List of incoming correspondence of Thomas Lyons (b1782 – d1850) Mayor of Cork in 1841 - 1842 From the collections of Cork City and County Archives Service.
Thomas Lyons Incoming Correspondence
Descriptive List
Ref. IE CCCA/SM/775
Cork City and County Archives
Contents
Identity Statement..................................................................................................................................................... 2 Context ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Creator(s): .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Archival History ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Administrative / Biographical History.............................................................................................................. 2 Content & Structure ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Scope & Content .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Arrangement ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Conditions of Access & Use ................................................................................................................................... 3 Allied Materials:......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Archivists Note: ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 List of Items and Descriptions: ................................................................................................................................... 5 A . Letters from Daniel O’Connell, 1832 – 1847 (10 items) .............................................................................. 5 B: Note from Lord John Russell, 1841 (1 item)................................................................................................... 6 C: Letter from Bishop of Cork, John Murphy, 1843 (1 item)........................................................................... 7 D: Letter from Thomas Meagher, 1843 (1 item) ................................................................................................. 7 E: Letter from Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick, 1850 (1 item) ................................................................................. 7
Identity Statement
Reference Code:
IE CCCA/SM/775
Title:
Thomas Lyons Incoming Correspondence
Dates:
7 March 1832 - 27 Apr 1850
Level of description:
Series
Extent:
14 items
Context
Creator(s): Thomas Lyons (b1782 – d1850) Mayor of Cork in 1841 - 1842 Daniel O’Connell MP John Murphy, Bishop of Cork
Thomas Francis Meagher Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick Lord John Russell
Archival History Originally donated in 1969 to Cork Historical and Archaeological Society by William Stanley Harrington, Rushbrook, great grand nephew of Thomas Lyons. Formerly held at Cork City Library. Deposited in Archives in 2011. Administrative / Biographical History Thomas Lyons (b1782 – d1850), wholesale woolen and linen merchant. Lived at 22 Wellington Road, Cork. Business, T.Lyons and Co. was based at 21 South Main Street, Cork. In the first elections to the reformed Cork Corporation following the Municipal Reform (Ireland) Act 1840, Lyons was elected an Alderman of the Exchange Ward, in October 1841. In November 1841 he was elected as the first Roman Catholic Mayor of Cork City since the late 17 th century. Belonged to the Liberal Party / Irish Repeal Party. Close s upporter and friend of Daniel O’Connell MP.
Daniel O’Connell, MP (b1775 - d1847), ‘The Liberator’, campaigned for Catholic emancipation and repeal of the Act of Union.
John Murphy, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork (b1772 – d1847). Suppor ter of Daniel O’Connell.
Thomas Meagher (b c1795 – d.1874). Bo rn in St John’s, Newfoundland to an Irish merchant family. He moved to Waterford in 1819 and became a prominent businessman and political figure in the city. Shipowner, specialising in Newfoundland trade. In 1822 he married Alicia Quan (1798 – 1827), the second eldest daughter of Thomas Quan and Alicia Forristall of Waterford. A strong supporter of Daniel O’Connell, he was unanimously elected Mayor of Waterford in October 1842, the city’s first C atholic Mayor since 1690, and served as Mayor for 2 years. He was also O’Connellite MP for Waterford City from August 1847 to March 1857. Thomas is best known as the father of Young Irelander Thomas Francis Meagher (b1823- d1867)“Meagher of the Sword”. Thomas senior died in 1874 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin.
Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (b1792 – d1866), political and financ ial manager to Daniel O’Connell.
Lord John Russell (b1792 – d 1878), leader of Whig party and later prime minister.
Content & Structure
Scope & Content
Series of MS. letters written to Thomas Lyons.
