Mary Purcell Dublin Diocesan Archives: Hamilton Papers (2) In
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Mary Purcell Dublin Diocesan Archives: Hamilton Papers (2) In this issue there is continued the catalogue of the papers of Archdeacon John Hamilton (1800-62) which was begun in volume xiiii (1988). In the file presented here the documents cover the period from 1814 to 1830 and are mainly in the form of letters sent to John Hamilton as student and young curate. Mary Purcell who catalogued the Hamilton papers gave a brief biography of this remarkable priest in volume xxxvi (1981). Born in 1800, John Hamilton was the eldest of seven children. His father died in 1816 and in the following year John went to the Irish College, Paris. His progress there was so rapid that he taught his fellow-students in his final years. It was a time of disturbance and upheaval in the college. Fr. Paul Long, appointed rector by the Irish bishops, was ousted more than once and continually harassed by Richard Ferris, who had held high office in the college prior to the Revolution and who, through his powerful friends in high places, effectively controlled the Bureau set up to supervise the Irish, English and Scots colleges, united under Napoleon. When study became impossible Hamilton and his friends, Morgan O'Brien of Cloyne and Myles Gaffney of Dublin, transferred to St. Sulpice. Ordained in 1824, Hamilton came home and was appointed curate in St. Mary's, the present Pro-Cathedral in Dublin. He was later administrator there from 1831 to 1853 and paid off the debt on the Pro-Cathedral. He also built St. Lawrence O'Toole's church and the schools at Seville Place and William Street. He ran an orphanage, a home for widows, a home for blind boys and a Catholic Library Bookshop. He revived the invaluable Catholic Directory and founded a spiritual association for priests. It was he who introduced the Society for the Propagation of the Faith into Ireland. As secretary to Archbishop Daniel Murray, he looked after the administration of the diocese during the archbishop's frequent illnesses and absences. Consequently the later papers of Archdeacon Hamilton are complementary to those of Archbishop Murray. The editor wishes to record his thanks to Mr. David C. Sheehy, Diocesan Archive, Dublin, for his help. 3 Dublin Diocesan Archives: File 35/2 Papers of Archdeacon John Hamilton. Copied by courtesy of His Grace Most Rev. Desmond Connell, Archbishop of Dublin. Catalogued by Mary Purcell. 1 1817 A letter from Luke Cahill, Dublin, to Messrs. G. and W. Simmons, Liverpool, informing them that John Hamilton is going to London via Liverpool and asking them to help the traveller all they can. Date: 23 September 1817. The Bearer, Mr. 2 1817 A letter from John Hamilton (in London) to his mother. He describes his arrival in Liverpool, delay caused by sea-sickness; sight-seeing in Liverpool, dinner at an hotel, seeing Kean act at the Theatre Royal, his 34-hour coach drive to London, the fellow-travellers etc. and his arrival in London. Remembrance to relatives and friends. Date: 27 September 1817. My last of 3 1817 A letter from Simon Hanratty, Dublin, to his friend, Jn. Hamilton in the Irish College, Paris. He gives a message from Mrs. Hamilton to her son re money sent him. She would write but has no news. He describes his aunt Mary's wedding; theatre news from Dublin and London, death of the Princess of Wales and her infant son and the general mourning decreed in Dublin which closes all theatres for 14 days. He gives an account of Roger O'Connor's law case; reports the deaths of John P. Curran and Mrs. Brinsley Sheridan and loss of a ship between Bristol and Waterford in which accident 54 persons were drowned. Date: 11 November 1817. I am desired 4 1818 A letter from Fergus Dowd, Bordeaux Seminary, to Jn. Hamilton at the Irish College, Paris. He is very happy in the Petit Seminaire and describes the arrangements there; the food is much better than in Paris and claret is 2d. per bottle. The countryside is beautiful, the townspeople provide the seminary with everything and the Archbishop spends all his yearly income on the College. When he goes to Paris he will bring a bottle of claret to friends whom he names; and sends good wishes to J. H. and other friends. Date: 20 August 1818. I find myself 5 1818 Same to same. He encloses a letter for Hamilton to give to addressee; the latter got money from Dowd's father for him but 4 has not forwarded