[347] The deliberate and mercenary way in which the respected 'counsellor' set himself to spy could be shown by fifty letters. Father Quigley, or O'Coigly, who, it will be remembered, was arrested at Margate in February on Turner's information (see chap. iii. _ante_), and suffered death soon after, escaped by a hair's breadth the net which Magan had been weaving for his capture in Dublin. A letter from Higgins to Under-Secretary Cooke, dated 'Stephen's Green, 12th January, 1798,' goes on to say: 'When I saw M---- this day and just mentioned Quigly's name, he gave me instantly a description of him. Met him before he went abroad often, and _was sheltered in Dixon's house_. Will, he is convinced, find him out. But I beg to recommend a strict watch on Dixon's and you will instantly discover him.' Four days later, _i.e._ January 16, 1798, Higgins tells Cooke, 'M---- went several times to Dixon's, but found no trace of Quigly at his former residence. Neither has he been at Dr. McNevin's. The only place that he can be sheltered among the party is at Bond's, and which will be known by Thursday.' Two previous letters, dated October 17, and October 30, 1797, report very fully Dickson's conversations with Magan. [348] Magan, to divert suspicion from himself, may have been the first to set the story going that Neilson was a base informer. Thomas Moore, after making inquiries in Dublin, returned home strong in suspicion that Neilson had betrayed Lord Edward. Magan, in his secret letters of 1798, sometimes seeks to convey that Neilson was giving information at Dublin Castle. One letter, dated April 22, 1798, says: 'I sometimes imagine he (Neilson) is the person who communicated with Government; however, suspicion has not pointed at him.' Higgins writes (May 15): 'M. says Neilson is playing a double game.' So faithful did Neilson prove, that Major Sirr discovered him organising a plot to rescue Lord Edward. [349] P. 19. The italics are Hamilton's. Hatton was one of the rebel executive at Wexford. [350] James Dickson, at whose house Magan had been a constant guest, died a few years previously, and was buried beside the Round Tower at Lusk. [351] Fingall before his death expressed deep regret for this policy. See Fagan's _Life of O'Connell_. [352] Afterwards Chief Baron. [353] Afterwards Master of the Mint and British minister at Florence. [354] Bellew, Lynch, and Donnellan had pensions; not for secret service, but to restrain them from clanking their chains. [355] Afterwards a Privy Councillor, and British minister at Athens. [356] Afterwards Mr. Justice Ball.