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CSO/RP/CA/1826/29

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of the first day of a 14 day meeting of 'A Catholic Association', held at the New Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by J Dillon Esq, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Poor attendance noted. Proceedings led by [Daniel] O’Connell, largely relating to general and administrative matters. He clarified that matters concerning the catholic rent would not be discussed at the meeting, in accordance with the terms of the Algerine Act [Unlawful Societies (Ireland) Act, 1825], and argued that parliament needed to be reminded of the principle championed during the 1688 Revolution [the Declaration of Indulgence], which aimed ‘to consecrate the freedom of conscience’ and stated that a man need not be of the same religion as the state. Highlighting the wrongs of the Spanish Inquisition, O’Connell stated that while working to secure the rights of catholics the association must not omit ‘every Dissenter from the Established Church’. Committee appointed to oversee the drawing up of petitions. Four resolutions outlined to govern the remainder of the 14 day meeting, namely: any person could become a member for £1, regardless of religion; the meeting formed a distinct body from any other meeting of catholics; the meeting would not last longer than 14 days; and clergymen could become members free of charge. Also refers to notices put forward by O’Connell for discussion the following Monday, namely: the appointment of Eneas MacDonnell as an agent of Irish catholics in London; a resolution to secure a meeting regarding ‘Catholic Claims’; and the drawing up of three petitions, relating to topics such as the Treaty of Limerick and the repeal of the oath taken by MPs which stated that the catholic religion was ‘damnable, superstitious and idolatrous’. Remainder of proceedings relate to heated debate between O’Connell and Mr Forde concerning the qualifications of an agent [MacDonnell] to liaise with MPs in England on important matters of ‘the rights and liberties of the Irish people’. Contains unidentified handwritten annotations throughout the text, highlighting passages relating to the political facets of the association.

17 Nov 1826

1826

CSO/RP/CA/1826/30

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the 'New Catholic Association', held at the New Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Michael Staunton Esq, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Outlines subscriptions to the catholic rent, including lists of names, locations and amounts; the voting in of new members; and census returns from each province of Ireland. Further to his previous criticisms of the commission of education, in particular the commissioner Leslie Foster, O’Connell condemned a report made to him which stated that during the recent questioning of students at Maynooth College, County Kildare, the commissioners only recorded ‘as much of the Evidence as they pleased and leave out whatever they chose’. O’Connell noted that the staff and students were subjected to such interrogations as a result of the ‘miserable and paltry’ sum of £9000 which was donated annually to the college by the government; [Robert] Peel [Home Secretary] had failed to reverse a measure by [Spencer] Perceval [Prime Minister] which had reduced its funding from a previous allocation of £14000. Letter received from Thomas Walsh, Loughrea, County Galway, referring to the proceedings of a recent meeting of the London Hibernian Society. Subsequent discussion related to the falsehoods perpetuated to the English people by the society in relation to the catholic faith. Such sentiments condemned by Mr Guthrie, whom [Daniel] O’Connell described as ‘a brother Protestant Barrister’, who likened Irish catholics to the ‘children of Israel’. Also letter from Tobias Kirby, Chair of the Catholic Rent Committee in County Waterford, outlining their success in increasing the rate of rent collection in the counties of Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny, and their struggle against ‘slanders and misrepresentations’ printed in the ‘Orange Press’ in the area. Motion passed to thank Kirby and the committee for their efforts. Also letter from Philip McKenny from the Island of Tabago, with a donation of £20 for the relief of the forty shilling freeholders. [John] Redmond noted that McKenny was a member of ‘one of the most persecuted Families in Ireland’, who had lost their land in Trough, County Wexford during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and were subsequently forced to leave Ireland. Motion passed to thank McKenny for his contribution. Contains unidentified handwritten annotations throughout the text, highlighting passages relating to the political facets of the association, its subscriptions and the frequency of its meetings.

18 Nov 1826

1826

CSO/RP/CA/1826/31

First 4 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of an aggregate meeting of the ‘Catholics of Ireland, held at Clarendon Street Chapel, Dublin, chaired by Lord Killeen [Arthur James Plunkett, 9th earl of Fingall], with verbatim transcription of speeches. Requisition dated 7 December 1826 read by Secretary Nicholas Purcell O’Gorman calling the meeting for the purpose of discussing the appointment of ‘a Parliamentary and Literary Agent to the Catholics of Ireland in London’. Requisition contained 19 signatories: James Sugrue; Michael Staunton; Stephen Coppinger; [Rev] FJ [Francis J] L’Estrange; Patrick H Russell; John Redmond; Frederick W Conway; Daniel McNevin; Daniel O’Connell; Cornelius McLoughlin; Thomas Wyse; John Lawless; A [Carew] O’Dwyer; John Bric; Christopher Fitzsimon; Maurice O’Connell; Richard [Lalor] Sheil; Henry Dennehy; and John McGalway. [Remainder of item not present].

19 Dec 1826

1826

CSO/RP/CA/1826/32

Letter from William MacDougall, Belfast to Henry Goulburn, [Chief Secretary], Dublin Castle; enclosing a pamphlet which has recently been reprinted in Belfast and is being sold to the 'peasantry' by 'itinerant Hawkers' [not present]; adding that 'Such vile publications tend to acts of violence and inflame the minds of the lower orders' containing 'nothing but the Revolutionary principles and Rebellious Songs of 1798'; includes annotation recommending that those circulating this 'very old book' should be apprehended and that the matter be refered to the law officers; includes further annotation dated 7 January 1827 requesting 'some person who has sufficient leisure' to read the book and pick out the objectionable passages.

19 Dec 1826

1826

CSO/RP/CA/1826/33

Memorandum providing an eyewitness account of a [Catholic Association] meeting noting the contributions of the following speakers; Eneas McDonald [MacDonnell] condemned attempts to proselytise catholic children noting in particular efforts to coerce tenants on the estate of the Earl of Clancarty [Richard Trench, 2nd Earl of Clancarty] and associated letters to Fr Larkin and Rev Garraghty PP written by an archdeacon [possibly Charles Le Poer Trench, Archdeacon of Ardagh]; [Richard Lalor] Sheil noted that catholics outnumbered protestants 231808 to 10149 in County Waterford and hoped that the nine Roman Catholic bishops would follow the example of [Thomas] Kelly, [Catholic Bishop of Dromore]; Mr McDermott stated that he could find nothing in the coronation oath that would prevent the king from granting catholic emancipation and hoped that 'the whole of mass of Irishmen, Protestants, Catholics and Dissenters should teach England to be just and merciful'; McDermott described 'Mr Wilmot' [Robert Wilmot Horton] as a 'wretched hireling understrapper of the government' and 'Mr Horton' as having being 'branded on his forehead, that he was a sevile tool and complete hypocrite'; Mr Dillon contended that there was 'something ominous in the career of Mr Peel, that England has chosen men for high office from their Bigotry'; the O'Connor Don [Owen O'Conor] proposed a resolution in favour of the Lord Lieutenant on account of his 'impartial and unbiased administration'; Mr Strictland spoke wearing a 'military frock' and the meeting was also attended by the Duke of [Montebello].

[c1826]

1826

CSO/RP/CA/1827/1

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Separate meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Martin John Farrell, with verbatim transcription of speech by [Daniel] O’Connell concerning a number of topics to be discussed as part of a 14 day meeting due to commence the following Monday, including the drawing up of a draft address ‘to the people of Ireland’. O’Connell stated that as the administration was undergoing a reformation at the time of the present meeting, ‘by Monday next we shall have intelligence whether the nonpopery part of the Cabinet is to predominate or the liberal part’. He commented that any member who supported the ‘nonpopery party’ against the association’s preferred candidate, [George] Canning, would no longer be considered ‘a sincere friend to the Catholic Cause’. [Remainder of item not present].