it, though he wrote to him twice about it. He and the other students are on retreat so he will not write anything further but all the Irish students are well. Date: 6 November 1818. I found myself 6 1819 Same to same. He describes his students etc.; also a journey which took him through Orleans. The rules are very strict in his seminary; one could be expelled 'for making a graceful smile'. There are hopes that the Irish College, Bordeaux, may be re- established. Date: 16 February 1819. I received your 7 1819 A letter from Luke Cahill, Dublin, to John Hamilton at Paris. He is glad that John likes the Irish College and that he got Minor Orders so early. He sends good wishes from 'Miss Mary' (his sister). He is sending John money by Frank who is going to Paris for a few days and hopes John will show him the sights. John's mother and all the family are well. Mr. Hanratty died, a great loss. He sent John £2.10s. Mary Ann Cahill thanks for the beads. (She adds a note thanking John.) Date: 5 July 1819. I am happy 8 1819 A letter from Mrs. Jane Hamilton to John in Paris. She is glad he is well and progressing more rapidly than expected with his studies. She got the letters he sent by Mr. McMahon. Mrs. Hanratty is bearing her loss well. She herself and all the children are well. She asks when he expects to be home. Date: 29 August 1819. I received your 9 1819 A letter from Simon Hanratty, Dublin, to John Hamilton in Paris. He describes his father's illness and death, also that of his brother Stephen; he tells of an accident when two brothers went shooting and one boy's gun went off, killing the other. Mrs. Hanratty adds a note to letter saying that she is still too distressed by her loss to write but will write later. Date: 31 August 1819. I take up 10 1821 A letter from Fr. P. H. Curran, chaplain, Bordeaux diocesan seminary, to John Hamilton, Irish College, Paris. Answering Hamilton's query about his (H.'s) two brothers, he says both are promising boys and suited for business careers. Francis would be the more steady for the Church; James is perhaps his superior in talents but Francis has more application. James has the wit of his late father. He gives messages for people in the Irish College and discusses the property of the Irish College, Bordeaux. 5 It is decided not to re-establish that college, it would still be advisable to keep the house, divide and let it, thus providing revenue that could be put to good use. He gives news of students, friends of J. H. Two, due for ordination soon, wish to stay on for a few years; the Archbishop will be glad of this Tor he has 76 parishes without any priest; the neighbouring diocese in like case; a bill now with French Parliament may improve things. He gives a message from Mr. Gorman, executor of the late Rev. Burke's will. Date: 15 May 1821: Your very satisfactory 11 1821 Same to same. He doubts that the Bordeaux Irish College will be re-established. His own object in coming to France was to learn the language, but in Bordeaux they speak Gascogne; also the only support for an Irish priest there is Mass offerings; so he is setting out for Paris and hopes to see J. H. and other friends soon. Date: 3 June 1821. This moment I 12 1821 A letter from Simon Hanratty, Dublin, to John Hamilton, Paris. [Very faded, portions illegible]. Mrs. Hamilton got no reply to her last letter in which she enclosed money for John. He gives news of friends and acquaintances. The son of Mr. Murphy, the ironmonger, blew his brains out because of gambling debts. Date: 11 July 1821. I take this 13 1821 A letter from Miles Gaffney at Grisy to John Hamilton at the Irish College, Paris. He cannot go to Paris yet; gives messages for Dr. Kearney and others and asks if John knows how they will be situated at S. Sulpice. Another College would suit Wall well but is very expensive. John is to enquire what would be the charge there for ten months and send word. 'You and I did all we could for him'. Date: 6 August 1821. I don't find 14 1821 Same to same. A long letter telling J. H. how M. la Roche, a lawyer, took him and Egan for a visit at his country home in Brie and how they want with him to the law courts where they met a young counsellor from Paris, a priest. He describes the latter's beliefs and will bring him to meet J. H. Date: 21 August 1821. You see I 15 1821 Same to same. Wall (cf. 13 above) now says he is coming to Paris to study physics; he asked the writer to look out for a place for him but as G.