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CSO/RP/1823/2253

Letter from Martin Kirwan, Kenmare, County Kerry, chief of police, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting to know if the police are entitled to compensation for their work in collecting fines imposed on jurors and witnesses, and for forfeited recognizances. Notes the expense and trouble of collecting the fines, 5 December 1823. With subsequent annotations by Goulburn, and by John Sealy Townsend, KC and legal advisor to Chief Secretary's Office, 10 December 1823.

5 Dec 1823-10 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2271

Letter from George King, 3rd earl of Kingston, Myros Wood, Rosscarbery, County Cork, to Richard Wellesley, 1st marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, concerning the likelihood of the church living of Castletownsend becoming vacant, and recommending Reverend James Stewart, his 'near relative', for the post, 4 December 1823; with subsequent annotation by Goulburn. Also note by CSO official concerning the living, its current holder, and the right of presentation to it.

Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2285

Petition of William McDonald, 29 Townsend Street, Dublin, to Richard Wellesley, 1st marquis Wellesley, Dublin Castle, requesting employment in the police establishment. Refers to his education at the charter school of Clontarf, Dublin, and to his time served as an apprentice. Encloses an indenture from his apprenticeship, 27 November 1823. Also letter from William McDonald, 14 Moss Street, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking return of indentures submitted, and noting that, 'the young lad', 'got no answer about the Situation he asked for', 10 December 1823.

