_My Dear Mr. Sweeny_: Replying to your letter of the 14th inst., I would say that my Irish ancestors came to Pennsylvania early in the seventeenth century. They included John Potts and his wife, Elizabeth McVaugh (so set down in the records; I do not know what the real name was); John Barnhill, whose wife was Sarah Craig, and a man named Lukens, who may have been a German from the Palatinate. They were all of them humble people, farmers, merchants, etc., although Sarah Craig is put down as being descended on her mother’s side, through the Barnwalls, from various well known Irish families, both of the pale and outside the pale, the Butlers, the Fitzgeralds, O’Neills and O’Briens. But about this more illustrious descent I fear I cannot give you any specific particulars. Sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The reading of the foregoing letter was received with great applause. Letters expressing regret at inability to attend the dinner were received from the following: Hon. John D. Crimmins, New York City. Gen. M. V. Sheridan, U. S. A. (retired), Washington, D. C. Rt. Rev. Philip J. Garrigan, D. D., Sioux City, Ia. Rev. Christopher Hughes, Fall River, Mass. James E. Sullivan, M. D., Providence, R. I. Mr. P. Tecumseh Sherman, New York City. Mr. George W. McCarthy, Portsmouth, N. H. Rev. James Coyle, Taunton, Mass. Daniel J. Phelan, M. D., New York City. Hon. Edward A. Moseley, Washington, D. C. Hon. Thomas J. Gargan, Boston, Mass. Col. James Moran, Providence, R. I., and John D. Hanrahan, M. D., Rutland, Vt. PATRIOTIC PILGRIMAGE TO LEXINGTON, MASS. INTERESTING OBSERVANCE BY THE SOCIETY OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. The Society held an interesting observance, April 19, 1905, the date being the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, Concord and Cambridge, fought in 1775. The programme comprised a patriotic pilgrimage to Lexington, and other features of interest. The Boston members, and their guests, went out to Lexington in automobiles, leaving Boston about 10.15 a. m. Each member and guest wore a neat badge, specially designed for the occasion, and comprising the Revolutionary colors buff and blue. Each badge bore the initials of the Society, “A. I. H. S.,” and the inscription, “Lexington, 1775–1905.” Reaching Cambridge, the party stopped at the City Hall there and a call was made on Hon. Augustine J. Daly, mayor of Cambridge. All the members of the party were introduced to the mayor, who was assisted in receiving by City Clerk Edward J. Brandon, J. Edward Barry, president of the board of aldermen; Mr. Edward A. Counihan, mayor’s clerk, and other officials.