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CSO/RP/1825/981

File of material relating to an investigation of a sectarian disturbance in the town of Roscrea in County Tipperary following the removal of an orange flag. Includes letter from Reverend Kennedy Kennedy, Church of Ireland vicar of Bourney, County Tipperary, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, complaining of the removal of the orange flag from the round tower of Roscrea by persons engaged by Stephen Egan [a brewer] ‘accompanied by a riotous and infuriate mob’ under the influence and at the connivance of William Nash, chief constable of police, in the barony of Ikerrin, County Tipperary. Encloses copy resolutions of a meeting of the Protestant inhabitants of Roscrea protesting at the removal and burning of the flag by Nash and Egan on 1 July; states it is a long established custom to place a flag in the tower which began ‘long before the existence of Orange Societies’; such arbitrary conduct on the part of the authorities, it is observes, tends to ‘create religious and political animosity’ in the district and was the cause that same evening of an ‘alarming procession of several thousands of the lower orders with the chapel Band’; alleges that Nash sought to collect funds from a number of Roman Catholic persons in the locality for the singular purpose of ‘the pulling down of the flag’, 5 July 1825. Also includes an attractive colour sketch of the town centre with detail of the round tower plus a printed notice for the intended meeting of the Protestant inhabitants of Roscrea, c5 July 1825. Also includes letter from John Hamilton, Church of Ireland curate of Roscrea, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, offering extended observations on denominational relations in Roscrea. Remarks that Nash was previously expelled from the Orange Order and Egan is the son of a 1798 rebel. Egan, he alleges, was himself tried for administrating unlawful oaths to 50 persons before the assizes of Clonmel in 1816 [for allegedly orchestrating a plot to kill Hamilton], 6 July 1825. Also includes report from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Cashel, to Gregory, expressing opinion that Nash’s motives throughout the entire episode were directed towards ‘the preservation of the public peace’ amongst all factions in the town. Admits, however, he acted ‘indiscreetly in the mode adopted by him for the destruction of the flag’ but did so under duress. In the wake of the investigation, he is hopeful of better and more cordial relations between the major denominations in future; encloses a copy of the ‘Minutes of Evidence’ on the case which he accepts is ‘very voluminous’ [98 pages], 23 July 1825.

5 Jul 1825-6 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/982

File of material relating to a complaint by Dr William Kingsley against William Nash, chief constable of police, barony of Ikerrin, in County Tipperary, over the loss of a situation. Includes copy memorial from Kingsley, medical practitioner, Roscrea, County Tipperary, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, referring to an earlier application for an investigation of Nash, whom he accuses of having him removed from his post as surgeon to the police establishment. States it is now over three months since his initial complaint but is still waiting for a response; asks that the magistrates of Roscrea petty session undertake the investigation in the absence of Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police. Claims that Nash ‘thro pique’ deprived him of his situation despite his having acted as police surgeon for a period of 2½ years ‘without a single complaint’; claims he is owed £7 1s 5d for professional attendance over the period from January 1823 to August 1824, 19 May 1825. Also includes letter from Willcocks, Cork, County Cork, to LH Lambert, stating he made a call on Kingsley to investigate the charges he preferred against Nash but found the pair has ‘amicably settled matters’. States he has no certificate belonging to Kingsley in his possession, 12 September 1825.

21 Feb 1825-12 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/983

File of papers relating to an application for grant aid for a new bridge across the River Shannon in order to facilitate access to the Grand Canal extension from the River Shannon harbour to Ballinasloe in County Galway. Includes copy memorial from the company of undertakers of the Grand Canal to the commissioners for the issue of money out of the Consolidated Fund, setting out a case for funding of the extension of the Grand Canal to Ballinasloe and requesting a loan of £46,413 to complete the work. Emphases the value of the scheme in terms of its ‘public utility’ and in offering local economic regeneration and employment to the lower orders, signed by Andrew Bagot, secretary to the Grand Canal Company, [1817]. Also includes abstract return of revenue arising out of the tolls and passage boats ‘for 86 miles of the Grand Canal’ for a period of 7 years up to February 1822, signed by John Stokes, engineer to the Grand Canal Company, September 1822. Also includes two estimates of cost for the extension of the Grand Canal to Ballinasloe, both showing a charge of £3,000 for a ‘Wooden Bridge across the Shannon’, signed by John Killaly, civil engineer. Also includes letter from Edward Lawson, secretary, Grand Canal Company, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, acknowledging the reluctance of the Lord Lieutenant to grant the requested £3,000 for the bridge. He stresses the ‘absolute necessity of the measure’, however, and quotes Killaly’s plea for a bridge to ‘unite the two canals’ in order to gain full advantage of the work completed to date, 20 August 1825.

