Showing 816 results

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ, St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Patrick Connolly SJ concerning a poem written by Fr Canavan. Praises the poem but remarks that it cannot be published.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ concerning the newly founded ‘lectureship in Ancient History in U.C.D.’. ‘I feel that you will be very much disappointed when I ask you… to present yourself as a candidate; for I know that you wish to go to China. Do try to forgive me when I ask you to do something that pleases you less.’

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial Cecil McGarry SJ to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Fr Gwynn’s entrance into the Society of Jesus.

Copy of letter from Irish Fr Provincial Paddy Doyle SJ to Fr Gerard W Hughes SJ concerning the funeral of Br John Baptist Byrne SJ.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ , St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr John MacErlean SJ appointing him (on behalf of Fr General) to investigate and repel attacks made against the Society in the Irish Province.

Copy letter from James Campbell, 10 Kings Inn Quay, Dublin to Messrs. Blount, Lynch and Petre concerning the legatees of the two wills relating to the Garrisker estate. Remarks that they require '...immediate payment of their claims now so long overdue.'

Letter from James White, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ concerning his sister, Mrs. Sheila Moorehead’s offer or a portrait of her brother, Denis to the Gallery.

Letter from Thomas Bacon of J.G. O'Connor and Co., solicitors, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ following the death of his sister Sheila. Encloses a copy of Mrs. Moorehead’s will dated 8 November 1978, in which she bequeaths £1,000 to Fr Gwynn; an oil painting of ‘Cattle in Berkshire’ by Walter Osborne and the water-colour sketch of Fr Gwynn as a boy, also by Osborne, to the National Gallery; a lithograph of her grandfather William Smith O'Brien; a poem of his written in Kilmainham Jail and a signed poem by Thomas Francis Meagher, to the Municipal Art Gallery (5pp).

Letter from Joanna Murphy, Ballymore Castle, Cashel, County Tipperary to Fr John Grene SJ concerning her late son Mr James Murphy SJ and the grief she feels following his death. Thanks Fr Grene for his consoling' letter and apologises for not replying sooner.

Letter (written in Irish) from John Hyde, Ballycotton, County Cork to Fr [ ] concerning the results of his Intermediate Examination.

Letter from Joseph P Walshe, Department of External Affairs, Irish Free State to Fr John Ryan SJ asking him to translate a dedication.

Letter from Kenneth Power (brother of Cyril Power), 9 Eden Park, Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire), County Dublin to Mr Cyril Power SJ concerning family news.

Letter from Lil [Fr Egan's sister], Patrick's Hill, Cork to Fr Michael Egan SJ concerning family news.

Letter from Lord Pakenham, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ariel House, Theobald’s Road, London to Fr Canavan. Expresses his sorrow at hearing that Fr. Canavan is having ‘a bad time’. Remarks that he remembers Fr. Canavan in his prayers.

Letter from M Finlayson, 104 Hill Street, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England concerning family news. Includes lines of a poem entitled 'He is Fooling Thee', after Longfellow.

Letter from Maggie [ ], 10 Abercorn Street, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England expressing her regret that she did not get to say goodbye to Fr Seaver before his departure for America.

Letter from Maggie Mc[ ], 174 Gowcaddens, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England concerning his departure for America. Refers to her desire to become a religious and asks Fr. Seaver to pray for her.

Letter from Máire Ní Bhriain (Máire O'Brien), 43 Mespil Road, Dublin to Fr Edward Cahill SJ concerning the resignation of her post in Madrid after the signing of the Treaty and '...on receiving Gavan Duffy's "Free State" instructions - the carrying out of which would have been entirely against my principles.' Remarks that she was then offered a job on '...Fine Ghaedheal by my former "boss"...Bob Brennan and we are working together very harmoniously linking up the Irish race. Our Free State friends are...trying to smash us as they would smash the Republic and every Irish institution but we are going come out on top in spite of them.

Letter from Mary Murtagh, Honorary Secretary, Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle, County Limerick to Irish Fr Provincial Joseph Dargan SJ sympathising over the death of Fr Hilary Lawton SJ. Includes a copy reply.

