Letter Books:
30 December 1796 - 8 January 1820, includes letters from Barbara Verschoyle, for example:
To Lord Fitzwilliam, 18 November 1797
'Tho this letter is dated from Dublin We are still in Mount Merrion where We propose remaining until after Christmass tho all our Neighbours are Gone to town - some say the weather is the Cause but I rather think it was for fear of any attack from Defenders or rather Robers under that name ... I really think it will be apt to have a great Effect upon the rent of Lands about this place...
I find it very hard to Get in the rents - money is very scarce with Everyone'
To Lord Fitzwilliam, 6 December 1797, 'I fear Indeed I do, that we Shall in the leting of Ground feel the Effects of the Terror & dismay thatis spread thro the Country, foryou Can have no Idea of it - Every one seems affaird almost to open their lips - Even in the beginning [?] of Summer there was scarce a family came to their House here without first hving an alarm bell Erected on the top of their houses that in Case of an attack the Neighbours might have notice to defend themselves & give what assistance they could to each other-'
'My Dearest Lord', 6 March 1798
'the disturbance in this Country are rather increasing - Mruders are in are[?] frequent, two or three that have happened within these 10 days are shocking
The situation of the Country now is dreadful - thank God we are pretty quiet in Dublin, but it throws a Damp on every ones Spirits & prevents any Exertion for industry'
'My Dearest Lord', 25 April 1798
'Mr Hone sent me the pcell yesterday which He brought from your Lordship for me it is sealed up as He left if & I have appointed the Tenants to Come at 1/2 past two O'Clock tomorrow to get their leases,'
'My Dearest Lord', 13 November 1798
'I did not say or do anything with respect to the Co of Wicklow Election - yr Lordship has no Interest there but Donnellan's, who I know you may command - but for Ld Powerscourts friend I would not wish to ask it -
I hope yr Lordship is right in yr Idea that we shall not have an Union - If we should it will be a material injury to yr property - the Ground would remain unbuilt & the land about Dublin considerably fall in price - I could no longer as £11 and £12 an acre - I am told it would be the Ruin of this Country - indeed I have always heard so & I am very much inclined to believe it-'
'My Dearest Lord', 14 March 1799
'I do not know what to say about the Country but I believe its Situation is very bad - it is unsafe to drive the roads in the noon day, Robberys even within three Miles of Dublin are so frequent - I do not think the Question of Union is given up, on the Contrary I believe it was never more Certain-'
To Lord Fitzwilliam, 24 April 1799
'now no one wishes for any think [sic] but to get shut of what they have here - the Union is the terror of every one & I am sorry to say I am sure it will be & if it is - even here in this delightful spot Merrion Square - we shall have grass where it once was pavement'
To Lord Fitzwilliam, 29 August 1799
'I do not think it is the talk of Union that has occasioned so many surrenders of yr Building leases, it is the odious Warr & the Rebellion, as many of the Tenants are Run away & others in prison on the later account - the Confustion it has occasioned in this Counry we are every day feeling the effects of - every article in the Building Line is at least double what it was some years ago -the markets both for provisions & wearables are raised byeond anything I ever had an Idea off'
Letter to Lord Fitzwilliam, 12 February 1801, relating to building tenants pleading for indulgence
'they plead the badness of the times the union & the dearness of the building materials & the hardness of paying so much for ground that produces them nothin, this is certainly true I cannot help allowing but still I must not let you loose so much if I can - no one has suffered more than you is the argument I maintain - indeed my Dear Lord it is very worrying & I am sure if I did not love yu as well as I do I should sink under it times perhaps will men I shall again find it pleasant - if you approve of my plan of allowing 1/2 the rent for 3 yars I will thank you to give me orders in your next for it' 2: 31 January 1820 - 12 June 1830 3: 12 June 1830 - 6 September 1832 4: 6 September 1832 - 12 May 1834 5: 14 May 1834 - 2 June 1835 6: 5 June 1835 - 29 December 1840 7: 1 January 1841 - 29 September 1847 8: 6 October 1847 - 3 July 1855 9: 3 May 1851 - 25 March 1856, wet letter press volume 10: 29 March 1856 - 8 April 1857, wet letter press volume 11: 11 April 1857 - 20 November 1858, wet letter press volume 12: 3 April 1858 - 7 January 1860, wet letter press volume 13: 7 January 1860 - 6 August 1861, wet letter press volume 14: 13 August 1861 - 29 September 1863, wet letter press volume 15: 1 October 1863 - 29 September 1865, wet letter press volume 16: 7 October 1865 - 25 March 1868, wet letter press volume 17: 30 march 1868 - 20 June 1873, wet letter press volume 18: 3 March 1871 - 31 December 1873, wet letter press volume 19: 2 January 1874 - 21 February [January] 1878, wet letter press volume 20: 22 January 1878 - 21 March 1885, wet letter press volume 21: 20 March 1885 - 28 June 1890, wet letter press volume 22: 1 July 1890 - 12 October 1894, wet letter press volume 23: 12 October 1894 - 30 November 1897, wet letter press volume 24: 30 November 1897 - 17 March 1900, wet letter press volume. |