Main part of the series consists of 10 letters from Daniel O’Connell MP , mainly in relation to political matters, particularly the campaign for the Repeal of the Act of Union in the 1840s. A number of O’Connell’s letters contain strongly worded sentiments in support of Repeal and encouragement to his allies and supporters of the importance of this campaign. In one 7 page letter dated 18 Apr 1845, he accepts the invitation from the Committee of the Repeal Wardens of Cork to a public entry into the city, and to a Repeal Meeting and a Repeal Banquet. He writes that he is delighted to be ‘the instrument of another perfectly peaceable exhibition’ of Cork’s support , through legal and constitutional means, of the restoration of Irish Nationality (SM775/9). The remainder of the series consists of a note from the leader of the Whigs at Westminster and later Prime Minister, Lord John Russell (1841), and single letters from Bishop of Cork John Murphy (1843), Mayor of Waterford Thomas Meagher (1843), and the former political manager of Daniel O’Connell, Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (1850). The series is an important source regarding the Repeal campaign as headed by Daniel O’Connell, and also regarding the efforts made locally in Cork to advance the cause of repeal for example by putting liberal/repeal candidates forward for election, and holding meetings and banquets, often with O’Connell as the guest speaker.
(See list of items below for detailed descriptions of items).
Arrangement
A. Letters from Daniel O’Co nnell, 1832 – 1847 (10 items) B: Note from Lord John Russell, 1841 (1 item) C: Letter from Bishop of Cork, John Murphy, 1843 (1 item) D: Letter from Thomas Meagher, 1843 (1 item) E: Letter from Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick, 1850 (1 item)
Conditions of Access & Use
Access : Open by appointment to those holding a current readers ticket
Language: English
Finding Aids: Descriptive List
Allied Materials:
Related Material:
CCCA: U/611 Denny Lane Papers YTR/PB Youghal Electoral Poll Books and Registry List U/2 Brief for Daniel O’Connell, Aldworth Case, Cork Summer Assizes , 1819 U/140 Richard Dowden U/229 O’Flynn Exham Solictors U/405 Coppinger Letters 1740 – 1783 BG/118/A /3 Midleton Board of Guardians Minute Book, 1845 – 47 SM/621 White Letter Elsewhere: UCD Archives: Papers of Daniel O’Connell , 1750 -1895 (10 boxes) National Library of Ireland: Various papers relating to Daniel O’Connell Waterford City Archives, archives of Waterford Corporation
Archivists Note:
Brian McGee Archivist, CCCA January 2012
List of Items and Descriptions:
A . Letters from Daniel O’Connell , 1832 – 1847 (10 items)
1.
7 Mar 1832
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Kilkenny, to 'My Dear Sir', Thomas Lyons Esq. Cork. Concerns political matters, such as the campaign for Repeal of the Act of Union, and current affairs, etc.. (7pp) (Damaged)
2.
29 Dec 1835
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Derrynane Abbey, Co. Kerry, to 'My Dear Sir', Thomas Lyons Esq. Cork. Concerns proposed visit to Cork and political matters, etc. (4pp)
3.
19 March 1836
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, London to 'My Dear Friend', Thomas Lyons Esq., Cork. Concerns political matters. Mentions a letter from Charles Sugrue, 'poor Ronayne's £100', and O'Connell's possible influence with the Treasury, etc. (3pp)
4.
18 Feb 1839
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Merrion Square, Dublin, to 'My Dear Friend', Thomas Lyons Esq, Merchant, Cork. Marked 'confidential'. Mentions that 'Mr. Taylor can not any longer be employed in any capacity in our bank...'. (2pp)
5.
28 Sep 1840
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Derrynane Abbey, Co. Kerry to 'My Dear Friend', Thomas Lyons, Cork. He agrees that the most politically dishonest trade in the world is the profession of the Law, and especially the Bar...'. Mentions upcoming visit to Cork, and need to write to 'his excellent friend Meagher' and others, and praises Joe Hayes and William Fagan. (3pp)
6.
17 Sep 1842
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Derrynane Abbey, Co. Kerry, to 'My Dear Friend', Thomas Lyons, Mayor of Cork. Mentions beginning of provincial agitation for the appointment of repeal wardens. He is anxious about Cork, where ' … we have some lukewarm friends...'. (1p)
7.
11 May 1843
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Merrion Square, Dublin, to 'My Dear Friend', Alderman Thomas Lyons, Cork. Mentions (repeal) banquet he was su pposed to attend, and his meeting ‘the Procession which is to conduct me in to Cork…the People will have their triumph in the expression of their concurrence with me in the absolute necessity of the Repeal of the Legislative Union.’ He will address, at som e length, an aggregate meeting with the Mayor in the Chair. (2pp)
8.
1 Aug 1844
Photocopy of MS. letter from Daniel O’Connell MP , Richmond Bridewell, Dublin, to ‘My Dear Friend’, Thomas Lyons, Cork. He sent him by mail his portrait by [Carrick], ‘…a li keness of the most sincerely at tached friend you have living…a token of the…gratitude of respect …I kn ow of no man to whom I am more indebted or who brings so great a weight of personal character and of private worth to the service of his …afflicted country…’. (1p)
9.
18 Apr 1845
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP , Merrion Square, Dublin, to 'My Dear Sir’, Alderman Thomas Lyons, Cork. Accepts the invitation from the Committee of the Repeal Wardens of Cork to a public entry into the city, ‘attended by your patriotic Trades on the first of June’, and to a Repeal Meeting and a Repeal Banquet on the 2 June. He is delighted to be ‘the instrument of another perfectly peaceable exhibition’ of Cork’s support , through legal and constitutional means, of the restoration of Irish Nationality. He derides attempts to overcome the Repeal movement by military means and by conciliation and ‘minor acts of justice and benevolence’ , such as the Maynooth endowment bill. These are ‘immeasurably short of the substantial justi ce due from England and which can never be obtained save by the restoration of our domestic legislature…Let us then persevere…Every concession made by England is a fresh proof of her former injustice…complete justice to Ireland cannot otherwise be obtained…’ (7pp)
10.
17 Jul 1845
MS. letter from Daniel O'Connell MP, Merrion Square, Dublin, to 'My dearest friend ’, Alderman Thomas Lyons, Cork . His letter has caused O’Connell many an unhappy moment as he thought ‘we were quite secure in Cork’. Mentions that Alexander McCarthy is an excellent man, and he could advance his interests as long as ‘…his banner is one likely to lead us to victory…’. However, he wishes that Lyons himself would represent Cork, but not if there is a possibility of defeat. (2pp)
B: Note from Lord John Russell, 1841 (1 item)
11.
25 June 1841
MS. note on behalf of Lord John Russell (b1792 - d1878), leader of the Whigs, House of Commons, London, presenting his compliments to Mr. Lyons and informing him that he has
written to Mr. Beamish (possibly Francis Bernard Beamish, MP, Irish Repeal Party/ Whigs), to urge him to comply with the wishes of the liberal electors, and again become a candidate for the representation of ‘that City’ (Cork). (1p)
C: Letter from Bishop of Cork, John Murphy, 1843 (1 item)
12.
13 May 1843
MS. letter from Bishop John Murphy (b1772 - d1847), North Chapel, Cork to ‘Dear Sir’ , Thomas Lyons Esq., Cork. He is unable to attend the dinner for Daniel O’Connell MP due to the state of his health. It is true that it is not his habit to interfere in political matters, ‘…after 4 6 years devoted to the quiet exercise of my Priestly and Episcopal Functions, it only remains for me to invoke the God of Wisdom to enlighten the minds of the Governing and of the Governed.’ (1p)
D: Letter from Thomas Meagher, 1843 (1 item)
13.
19 May 1843
MS. letter from Thomas Meagher, Mayor of Waterford, to Alderman Thomas Lyons, Cork. He is honoured to receive the invitation to the O’Connell Banquet in Cork. He would be gratified to unite with the Patriots of Cork in cheering on the great leader of the Repeal movement. After over 40 years in the ‘United Legislature’ (Westminster), he feels that ‘there is now no other remedy for the rapidly declining condition of our Country than an independent Parliament exclusively devoted to the advancement of Irel and’s prosperity’. He is unable to attend owing to ‘indispensable duties appertaining to my office’. (2pp)
E: Letter from Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick, 1850 (1 item)
14.
27 Apr 1850
MS. letter from Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (b1792 – d1865), former political manager for Daniel O’Connell MP, Eccles Street, Dublin, to ‘Dear Mrs. Lyons’, widow of Thomas Lyons, Cork. Expresses deep and poignant sympathy at death of Thomas Lyons, his loss ‘ irreparable ’ to the country which he loved and served so zealously and well. (1p)
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