Copy letters of Fr. E.F. Murnane re Roger Casement

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Pentonville Prison 10. July 1916 My Dear Father Murnane I got your letter of 8th. July; It came to me just after your visit. For both I thank you warmly - the visit and the letter - I know not how to thank you indeed for your affection and thought of me - and for your prayers for me. I havent been so happy of late in my mind or in my sprit, as I was doubts and perplexities assail me and leave me troubled - troubled always at myself and my own imperfect understanding. There are times when I feel my doubts are settled and then they revive, and I cannot say what motive actuates me. It is very hard to be sure of one's convictions - to be certain always one is convinced - I thought I was - and today and yesterday I am not sure - and questions come to me from myself that I find no answer to. The trouble is ; am I convinced ? or do I only think I am ? Am I moved by love? or fear ? I can only accept in my soul from love - never from fear - and part of the appeal seems at times to be my fear - the more I read the more confused I get - and it is not reading I want, but companionship - I am sure you understand. And then I dont want to jump, or rush or do anything hastily just because time is short. It must be my deliberate act, unwarvering and confirmed by all my intelligence. And alasitoday it is not so. It is still I find only my heart that prompts from love, from affection for others, from associations of ideas and ideals, and yet my full intellect. For if it were thus the doubts would not beset me so vigorously as they do. I am not on a rock - but on a bed of thorns. I will not say more to you in letter. You must continue to help me as you have done, in the way you wot of, and in the way you say so many more are doing.I return you the Father Provincial's letter and that of Father Gorman - with many thanks for sending them to me to read. I guessed that Fr. Gorman had been prohibited from again visiting me at the tower at the time. I was sure he would come if he could - and when he did not come next day I knew quite well why. I am glad indeed to hear the news from Putomayo of Tomorrow I go to the Appeal Court to hear my Councel against the indictment and I shall return here. That is the only thing I am sure of. However interesting from the point of view of the "History of treason law in this country" I anticipate no other interest than that of listening to the arguments for and against and coming back to the place I started from in the morning. If I had Solon for an advocate the result I fancy would be the same for we know that "the law is an ass" and is always true to itself let Solons state what they please. Please read Grattan's indictment of the law - his declaration of Irish Rights Feby. 1782 particularly in regard to "that Leviathan of the "aw" (Lord Coke?) or the "luminary Vaughan He trounced the whole bench from the Middle Ages down in a phylippic that will warm your heart if you turn to his speechs. I was going to read it out in Court but my eyes…