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Mary Purcell Dublin Diocesan Archives: Hamilton Papers (3) In Mary Purcell Dublin Diocesan Archives: Hamilton Papers (3) In this issue we continue the publication of the calendar of the papers of Dr John Hamilton (1800-62), dean and later archdeacon, and secretary to Archbishop Murray of Dublin. The papers calendared here are contained in the files numbered 35/3, 4 and 5 in the Dublin Diocesan Archives, and cover the years 1831-5. During this period many of the letters received by Dr Hamilton bear upon his secretaryship to Dr Murray and his administratorship of the Pro- Cathedral. His correspondents include friends, clerical and lay, and family members, as well as importunate parishioners. In 1991 there occurred the death of Dr Mary Purcell who summarised the letters published here. Mr David C. Sheehy, the diocesan archivist, has written the following appreciation of her life and work: Dr Mary Purcell (1906-1991) was a native of Carrigeen, Co. Kilkenny, and a relation of the famous Maynooth professor, Walter MacDonald. Teacher, author and archivist, she was best known as a biographer of saints, holy persons and historical figures such as St Ignatius Loyola, Matt Talbot and Gonzalo de Cordoba (‘El Cid’). In 1961 she was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice decoration by Pope John XXIII for her services to religion. She was also honoured by the French Academy and the Spanish Royal Historical Academy, but her greatest source of pride was the conferring on her by the Pontifical University of Maynooth of an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in 1989. In 1972 Mary Purcell was invited out of retirement by Archbishop Dermot Ryan to begin the cataloguing of the historical treasures in the Dublin Diocesan Archives. Her painstakingly accurate and brilliant summaries of the letters of Archbishop Murray and Archdeacon Hamilton have been published in successive issues of Archivium Hibernicum since 1981, thus alerting scholars to their contents and availability. Working in the archives at Drumcondra, Mary Purcell fielded countless queries of an historical nature, from far and wide, with her customary generosity and good humour. A lady of many talents and a multi- faceted personality, she is remembered with affection by all who knew her. The Editor wishes to express his gratitude to His Grace, Dr Desmond Connell, archbishop of Dublin, for permission to publish this calendar, and to Mr Sheehy for his kind assistance in the preparation of the work for publication. DUBLIN DIOCESAN ARCHIVES: HAMILTON PAPERS (3) Dublin Diocesan Archives File 35/3 (1831-3) Papers of Archdeacon John Hamilton. Copied by courtesy of His Grace Most Rev. Desmond Connell, Archbishop of Dublin. MORE IMPORTANT 1 1831 A letter from the O'Conor Don, in London, to Dr Hamilton. He gave Dr H.'s letter to his brother (Dr H.'s) whom he met: he was at the House of Commons until three; no division took place on the Reform Question so all is still suspense and anxiety. Date: 21 March 1831. I had the 2 1831 [A pencilled note states that this document was found among Dr Hamilton's papers.] A letter from H. Norwich to an unnamed correspondent. Lord Grey offered the writer the See of Dublin but 'my little Glass is new' (sic); were this not the case he would accept. With regard to the picture of the House of Lords, he (N.) does not consider himself important enough to occupy the foreground and he therefore declines to supply any information on either himself or his family. Date: 13 September 1831. Lord Grey offered IRISH BISHOPS 3 1831 A letter from Dr Higgins, bishop of Ardagh, to Dr Hamilton. The bearer of the letter, Mr. Watson, wishes to have an interview with Dr Murray. Dr Higgins asks Dr Hamilton to accompany him, introduce him and explain his case. Date: 8 January 1831. The bearer, Mr Watson 4 1831 A letter from Dr Kinsella, Kilkenny, to Dr Hamilton. He ordered books from Paris to be sent to a Dublin bookseller but they are lying in the Custom House. He asks Dr H. to try and locate them, pay duty and forward them by the mail coach: he makes arrangements for paying the cost of this, and apologises for asking Dr H. to oblige. Date: 13 June 1831. I am about 5 1831 A letter from Dr Higgins, Ardagh, at Leamington Priors, to Dr Hamilton. He encloses a letter for forwarding to Dr Esmonde, whose address he is not sure of. Dr Murray was at Leamington for ten days. The writer and Dr Kelly are much improved, 'in