11 autographed signed letters, [1 typed with a typed copy of another letter and notes] from William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, Lord Lieuenant of Ireland 1902-05 to T.P. [Thomas Patrick] Gill, 1904 - 07, 1 from 1920;
the letters are on headed paper indicating some are sent from Dublin Castle, others from the Earl's seat at Crom Castle, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh while a few others are sent from aborad - London [the Turf Club, Piccadilly and 7 Carlton Gardens] and Paris [sent from the Ritz Hotel]; with 1 envelope written on by Dudley [21 October 1906] to Gill and 3 typed copies of some of Gill's replies to Dudley;
1904-1920
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| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Citation: | National Library of Ireland. Department of Manuscripts. |
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| Notes: | The letters contain references to Irish Land Policy, the redistribution of Parliamentary seats, the Congested Commission which he headed, amongst others. Ward's letter of 14 December 1905 is a farewell on his leaving office after a disagreement about proposals for devolution of powers - he remarks 'The days of humiliation, of rebuff, of weary waiting and bitter disappointment are over - and the days of freedom and of action have begun...'. References to the 'absolute 'rot' as Long's speech at Bristol...It is very easy to talk about the 'rights' and 'privileges' of minorities in Ireland - but it never seems to strike these people that the majority in Ireland also has rights, which are always consistently denied by men of the Long type.' A letter from 25 March 1907 [sent from from London], he expresses concerns about the progress of the Irish Bill - 'Birrell seems to view things in the right light and is full of courage and enthusiasm, but the influence of Asquith, Haldane and Tweedmouth & Co. appears to be very strong in the Cabinet and as far as I can judge from what various people have told me, there is great fear in the Cabinet of making the Bill in any sense a Home Rule Bill'. There are references to the 'desire to see the same men who at present sit in Parliament, upon the Council in Dublin. They have also decided that the Lord Lieutenant shall not be the President of the Council...the general spirit at present appears to be one of fear and distrust, and unless a new spirit enters into them before it makes its appearance, I very much doubt whether it will be one which the Nationalist would be willing [note: originally the word 'right' was typed then crossed out and replaced in ink by hand with the word 'willing'] to accept.' On the verso of this letter is a reference to the fact that Dudley has heard that they are considering appointing Sir William Butler as a 'possible successor to Horace Plunkett'. Dudley refers to Butler as a 'crank' remarking "We have all read of the Roman's turning their swords into plough-shares, but the idea of Sir William Butler making use of his military knowledge for the purpose of improving the growth of potatoes in Ireland is indeed carrying the Roman principle to considerable length'. T.P. Gill was the Secretary of the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction from 1900 - 23. He was formerly an Irish Party M.P. William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1902 to 1905 and later served as Governor General of Australia. Physical description: 15; letters and 1 evenlope more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds |