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CSO/RP/1818/91

Letter from John FitzGibbon, 2nd Earl of Clare, Saville Row, London, England, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting that a consignment of books not be opened in Dublin but forwarded to Limerick custom house. If an order to this effect can be given, he continues ‘the duty whatever it is shall be paid the same as in Dublin’. Explaining his reason for request, he complains ‘that a case of mine containing a pair of breeches was opened five weeks ago at the custom house and so ill respected that they were considerably damaged’. Encloses response marked ‘Private’ from Mr Vandeleur, who considers it a ‘great inconvenience to comply’ with Lord Clare’s request, expressing opinion that books are not especially vulnerable in transit.

11 Apr 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/92

Letter from Sir John Craven Carden, Priory, Templemore, County Tipperary, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, asking that he give consideration to a proposal coming from his nephew, Mr Mansergh. Makes commendation that Mansergh is ‘a regular steady man of business who will be found useful in any situation’.

24 Apr 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/93

Letter from Charles Brodrick, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Cashel, County Tipperary, to Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, to convey thanks for assistance provided on local matter. Expresses appreciation at having received from the Lord Lieutenant a ‘very flattering concession to my request’ and declares himself ‘very grateful for the order’; as respects another case in his jurisdiction, he reports ‘everything has been arranged as his Excellency wished’.

9 Jul 1817

1817

CSO/RP/1818/94

Letter from Jemmett Browne, High Sheriff, Cork, County Cork, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, regarding appointment of a superintendent and on question of use of convict depot in Cork. Makes recommendation for Francis Davis Murphy, who has been mentioned favourably to Robert Peel as ‘a most fit person to be appointed Governor of the Convict Depot’; regrets he is unable to report on names of prisoners in depot because Gaoler failed to furnish details, noting that this is a result of the efforts of the superintenders of the City Gaol who ‘wish to appropriate the Convict Depot to their own use, and to whatever purpose they think fit, and are unwilling to afford any information on the subject’. Asserts that the depot should not be used as a fever Hospital and stresses opinion that the facility should be ‘appropriated to its original use’.

22 Apr 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/95

Letter with enclosures from Captain Henry R Draper, 18 Wentworth Place, Dublin, to Sir Edward B Baker, Military Secretary, Dublin Castle, on question of provision of ships for conveyance of convicts from Dublin port to Cove of Cork. Commenting on the likely cost of employing such ships, Draper remarks that ‘One pound per ton Register tonnage for the run the…best plan to pursue’. Encloses tender proposals from ship owners Robert Black, James Henderson, Robert Browne and J Maine, some with detail of cost and provision made for the prisoners. Also includes letter from [Dr] James Browne, Dublin, on economy of shipping transportation, with reflection ‘that if the vessels now in a state of preparation are Payed [sic] at the Rate of 18 shillings per ton for preparing the service completely, and finding the convicts in fuel and water, it is quite sufficient and reasonable’.

28 May 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/96

Letter from Captain Richard Sainthill, Cork, County Cork, to Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, with detail of cost estimates of food provisions on vessels transporting convicts. Includes proposals ‘for Victualing the Convicts’ from Field, Barry, Robinson, Barry and Parker, with costs attached. From this list of tenders, he is inclined towards Richard Parker, ‘provided it has the Sanction of Government’. Annotation added to back in pencil, ‘Sanction it’.

19 May 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/97

Letter from George Dunn, Keeper, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, to Sir Edward B Baker, Military Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing two communications on subject of attempting to acquire restraints for prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. As efforts to requisition fetters for inmates at the gaol have proven fruitless, Dunn complains of security difficulties, for ‘one of the Prisoners alluded to, found means to get over a separation wall, and Dress’d as a visitor he imposed on the Turnkeys and made his escape’; adds that clothing for prisoners is also insufficient, for what was given to them on departure from Newgate prison in Dublin, ‘they destroyed or sold on their way to this jail, and at which time the 92 Prisoners so sent with a few exceptions were in an extreme state of Intoxication’. Encloses copy of letter from Dunn to George Wheeler, High Sheriff, City of Dublin, asking to appoint a replacement for ‘Stuart’ and to request ‘90 Set of Iron Fetters’ 22 April 1818; and another letter, dated 21 May 1818, restating urgent need for restraints, and anticipates that ‘many plans are at this moment in agitation for breaking prison’.

22 Apr 1818-25 May 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/98

Letter from Reverend Piers R Gamble, Inspector of City Prisons, St Michan’s Vestry, Church street, Dublin, to Sir Edward B Baker, Military Secretary, Dublin Castle, regarding provision of clothing for prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. Suggests, because of inclemency of weather, ‘it might be expedient to defer giving them clothes (shirts excepted) until on the Eve of their departure’; encloses note stating ‘Clothing is ready at the Jail of Newgate [Dublin] at one hours notice’.

1 Jun 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/99

Letter from Dr Forster Archer, Inspector General of Prisons Office, to Sir Edward B Baker, Military Secretary, Dublin Castle, making suggestion that convicts from eight centres be marched directly to Cork. Rather than conveying prisoners to Dublin port for sea transportation to Cork, convicts from Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, King's County [County Offaly], Naas [County Kildare] and Wicklow, might be sent overland, an expedient that would constitute a saving to government; he adds ‘there is also much convenience and safety in proceeding by Land as the accumulation of Gaolers progressively joining those in the same line of march will add to the Security of the whole’. Expresses discontent at numbers of convicts being sent via Dublin port, as almost two hundred are expected to be sent in two ships, and if those from the other counties are added, ‘it will augment the number of Males by 110’.

21 May 1818

1818

CSO/RP/1818/100

Letter from Dr Edward Trevor, Dublin, to Sir Edward B Baker, Military Secretary, Dublin Castle, regarding the mode under which prisoners are to be conveyed to Cork. States he is opposed to proposal of Dr Forster Archer, Inspector General of Prisons, to march convicts to Cork by land, as through this mode ‘a disposition to tumult and disorder might be excited’; conveyance of prisoners by sea from Dublin port, in his view, would ‘be most expeditious, safe, and economical’.

26 May 1818

1818