28 Feb 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/2

First 4 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by John Redmond Esq, with verbatim transcription of speech by [Daniel] O’Connell concerning a number of recent petitions issued against catholics in Ireland. As one of these included only 25 signatures, he commented that Irish catholics did not need to be alarmed ‘when such is the progress of the no popery cry in England’, and that he hoped that the names of the signatories would be printed in the press ‘in order that the people may know who are their Friends and who are their enemies’. Noted that one of the signatures on a petition from Athlone, County Westmeath, came from a man who had only the day previously asked O’Connell ‘to grant him a favour… I will not do so now’. Also refers to subscription of £20 3s 5d submitted by John Max from the parishes of Boherlahan and Dualla, County Tipperary. [Remainder of item not present].

3 Mar 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/3

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [John] McNamara Esq, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Secretary [John] Lawless requested that no business be done and the meeting adjourned until the following week as a mark of respect to the recently deceased Sir Edward Bellew [6th Baronet Bellew], whom he described as ‘honest and upright’, particularly in his conduct during the recent election in County Louth, and in his support for the cause of the forty shilling freeholders as well as the more general principles of ‘civil and religious liberty… he knew that the blessings and advantages of Freedom were inseparably united with the happiness of mankind.’ After the chair had retired, [Nicholas] Comyn brought an urgent matter before the assembly, namely a charge brought against a catholic clergyman, who at a recent meeting in a chapel in County Roscommon, was alleged to have stated that ‘blood has been shed in France, blood has been shed in Spain and Italy and why should Ireland not assert her rights’. Attendees at the meeting in Roscommon had signed a declaration that such words were not used by the clergyman, and motion was passed that this document be printed in the usual Dublin newspapers.

17 Mar 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/4

First 4 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Mr Mapother Esq, noting contributions of two speakers. [John] Sugrue outlined subscriptions to the catholic rent, including lists of names, locations and amounts; reported the findings from various census returns; and put forward a number of new members. Referring to a letter received from Rev B Quin, Kinvara, County Galway outlining census returns from the area [transcription omitted from memorandum], [A Carew] O’Dwyer observed that parishes around Ireland needed to be more involved in gathering census information, as ‘at this important period in our body we appear as if paralyzed… our inertness at this moment seems almost to encourage our enemies’. Appears to refer to a recent allocation of funds [£120000] to ‘that abominable nuisance’, the Kildare Place Society, which O’Dwyer referred to as ‘a worse than useless expenditure to support institutions hostile to the feelings of the Catholic Hierarchy Clergy and people of Ireland’. He argued that census returns were vital in exposing ‘the inutility of that Society’, as well as securing funds for education of the catholic poor of Ireland. [Remainder of item not present].

24 Mar 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/5

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of ‘the Adjourned Preparatory Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Sir Thomas Esmonde [9th Baronet Esmonde], with verbatim transcription of speeches. [Daniel] O’Connell argued at length that an aggregate meeting of the association be postponed until the new administration had its first sitting on 1 May, as he felt they could not yet make an informed decision as to ‘the precise course we ought to take or the precise mode in which we should bring forward our claims’, and did not want to ‘impede the progress of Events pregnant with utility to this Country’. Referring to British attempts to pacify Ireland for the past 700 years, O’Connell expressed his hope that the new government would foreshadow a new era for the catholics of Ireland, whose claims were ‘founded in Justice… based in Eternal Truth… [and] belong to the first principles of civil and religious liberty’. Motion seconded by [John] Lawless, who alluded to the challenges associated with the forthcoming appointment of John Copley [1st Baron Lyndhurst] to replace Lord Eldon [John Scott, 1st earl of Eldon] as Lord Chancellor. O’Connell stated that it was premature to anticipate the workings of the new government as it was only in the process of forming, and that he considered it enough for the present that Eldon had retired. Referring to Eldon, Mr Mahon remarked that he would not make ‘any angry observations upon a Gentleman who [was] not only going out of office but perhaps out of the World’. Motion passed that a 14 day meeting be called into session on 1 May.

18 Apr 1827

1827