George,

Here's a better translation.

William Smyth to Abraham Lincoln, Saturday, January 07, 1865 (Support from Ireland)

Sir,

I congratulate you on the recent successes I was uneasy about Gen'l Sherman. I see you want 300 thousand men to put the finishing stroke to the War giving a bounty of 800 dollars to each man. Some months ago it was expected the American Gov. intended granting a free immigration to Irish among other people, and it was reported I was an agent. I was actually overwhelmed with applications. A soldier of the Class?? position told me not many days ago that every man in the Regt 900 strong would immigrate understanding the purpose if I paid their passages and give them some money to leave with their families. You see how freely I write because I know I am writing to a gentlemen. From your exalted position you could not of course do the same if you are not badly advised you will send me L20 (pounds) a head and I will send you 5000 men. A letter can be written by some person I no only saying "I enclose your draft or drafts on the Bank of Ireland, The Provisional Bank of Ireland, the National Bank of Ireland for 100 thousand pounds you know the instructions for ABC" and I pledge you my word as a gentleman the money shall be properly applied. It? would not answer for ???? or any of your consular agents to know anything about the matter. If Gen'l Grant has 5000 fresh men he would soon crush Lee and all war then over and President Lincoln immortalized and mark my words you may regret not taking my advice. As to the conscription no free state will submit to it and you will rather injure than save yourself by resorting to it. I know it by letters from Irish people in America to their friends in this country. If you have a war with England about Canada which is considered very likely, the English navy is strong enough to break the blockade and seriously damage your trade and immigration should cease so be wise which there is yet time. The Arming of the slaves by the Rebels will delay the termination of the war. The notes passed by the emigrants will be in America before them. They must pay or serve,?? the former they will not be able to do.

The letter can be found at the Lincoln Papers at

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html

David