Denny Lane Papers Descriptive List (Ref. U611)

U611/

7pp

28 25 April 1848 Letter, from Denny Lane, 4 Sidney Place, Cork to ‘My dear Sir’ (William Smith O’Brien). ‘I will not now attempt to excuse myself for not having answered the letter…before your departure for France’ (Representatives of the Irish Confederation met the French Minister for Foreign Affairs in April 1848). Mentions a soirée to be held on the day of Smith’s visit to Cork. Lane says it is the wish of the people for him to attend a meeting in May and to entertain Smith and Mr Meagher. ‘Parties and politics are in a strange and anomalous condition here’ Lane continues, and Smith’s presence would be of service to the cause. Lane does not have the time to say any more but is anxious to give an explanation ‘of the state of opinion here’. He writes that ‘upon the principle’ they agree but regarding the conduct of the movement ‘…it would be uncandid of me to say that I quite coincide with much that has been done in the Confederation’. He looks forward to talking over the subject and the present state of the Post Office is not suited to any unreserved communication. ‘I will…endeavour to give you some explanation of my doubts for I can scarce call them more.’ 4pp 29 18 June 1848 Letter, from William Smith O’Brien, Cahermoyle, to Denny Lane, Imperial Hotel, Dublin. O’Brien writes that he has not forgotten the Cork Invitation but that he would prefer to attend a more general meeting which would ‘combine all classes of Repealers’, perhaps a meeting of the United Repealers, as ‘How many excellent Repealers would be reluctant to join in any demonstration complimentary to us’. He has made his wish known to the Secretary of the Citizen’s Club and that the ‘circumstances of the present hour seem to invite the People of Cork to express their adhesion to the Proposed League’ and the promotion of the re-union of all Repealers in one Confederacy. He wishes to make a personal inspection of the efficiency of the Club organisation in Cork. O’Brien asks Lane to show this letter to Meagher and concludes that he thinks the Confederates are more useful in the Provinces than in Dublin at present.

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