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CSO/RP/1825/1575

Letter from Reverend Robert Hume, inspector and chaplain, Dundalk Gaol, County Louth, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, seeking direction on whether he can continue to refuse gaol admission to Mr [A] Marmion, who allegedly advised a prisoner against engaging in physical labour and consequently caused a degree of disturbance amongst the inmates. Stresses he wishes to act with integrity, especially in the face of a threat by Marmion to expose some personal or organisation weaknesses in the institution. With response on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, stressing the inspector is within his rights to prevent entry to ‘any person who has attempted to instigate a violation of the discipline’ of the gaol. Encloses letter from Marmion, Dundalk, to Hume, complaining of his being refused entry to the prison to visit Mr Sherry, a debtor. Claims to be a creditor to the prisoner in question, and defends his earlier criticism of prison regulations that force a man who is neither tried nor convicted by the court to do physical labour. He gives his opinion that the act needs to be repealed and expresses his own willingness to carry such a measure forward. Warns if not given admission to the prison, he will take steps to expose the conduct of the inspector and his staff to the public.

22 Nov 1825-23 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1644

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, drawing attention to the need for a regular set of instructions on how police patrols are to act if faced with unlawful parties whilst on night duty. States he was assured by Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, that a representation on the matter would be made to the Attorney General of Ireland [William Conyngham Plunket]. Also copy of draft response in hand of John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, indicating that constables on night patrol may disperse any armed or unarmed parties encountered at night. Such parties may be apprehended and brought before a magistrate, who may exercise powers of committal; the constables, however, are not entitled to kill the prisoners but may answer force with force.

2 Dec 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1825/1668

Letter from Major Alexander Taylor, Major Thomas N Edgeworth and Alderman Richard Smyth, commissioners for paving, Paving House, [Corporation for Paving, Cleaning and Lighting the streets of Dublin], Mary Street, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning a call for compensation in lieu of the cost of restoring pavement broken by the contractors for public lighting, 7 December 1825. Encloses copy letter from William Little, secretary, Paving Board, to William Kenifeck, secretary, Hibernian Gas Light Company, 2 Foster Place, Dublin, seeking settlement of an account for £4, 580 11s or a down payment of £1,000 ‘as may suit the convenience of the Companies’ [the Hibernian and the Dublin Gas Light Company], 19 November 1825. Also encloses copy letter from Kenifeck to Little drawing attention to previous deliberations with government suggesting the cost of pavement repair might be done at ‘cost price’ rather than the maximum charge allowed under the act of incorporation. Expresses the displeasure of the directors of the HGL Company at being ‘made Debtors for the whole at the maximum price of two shillings per [square] yard’. Asks for a fresh evaluation of the demand and requests a new account be drawn up, 2 December 1825. Also encloses an extract from the contract for lighting the city of Dublin with gas, making reference to the obligations on the gas companies to make good expenses for repair of pavement ‘in the manner prescribed by Law’. Also addition letter from the commissioners for paving to Goulburn, sending details of the opinion of the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket] and the Solicitor General [Henry Joy] and also of John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, on the question of the charge demanded for repairs [none present], 31 December 1825.

19 Nov 1825-31 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1674

Letter from Richard B Cotter, inspector of Cork county gaol, Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning whether or not the Lord Lieutenant’s approval is needed on plans to add extra wards and day rooms to the jail. Observes he and his colleagues have reviewed the pertinent legislation [50th of George III, chapter 103, section 8] and are of opinion that government sanction is unnecessary. Should such sanction be required by law, however, he undertakes to have the necessary document forwarded for approval. With response on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, stressing the proposed modification must have the Lord Lieutenant’s sanction.

7 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1686

Letter from Michael Sharkey, secretary to the grand jury, Roscommon, County Roscommon, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking clarification on the number of days public works need be completed prior to drawing up accounts. Refers to the lack of information given in the 59th act of George III, chapter 84, and indicates he has been prevailed upon by the magistrates at the special sessions of October last to make an effort to clear up any doubts on the matter. With response on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, stressing the details requested by Sharkey are laid out clearly in the 49th act of George III, chapter 84, section 22, and have not been repealed.

