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CSO/RP/CA/1823/1

Memorandum by unknown author providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the Catholic Association held in 4 Capel Street, chaired by Mr Hinton with Mr Fitzpatrick acting as pro-secretary; the meeting was attended by 10 gentlemen but [Nicholas Purcell] O'Gorman, the secretary, was absent; [Daniel] O’Connell gave notice of the following motions; motion of thanks to the author of the recent pamphlet, attributed to [James] Doyle [Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin], vindicating catholic principles and treating with scorn the doctrine of tithes; motion to appoint a committee to collect facts on ‘the administration of Justice in Ireland’ to be presented to Earl Grey [Charles Grey, 2nd earl Grey] and adding that a ‘Catholic has no chance of Justice where an Orange man is concerned’; motion to appoint committee to prepare a petition on the ‘Tithe Commutation Bill’ noting the opinion expressed by the ‘worthy’ Pierce Butler and contending that the bill was calculated to increase the property of the established church; motion to appoint a committee to oversee the expansion of the association into every county in Ireland and outlining their plan to submit petitions to parliament at a rate of one a fortnight. O’Connell also spoke about England’s ‘apathy to assist liberty’ which had allowed France to acquire the resources of Spain; following a request from [Frederick W] Conway, O’Connell spoke on the subject of burial rights for catholics recounting how an attempt was made to prevent a service for a deceased catholic at [Rathcormac] and noting the lucrative income generated by clergymen for burial plots and suggesting that burial grounds be purchased ‘where the Catholic dead may be free from insults’.

1 Nov 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/2

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the Catholic Association at unknown location, chaired by Mr Clinch with [Nicholas Purcell] O'Gorman acting as secretary. [Daniel] O’Connell, the main contributor to the meeting, ‘eulogized’ a pamphlet, attributed to [James] Doyle [Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]; criticised the abuse levelled at the pamphlet and [Daniel] Murray [Catholic archbishop of Dublin] in the ‘vile and filthy Orange press’; reasoned that while tithes had formerly been ‘distributed between the clergy for the repair of churches and the poor’, now the poor had to pay for the building and upkeep of churches while ‘all the emoluments [went] to the clergy’; defended the pamphlet’s assertion that tithes were the cause of disturbances in Ireland; argued that protestants had not been ‘exclusively liberal’ and drew unfavourable comparisons with the catholic countries of Maryland, Hungary, Bavaria and France where protestants had been emancipated; offered to work with the Kildare [Place] Society provided they would not coerce catholic children to read bibles without the consent of their pastors. O’Connell proposed that a committee of seven be appointed to fight for churchyards for catholics and other sects who would be free to practice their rites; suggesting that the current cost of burial of between £6 and £7 could be used for the education of orphans; noting that the legality of the proposal was sound and that ‘they who were calm did not want to gratify [William] Magee [Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin] if he thinks he had made a point against them’; announcing that 20 acres of land in the Common of Clondalkin has been offered for that purpose. Luke Plunkett argued that Magee’s actions were those of ‘a fire brand … calculated to promote sedition’ and had been met with disapprobation by many respectable protestants [includes annotation at this point questioning if this comment would be libellous if published?]; O’Connell gave notice of a motion proposing a petition for a law to facilitate the giving up of ‘tithe in kind to the clergy for the cultivation of land’.

8 Nov 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/3

Memorandum by unknown author providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the [Catholic Association] at unknown location, chaired by Mr Power; [Daniel] O’Connell presented the report of the ‘Church Yard Committee’ regarding catholic burials and while he was critical of [William] Magee [Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin] and claimed that ‘Toryism in England was despotism’ he reiterated that the principle of the association was to avoid disturbances even when certain clergymen illegally prevented the internment of catholics; O’Connell predicted that the English tories would face a ‘day of retribution’ as they choose between their cotton trade of the fight for Spanish independence; Mr Kelly noted that mourners at a funeral of a catholic clergyman, Dr Hamel, at Saint James’ churchyard were obliged to conduct prayers on ‘the open street’; O’Connell and [Frederick W] Conway argued over whether the association should involve itself in the tithes question as the tithe bill was currently being amended; O’Connell proposed that the association present parliament with a petition ‘affording facilities to the peasants obliging the clergy to take the tithe in kind’ noting that ‘clergymen generally prefer to adjustment, an appeal to the Magistrates or a civil bill jurisdiction in order to extract a larger sum of money’ and adding that some of their bitterest enemies and supporters of the ‘vilest press’ were clergymen of the established church; Col Butler, while supporting O’Connell, remarked that the tithe issue was also of concern to non-catholics; Mr Scanlan believed that the association was straying from its sole cause of catholic emancipation and that many non-catholics would support tithe reform if it did not originate from catholics alone; [Richard Lalor] Sheil argued that it was proper for the association to draw attention and petition for the removal of grievances which ‘arose from the Penal Code’ and drew comparisons with France where protestant clergy were paid for by government and had not been ‘stripped of decent and honourable means’; Mr Dwyer feared that interference in the tithe debate would arouse the jealousies of protestant minds, alienating their moderate friends and could be regarded as ‘an invasion of Church property’; O’Connell’s proposal was carried; Sheil gave notice of a motion supporting the opening up of the corporation [of Dublin] to catholics; Mr Flanagan was not allowed to give notice of a motion regarding the repeal of the union as he was only a very recent member; noted that the majority of the 50 attendees were protestant.