Letter from M.E.B. to Fr Matthew Russell SJ concerning a poem that Fr Russell has commented on. Refers to a book of poetry. Remarks that a second book of verse should be published soon. Refers to a book on European Impressionism ‘...for Mr. Eason but have not yet decided upon a name.’.

Letter from Michael Browne, Bishop of Galway, Mount St Mary's, Galway to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ asking him to allow Fr Edward J Coyne SJ devote as much time to the Vocation Organisation Committee over the coming months so that the report may be compiled; includes a copy reply from Fr MacMahon remarking that Fr. Coyne will '...devote to the preparation of the report of the Commission all the time and energy available.' (20 March 1942, 1p).

Letter from Michael Browne, Bishop of Galway, Mount St Mary's, Galway to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ asking permission for Fr Edward J Coyne SJ to be present at a meeting of the vocation organisation commission.

Letter from Michael Curtin, Parochial House, Cloyne, County Cork certifying that John Hyde was confirmed by Dr Browne on 14 May 1921.

Letter from Mr Francis Shaw, Belsize House, Mullingar, County Westmeath to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ reporting on his visit with Dr Quinlan and his advice for Shaw's future studies. Remarks that he has talked the matter over with Fr Ryan who advised convalescing for another month at home and to go to Tullabeg for another month to prepare for his examination in Philosophy and to then return to Bonn.

Letter from Mr John Mary O'Connor SJ, writing from Brussels, to Fr Thomas Wheeler SJ. Asks the latter to communicate with Messrs Sheridan & Kenny – solicitors of Fr O'Connor’s mother – in relation to the ‘Dowling mortgage’.

Letter from Mr Timothy Moloney (Centro Irlandes, Lerida, Spain) concerning his thesis and Denis Gwynn’s manuscript on William Smith O'Brien.

Letter from Mrs Walls, 13 Willow Park Avenue, Ballymun, D 11 to Fr Daniel Shields SJ in which she encloses £2 for the Penny Dinners. Refers to her mother as ‘Aunt Josephine, mentioned in James Joyce’s books and that she is ‘his first cousin’.

Letter from Muriel J. L Frazer, 48, Wellington Road, Belfast to Fr john J Coyne SJ regarding the contribution made by Fr John J Neary SJ, to the Caribbean voyage last winter.

Letter from Norbert L. Moran, solicitor, Dublin, to Fr Thomas Wheeler SJ. Encloses a bill for miscellaneous costs (not included). Also refers to his efforts for a sale of Tobercurry.

Letter from Patrick Drinan SJ to Fr Bartholomew Esmonde SJ, Hardwicke Street Chapel, Dublin concerning his life in the noviceship in Rome. Another letter is written by James Patrick McDonnell on the reverse concerning St. Andrea. It would seem (the letter is almost indecipherable) that this second letter also concerns the noviceship in Rome.

Holograph letter from Patrick Maxwell of 37, North Great George's Street, Dublin to Fr Patrick Hughes SJ. Reports that he met with Mr. [Montfort], and it was agreed that Fr Hughes/the Society would pay off the entire amount. Adds that he had a [ ] deed prepared.

Letter from Mr Patrick Tighe SJ, Maison St Augustin, Enghien to Fr William Kane SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin thanking him for his letter and apologising for the delay in replying. Asks for news from Ireland. Remarks that he is very happy living in France and recounts news of the Irish Brothers studying there reporting that all are very happy. Remarks '..you have experienced the genuine charity of our French brothers, it makes me very glad to have the opportunity of making part at least of one's studies abroad (4pp)'.

Letter from Patrick Walter Shaw (father of Fr Frank Shaw SJ), Belsize House, Mullingar to Fr Laurence Kieran SJ expressing his joy at his son's improved health. Remarks that the trip home will complete his recovery.

Letter from Peter Doyle, Old Derry to Fr Bartholomew Esmonde SJ, Clongowes Wood College, Clane, County Kildare concerning [ ] salvation and Rev. Furlong.

Letter from publishers the Clarendon Press, Oxford to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ on his proposed book on the history of the early Irish Church.

Letter from Rev. George O'Neill SJ, 35 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial concerning an article written by Fr Phelan about Canon Sheehan. Remarks that the article was sent to him as a reader for the Catholic Truth Society ‘I reported strongly against its publication thinking it lamentable from many points of view. The other reader and the Hon. Sec. were equally unfavourable.’.

