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CSO/RP/1825/91

Petition of James Kearney, 161 North King Street, Dublin, [a native of Ballinacue, County Cavan], to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting bail or relief be granted to his young son who is charged with theft and confined in Cavan Gaol. Complains his 11 year old son [also James Kearney] was charged and placed in jail by William Graham, magistrate, for allegedly stealing a bayonet, some money and a wooden box containing documents, belonging to John Hanna in November 1824. Remarks that despite his offer of ‘respectable Bail’, the magistrate refused to make any concessions, insisting he ‘would punish him to the utmost of his power’. Annexes copy of gaol committal on base. With note on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, advising that the bail ought to be received.

14 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/92

Letter from Sir Charles William Flint, secretary, Irish Office, London, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, expressing satisfaction over last night’s parliamentary vote on the Unlawful Societies [Ireland] Act, as proposed by Henry Goulburn, the Chief Secretary of Ireland. Observes that ‘a majority of 155 speaks Volumes’. Requests that a reply recorded during the debate from Goulburn be copied prior to forwarding to the press. Encloses draft copy of the reply given by Goulburn before the lower house of Parliament on 15 February 1825, in which he makes a response to certain allegations made in relation to his portrayal of the tactics used by the [Roman] Catholic Association in legal cases; refers to a court case presided over by Francis Blackburne, KC, judge, in which a soldier accused of administered illegal oaths was acquitted by a panel of 43 magistrates.

16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/93

Draft copy of the Unlawful Societies [Ireland] Act [1825] with various adjustments to text added in pencil and ink in margins. Expresses strong condemnation of the [Roman] Catholic Association and declares it by law illegal. Denounces the tactics of the association and its presumption to act as a representative body to discuss alleged grievances in church and state. Indicates the organisation has assumed an ‘influence inconsistent with public tranquillity’ and has engaged in organised meetings, taking of oaths, use of political emblems, and collection of a public rent.

Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/94

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Cashel, County Tipperary, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, advising that a letter be transmitted to Reverend Standish Grady, magistrate of Carrick on Suir, County Tipperary, seeking to prevent any recurrence of confinement of prisoners in the police barracks of that place, 9 February 1825. Returns letter from Francis Hely Hutchinson, Palmerstown House, County Dublin, to Lieutenant Colonel Meyrick Shawe, private secretary to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting that the circumstances of the prisoners at Carrick on Suir be given the immediate attention of the Lord Lieutenant, 30 January 1825. Also returns letter from Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Earl of Donoughmore, Knocklofty, County Tipperary, to Francis Hely Hutchinson, enclosing one from Mathew Singleton, chief constable, Clonmel, County Tipperary, to Earl Donoughmore, drawing attention to the plight of 3 women, Johanna Hyland, Mary Foran and Frances Dwyer, who were apprehended for crimes relating to theft. Observes the prisoners were sent by Grady to the jail without a warrant and detained without bedding, fire or food for a period of between 5 to 7 days. Also points out that a number of police constables were required as guards to the prisoners, and consequently were unable to do their regular duty, 21 January 1825. Also letter from Grady, 17 Clare Street, [Dublin], to Gregory, explaining the problem occurred on account of their being no bridewell in Carrick on Suir or the immediate vicinity. Having considered the impracticality of having the women transferred to Clonmel until the day of the petty sessions, he concluded the ‘smallest evil’ was to have them kept in the police guard room of the town, 4 March 1825.

21 Jan 1825-4 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/95

Letter from Sir Edward Smith Lees, secretary, General Post Office, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on the attempted robbery of the post boy on route between Dingle and Tralee, County Kerry, on 15 February. Observes due to the vigilance of the carrier who dashed forward to a nearby house, where he stayed overnight, the contents of his mailbag were saved.

17 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/96

Letter from Robert Robinson, assistant secretary, Board of Works, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting approval of plans for a new gaol in Athy, County Kildare, 11 February 1825. Encloses letter from Francis Johnston, architect and inspector of civil buildings, Architect's Office, Dublin Castle, to Robinson, expressing full satisfaction at the plans, specification and estimate submitted for the new prison, 9 February 1825. Also letter from Major James Palmer, inspector generals of prisons, 41 Leeson Street, Dublin, to Gregory, sending plans [not present] for new gaol in Athy for consideration of the government architect [Johnston], 3 February 1825. Also letter from John Bagot, Athy gaol committee, Nurney, County Kildare, to Gregory, asking for a private meeting with a deputation from the jail committee on 12 March to consider proposals, now approved by government, and prepared by Mr [John] Hargrave, architect, 5 March 1825.

3 Feb 1825-5 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/97

Copy of the annual report of the chief magistrates and divisional justices of the police district of Dublin city. Addressed to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, and signed by Alderman Frederick Darley, John C Graves and 13 others. Remarks on a noticeable reduction in Ribbon activity in the metropolitan district, a change in no small part due to the prosecution of offenders and the vigilance of the police. Observes one person was charged and convicted with illegal administration of oaths; a couple of other cases of burning houses and destruction of fencing were brought before the courts, but without success. Also draws attention to the baneful effects of local trade combinations and suspects the activities of the so called ‘Union of Trades’ may be underpinned by Ribbon sentiments. Regrets an increase in burglary and street theft have taken place over the course of the year, but considerable progress has been made in their apprehension and punishment. Points also to the inadequacy of Newgate prison, Dublin, and expresses hope for the erection of a more suitable institution for the correction of crime and ‘the reformation of the Criminal’. Also annexes ‘An account of the Receipts and Payments of the Receiver to the Public Offices of Police and Watch Establishments of Dublin’ for the year ending 5th day of January 1825.

29 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/98

File concerning investigation of circumstances surrounding alleged interference with a letter sent by the Chief Secretary to Earl Mount Cashell of Kilworth, County Cork. Includes letter from Stephen Moore, 3rd Earl Mount Cashell [Mountcashel], Moore Park, Kilworth, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, complaining that a letter addressed to him [from Goulburn] had been opened. Supposes from his own enquiry that the communication was tampered with in Dublin. Also mentions the near completion of new line of road through the vale of Arglyn [Araglin], in County Cork, 28 January 1825. Also includes letter from Sir Edward Smith Lees, secretary, General Post Office, Dublin, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, conveying conclusions of an investigation into the opened letter received by Mount Cashell. Gives his opinion the letter became unfastened during transportation as it was ‘originally very inadequately secured with wax’, 14 February 1825. Also 2 letters on subject from John Burrowes, minute clerk, General Post Office, Dublin, and 2 letters from William Simmons, postmaster, Kilworth, County Cork. [Contains list of names not given in this description.]

28 Jan 1825-14 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/99

Letter from Joseph Timothy Haydn, 'Star' office, 24 Parliament Street, Dublin, editor of the 'Dublin Star' newspaper, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, seeking reimbursement of costs by government following a recent court action [likely a case brought by Mr Farley at Kilkenny assizes for defamation of character published in the 'Dublin Star' on 16 March 1824].

16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/100

Letter from Major Thomas N Edgeworth, Paving House, Mary Street, Dublin, commissioner, corporation for paving, cleaning and lighting the streets of Dublin, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting permission to take leave of absence from the paving board for a period of a fortnight, commencing on 14 February 1825. Annotated at top in pencil ‘Granted’ by Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant.

11 Feb 1825

1825