27 Nov 1823-10 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2308

File of papers relating to legal dispute between government and William Ogilvie, regarding Ogilvie's entitlement to a castle maze [ancient herrings custom] of herrings in Ardglass harbour, County Down, and specifically, to financial compensation from the Irish fisheries board, for his relinquishing his right. File contains letters, petitions, legal case notes, legal opinions, and copy deeds, produced and sent in the course of the dispute, between 1820 and 1825. It also contains related material touching on Ogilvie's extensive works and improvements to the harbour at Ardglass at this time. In particular, it contains correspondence between Ogilvie and the Irish government, a series of copies of letters between Ogilvie, government and the commissioners of Irish fisheries on the subject, correspondence with William Kemmis, crown solicitor, Dublin, and several legal case notes, annotated with the opinions of Henry Joy, Solicitor General of Ireland, and William Conyngham Plunket, Attorney General of Ireland. An additional complication to this lengthy file is caused as a result of the various papers, and copies of those papers, being sent backwards and forwards between the Chief Secretary's Office at Dublin Castle, the Irish Office in London, Irish Fisheries Office in Dublin, and the Treasury in London, during the course of the protracted legal dispute. The file includes letter from Henry Townsend, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, secretary to the commissioners of Irish fisheries, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, 13 June 1822, enclosing, as requested by the Lord Lieutenant, copies of 'the Correspondence on the Subject of Mr Ogilvie's Claims to Harbour dues at Ardglass': these copy letters are numbered by Townsend from 1-19, 6 April 1820-16 October 1821 [they are all present except No.7]. File also includes copy letter from Alexander Mangin, first clerk in civil department, Chief Secretary's Office, Dublin Castle, to George Harrison, Treasury Chambers, London, assistant secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, 15 June 1823, responding, as requested, to a petition from Ogilvie, to the Lords of the Treasury, seeking remuneration in return for relinquishing his rights to a maize [sic] on herrings from every vessel fishing for herrings in Ardglass harbour; Mangin encloses a letter from Townsend, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Gregory, on Ogilvie's application. Refers to the copy letters marked 'No.13' and 'No.19', [see above], noting that, 'the Commissioners of Fisheries did not at any time entertain the idea of settling by compromise the Claims of Mr Ogilvie to Harbour Dues in the Harbour of Ardglass, but that on the contrary, they distinctly declined acceding to Mr Ogilvie's proposal. The object of the Enquiry of the Commissioners was merely to ascertain their own power to resist altogether the payment of dues so Injurious to the Fisheries of Ireland', 13 June 1823. File also includes letter from Ogilvie, 12 Chester Street, Pimlico, London, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning the unfavourable opinion of the Attorney General against Ogilvie's claims, and seeking to obtain a copy of his opinion. Apologies for appearing 'troublesome' on the subject, but emphasises his 'defense [sic] of a Property derived to me with an uninterrupted Possession of upwards of 100 years, and supported by the Opinions of Men of the first Eminence', 22 January 1823. Also includes letter from Ogilvie, 12 Chester Street, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, expressing his surprise that, 'the Crown Lawyers have given it as their opinion, that I have not a legal title to the Little Customs in Ardglass Harbour, of which the Duty of Castle Maize is one'; he details his title to the dues, as secured by letters patent from King Henry VIII and King Charles II, as well as being 'sanctioned by various Acts of the Irish Parliament'. Also refers to his dealings with the commissioners of Irish fisheries, and complaining of their handling of the matter, 7 March 1823. File also includes a printed statement entitled, 'The Title of William Ogilvie Esq. to the Little Customs of Ardglass Harbour, in the County of Down, Ireland; of which Little Customs, the Duty of Castle Maize and Castle Fish is the Principal', 3 April 1823. Also note from Sir Charles William Flint, Irish Office, London, under secretary of Irish Office, to Thomas Taylor, clerk, Chief Secretary's Office, Dublin Castle, 18 June 1823, enclosing a copy of a letter from Ogilvie, to Flint, concerning papers relating to his case, 18 June 1823. Flint observes that, 'This question of Castle Maize has tormented us all sadly; - and I really hope that it will be fairly submitted to the Law officers of the Crown & disposed of definitively…'. Also letter from Ogilvie, Ardglass Castle, to Goulburn, expressing regret that the crown law officers have once again rejected his legal claim to the duties. Emphasises the legal opinions he obtained which were favourable to his case, including those of Sir Henry Dampier; John Lens, King's Ancient Sergeant; and Sir Thomas Edlyne Tomlins, counsel to the Irish Office in London, 16 September 1823; with subsequent annotation by Goulburn. Also letter from Ogilvie, Gresham's Hotel, Dublin, to Goulburn, concerning his legal title to a custom of castle maize in Ardglass harbour; recalls that, 'Before the appointment of the Commissioners of Irish Fisheries, I was in quiet possession of the Custom of Castle Maize. But on their appointment, I received a Letter from them, stating that That They intended to appoint Ardglass the Rendezvous for the Herring Fishery on that Coast, if I would forbear to levy Any Harbour Dues on the Vessels employed in the Fishery - My Answer was that the Fishery Act gave me the Power to levy Harbour Dues on Vessels employed in the Herring Fishery, in the Harbour of Ardglass, for the Support of the Harbour: but that wishing to encourage the Fishery, I would forbear to levy Anchorage or any other Dues, except the custom of Castle Maize which I had appropriated to the Support of the Works - for which no Fund had been provided - But if they considered extinguishing the Custom to be essential, as an Encouragement to the Fishery, I was willing to accept a Compensation, to be applied to the same Object as the Custom, the Support of the Harbour, and adding that, in compliance with their wishes, I should suspend levying the Castle Maize, to allow them Time to examine my Titles'. Ogilvie emphasises the money that has been lost in Castle Maize over past 4 years, and he urges the Irish government to establish an equivalent fund for support of the harbour, 3 August 1824. File also includes further letter from Ogilvie, 12 Chester Street, London, to Gregory, Dublin Castle, concerning the numbers of vessels engaged in the herring fishery, that have frequented the harbour of Ardglass in the years 1821, 1822, 1823, and 1824, and referring to a proposed compromise on the subject, and his agreement to accept 'a reduced sum' on duty payable by each vessel, 'which is the sum being imposed on Vessels fishing for herrings in the opposite Harbours of the Isle of Man', 16 February 1825; he encloses a copy of the relevant legislation applied to the Isle of Man: Isle of Man Harbours Act 1814, 54 Geo III chapter 143.

27 Jul 1814-2 Mar 1825

1825

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/1823/2348

Letter from Michael Fox, 91 Stephen's Green, Dublin, clerk of the peace for County Roscommon, to [Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary], Dublin Castle, querying an instruction received from the secretary of the county's grand jury, that clerks of the peace or their deputies must attend the special sessions to be held pursuant to the roads act 59 Geo III chapter 84. Notes that they will clash with the county's general quarter sessions, held in a different town, and questions whether the legislation even requires their attendance. Seeks clarification on the matter, 22 December 1823. With subsequent annotations by Goulburn, and by John Sealy Townsend, KC and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary's Office, 23 December 1823.

