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CSO/RP/1823/2321

Petition of the committee of Caher Fever Hospital, Caher, County Tipperary, to Richard Wellesley, 1st marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, emphasising the hospital's lack of funds 'owing to the pressure of the times', and seeking a grant to £100 to keep the hospital running until the next county assizes. Emphasises the importance of the hospital in an area where typhus fever is particularly prevalent, and notes that, 'it has been so full, that patients have been obliged to be placed two in a bed, and even to have been laid on the floor…'. Also seeks a further sum of £100 to build 2 separate convalescent wards, to prevent the 'many cases of relapse'. Petition contains names of the Earl and Countess of Glengall; Lord and Lady Waterpark; Reverend Augustus Cavendish; William and Mrs Barton; Henry Sargint; and George Baker, treasurer. With subsequent annotation by Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle. Also letter from Francis Barker, General Board of Health, Dublin, secretary to the Board of Health, to Goulburn, responding, as requested, to the application for funds. States that the board are in the process of collecting information on the health on the country, and that, 'From the information they have already obtained they can affirm that neither Fever not any other disease exists in Ireland in such degree as to be deemed epidemical, or to call for any extraordinary interference..', 13 December 1823; with subsequent annotation by Goulburn.

28 Nov 1823-13 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2322

File of papers relating to committal of prostitutes to County Galway jail. Includes letter from Robert Martin, Ross, near Galway, County Galway, magistrate, to [Chief Secretary's Office, Dublin Castle], reporting on the problem of the increase in the number of prostitutes committed to County Galway jail, 'most of whom are infected with the Venereal disease'. States that, '…it has more the appearance of an Hospital than a Prison, the Town of Ballinasloe alone sending upwards of Fifty females in the Year', 12 December 1823; with subsequent annotation by John Sealy Townsend, KC and legal advisor to the CSO, 23 December 1823. Also further letter from Martin, to Goulburn, 7 January 1823 [this is presumably an error by Martin and should read 1824], enclosing, as requested, example copies of 6 committals involving female vagrants to the jail. Vagrants names include Mary Murphy; Mary Stoneham; Elizabeth Stoneham; Mary Hynes; Elizabeth Begley; Anne Burke; Honor Houghter; Bridget King; Mary Kelly; Bridget King; Eliza Ferns; Mary Smyth; Eliza Doran; Mary Plunkit [sic]; Bridget Kelly; Mary Cahil; and Mary Burke. Each committal was originally signed by Charles Le Poer Trench, Church of Ireland Archdeacon of Ardagh; J O'Rorke [sic; probably Reverend J O'Rourke]; or Thomas Little, magistrates for County Galway, 12 July 1823-22 November 1823. With subsequent annotation on Martin's letter by Townsend, stating his opinion that the committals are illegal, 10 January 1824; he has also written 'illegal' on the reverse of each copy committal. Also letter from Trench, Mackney, County Galway, to [William Gregory, Under Secretary], Dublin Castle, expressing his concern at news of the government's stance regarding the legality of the committals, and referring attention to an enclosed document [not present]. Trench observes that, 'it seems that a very wholesome restraint is about to be taken out of our hands & a floodgate opened for immorality & vice…', 24 January 1824; with subsequent annotation by Townsend, 28 January 1823; and by Henry Joy, Solicitor General of Ireland. Also fragment of [copy of letter of reply from CSO to Trench], [February 1824].

12 Jul 1823-[Feb 1824]

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2323

Petition of Laurence Bourke, Chartersland [sic; Chantersland], parish of Emly, barony of Clanwilliam, County Tipperary, farmer, to Richard Wellesley, 1st marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting remuneration from government for his services in the apprehension, prosecution and successful conviction of 'several notorious offenders of the most dangerous description', over a period of several years. Details the names and years of each prosecution, noting that as a result of his efforts, his house was set alight in 1805, and his father murdered, 5 December 1823. Also letter from Matthew Barrington, Dublin, crown solicitor for the Munster circuit, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, responding, as requested, to Bourke's petition. Warns of granting remuneration, as it '…would have the effect of inducing others to follow his example in sending Statements to Government of old Transactions, the truth or falsehood of which it would be very difficult, If not impossible, to ascertain', 22 December 1823.

5 Dec 1823-22 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2324

Letter from an anonymous writer styled 'A Freeholder of Sligo', Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, expressing surprise that one of the persons deputed by the commissioners for the improvement of Sligo town's harbour and quays is William Hume, 'an uncertified Bankrupt, and as such by no means a fit or proper person to be Intrusted [sic] with any Grant of pecuniary aid from Government..'. Also raises doubts on the suitability of the other deputee, Mr Black.

22 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2325

Booklet of 'Observations respecting the value and Estimate of the expense of the proposed Works in the Southern District', by Richard Griffith, civil engineer superintending public works schemes in Ireland. Contains introductory letter from Griffith, Royal Dublin Society House, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, submitting his opinion on the proposed public works in counties Cork, Limerick, and Kerry, 27 August 1823. Includes some introductory remarks, explaining the arrangement of his observations, based on the classification scheme used for public works, whereby roads proposed through inaccessible mountainous regions and eligible to full government funding are Class 1; proposed expensive lines of road from one town to another, or for large bridges, jails, court houses, where one half of the expense is borne by government, the other half by the county in question, are Class 2; and finally, proposed baronial or agricultural roads, quays, or piers, where one half of the expense is borne by government, and the other half, 'either by the Individual on whose Estate the Road or Quay is Situated, or by the Barony, if the Road be long, and the benefit is to be derived by persons at a distance', are Class 3 works. Griffith observes that Class 1 should take priority in the southern district, and he lists 7 different road projects which would improve the country, accompanied by an estimate of the expense of each. He also reports on the utility of other lines of road, bridges, courthouses, piers, and canals, arranged by county. Griffith concludes with a general abstract of the estimated cost of all the works recommended in his report, totalling £99, 516. Signed by Griffith, 28 August 1822.

