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.

Ballybrack, Co. Dublin,

June 19, 1888.

_To the Editor of "United Ireland."_

Sir,--As this is, I believe, the first time I have sought to
intrude upon your columns, I hope you will allow me some slight
space in the interests of fair-play and freedom of speech. Those
interests seem to me to have been quite set at naught in the
attack, or rather series of attacks, upon Mr. Taylor in your last
issue. Mr. Taylor's views upon many matters are not mine. He is far
more democratic in his opinions than I see any sufficient reason
for being, and he is very much more of what is called a land
reformer than I am; but on an acquaintance of some years I have
ever found him an honourable and high-minded gentleman, and as good
a Nationalist, from my point of view, as most of the members of the
Irish Parliamentary Party whom I either know or know of. Of some of
the charges made against Mr. Taylor, such as the seeking for Crown
Prosecutorships and the like, I am in no position to speak, save
from my knowledge of his character, but I un