Sin,—Sir Horace Plunkett, like the lamb shorn before the wind
of Professor Dowden's admirable criticism of his entire position, turns to bleat at me over one incident (the Sligo case) as ferociously as such a lamb is capable of doing. I wrote to the Times because Sir Horace Plunkett's delay of four months in filling up this appointment prevented dis- cussion of his action in the House of Commons. I said such delay was inexplicable unless it was intentional. Sir Horace denies the intention on his part—a statement which I, of course, accept—but he leaves it still unexplained, and I still consider it unfortunate. The rest of the story I gave from Mr. McCloghery, as my letter stated. But before doing so I had written to an independent gentleman of repute in Sligo, and had learnt from him (1) that Mr. McCloghery was a man of irreproachable position, and (2) that local Unionists (who presumably have local knowledge) considered his treatment by the Department as " a very bad case." A further reason was that Mr. McCloghery's story so fitted in with the proba- bilities, when the general policy of the Irish Administration, and of this Department in particular, and of the anti-Unionist record of some of its officials, are considered. The fact remains that after eight months' service approved of by the Department, Mr. McCloghery was superseded by a stranger. His statement as to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Elphin, he writes me, was derived from an interview with the Bishop himself on the subject of the vacancy. He assumed too hastily that the candidate referred to by the Bishop, but whose name was not mentioned, was Mr. Vahey. He has not withdrawn his statement about Mr. Vahey's connection with the Bishop of Raphoe, though I freely accept the Bishop's statement that he is ignorant of it. The difficulties for ascertaining what influences were used against him within the Department are insuperable to Mr. McCloghery. But interest is made on all these occasions and by every candidate ; and if Sir Horace Plunkett wishes to remove the feeling among Sligo and other Irish Unionists on this case now he has taken it up, be will be well advised to give us a full list of the names and positions of all the persons who supported Mr. Vahey's candidature to oust the temporary officer of the Department. Then we shall be in a better position to judge of the facts on which Sir Horace Plunkett's letter leaves much room for
doubt.—I am, Sir, &c., War. MooRE.
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