27 Aug 1822-28 Aug 1822

1822

CSO/RP/1823/2326

File of papers relating to public works conducted under the superintendence of John Killaly, civil engineer for the central district of Ireland. Includes abstract of applications received seeking funds for proposed public works in counties Tipperary, Galway, and Clare, with the estimated cost of each: these include improvements to the River Suir navigation, and improvement of the road from Nenagh to Cashel, in County Tipperary; a new road between Portumna and Gort, and an extension of the Grand Canal from Shannon harbour to Ballinasloe, County Galway; as well as 'numerous' applications from County Clare; the report is signed by Killaly, 30 September 1822. The report also contains some annotations in red ink, which would seem to relate to an accompanying map [map not present]. File also includes a statement of 'the Population of the County of Clare, shewing [sic] the number of Persons receiving [poor] relief in June 1822, also the amount of Presentments, and the applotment of the money that John Killaly placed in the hands of the Central [Relief] Committee July 25th 1822'. The statement is arranged by barony, and signed by Killaly, 2 October 1822. File also contains an abstract of expenditure on public works in the counties Clare, Galway, and Tipperary, also prepared by Killaly, 3 October 1822. Also letter from Killaly, Tullamore, King's County [County Offaly], to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning the submission of his reports to parliament, respecting the distressed districts under his management and 'the extent of want & misery which the failure of the Crops…had produced among its wretched population in the course of last season', and to the success of government funds and public works schemes in alleviating the distress of the people. Recommends need for further government intervention at the end of the potato planting, when many of the poor 'will then require employment', and also suggests utility of making seed potato and oats available at reduced prices, 20 April 1823. Also further letter from Killaly, Ennis, County Clare, to Goulburn, reporting on the progress of work in the district under his supervision. Refers to problems caused by the inclemency of the weather, and his decision to delay commencement of public works whilst 'food was cheap and in abundance, and distress from want of employment not more than what usually occurs'. Also refers to gathering of materials for work on the Kilrush road; the progress of his surveys for proposed works; and to work on the road through the Derrybrien mountains in County Galway, 'which is to open an advantageous communication thro' a very uncivilized District..'. Seeks advance of funds of £5,000 for his work, 6 September 1823.

30 Sep 1823-6 Sep 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2327

Schedule of applications received seeking public works funds for roads in County Cork, prepared by Richard Griffith, civil engineer superintending public works schemes in southern district of Ireland. Lists 21 applications received, with details of who submitted the application (typically local landlords and gentry, police magistrates, or local inhabitants), brief descriptions of the proposed roads, accompanied by Griffith's observations respecting the utility of each. Also schedule of applications received for public works funds for bridges in County Cork, also prepared by Griffith, and containing details of 18 applications received for funds for new bridges in the county: contains details of who submitted the application (typically local landlords and gentry, local clergymen, or local inhabitants), brief descriptions of the proposed bridges, accompanied by Griffith's observations respecting the utility of each. [Contains list of names not given in this description]

[1822-1823]

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2328

Schedule of applications received seeking funds for public works schemes in County Kerry, prepared by Richard Griffith, civil engineer superintending public works schemes in southern district of Ireland. Lists 10 applications received, with details of who submitted the application (typically local landlords, local merchants and traders, and local poor relief committees), brief descriptions of the public work proposed (including construction of a quay at Blennerville; a canal in order to shorten the course of the River Maine; and roads from Kenmare into County Cork), each accompanied by Griffith's observations on each proposal. [Contains list of names not given in this description]

[1822-1823]

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2329

Letter from William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, [London], referring to his previous letter on the plans of Alexander Nimmo, civil engineer superintending public works schemes in the western district of Ireland, and stating that he forgot to send the accompanying papers, containing estimates for expense of completing works already underway, and of proposed works, 25 April 1823. Also letter from Nimmo, London, to Goulburn, 10 May 1823, enclosing an estimate of the sums of money necessary to carry on with public works in the western district on 'a reduced scale' [estimate not present]. Also note by Nimmo listing the works 'for which aid had been granted' under public works legislation: includes Poulafooca [Poulaphouca] road, County Wicklow; Courtown harbour, County Wexford; Abbeyleix road; Dromagh colliery road; Geevagh colliery road ; Achil colliery road; Kenmare colliery road, and Bearhaven colliery road [1823; this could possibly be related to the papers mentioned by Gregory, but does not seem to correspond to the estimate referred to by Nimmo as being enclosed in his letter].

25 Apr 1823-10 May 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2330

Statement prepared by Richard Griffith, on the public works schemes in the southern district of Ireland, commenced by order of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 'in which considerable progress has been made…': these works are a road from Charleville and Newmarket, County Cork; and one from Skibbereen to Crookhaven, County Cork. Also a statement on works commenced 'but in which little progress has been made': the road between Newmarket and Abbeyfeale, County Limerick; and the road between Castleisland, County Kerry, and Newcastle, County Limerick. Includes a breakdown of the funding arrangements for each road, stating the total sums required to complete them. Also contains a note on Griffith's recommendations for work that ought to be commenced in the district, including a bridge over the River Feale at Listowel, County Kerry; a road from Macroom, County Cork, to Glenflesk, County Kerry, and a road from the vale of Arraglin [Araglin], County Cork, with the estimated cost of each. Statement signed by Griffith.

27 Jan 1823

1823