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CSO/RP/SC/1825/51

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing a report from William Henry, chief constable of police, barony of Farney, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, concerning some house burning in the area under his jurisdiction. States the first attack was on a cow shed belonging to Patrick Donnolly, a clerk of the [Church of Ireland] church at Ardaragh [Ardagh], County Meath, over which suspicion has attached to ‘Weldon’; the second attack was on a cow shed belonging to David Woods, over which Edward McEvoy has been apprehended and placed in the county gaol; the third arson attack was on the dwelling house of James Clinton located at the parish of Magheracloony, apparently committed by ‘some Tenants that Clinton had lately Evicted’. Encloses a copy affidavit with information from James Clinton, Bryan Byrne, James Halfpenny and Owen Cavanagh, relative to the burning of Clinton’s residence and the destruction of two horses; sworn before H Evatt, magistrate of County Monaghan.

1 Mar 1825-7 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/52

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing an account of police duties in the city of Limerick for the month ending the 1st of March plus a detail of expenses for the same period [neither present]. Remarks upon the general atmosphere of peace and orderliness in the district except for the recent murder of James Hickey [on the night of the 26th of February]. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/50].

7 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/53

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing a report from JL Raymond, chief constable of police, Killashandra, County Cavan, concerning an application for employment in the police constabulary from Phill [Philip] Reilly, from nearby County Leitrim. States he is a man of good character and in possession of ‘most useful information’ on the organisation of Ribbonmen. Conveys that Reilly claims to know the time and precise location of an intended meeting of that body in the city of Belfast; delegates ‘one or two from all the countys [sic] in Ireland, and some from England’ are expected to be in attendance there.

4 Mar 1825-10 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/54

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting upon an investigation following the theft of a gun at Lisburn, County Antrim, by Lieutenant Crossley, chief constable of police. Conveys that Crossley has discovered no sign of ‘a disaffected spirit or system of procuring arms for Rebellious purposes’ in the locality and concludes a mistaken impression was formed of the theft by P Aiken, a local magistrate. Returns letter from Aiken, Ballymena, County Antrim, to Gregory, warning of the possible appearance of disaffection in his neighbourhood. He encloses a copy affidavit from Andrew Gregg, a weaver and private in the yeomanry, Lisburn, reporting the theft of a firearm from his dwelling by two men ‘disguised in great coats’. States his weapon is valued a one pound sterling and was taken at about 10’o’clock at night on Wednesday the 9th of February.

14 Feb 1825-10 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/55

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, seeking leave of absence for a ‘short time’ to go to Dublin. States his attendance there is required on account of ‘some business of importance’. Annotated at top reads ‘Granted’ in the hand of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant.

14 Mar 1825-15 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/56

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, complaining of an attack on his character in the public press of the city of Limerick. The origin of the letters, he supposes, lies with a member of the Roman Catholic priesthood and he admits to being ‘much wounded by such violent and [unmerited] abuse’. Encloses copy of the ‘Irish Observer’ [Limerick] newspaper with a letter addressed to Drought from an anonymous author signed ’CT’. In it the writer castigates Drought for his private communication to government warning of the designs of the Catholic Association in Limerick; directs particular criticism at Drought for his intolerance of the Catholic clergy and of the lay middle class who assist in the collection of the Catholic Rent, 16 April 1825. Also encloses a copy of the ‘Limerick Evening Post’ newspaper and a copy of the ‘Irish Observer’, both dated 13 April 1825 with further material on the same subject. Also letter from Francis Blackburne, KC, to Gregory, indicating his concurrence with the view of the Solicitor General [Henry Joy] and advising that Drought make no response to the allegations.

13 Apr 1825-18 Apr 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/57

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on his intention to visit Caledon, County Tyrone, and from there to continue his tour to Clones [County Monaghan], Cavan [County Cavan], Enniskillen, Newtownbutler [County Fermanagh] and Fintona [County Tyrone]. As soon as he has carried out a general inspection and assessment of the men of the constabulary in those places he will sent a full report to government of the district made reference to.

2 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/58

Letter from George Dickson, Portadown, County Armagh, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a memorial for the attention of the Lord Lieutenant [not present]. Annotation on reverse from CSO indicates the document [possibly an application for appointment to the police constabulary] has been forwarded to Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster.

6 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/59

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing an outline of police duties in the city of Limerick for the previous month [December 1824] plus an account of expenses for that period [neither present]. Observes over the past weeks a spirit of ‘general tranquillity’ has reigned in the district and city.

7 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/60

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Cavan, County Cavan, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, commenting on the ‘state of alarm’ in which he finds a large part of the area under his jurisdiction. States he made a personal call upon Du Pré Alexander, 2nd earl of Caledon, Caledon, County Tyrone, and was informed that tensions were lately raised in the town of Aughnacloy and beyond on account of a false report alleging the presence of armed men in the locality. Reports he continued to the residence of Colonel Leslie at Glaslough, County Monaghan, where he found local Protestants in a state of agitation over fear of attack. Encloses a copy report from Captain Charles L Kennett, chief constable and pay clerk, Cavan, County Cavan, to D’Arcy, remarking upon several instances of night assemblies in the county. Recalls on 22nd of December while making his way in the direction of Stradone village, having apprehended ‘a notorious robber’ at the behest of John Maxwell-Barry, 5th Baron Farnham, he was conscious of the tracks of as many as 50 persons in the snow, at various points along the way. Also comments upon the presence of a large gathering of more than 200 persons near Lavey, who were engaged in marching and drilling, and relays information received on a night meeting at Corlisley [Corlislea], near the town of Cavan; reflects too on an earlier encounter with a large crowd who were assembled late at night in the village of Ballyhaise, in the month of October or November 1824.

5 Jan 1825-8 Jan 1825

1825