Letter from Rev. George O'Neill SJ, 35 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial concerning Fr Provincial’s objection to Scholastics continuing as committee members of the English Society at University College. Remarks ‘This Society fulfils an exceedingly useful function in the college. It exercises its members in three most useful things...writing...reading them out...(and) criticizing each others work.’. Continues ‘I fear that their (the Scholastics) withdrawal from active participation...would simply mean its extinction.’.

Letter from Rev James Tuite SJ, St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr James A. Cullen replying to his request for a meeting. Remarks that he should call at Gardiner Street.

Letter from Richard [F] [Sidney] of 9 Nelson Street, to Fr Alexander Kyan SJ. Encloses letter received from the latter and from Howard Kyan in relation to Dr Scallan.

Holograph letter from Richard Gallagher, 2 Inniscarraig, Western Road, Cork to his aunt Mary, wishing her ‘a very merry Christmas and a bright new year’.

Letter from Rita (cousin), Ballkealy, Tullow, Carlow to Fr William White SJ.

Letter from Robert Cornthwaite, Bishop of Beverley, to Irish Fr Provincial. Recounts some details of a mix-up, involving himself and another bishop, from whom he asked for a letter. Also refers to the ‘very pardonable pious impatience” of Mr ‘McDonnell’.

Letter from Robin Gwynn, New Zealand (Fr Gwynn’s first cousin once removed, on his father’s side) to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ, concerning the future custodian of the Gwynn family papers (i.e. who should it be and where should the papers be kept). At the time Mercy Simms was the custodian.

Letter from Sheridan & Kenny, solicitors, to Fr Thomas Wheeler SJ. Encloses a cheque for £136.1.3, being part of the costs incurred by Fr Wheeler in the case of the estate of Dowling, and the debt due by the latter to Fr O’Connor.

Letter from Sr John Gaynor, The Sisters of Charity, Our Lady's Hospice for the Dying, Harold's Cross, Dublin to Mother Prioress Sr Mary Gabriel, Carmelite Convent, Firhouse concerning the illness of her sister and Fr Duffy's sister, Anne. Remarks 'Although I know you must feel it a blessed thing for a soul to be nearing its eternal house, still it pains me to have to tell you your dear sister is visibly losing ground.' Refers to Fr Duffy and remarks that she sent for him.

Letter from Sr M. Catherine of the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, St Mary’s, Limerick, to Fr Stephen Farrell SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin. Conveys her thanks, through the latter, to the anonymous benefactor, who gave a donation of £100 for the use of her Convent. Includes a handwritten receipt for the above donation, signed by Sister Mary Catherine Bren.

Letter from Sr Marie Hilary, The Sisters of Charity, Mount St Anne's, Milltown, Dublin 6 to Fr Fergus O'Donoghue SJ concerning a letter to Fergal McGrath from his grandparents (McAllister) on the occasion of his first holy communion (12 April 1906, 1p), and a poem written by his mother, Lady McGrath (Eleanor Mary McAlister), on the occasion of her son's ordination.

Letter from Sr Mary Francis Bridgeman of the Sisters of Mercy, to unknown bishop/archbishop. Relates her experiences of travelling to, and working in, British military hospitals with other Irish Catholic nuns in the Crimea (Scutari and Koulali) when Florence Nightingale was in charge there. States that she writes at the instigation of Frs Molony and Ronan. Refers to the bad relations that existed between the nuns and Nightingale, and the charges of proselytism laid against the former.

Letter from Sr Mary Ignatius, The Sisters of Charity, Benada Abbey, County Sligo to Sr M Attracta (Sister of Mother Mary Joseph Jones and Fr Daniel Jones SJ), concerning a request by Sr Attracta for a description of Benada. Refers to the 'great house' and the lace making school at Benada.

Letter from Sr Mary J. Bernard, Ursuline Convent, St Mary's, Waterford to Fr John Curtis SJ complimenting him on the retreat given to the community.

Letter from Sr Mary of St Mary Magdalene of Pazzi Lawson, Prov. Superioress of the Convent of the Good Shepherd, Limerick, to Fr Stephen Farrell SJ. Encloses a receipt for the gift of £100 from an anonymous donor, and received through Fr Farrell (included).