22 Dec 1823-23 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2389

File of papers relating to problems with legislation incurred by church wardens of Dublin parishes, in collecting parish cess. Includes letter from Robert Lodge, Castle Street, Dublin, church warden of the parish of St Werburgh's, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning the collection of parochial tax for the support of the Dublin Foundling Hospital, and emphasising his belief that, 'unless Church wardens are armed with power to collect the Taxes of their Parish, tho[ough] their collector, that the Church & the Hospital must fall', 15 May 1823. Encloses copy of letter from John Wright, Westmoreland Street, to Lodge, detailing, as requested, the circumstances which have taken place in respect of the cess in the parish of St. Mark's, Dublin: concerns the refusal of several parishioners to pay their cess, 'taking it into their Head that many of the Items usually assessed off the Parish were Illegal', and the subsequent hearing of the dispute in the magistrate's court, in the Recorder's Court, and the ecclesiastical court in Dublin. States that those refusing to pay, formed a society, raised by subscription, 'for the purpose of defending any of them who should be sued for Parish cess'. States that the legal dispute is ongoing, noting that the parish has been served with bills of cost of £200. Also states that one of the men, Bartholomew St. Leger, has not paid 'a sixpence towards the support of the Church or Establishment for six years, nor do I know how it is to be supported if the churchwardens are obliged to take such measures for raising the necessary funds for its support', originally dated 14 May 1823. File also includes letter from Lodge, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, 11 June 1823, enclosing, as requested by government, a list of the items included in the parish cess which were objected to as being illegal by certain parishioners; also encloses a statement of observations, prepared by Lodge, on the subject of legislation relating to parish cess, and offering his suggestions for legislative amendment, unanimously adopted at a general meeting of the church wardens of the parishes of Dublin, 9 June 1823: Lodge highlights the problems with the current legislation, 54 Geo III chapter 68, for the regulation of ecclesiastical courts in Ireland, in cases where a person disputes his liability to pay church rates and parish cess. Complains that church wardens have no other remedy but 'a Suit in the Ecclesiastical Court, which is expensive and tedious; and only such part of the Cess, as is purely Ecclesiastical, can be recovered in the Court'. Emphasises that as a result of poor legislation, 'the Churchwardens in most of the Parishes of Dublin, are unable to Collect the Parish Cess, and great Arrears are outstanding'. Lodge proposes that church wardens and parishioners assembled in vestry, be empowered to appoint a collector, who in turn is empowered to levy the sums assessed and applotted by vestry, through the seizure and sale of the goods and chattels of those persons refusing or neglecting to pay, as is the case for grand jury cess. With subsequent annotation on reverse, by John Sealy Townsend KC and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary's Office, Dublin Castle, 12 June 1823.

14 May 1823-12 Jun 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2428

File of papers relating to the Admiralty's concerns with the utility of local fishery surveys of Irish coast. Includes letter from John Barrow, Admiralty Office, London, second secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, 5 December 1823, enclosing a copy extract of a letter from Captain White, of the surveying vessel the 'Shamrock', to Barrow, originally dated 25 November 1823, expressing his concerns with deficiencies in the fishery survey of Strangford Lough, County Down. In particular, respecting the survey's positioning of a rocky shoal known as 'Butter Pladdie' [Butter Pladdy] on the lough. States that the fishery survey has placed the rock formation 1¼ miles from its actual position. On the subject of the fishery surveys, Barrow observes that the Lords of the Admiralty have been informed, '(how truly they do not pretend to say)', that the fishery surveys have constituted 'a considerable and useless expense', and reports plans to extend the Ordnance Survey to Ireland, and to carry out, in conjunction with the Admiralty, a 'scientific maritime survey' of the whole coast. Conveys the Admiralty's proposal, therefore, that works on all local surveys of coast might be discontinued. With subsequent lengthy annotation by Goulburn. File also includes letter from Henry Townsend, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, secretary to the commissioners of Irish fisheries, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, responding, as requested, on the objections made by the Admiralty, concerning the fishery survey of Strangford Lough, 12 February 1824; encloses a copy of a report from Alexander Nimmo, Dublin, engineer to the Irish fisheries, to Townsend, offering a detailed defence of his work, and the survey, noting that, 'my survey did not come within four Miles of the place in question. The Chart is and professes to be a Chart merely of the Entrance of Strangford Lough showing that to be a direct [,] deep, and safe passage into an excellent Harbour, instead of the Crooked and dangerous course over a rocky Shoal as laid down by Mackenzie, and implicitly relied on by all books of pilotage…'. Nimmo expresses his astonishment that a chart should be represented as a 'defect of the Survey'. He observes that Captain White, 'has been employed several years….. in making surveys on the Coast of Ireland, but as no results have yet been made public, I am unable to say how far his operations are calculated to preclude the necessity of any part of the Survey we are now carrying on'. Also highlights problems in the work of a nautical surveyor employed by the Admiralty at Dublin Bay, noting that, 'From this instance I am not disposed to place implicit reliance on a Survey merely because it has been done by a person employed by the Admiralty'; Nimmo's report originally dated 26 January 1824. Also copy of a letter from John W Croker, Admiralty office, London, first secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to Goulburn, acknowledging receipt of various documents on the matter. Reiterates the opinion of the Lords of the Admiralty that, irrespective of the correctness of the fishery surveys, 'it would be an unjustifiable waste of public money, to have detailed Surveys made, and charts printed, of small portions of the Coast, and on less scientific principles, when a general trigonometrical Survey of the whole is in contemplation'. Also requests that copies of all fishery survey maps be sent to the Admiralty office, 15 March 1824.

