Letter from Emily Bunbury, 'Dolgelly' [Dolgellau], North Wales, to Harriette, re-addressed from Ballinasloe to the Gresham Hotel, Sackville St., Dublin, in which she refers to 'the destruction of your beautiful woods by the late fearful gale' [6 Jan 1839 was the night of 'The Big Wind']. She has heard from others that Harriette is well and happy but she is sure she is still grieving in her heart. They have been staying in Wales for a month as her husband 'has a small estate about three miles from hence where he intends to build a cottage'. She gives news of her family including the improved health of 'my beloved child', the approaching marriage of her brother George to Mrs Williams Freeman and the engagement of her stepson to her niece Sarah, which is confidential. Her brother Charles and his family are living in Dublin until 'his appointment to the northern district of England takes place'. Her brother William and family are near Bath where his daughter Lady Anne has just had a son' [Philip Yorke Gore, 4th Earl of Arran married Elizabeth Marianne in March 1838 and their son Arthur, born 6 Jan 1839, succeeded his father as 5th Earl of Arran in 1884]. Her brother Richard and his wife Anne 'are talking of going abroad and poor Henry is leading a melancholy life at his place in Hertfordshire'. She writes of a visit from [her half-sister] Louisa, 'poor soul her health is very indifferent'. She recommends Prescott's "History of Ferdinand and Isabella and Wilberforce's "Life" as reading material. She hopes Harriette will send hera short answer in reply as she wants to keep in touch and feels "there is little chance of our meeting again on this side [of] the grave'.
Letter [from London to Dublin] he sends her a copy of a note that he has just left at the Duke of Wellington's, asking the Duke if he intends 'bring the conduct of the P.L. Commissioners in Ireland under the consideration of the H of Lds in the present session of Parliament' because he is anxious to return to Ireland. He tells her of the 'unnecessary adjournment of the house' the previous evening, which means he must wait until Friday evening to present his petition. He met E[dward] Connolly at the Duke's door 'he entirely agrees with me in my Poor Law views. He hopes to see the Duke on Friday morning and expresses his honour and veneration for the man but fears age is against him now. He hopes to be with her in Dublin the following Monday. 'Bob & I are now off for Brighton'.
Letter from Dublin to Garbally, describing 'the least disagreeable journey I ever took per mail' with Robert Daly, Rev Mr Maunsell of Galway and 'a gentleman from Ballinrobe'. He met Mr Wandesford and Lady Carrick [Charles H Butler Southwell Wandesford married as his second wife in 1842 Lucy widow of Somerset R Butler, 3rd Earl of Carrick, Sarah's father] who expects to return to Mount Juliet tomorrow. He has been enjoying club conversation and names a number of other people whom he has met. In a postscript he writes of just having seen Daly who 'is full of hope of upsetting the Portarlington line for this year at all events, I fear he will succeed but I don't think he is very sanguine about the branch from Mullingar to Athlone'.
Letter from London, telling her that he does not know when he will be before the committee. He has met with Lord Stanley [Edward John Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley] who shares his views but 'despairs however of a good division'.
Letter from Sackville St Club, enclosing a note from Sarah law and informing her of an offer from Arthur [MacMurrough Kavanagh], who came 'up from Borris on Saturday with Sarah Trench' to escort [their daughter] Sarah to London. He advises her to 'immediately communicate with by telegraph. He refers to Dunlo and Anne. He is uncertain whether he will have to go to London on parliamentary duty as 'doubts exist as to Gladstone's getting the Land Bill through the Commons'. He is thankful to be almost free of his gout and has to chair a meeting of the Sunday School Society at the Rotunda that day.
There are only eight items in this collection, all of which relate to estates in eastern County Galway. They usually consist of descriptions of each lot for sale, giving existing tenancy agreements as well as ink and colour wash maps of the lands in question. There is no record series as such within this collection, and they have been arranged in chronological order.
Copy of memoir of Frederica Sophia Cheevers on her life and the history of her family, which settled in Killyan near Newcastle, County Galway after being transplanted from Monkstown, County Dublin during the Cromwellian transplantations. Her memoir covers the history of the family, as well as her impressions on landlord/tenant relations in the later nineteenth century, land agitation, the War of Independence and the economic problems of the post-treaty period. The family left Killyan in the 1930s and moved to England. Includes copies of photographs of the house and a copy of the OS 6” map of the demesne.
Deed of grant of land by Dermott McMorough O'Madden of Owellforest to Edmund Hearne of Gortnafluchii of part of the lands of Owellforest.
Grant by Cornall O Dollena, of Gortnafluchi, County Galway, to his brother Owen O Dollena of his house and lands at Pargran, as well as the mill and other buildings for ever. He also grants him the rents out of a house and lands in the Parish of Lickmolassy in the barony of Longford, in the lawful possession of Edmond Hearne [very fragile].
Deed of sale from Donnell Dorraghe Mac Cahir O'Maddin of Loghregh, County Galway to John Hearne of the lands Iskoegouyn in the townland of Tysihan, County Galway. The lands were mortgaged at Donnell's ancestors to Bryen O'Donoghe who devised his interest to Edmond Hearne, who devised it again to John Hearne.