Letter from Stephen Kuttner (President of the Institute of Medieval Canon Law, School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, California) to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ, a ‘Corresponding Member’ of the Institute, informing him that the ‘appointment of Corresponding Members should henceforth be understood as made for a period of five years…’

Letter from Stephen Lucius Gwynn (aged 9) to his ‘Aunt Lizzie’ concerning his love of shooting birds with his catapult!. With postscript written by his mother Lucy.

Typescript copy of a letter from Surgeon Conway Dwyer to Fr Robert Kane SJ concerning Fr Kane’s operation and illness during the months of May, June and July 1917. Expresses his thanks to Fr Kane for a portrait of Fr Kane and a copy of one of his books. Concludes ‘I feel very happy at the successful issue of what is always a severe and trying operation. I earnestly trust that you will be able now to carry on your great and good work for many fruitful years.’.

Letter from Thomas Furlong, Bishop of Ferns to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Writes in relation to arrangements for Fr Kelly's delivery of a sermon [on the temperance movement] in his (Furlong’s) diocese.

Letter from Thomas Furlong, Bishop of Ferns to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Describes his plans for the introduction of the temperance movement in his diocese.

Letter from Thomas Furlong, Bishop of Ferns to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Explains that more information is needed about the temperance association before he asks the priests of his diocese to promote it.

Letter from Thomas Furlong, Bishop of Ferns to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Reports on the success of the Association in his diocese. Asks Fr Kelly to send a large supply of tickets to him.

Letter from Thomas Furlong, Bishop of Ferns to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Reports that he cannot find the parcel sent by him to Fr Kelly.

Letter from Thomas Furlong, Bishop of Ferns to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Undertakes to recommend Fr Kelly’s Association to his clergy.

Letter from Thomas Hyde, 7 Asgard Road, Howth, Dublin to Fr Dargan SJ thanking Fr Dargan for sympathising over the death of their brother Charles.

Letter from Thomas Keogh, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Braganza House, Carlow to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ complimenting Fr Counihan's retreat to priests in Carlow.

Letter from Thomas McCreevy, Garland’s Hotel, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, London, to Fr Thomas A. Finlay SJ concerning Fr Finlay’s “attitude to Mr Lennox Robinson in regard to his story ‘The Madonna of Slieve Dun’…I presume that you accept Mr Robinson’s repudiation of the suggestion that his story was a parody of the Scripture History of the Incarnation.” Protests about the attitude of a ‘small section of the press in Ireland’ with regard to ‘Christian standards’, defends Mr. Robinson and states ‘I…regard it as binding, in us Catholics particularly, to see that injustice is not done in our name in this matter…I am prepared to urge Mr. Robinson to get the matter considered by the Holy Office itself if necessary rather than submit to the injustice of being treated as a blaspheming parodist.’

Letter from Thomas Power, 57 Booterstown Avenue, County Dublin to Fr John Ryan SJ thanking Fr Ryan to agree to substitute for him.

Letter from Ulick Joseph Bourke, President of St Jarlath's College, Tuam to Fr Robert Kelly SJ. Refers to a matter discussed by him and Fr Kelly when the latter was on a visit, and relates that he brought it up with Archbishop McHale, who agreed to give him another formula of approbation for Fr Kelly.

Letter from Victor G SJ, Constantine, 55 rue Serigny, Algeria to Fr David Gallery SJ thanking him for his letter but cautions him against using the address and putting SJ after his name. Remarks 'You put my Superior in boiling water..now in several of our domiciles any letter bearing the name of Reverend Pere etc.is returned unopened to the sender...Just as present we are hunted by the detectives of the sectarian government to be taken as delinquent or rebelious [sic] to the law in reconstituting a community'. Continues 'We don't pass for Jesuit anymore, we are diocesan missionaries'. Remarks that the Bishop ordered him to Biskra to help out the priest who had fallen ill. Remarks that the heat was unbearable and he was relived to return to Constantine.

Letter from [ ] Wallace to [ ] Walsh submitting his opinion on the O'Reilly estate, case of opinion of 1779, and settlement of 1747.

Letter from William Barry, Dorchester, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England to Fr Matthew Russell SJ concerning a review he (William Barry) is writing of Fr Sheehan’s new book for 'The Catholic Times'.