15 Nov 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/4

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the Catholic Association at unknown location, chaired by Counsellor Fitzsimmons [?Christopher Fitzsimon]; [Daniel] O’Connell proposed that a committee be appointed to ‘devise means of facilitating the mode of delivering Tithes in Kind from the Cultivator to the Rector of a parish’ and drew attention to a recent legal case in the Bishops Court involving a Rev Morgan who refused to take tithe in kind from 30 farmers; includes list of committee members agreed upon; [Richard Lalor] Sheil proposed that a committee be appointed to seek the opening up of the Corporation of Dublin to catholics and having explained the legal rights of freeman he reproached catholics for having so long neglected ‘the simple means by which a paramount right can be enforced’; Sheil referred to the Corporation of Dublin as ‘an Autocracy’ and refuted [Robert] Peel and Lord Liverpool’s [Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool] contention that catholics in Ireland enjoyed all their rights and patronage; Counsellor Ronyne supported the motion and Hugh O’Connor spoke on catholic grievances; O’Connell suggested that the association meet for two weeks in January in order to dispose of business before the meeting of Parliament.

22 Nov 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/5

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of the speech of Hugh O'Connor; O’Connor believed that the monarch’s ‘Royal Intentions’ had been frustrated by a majority of the government ministers who could create happiness in Ireland if they so desired; he dismissed the argument that catholic emancipation would result in a catholic government ‘and the overthrow of the Established Church’ stating that the only danger to the protestant church was from ‘the pride cupidity and folly of the Churchmen’ but adding that if protestantism was part of the integral constitution he was ‘bound to revere it’; he adverted to the late motion of the Duke of Devonshire [William Cavendish] in the House of Lords urging an inquiry into the state of Ireland which was rebutted by the Prime Minister [Robert Banks] and also praised the ‘noble Marquees at the Head of this Government’ [Richard Wellesley] although he feared that he was controlled by others.

22 Nov 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/6

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the Catholic Association at unknown location, chaired by the O’Conor Don; [Daniel] O’Connell and [Richard Lalor] Sheil noted that ‘duly qualified Catholics were ready to claim their freedom’ of the city of Dublin from the corporation, that the public would be asked for subscriptions to assist the court cases and that O’Connell and Mr Ford, an attorney, would provide their legal services gratuitously; O’Connell criticized the administration of justice in the inferior courts, proposed that a committee be established to prepare details of facts to be presented to parliament and highlighted the shortcomings of the Court of Conscience where ‘conscience generally remained at the door but never went in’, the Manor Courts where the party to get the verdict was he ‘who gave the Seneschal and the Jury the most whiskey, the chairmen for counties and assistant barristers who were not appointed ‘until it was found they could not rise at all in their profession’ and claimed that ‘the Orangeman got everything … The Catholic got no justice’; H O’Connor, [Nicholas] Mahon, Mr Mullen and O’Connell discussed the exclusion of catholics from the board of directors of the Bank of Ireland noting the defeat of Sir John Newport’s motion in the House of Commons, Sir Samuel Romilly’s opinion was that catholics were eligible and Mullen’s suggestion that catholics force the issue by purchasing Bank of Ireland stock; O’Conor Don was disappointed that they had been ‘waiting on Dr Murray’ [Daniel Murray, archbishop of Dublin] ‘relative to the New RC Churchyards’, recalled that both he and [John] Troy [Catholic archbishop of Dublin] had been on the Catholic Convention in 1793 and called for the clergy and laity to unite for the purposes of petitioning on catholic emancipation; O’Connell replied that the clergy could join the association for free and added that the Catholic Convention had been the ‘Real Representative of the People’.

