1270. THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD INFILTRATES THE BRITISH ROYAL MARINES IN IRELAND! Historically important manuscript D.S., 4pp. legal folio, "House Guards", [Ireland], Feb. 1, 1866, titled: "Circular to General Officers: Strictly Confidential", by Commander in Chief W. J. Jonter, in part: "...There being strong grounds of Her Majesty's subjects and others calling themselves 'Fenians' to tamper with the troops and to shake their allegiance to the sovereign, the Field Marshall Commanding in Chief desires to call most serious attention of General Officers in command to the subject, with every necessary precaution in their power (in conjunction with officers commanding Regiments and Corps), to check and counteract such dis-loyal efforts...Every care should be taken by those in authority over the troops to avoid either attracting public attention or envisioning any lack of confidence in the employment of such means as may be considered best adapted to put a stop to the treasonable practices which are represented to exist...". Endorsed on the first page by MP ROBERT WALPOLE, stating: "This letter should be kept strictly private and should not be communicated to anyone; and those informed on this subject should be communicated to me at once, direct, and not through usual channels of the Brigade office...". The Fenian Brotherhood was founded in America in 1848 by John O'Mahony, and named in honor of a band of mythological Gaelic warriors, the Fianna. The label caught on, so much so that to this day those espousing a nationalist or republican point of view in Ireland are called Fenians. At the time this document was issued, the British government feared that as many as 30,000 former Irish-born citizens who fought in the American Civil War would return to Ireland, thereby provoking an uprising. Thus, when British military authorities realized the extent to which Fenianism had penetrated the Army in Ireland, entire units were transferred, and soldiers who had taken the Fenian Oath were drummed out and set off to rot in the prison colony of Western Australia. One of the best Fenian-related documents that has come to the market for years! Usual folds, slight splitting at edges, overall boldly penned and in very good condition. $1,000 - 1,500