Letter from Willie [ ], Belgium to Uncle Louie [relatives of Fr Egan] concerning his journey to Belgium and his daily routine.

Letter granting religious powers in the diocese of Dublin by the Archbishop of Dublin, Edward Byrne to Fr Andrew O'Farrell SJ.

Letter of congratulation from James Corboy SJ, Bishop of Monze, Zambia, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Fr Gwynn’s entrance into the Society of Jesus.

Letter of congratulation from the Jesuit Curia in Rome on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Fr Aubrey Gwynn’s entrance into the Society.

Letter of invitation to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Donal McCartney, Prof. of Medieval Irish History, U.C.D. (and Dean of the Faculty of Arts) to the reception celebrating 70 years of the Faculty of Arts in U.C.D. – ‘it would be a great honour for us if one of our best-remembered Deans were to attend.’

Letter of sympathy from Mary Purcell, 32 Gardiner Place, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Paddy Doyle SJ following the death of Fr john Coyne SJ.

Letter to Fr William A Sutton SJ from Fr Herman Walmesley SJ congratulating him on behalf of Fr General, on the Golden Jubilee of his entrance into the Society.

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.)

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from A. Vernet, Paris, with reference to the sacramentaries listed by Léopold Victor Delisle in his Catalogue of manuscripts in French libraries.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Bishop Theodor Kramer, Würzburg, on sending Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ a paper on the Cult of St. Killian (3pp). Includes copy of Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ review of 'New Light on St. Killian' by J. Dienemann (Würzburg, 1955) the 'Irish Ecclesiastical Record', 1957 (88, pp.1–16) ).

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Irish Provincial Cecil McGarry SJ following Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ's request that Fr McGarry censor his book on the history of the Irish Church in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, something Fr McGarry thinks is unnecessary.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Irish Provincial John Fahy SJ, concerning Fr Gwynn’s ‘future work’. While Fr Gwynn is keen to go to the missions in China, Fr Fahy is anxious that he should stay in Ireland and work at U.C.D. and University Hall – ‘I write…that you may know how I sympathise with missionary work. A decision will not be made for some time about your future. Meanwhile I think that I should say frankly that, in my opinion, our CCs would for many reasons be opposed to your leaving Ireland – wishing to have you for U.C.D., Dr Coffey is, I understand making arrangements to have a chair in Ancient History founded for you.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from James White, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, concerning the acquisition from a Mr Stewart Thomson, of a ‘sketchbook of the work of Hugh Thomson, the Belfast artist who illustrated Stephen Gwynn’s well-known book on Donegal.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from J.G. Mudd[iman], Dorset Square, London, who is working on “a sort of ‘Contemporary History of Cromwell.’ ” States that he is ‘very decidedly of (the) opinion that a volume …of Cromwell’s letters would be of very great importance. He has a definite story to tell, tells it at length, knows personally all the persons he mentions and has a knowledge of English so perfect that he hardly ever makes a mistake in the spelling of a name.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Joyce Lorimer (Ontario, Canada) on their mutual research interests in the West Indies.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Matthew J. Byrne, Kerry (brother of Frs. George and William Byrne SJ), relating some incidents which occurred during the era of the Penal Laws. Includes information on a ‘penal law Altar preserved in a house at Causeway with vestments and altar furniture, all ready for Mass…in a concealed hollow in wall of bedroom of house once occupied by a Fr Neilan.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from publishers the Clarendon Press, Oxford, concerning Russell & Russell’s reissuing of 'Roman Education'. ‘As he says in his letter of 29 January 1964 a loophole in the Unites States copyright law enables books published here (UK) before 1957 to be reprinted there (US) without authorisation – though not to be exported into countries where this loophole doesn’t exist. Naturally he didn’t say that practically all American publishers regard it as unethical to take advantage of this loophole, for various reasons, and especially because it is liable to create the situation in which we now find ourselves.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Tomás Ó Cléirigh (National Museum of Ireland) enclosing a copy of a reference to Irishman in the West Indies found in a 1663 publication by Rev. John Dowley.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from William O'Sullivan (Keeper of Manuscripts, T.C.D. Library) containing extract from the Dowth Missal from Archbishop Ussher’s notebook.

