Letter from John Redmond (1856-1918) to Sir Francis Hopwood (1860 – 1947) written in response to a previous letter sent by Hopwood. Redmond thanks Hopwood for his sympathies and offers of service, but says they won't be necessary. Francis Hopwood, 1st Baron Southborough, was a British civil servant. In 1917 he was elected secretary to the Irish Convention, and was chosen to find solutions to the Irish Home Rule question. John Redmond was an MP and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He was instrumental in securing the promise of Home Rule from Asquith's liberal government. Upon the outbreak of war, Redmond addressed a group of Irish Volunteers at Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, encouraging them to fight with the British Army to ensure the implementation of Home Rule. Redmond's words split the Irish Volunteers across the country. The Easter Rising shocked Redmond, who condemned it bitterly. Nonetheless he appealed for leniency towards those who had not been involved in planning the Rising.