health, spirits and appearance' after their stay and he advises Dr Hamilton to spend a month at Leamington. He explains why he did not call when in Dublin. Date: 1 September 1831. Not being quite 6 1831 Same to same. He grants him all the powers he may require to act in the Ardagh case. When passing through Dublin he had no time to call either on Dr Murray or Dr H. He invites Dr H. to come and stay with him at Ballymahon. Date: 5 Nov 1831. You hereby receive 7 1831 A letter from Dr Kinsella, Ossory, to Dr Hamilton. He is forwarding his seal and chain to have a stronger one instead: he will pay £3 to £4 for the difference, but not more. If it is not too late he wishes to have a change made in the (Latin) wording re the marriage of elopers. He invited Dr H. to Kilkenny for the Christmas holidays and will ask Fr Morgan O'Brien to come and meet him. Date: 9 December 1831. I send by 8 1831 A letter from Dr Kelly, Galway, to Dr Hamilton. He encloses a draft for £50, from the French charitable fund placed at the disposal of the bishops, for the Catholic Book Society. Date: 15 December 1831. According to promise 9 1831 A letter from Dr Bourke, Killala, to Dr Hamilton, granting him faculties to absolve in a reserved case for a subject of his diocese. Date: 17 December 1831. I do not wish 10 1831 A letter from Dr Higgins, Ardagh, to Dr Hamilton. He grants him the faculties requested (similar to preceding) and is glad to hear that Dr Murray is so well. All is quiet in his diocese but 'if the Irish Reform Bill be not satisfactorily settled and the odious Tithe System completely abolished, I have no doubt that every man in Ardagh will become a most determined agitator in the cause of Repeal.' Date: 20 December 1831. You hereby receive PRIESTS, SECULAR: 11 1831 A letter from Fr Morgan O'Brien, Doneraile, to Dr Hamilton. He is in greater trouble than ever: Dr Coppinger believes all the accusations against him, though Dr Collins, who acted as intermediary, has found the most serious charge to be false and unfounded. He (M. O'B.) thinks of leaving the diocese and 24 asking Dr Fitzgerald of Carlow College to take him on, 'if only to teach Latin Grammar’. He has already told Dr H. his reasons for not wishing to go to Paris and the present unrest there is a further reason. He asks Dr H. to advise him. Date: 20 January 1831. As ever since 12 1831 A letter from Fr Myles Gaffney (Beauvais) to Dr Hamilton. His lectures and other duties prevented him from replying sooner. He has good news for Dr H. She (Dr H.'s sister?) will be received by the Ladies of the Sacre Coeur: she and Fr Gaffney's sister can travel together, but he advises, on account of the present situation in France, that they delay their coming until things quieten down. He hopes that will be before he leaves Beauvais so that he can be there to welcome her. He encloses Madame Barat's letter re Dr H.'s sister to the Superioress in Beauvais. He worries about Ireland. The new Parisian journal, L'Avenir, has published three articles on Ireland, one of the editors having returned from a visit to Ireland. He eulogised the Catholic clergy and the faithful, and praised Drs Murray and Doyle. He mentions his coming appointment to Maynooth and is glad he will not be a professor so as not to have to take the oaths: he asks Dr H. to send him information on the oaths, also what the duty on imported books is. He forgot to mention that the Sacred Heart nuns have now postponed their possible foundation in Ireland on account of the trouble there and he asks to be informed what is the truth re the trouble. He thanks Dr H. for visiting his mother and asks if some little can be spared to help pay for his voyage home in May; he gives news of Biddy and John, the latter should soon be returning to Ireland. He transcribes the relevant passages in Mme Barat's letter (in French). Date: 23 January 1831. You have been 13 1831 A letter from Fr M. O'Brien, to Dr Hamilton. He had no reply of his of 20 Jan. and now writes to say that the blow has fallen: he is being changed from Doneraile; he asks Dr H. to advise him at once re Carlow (see 11 above). Date: 27 January 1831. I have written 14 1831 Same to same. He received Dr Hamilton's letter which is indecisive and unsatisfactory. He asks Dr H. to do something for him and get him some post; otherwise he must go to his mother in Youghal. He asks Dr H. to write again; he will not apply to Carlow College until he hears from him.
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