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ from Fr Anthony Bischoff SJ after Fr McGrath sent him the card index of books belonging to, or associated with Hopkins. Fr Bischoff indicates those ‘having definitely been Hopkins…None of the other titles on your list were associated with Hopkins.’

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ (Irish Province Archivist 1975 to 1986) from Fr Anthony Bischoff SJ (Jesuit Community, Georgetown University, Washington), concerning books used by or belonging to Fr Gerard Hopkins SJ, found in St Ignatius’ House of Writers, 35 Lower Leeson Street. ‘I confess I am appalled at the idea that these books have been carelessly assimilated into the house library. In 1947, I spent hours examining every book in the Leeson Street house Library. The result was that I segregated some fifteen or twenty books that had definitely belonged to or been used by Hopkins. All of these I turned over to Father Aubrey Gwynn, then librarian. I made clear to him what the books were, their value as having been associated with Hopkins, and suggested that they be kept as a separate collection. I do not have a detailed listing of the books…I have only two definite titles that I recall…There are also several books by Richard Watson Dixon that belonged to Hopkins…You ought to also have the autograph manuscript of Hopkins’s poem ‘St. Thecla’, as well as manuscripts of one or two of his letters.’

Books used by or belonging to Fr Gerard Hopkins SJ
Annotated books, 1876 - 1884
IE IJA J/11/18 - 'The History of Tacitus According to the Text of Drelli. Books III, IV, V.'
IE IJA J/11/19 - 'Corpus Poetarum Latinorum'
IE IJA J/11/20 - 'The Acharnians of Aristophanes'
IE IJA J/11/21 - 'Aeschylus – Choephoroi'

Non-annotated books, 1884 - 1918
IE IJA J/11/22 - ‘Poems’ by Richard Watson Dixon
IE IJA J/11/23 - 'Poems' by Henry Patmore
IE IJA J/11/24 - 'Prometheus. The Firegiver' by Robert Bridges
IE IJA J/11/25 - 'Eros and Psyche. A Poem in Twelve Measures' by Robert Bridges

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ (Province Archivist, 1975 to 1986) from Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ (Clongowes Wood College), concerning the holograph manuscript of Hopkins’s 'St. Thecla' which Fr Burke-Savage discovered ‘while cleaning out Fr [Patrick] Connolly’s room (in St Ignatius, House of Writers, 35 Lower Leeson Street) when he was in (St.) Vincent’s having his leg set about 1948…I got leave from Engl(ish) Provincial to keep it on permanent loan.’

Letter to Fr Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ from Cardinal John Henry Newman, following Fr Hopkins's letter for the Cardinal's birthday in which Fr Hopkins commented on the state of the country. The Cardinal replies, ‘Your letter is an appalling one, but not on that account untrustworthy. There is one consideration however, which you omit. The Irish Patriots hold that they never have yielded themselves to the sway of England and therefore never have been under her laws, and never have been rebels. This does not diminish the force of your picture, but it suggests that there is no help, or remedy. If I were an Irishman, I should be (in heart) a rebel. Moreover, to clinch the difficulty the Irish character and taste is very different from the English.’

Letter to Fr Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ from Cardinal John Henry Newman thanking him for his ‘kind remembrance’ of the Cardinal's birthday and stating ‘I grieve to find you corroborate from your own experience what other friends tell me about the State of Ireland. What are we coming to!’ Also original envelope for the letter, addressed to ‘The Revd. G. Hopkins, S.J., 85.86 Stephen’s Green, Dublin’ dated 27 Feb. 1885, Birmingham. With Holyhead Kingstown Packet franking on back, dated Feb. 28.

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from Dr. Henry C. Drury enquiring what year the Conmee family came to live at Kingsland, County Roscommon. The Drury family lived at Kingsland before the Conmee’s and Dr. Drury is helping ‘a friend in London who is working at Drury pedigrees.’

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from a [ ] Lalor SJ in Petworth (an English Jesuit house) thanking Fr Conmee for writing to him following the death of a mutual friend, Fr Michael Waters SJ in Upper Gardiner Street on 22 November 1895.

