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DANIEL O’CONNELL AND RICHARD MORE O’FERRALL
An important correspondence including five original autograph signed letters from
O’Connell to O’Ferrall, 1839-41, all with good signatures, contemporary copies of
two from O’Ferrall to O’Connell, several other related letters, and some recent
scholarly commentary, as follows:
1. DANIEL O’CONNELL.
Autograph signed letter to ‘O’Farrell’ [Richard More O’Ferrall], 1 pp, with cognate
blank, from 16 Pall Mall, dated 7th May 1839, marked ‘Confidential’. ‘I am so
unhappy about the ministry - for the sake of wretched Ireland - that I can
not resist asking you your personal and of course your candid opinion as to the
Course they will take ... I do not know when I felt so uneasy and unhappy.’
2. DANIEL O’CONNELL.
Autograph signed letter to [Richard] More O’Ferrall, 8 pp (two folded sheets), from
Derrynane Abbey, dated 29 November 1839. ‘I have a crow to pluck with you
- and a monstrous large one - It is this - In the House of Commons one night
about a fortnight before I left London, you were complaining of the apathy of the
people of Ireland respecting the registry [i.e. registration to vote] - I told you that I
had a plan to rouse them for registry but that it would require £2000 - of which
I would undertake for the forthcoming of one thousand - you instantly said you
would promise the second thousand ..’ O’Connell explains in detail that he has
placed more than £1000 at the disposal of the Loyal Registry Association, most
of which has been spent, but suggests that O’Ferrall has not yet delivered on his
undertaking. ‘I therefore ask where is your share of the money. The machinery
in Dublin is excellent, not one shilling is mis-spent, but we want your share of the
funds’, etc.
3. DANIEL O’CONNELL.
A short ALS to More O’Farrell, 1 pp, cognate address page with seal, from 16 Pall
Mall, 4th June 1841, introducing a Counsellor Welch of the County of Kilkenny.
‘He will speak to you about Carlow Town - you may place complete confidence in
him as a gentleman of the highest honour and integrity’.
4. [DANIEL O’CONNELL].
A short autograph note, 1 pp, with cognate blank, to O’Connell, dated 5 June
41, signed initials (possibly GM), concerning ‘a note which Pigot sent me. I have
nothing to do with such matters, which should be arranged by the candidates. Mr
Trench has no authority from any one here to act in any matter nor in any place.’
5. [R. MORE O’FERRALL].
‘Copy of letter to O’Connell’, 11 June 41, 2 pp, presumably in O’Ferrall’s hand. ‘I
have stated my opinion more than once as to Mayo, it is entirely out of my influ-
ence and I had refused Lord Oranmore to meddle in it’, etc.
6. DANIEL O’CONNELL.
ALS to O’Ferrall, 12 June 1841, from Merrion Square, 3 pp. ‘All looking well and in good spirits.
I am told I shall certainly carry Carlow. Remember Laird is to give £200 to the indemnity fund.
Remember also I must get a knighthood for Browne, he commands about 30 good votes in
the county Dublin where they are wanted’, etc., with further financial and other details.
7. DANIEL O’CONNELL.
ALS to O’Ferrall, 15th June 41, from Merrion Square, 4 pp, enclosing various letters. ‘With
respect to Carlow could there be a letter written to the Bishop Dr. Healy to say that there
would not be any resentment entertained against those who at this election were repealers
- a [note?] of this kind would be valuable. It should not appear to have any connection with
me’, etc, also mentioning other constituencies. ‘As for Youghall, why ask a requisition - it
seems dragging the constituency at the chariot wheel of authority - Indeed indeed it is not
good taste. Especially as the politics and that species of religious feeling called in Ireland
Biblicism on the part of young Curry lessen the influence of the Duke and create disgust when
attachment might easily be produced ..’
8. [R. MORE O’FERRALL].
Copy of letter to O’Connell,17 June 41, 3 pp. ‘You will receive a letter by this post on the subject
of Youghal and Carlow which will remove the impression you are asking for the requisition,
[it] was well meant but it should have gone thro another channel than Curry. It was a Dublin
blunder. The same person .. will write to the Bishop. You need not fear heavy resentment for
those who exert themselves unless great imprudence or violence, which you would disapprove
as anyone, rendered a condemnation absolutely necessary ..’
9. [R. MORE O’FERRALL].
Copy letter, unsigned, to P.J. Fitzpatrick, 29 Oct 1842, 2 pp, enclosing a £10 subscription to the
O’Connell compensation fund, in spite of a recent difference of opinion, etc.
10. P.V. FITZPATRICK.
ALS to R. More O’Ferrall, Dublin, October 29 1842, 1 pp with cognate blank, acknowledging his
subscription (see previous item).
11. A SMALL COLLECTION OF RECENT NOTES AND LETTERS,
1970s, from (Prof.) Maurice O’Connell to Edward More O’Ferrall, with a letter from Dr Patrick
Wallace of the National Museum describing the letters in question as important, a copy of a
TLS from Dónal Ó Luanaigh of the National Library of Ireland, and other related letters and
transcripts.
AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION,
generally in excellent condition, casting considerable light on O’Connell’s political and financial
manoeuverings. After his triumph with Catholic Emancipation (1829), O’Connell spent the rest
of his career seeking to make progress towards Repeal of the Union on a peaceful basis. He
died in 1847 without achieving that aim. Richard More O’Ferrall was a Liberal MP for Kildare
and Longford, and a friend and collaborator of O’Connell. He was a Lord of the Treasury 1835-
39, Secretary to the Admiralty 1839-41, and ended his career as Governor of Malta. Original
letters of significance from O’Connell are now rare in private hands.
€ 4,000 - 6,000