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Correspondence concerning Madame Regina Łukasiewicz’s accusations of the theft of her late husband’s papers by Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ and Prof. E. O'Doherty of U.C.D. (her late husband was Jan Łukasiewicz, Professor of Mathematical Logic at the Royal Irish Academy (a special professorship) ). Madame Łukasiewicz was suffering from ‘paranoid psychosis with delusions of persecution’ and was admitted to St Vincent’s Private Mental Home for a number of weeks until Fr Gwynn helped to arrange her removal to the house of her nephew in England. The papers had in actual fact, been deposited by herself in the R.I.A. Library in 1956. Documents include:

• copies of letters sent by Madame Łukasiewicz to the Taoiseach and the Commissioner of the Gardai stating her case and seeking help with living expenses and the return of her husband’s manuscripts (15 and 18 July 1957, 2 items, 2pp each);
• letter from the Slavic Assistant in Rome to Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ (8 December 1957, 2pp);
• statement of Fr Gwynn made for the Provincial explaining his ‘connection with the sad history of Madame Regina Łukasiewicz’ (11 December 1957, 4pp);
• statements of Dr Mary Sullivan and Dr John Malone on the mental health Madame Lukasiewicza (13, 16 December 1957, 4pp);
• statement by Dr Farrington, Librarian and Assistant Secretary, R.I.A. (13 December 1957, 1p.);
• copy of statement made by solicitor Arthur Cox ‘acting as Madame Lukasiewicza’s legal advisor’ for the Provincial (16 December 1957, 1p.);
• letter to Fr Gwynn from Fr Stanislaus Wawryn SJ (Polish Provincial) (23 December 1957, 1p.);
• letter to the Provincial from the Society’s Curia in Rome (26 December 1957, 1p.);
• copy of letter of Taoiseach Éamon de Valera to Fr Gwynn on the matter, in which he states ‘I know that since Prof. and Madame Lukasiewicz came here you have been one of their kindest friends…I regret very much that you should be subject to the annoyance which these charges cause you; and I would be glad to assist in any way in making it known, to any one who may be concerned, that I regard these charges as altogether without foundation and, indeed, in the circumstances, as outrageous’ (30 December 1957, 1p.).

Holograph letter to Dr Michael Cox from Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins, in which he comments on the thesis of a book, or pamphlet, lent to him by Dr. Cox. The book in question was 'Arts and Industries in Ireland' by S.A. [Sarah Atkinson] (Dublin: M.H. Gill & Son: 1882), which contains two essays, one of which is ‘Irish Wool and Woollens, passages from the history of the staple trade’. Its thesis was that English interests had secured the suppression of the Irish woollen trade, thus contributing to the poverty of Ireland. Hopkins does not accept this – ‘Irish writers on their own history are naturally led to dwell on what in history is most honourable to Ireland…They are also led to dwell on what in history is most dishonourable to England…the most extensive…Irish woollen industry was frieze…this was never checked by English legislation…’.

Dr Cox, a university colleague of Fr Hopkins, was a distinguished Dublin physician, lecturer in the Medical School of the Catholic University Dublin and Examiner for the Royal University of Ireland.
S.A. was Sarah Atkinson, author of a Life of Mother Mary Aikenhead, Foundress of the Irish Sisters of Charity.

The letter along with another by Fr Hopkins (See J11/7) was presented to the then Editor of 'Studies' Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ by the late Fr Arthur Cox, son of the recipient. Both letters were published in 'Studies', Spring 1970 (Vol. LIX, No. 233) pp.19 - 25, with an explanatory introduction and notes by the then Editor, Fr Peter Troddyn SJ.

Typescript copy of original holograph letter of Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ to Dr Michael F. Cox (31 March 1887) commenting on the thesis of the pamphlet on the Irish woollen industry by Sarah Atkinson. ‘I now return your pamphlet with thanks…I more than ever note the selfishness of the legislation of 1699 etc., but I also more clearly see that it goes but a very little way to explaining the poverty in Ireland…’ Comments on a paper by Rev. William Cunningham (a distinguished economic historian), from which he lists a number of ‘relevant facts’ and concludes ‘The above shews a picture of selfishness and shortsighted folly, but it also fails to shew the cause of Ireland’s want of commercial prosperity. So far as there is blame Irishmen must be in great part to blame for that.’

With note on top left corner by Fr Peter Troddyn SJ (Editor of 'Studies'), ‘Copy typed from original (which is mislaid at Feb 1970)’ i.e. this copy was made by Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ about 1965 when he received the two letters from Fr Arthur Cox, son of Dr. Michael F. Cox. The letter published in 'Studies' was taken from this typescript copy as the original holograph letter had, by that time, been lost. (See article in 'Studies', Spring 1970, pp.19-25 for explanatory notes and introduction to the letter.)

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ concerning Fr Arthur Cox, who died in Zambia on 11 June 1965 following a car crash. Includes: letter from Fr Cox to Fr Gwynn describing how Fr Cox is settling in to his new life in Monze and learning new languages (21 December 1964, 2pp);
– letter from Bishop James Corboy SJ with reference to Fr Cox (23 February 1965, 1p) (see also J10/18);
– letter from Fr Frank O'Neill SJ describing the circumstances of Fr Cox’s death (16 June 1965, 3pp);
– letter from Bishop Corboy following the first anniversary of Fr Cox’s death (17 June 1966, 1p.). Includes ordination and memorial card of Fr Cox.

Aubrey Gwynn and Arthur Cox at UCD together.