25 Nov 1823-15 Mar 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1823/2481

Letter from George Harrison, Treasury Chambers, London, assistant secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, [at Irish Office, London], 7 April 1823, enclosing copy of a letter from Thomas Lack, assistant secretary to the Privy Council of Trade, Whitehall, London, to John Charles Herries, joint secretary to the Lords Commisisoners of the Treasury, concerning the problem of lack of 'due attention' paid in Ireland to the legislative enactments relating to the butter trade, 'which direct the description and quality of the Caskes [sic] to be used, and impose penalties on non compliance with the regulations...'. Instructs that the weigh masters of butter across Ireland be ordered to 'apprize all Persons concerned in the Butter Trade', of the regulations with which they must comply, and that the weigh masters be reminded to enforce the penalties imposed on those who breach the trade laws, originally dated 22 March 1823. With subsequent annotation on Harrison's letter, by Goulburn, ordering that the letter be forwarded to Ireland and that an abstract of regulations in the butter act, be sent to each weigh master. Also list of names of persons appointed as a weighmaster of butter from 1813 onwards, under the Butter Trade (Ireland) Act, 52 Geo 3, chapter 134, of 1812. Also a note from John Sealy Townsend, KC and legal advisror to the Chief Secretarys' Office, Dublin Castle, providing a list of the relevant clauses from the Butter Act, 1 May 1823. Also copy of circular letter prepared by Dublin Castle, to be issued to each weigh master of butter, this particular copy being directed to Bryan Sheey at Tralee, County Kerry, [May], 1823.

22 Mar 1823-1 May 1823

1823

CSO/RP/1823/2489

Letter from George Harrison, Treasury Chambers, London, assistant secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, [at Irish Office, London], 25 June 1823, enclosing a petition from the commissioners of Irish fisheries, to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, detailing their programme of work to create a number of small piers and landing quays on the western and southern coasts of Ireland, for the protection of fishing vessels, 'where no security existed before'. Explains the reason for the delay in their application to obtain the balance of a sum of £5,000, as granted to them by the Irish fisheries legislation 59 Geo 3 chapter 109, back in 1819. Petition signed by M FitzGerald, Henry R Paine, Major Benjamin Blake Woodward, Val O'Connor, and Thomas Macdonnell, commissioners of Irish fisheries, 29 May 1823. Harrison requests that Richard Wellesley, 1st marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, issue a warrant to the commissioners of customs, to advance the sum required from the Irish revenue funds. Also letter from Henry Townsend, Irish Fishery office, Dublin, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, referring to the Treasury's approval of the advance of the money, and requesting to know if Wellesley, has ordered the board of customs to issue the money, 17 July 1823. Also covering note dated Dublin Castle 19 July 1823, probably sent by Gregory at Dublin Castle, to Goulburn in London, forwarding the subject for his consideration; and with Goulburn's instructions on the matter annexed below.

29 May 1823-19 Jul 1823

1823