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from the poet Aubrey de Vere, Curraghchase, County Limerick in reply to Fr Conmee’s letter thanking de Vere for sending him some of his father’s sonnets, “…but for a mistake on the Publisher’s part they would have been forwarded to you long since. They form part of a volume now out of print, which my Father published as long ago as 1842 entitled ‘A Song of Faith’ and consisting chiefly of poems illustrative of the Apostles’ Creed”. Discusses some of his father’s poems, the nature of poetry and reflects ‘It is really marvellous to think what might be done for the Catholic cause and for the moral and intellectual well-being of the country by even a few first-rate Catholic literary works. Perhaps the next generation may give us a Catholic Coleridge to write Philosophy, a Catholic Wordsworth to be our Poet, a Catholic Scott to illustrate Ireland as Scott illustrated Scotland in his Novels, and a Catholic Historian to undo all the mischief done by the erroneous Tradition. Four such writers would do a marvellous work in the next thirty years; and there seems no reason why Ireland alone might not provide them all, if only the ability so constantly running to waste among us were at once properly developed and disciplined.’

Letter to Fr Leonard Sheil SJ from Cardinal John Heenan telling Fr Sheil that he is re-writing 'Our Faith', ‘So much has changed since the council that the attitude & culture of the Catholic have to be tilted differently.’

Letter to Fr William A Sutton SJ from his brother, Sir Abraham Sutton following the publication of 'The Clongownian' in June 1921, containing a photograph of him (Sir Abraham), following his election as President of the Clongowes Union, for 1920 – 1921, and an appreciation (p.120 – 121). States in his letter ‘Dont fail to read 'The Clongownian'. You will be amazed to read about your younger brother as indeed he was to read about himself.…I suspect who wrote it but I am not quite certain. It is artistically done but much over laudatory. You cried when I returned to the world but Providence decreed otherwise for there were many family matters that required my special attention. Just think I entered my 73rd year on last Monday. Oh how short they appear now!’

Letter to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ from Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin (a member of the Senate of the Royal University), concerning Fr Brown’s support for the candidature of Fr Hopkins to the Fellowship of Classics. States ‘His Eminence, Card(inal) McCabe, informed me on Wednesday last of the selection of Fellows made on that day by the Senate of the R(oyal) University; and on Friday I learned from him that he had on the previous day resigned his place in the Senate in consequence of the rejection of his proposal relative to the Fellowships. I had hoped…that the communication made to you by Dr Woodlock of the resolution unanimously adopted…by the Episcopal University Committee in reference to the Fellowships would prevent the unfortunate conflict in the Senate; and it was with deep regret I learned that you had, in opposition to the Coetus Episcoporum, represented by the Episcopal Committee, kept on your two Candidate (sic); and thereby rendered the conflict inevitable –…I take the liberty of writing to you now, to tell you how much I deplore the step you have taken and the conflict in which it engages you and to express a hope that you will for the sake of your great undertaking in Stephen’s Green…remedy the mistake you have made by withdrawing the Revd. Fr Hopkins, as you are of course still perfectly free to do. For many years past I have publicly & privately used my best efforts to secure to your Society an eminent position in your University System. If the result is to be, from the very outset, a conflict…I must say I will heartily repent of what I have done and persuaded others to do in this matter.’ (For background to the appointment see T. J. Morrissey’s article ‘Hopkins’s Friends and Colleagues’, J11/46 and article by Norman White in 'The Hopkins Quarterly' entitled 'An Irish Row').

Letter to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ from Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin (a member of the Senate of the Royal University) – ‘I write now to let you know, that at our Committee Meeting when the question of the Fellowships came to be considered, the opinion expressed by his Em(inence) was in perfect accord with the resolution of the Committee. That was on Tuesday at 2 o’c(lock). There was no intimation that he had previously entertained, not to say, communicated to you, a different opinion…Dr. Woodlock…was requested at the close of our Meeting, about 5 o’c(lock) to give you official information of our views respecting the Fellowships…and I had no doubt, neither had any other member of Committee, but he had done so…the selection of the Candidates for the two Fellowships in question was generally supposed to have been deferred by the Senate to his Eminence – and for that as well as other reasons he expected his choice would be approved and so did the other members of the Ep(iscopa)l Committee.’ Includes original envelope addressed to Fr Brown. (See J11/46; pp.197 – 199)