Collection POL47 - Augustus Browne Letter

2 items

The popular repealer John James Bodkin had been elected MP for Galway Town in 1831. However, he resigned at the dissolution of parliament on 3 Dec. 1832, denouncing the “niggardly” measures proposed for Ireland. The new parliament was elected under the terms of the Reform Act, by which Galway was now accorded two seats. In the ensuing campaign, these were bitterly contested between (on the one hand) two barristers, Andrew Henry Lynch and Lachlan MacLachlan, and (on the other) Martin Joseph Blake, the recipient of this letter.

After the general election of 1832, when there were 2,062 registered electors, Maclachlan, who had been returned with the Repealer Andrew Lynch (who sat until 1841), was unseated on petition in favour of another Repealer, Martin Joseph Blake of Ballyglunin (who sat until 1857) and 688 of the recently qualified freemen were struck off.

Acquired by University of Galway Library in 2026.

Letter of Augustus Browne, Galway, to Martin J Blake, London and later MP for Galway City, forwarding the affidavit of Laurence Scahill, Slater, detailing instances of bribery and intimidation in the 1832 election of MPs to the House of Commons from the County of the town of Galway.