29 Nov 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/7

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of an adjourned meeting of the Catholic Association at 4 Capel Street, [Dublin], with [Nicholas Purcell] O'Gorman acting as secretary; O'Gorman noted that the rules of the society specified that the quorum for a meeting was ten persons and adjourned meeting until following Saturday as only two members attended.

6 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/8

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of an adjourned meeting of the Catholic Association with Mr Scanlan acting as secretary and attended by [Daniel] O'Connell, Luke Plunkett, Mr O'Neill, [John] Browne, [Frederick W] Conway and [Richard Lalor] Sheil; the meeting was adjourned until the following Saturday as a quorum of members could not be found.

20 Dec 1823

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/9

Memorandum by unknown author providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the Catholic Association at unknown location, chaired by Mr Fitzsimons [Christopher Fitzsimon] with [Nicholas Purcell] O'Gorman acting as secretary; Mr Plunkett praised letters from [Frederick William] Conway to Marquis Lansdowne [Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd marquess of Lansdowne] as published in the ‘Dublin Evening Post’; letter from Eccles Cuthbeth and Mr Keogh offering plots in Crumlin, [County Dublin] and elsewhere for the use of catholic graveyards was acknowledged; the Canon of Villa Nova, a member of the ‘Spanish Cortes’ was introduced to the meeting but did not ‘show any symptoms of curiosity’ while there; O’Gorman suggested that the association start a subscription to assist the ‘noble struggle made by the Spanish Patriots in the cause of Liberty’ but [Richard Lalor] Sheil thought that a meeting of the citizens of Dublin was a better forum to start the subscription as the Catholic Association should concentrate solely on catholic emancipation; Sheil outlined his plan to assist catholics in claiming their freedom of the city of Dublin and nominated a committee to collect subscriptions to help defray legal expenses; the committee consisted of Cornelius McLoughlin, Michael O’Brien and Messers Mullen and Mahon; Sheil proposed that a committee be chosen to petition parliament on the administration of justice in Ireland which was to include himself, Mr Donnell, O’Gorman, Fitzsimons, Conway and Mr Lonergan; in a lengthy speech Sheil noted that the English were ‘ignorant of the state of juris prudence of Ireland’ and that [William] Plunkett, Attorney General, had admitted that catholics were excluded from juries in certain cases; Sheil read a passage from ‘Hibernicus’ on the situation in the counties of Ireland, mentioned [Robert] Peel, Judge Fletcher and Baron M’Clelland of the Northern Circuit and criticized the Lord Lieutenant [Richard Wellesley] who had called for catholic emancipation in parliament but was more focused on the case for the Insurrection Act. A Kirwan stated that [Col] Barry had denied the authenticity of a pamphlet containing ‘the charge of Justice Fletcher’ but [Frederick] Conway, editor of the ‘Evening Post’ vouched for its authenticity.

Dec [1823]

1823

CSO/RP/CA/1823/10

Memorandum by author identified as 'S N E' [Stephen N Elrington] providing an eyewitness account of a meeting of the Catholic Association at unknown location, chaired by Counsellor Fogerty with Mr O’Kelly acting as pro-secretary; [Daniel] O’Connell spoke at length against ‘Mr [Henry] Goulburn’s Tithe Commutation Bill’ and proposed that a committee be appointed to petition Parliament for its repeal; O’Connell stated that Ireland would ‘never be tranquil until the incomes of the clergy be reduced [and] until they ceased to be Politicians’ and drew attention to the large salary of the late Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh compared to the more modest income of the late [John] Troy, Catholic archbishop of Dublin; O’Connell’s proposal was supported by Luke Plunkett but opposition to it was expressed by ‘a strange gentleman whose name is said to be Kelly’, a protestant, who believed that the association should confine itself to the question of catholic emancipation and not stigmatize ‘Protestant clergy as oppressors, or Extortioners’; O’Connell replied by stating that the association ‘were acting for the Catholic body of Ireland, not merely for the people of Dublin’; Plunkett proposed a motion of thanks to the writer of the letter to the Marquess of Lansdowne [Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd marquess of Lansdowne] which appeared in the ‘Evening Post’; [John] Browne proposed they meet again on the following Saturday.

27 Dec 1823

1823