Applebee was so busy looking after me that he could not
see some companions who would have interested him
more. The Gaelic League promises great but we
lack direction & guidance with the result that there
is likely to be a waste of energy. Conscription 2 rumours are in the air also. I hope it will not materialise
if only to make the slackers fight on some side. How are you in Reading. Too much of it
I Suppose. I see you read my notes in J.P. Like so
much in this letter the boss had ordered me to write no
more politics. I wish I were able to say write it
yourself to —. But the prefominant partner holds
the Kudos. Ref to Milroy & Capt OF. not
forgetting T.MJ and any of the others that I knew. Father Tom Roche is in Dartmoor & Portland
lately to see Tom Huner & De Valera. All
fairly good. Not with any other prisoners, McNeill
has some to study & Irish Books are
allowed to any looking for them. Beazley most stubborn
wants no favours. Tom Lynch is going to see
Diarmuid this week endo. Everyone is waiting for Griffiths history of the
Volunteers & the Rising. Tell him be thinking over
if for even the Board of Eire are talking of
his ability in that connection. I hope that such excellent company is
sufficient to overcome such wretched environment
and that the peace flutter means the coming of
that stray cluer so that we may have you all
come back to Eire before very long. Yours disgruntled as ever
Tadhg Barry