14 Dec 1825-17 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1700

Letter from William Kemmis, crown solicitor, Kildare Street, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, conveying a draft order for guidance of the police constabulary in dealing with individuals involved in rioting at fairs. Provides direction as to the police response to the threat of disturbance at fairs in counties Tipperary and Limerick [for the information of Thomas Philip Vokes, police magistrate, County Limerick, and Edward Wilson, chief police magistrate of County Tipperary]. Remarks the draft has the approval of John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket] and the Solicitor General [Henry Joy], 22 December 1825. Returns letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, suggesting a strategy for dealing with faction violence at the fairs of Tipperary and Limerick. Stresses the police magistrate need be well informed about the likelihood of riot erupting at local fairs and should be prepared for the deployment of a magistrate and suitable force of police. Were such disturbances at fairs overlooked, he warns, lawlessness would prevail together with ‘a strong desire for the possession of arms’, 30 September 1825. Also returns letter from Wilson to Goulburn offering observations on the control of local party violence. Remarks of late the principle gangs engaged in such hostility have removed themselves from the scene of the fair and now congregate ‘in remote fields to carry on their sanguinary warfare’. He undertakes to do everything in his power to suppress such manifestations of insubordination, 3 October 1825.

30 Sep 1825-22 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1712

Letter from Henry Watson, mayor, Limerick, County Limerick, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking clarification on dealing with a local case of forgery and asking if the charge is bailable. With response on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, stressing the accused person is entitled to bail. Encloses copy affidavit of William Worrall, Francis Street, Limerick, in which he accuses William Smyth, an attorney of the Tholsel Court and Edward Bernard, an insurance agent, of conspiring to defraud the fair creditors of Charles George Cotterill, a bankrupt merchant of the city of Limerick. Explains in detail the basis upon which his charges are founded and reproduces a letter allegedly forged by Smyth to further his criminal aims. Statement issued and sworn in the presence of Watson.

24 Dec 1825-28 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1789

Petition of Rowland Ayres, Ralph Prestidge [also spelt Prestage] and William Erratt, Park, near Arklow, County Wicklow, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting relief over a demand for payment of additional rent on their holdings on the townland of Park. They state their lands were originally granted by John Proby, 2nd Earl of Carysfort, to John Hughes, 60 years earlier, and at that time was estimated to contain 74¾ acres. However, they continue, a more recent evaluation has put the area of ground in question at just 59 acres, and they have settled other taxes and tithe based on the latter calculation. With response on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, stressing the Lord Lieutenant has no authority to intervene in the case made mention of.

c10 Jan 1826-12 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1825/15

Letter from the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket], Dublin Castle, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, indicating that he and the Solicitor General [Henry Joy] have given their consideration to the ‘Shercock affair’ [County Cavan]. He considers it expedient that a prompt investigation be made of the matter ‘with a view to the immediate dismissal of Captain [?Adams] & his Lieutenant’. In the case at issue, he remarks, it would not be prudent to withdraw arms from the yeomanry [while off duty]. Also incomplete note [in the hand of John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office], stressing he has written to the brigade major [of Shercock] to request a full enquiry of the matter. Furthermore, he has asked the brigade major to make contact with Reverend [F] Fitzpatrick [curate of parish of Shercock] and Mr Buxton.

[2] Jun 1825-4 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/19

Letter from P Aiken, magistrate, Ballymena, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, referring to the case of Mathew Irwin, an individual ‘who has committed various acts of Swindling’. Encloses a warrant for transmission of Irwin to the gaol of Carrickfergus, County Antrim [not present]. With note inscribed on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, insisting the matter is not for the consideration of government, but rather it must be settled ‘in the ordinary course’.

22 Jun 1825-30 Jun 1825

1825