[1817]-20 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/984

Letter from an anonymous writer styled ‘A friend to Government’, Cork, County Cork, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, accusing a Captain Barry, police constable of Clonakilty, of feeding his personal horse with forage purchased for use of the police establishment. Also alleges that Barry failed to discipline his sergeant who was found intoxicated in a public house after twelve o’clock one night, but dismissed another officer for a more trivial offence. Claims to have previously revealed his information to Richard Willcocks, the inspector general of police.

9 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/985

Petition of Michael Regan, pensioner, late of the 39th regiment of foot, 8 Stony Batter [Stoneybatter], Dublin, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting appointment to a situation in the [police] watch establishment. Asserts at just 28 years of age he is fit and capable of doing the work. Also observes his small pension of 6d per day is not adequate to the support of his wife and three children. Encloses certificate in favour of Regan’s pretensions declaring him to be ‘sober’ individual who was discharged from the military after 4 years service, signed by Thomas Doyle and 3 others.

10 Aug 1825-16 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/986

Letter from Thomas McMahon, army pensioner, Milltown Malbay, County Clare, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting appointment to a situation in the police establishment of County Down. Recollects a past military service of 8 years in the 16th regiment of foot and stresses his fitness to serve government being just 26 years of age. Mentions this is his third application for assistance and complains of the difficulties of surviving on his small pension of 6d a day. [Contains list of names not given in this description.]

14 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/987

Petition of John Tully, pensioner, late corporal of the 43rd regiment of foot, Dunmore, County Galway, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting appointment to a situation in the police establishment in any part of Ireland. Makes reference to an earlier application for a post in the constabulary but presumes his lack of success was due to his not being acquainted with any person of local influence. States he spent his life in the army, like his father before him, and complains his Chelsea pension is ‘too small’ to provide for his family despite having given ‘fourteen years servitude’ to the armed forces.

10 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/988

Petition of Patrick Ready, pensioner, late of the 58th regiment of foot, Old Barrack Street, Limerick, County Limerick, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting appointment to a situation of employment under government. Recalls a long military career spanning 25 years and makes reference to his exertions in that capacity on a variety of battlefields; indicates he began his career in the army as a ‘bugle horn Player’ but was finally discharged the force together with other band members. States he taught at a school in St Mary’s parish in County Limerick for a period of 5 years, but his pupils were largely withdrawn upon the realisation he belonged to a Protestant denomination. Affirms he is a member of the Church of Ireland by birth and notes for a number of years he took an active part in the choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, in Limerick. Also alludes to a previous application for a post in the police of County Limerick and reflects upon his interest in securing a job in the proposed lunatic asylum of Limerick. Adds a character reference in his behalf can be procured from Reverend Henry Gubbins, local inspector of county and city of Limerick jails, and from Major Alexander Douglas of Limerick.

10 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/989

Letter from Henry Hobhouse, Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whitehall, London, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a copy letter from Sir Robert Seppings, Henry Legge and RG Middleton, Navy Office, Somerset Place, London, requesting guidance on whether clothing is to be provided on a ship in preparation for the use of 120 women and children, who are to sail from Cork, County Cork, for New South Wales in Australia. Since these people are not themselves convicts, they ask, but the families of those previously transported, should clothing ‘be put on board in this Country for their use’. Also short note [from CSO in reply] stating ‘Such articles of clothing as may be found necessary for the free settlers will be provided at Cork’.

17 Aug 1825-25 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/990

Letter from James Adamson, secretary, Incorporated Society for promoting English Protestant schools in Ireland, Incorporated Society House, 55 Aungier Street, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, concerning a recommendation for payment of an annuity to Joseph Hines, former school master of Sligo school, County Sligo. Encloses copy of resolutions of the general quarterly meeting of the Incorporated Society addressed to Goulburn laying out a case in favour of paying superannuation to Hines and his wife who acted as mistress to the school. Quotes from a memorial of Hines seeking relief, which states he has responsibility for the care of 5 children and has no other means of support. Also quotes from a recommendation from the local committee of Sligo school in favour of Hines, whom they claim instilled in his male pupils ‘industrious habits’ and gave them excellent guidance in both agricultural training and the linen profession, for example.

3 Aug 1825-17 Aug 1825

1825