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CSO/RP/1825/2001

Letter from Walter Hunter, Letterkenny, County Donegal, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, commenting upon the passage of the Unlawful Societies Act [6th of George IV, chapter 4] and warning in the event of a political contest for election to Parliament ‘a great struggle will be made by the Catholic Clergy & others to excite discontent & tumult’. Encloses the draft of an ‘Act to prevent the undue influence and unnecessary interference of Roman Catholic or Popish Clergymen and others in Elections of Members of Parliament in Ireland…’. In the draft bill, Hunter recommends imposing a fine or imprisonment for clerical interference in elections and penalties for personation or assisting with unlawful voting; plus a reward of Stg£10 for those who provide information and participate in the prosecution of offenders.

2 Jun 1825-11 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2002

Letter from George Hone, [based at Sackville Street and Royal Arcade, Dublin], Peel’s Coffee House, Fleet Street, London, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, outlining his scheme for the introduction of a loan fund to aid distressed manufacturers in the city of Dublin. Calls the attention of government to a new market house which he is presently erecting at the rear of Ushers Quay. He claims his market is potentially of ‘great benefit to the manufacturing poor’ and particularly deserving of aid from a fund under the patronage of government. Using a number of documents [none present] and statistics, he sets out in detail the basis for the proposed fund which would operate along similar lines to that of the Meath Charitable Loan, which was instigated for the benefit of poor weavers. As to his personal character, he claims to be ‘the founder & proprietor of the Royal Arcade in Dublin’. Also two additional letters from Hone to Goulburn, seeking a response to his proposals for a government sponsored loan fund to aid the manufacturers of Dublin.

14 May 1825-6 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2003

Letter from Robert Hutton, Serle’s Coffee House, Carey Street, London, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, requesting to learn if he is required to remain in London [having appeared before the commissioners concerned with the combinations laws] and seeking settlement of his travelling expenses from Dublin. Observes that Charles Graham, secretary to the union of trades, is to be examined by the committee shortly. He was one of the men, he alleges, who was ‘tried for the attack on his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant’ [likely a reference to the riot at the New Theatre Royal, Dublin on 14 December 1822, during which a bottle was thrown at the Lord Lieutenant]. Also letter from Hutton, Summerhill, Dublin [possible of the firm Messrs John Hutton and Sons, coach manufacturers], to Sir Charles William Flint, secretary, Irish Office, London, concerning his outstanding travel expenses of £28 7s 0.

23 Apr 1825-13 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2004

Letter from John Howe, Kinsale, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, expressing concern over the economic consequences of the assimilation of Irish with the British currency under the Currency Act [6th of George IV, chapter 79]. Seeks clarification on the bill as he stresses ‘much alarm’ has been raised amongst the fund holders in connection with the rate of interest to be advanced in respect of the public debt.

9 Jun 1825-18 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2005

Letter from Thomas Dix Hincks and William Bruce Jr, Belfast, County Antrim, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, requesting a copy of the statutes of law for the United Kingdom. They remark ‘there is not in this large Commercial town a complete copy of the Statutes passed since the Union’ and they appeal as representative of the Committee of the Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge to be favoured with a copy of that publication.

7 Jun 1825-18 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2006

Statement of Arthur Harrison, farmer, late of Camilly [Camly] Ball, parish of Newtownhamilton, in County Armagh, recalling his prosecution of ‘Jack the Carder’ for an attack on his house and the subsequent harsh reaction of the surrounding community. Explains his property initially came under attack in the summer of 1815 when some turf and hay were destroyed and a threatening notice was posting on his mill door. Later that year in the month of October, his house was broken into ‘by a number of men with white shirts over their Clothes’ bearing some facial disguises. A notice was later displayed on his mill door warning if he complained to the authorities ‘they would come & cut out his Tongue’ and those of some other neighbours who also had their houses broken into. In due course, he identified one of the party, a man known as ‘Jack the Carder’ and though a considerable effort was made to deter him, he saw the accused man tried, convicted and executed. Remarks he also brought charges against ‘Cosgrove’, whom he alleges was amongst those who attacked his house in October 1815. Complains that following the execution of ‘Jack the Carder’ the local response amounted to extreme ostracization: his mill was deserted, his stable set alight and he was personally ‘attack’d on the Road by a Roman Catholic Fryer accompanied by near fifty Persons’, in addition to some later assaults. Statement sworn before James Dawson, magistrate, Thornhill Lodge, County Armagh. [See also description CSO/RP/1825/408].

6 Oct 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1825/2007

Petition of Jane Harrison, 24 [Lucan] Street, Golden Square, London, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, requesting the appointment of her sister, Matilda Harrison, to the situation of office keeper to the War Office in Dublin. Complains the loss of immediate family members and ‘the mental derangement of their only Brother’ has rendered their income wholly insufficient. With certificate inscribed beneath attesting to the character of an uncle who was ‘much esteemed’ for his contribution to military life, signed by Harrington [probably Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington].

19 Feb 1825-16 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2008

Letter from William Jackson, Ballybay, County Monaghan, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, offering a corrective to an account of a murder incident in the town of Ballybay recited in a speech by the Chief Secretary in the debate on the Unlawful Societies Act and the subsequent conduct of the Catholic Association [reported by the ‘Dublin Evening Post’ newspaper]. Explains that correct procedures were adhered to in the investigation of the murder which was committed on a young Roman Catholic by Samuel Gray of Ballybay with assistance of his brother, Henry Gray. The two brothers, he asserts, were committed for trial on the night of the murder, after which the Catholic Association became involved. Stresses his regret over the remarks passed by the judge, who presided over Gray acquitted, and laments at the impression left with local Catholics. He describes Samuel Gray who ‘keeps a Public House in which sits an Orange Lodge’ as ‘a terror to the poor peasantry’ in his capacity of tithe proctor, and, he believes Gray appeared previously on charges before Baron James McClelland, the Irish circuit judge. Jackson affirms as a Presbyterian of Ballybay he was the person who made the journey to fetch Dacre Hamilton, chief magistrate for Monaghan, and also took notes at the inquest and trial.

16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2009

Letter from Reverend JB Johnson, Kelleagh, Castlemartyr, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, [Irish Office, London], remarking on the coercive tactics resorted to by the local parish priest in collecting the ‘Catholic Rent’ [for use of the Catholic Association]. Alleges the priest announced from the pulpit on the Sunday previous that all arrears would have to be paid by the following weekend otherwise ‘he would proceed to make them pay it without fail or excuse’.

14 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2010

Copy letter from Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, to Richard Jones, 1 Great Charles Street, Dublin, acknowledging letter on the subject of his dismissal from the post of warehouse keeper of stamped goods at the stamp office, Dublin. Conveys his submission has been relayed to [George Harrison] for further consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, [London]. [See also descriptions CSO/RP/1824/334 and CSO/RP/1824/1426].

5 Feb 1825

1825