Letter from Lady Louisa Conolly in London to her husband Thomas Conolly concerning the 1796 French expedition to Ireland,
1796 [recto 1797] Jan. 7.
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| Summary: | Lady Louisa Conolly, writing from London to her husband writes ‘…I begin to be impatient to leave London in order to get back to Ireland, for although I hope that Lord Bridport [Admiral Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport, (1726-1814)] will be fortunate enough to catch the French fleet, I cannot feel easy at what I heard yesterday. At Lloyd’s Coffee House it is known that no less than 4 invasions were planned. The two first were to be made on Ireland, at Galway and Belfast. The other two were in readiness and were to be so near at hand that upon the first moment of success in Ireland, the other two were to be on England, at Hull and somewhere in the South of England, but I do not know exactly where. We have thank God happily escaped the Irish attempt, but until we have some account of this French fleet it is impossible to be easy. … how happily for Ireland has it ended in the best possible manner, viz: the good will of the people, of which I am not a little proud, having always thought that when it came to be, between French and Irish, to fight against Irish, the country would not divide itself. I even think that Belfast would turn out fewer traitors than is envisaged…’. She writes of her immediate plans and the unhappiness of her mother-in-law. Of a visit from Charles James Fox, she remarks he is ‘very desponding about politics – delighted about the escape that Ireland has had’. |
| In collection: | Conolly-Napier papers, 1783-1840. |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
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| Notes: | The French expedition to Ireland was a failed attempt by the First French Republic to assist the Society of United Irishmen in staging a rebellion against British rule; Theobold Wolfe Tone was amongst the French expeditionary force, aboard the 'Indomptable'. Physical description: 1 item (1 sheet). more |
| Arrangement: | Item |
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Letter from Lady Louisa Conolly in London to her husband Thomas Conolly concerning the 1796 French expedition to Ireland,
1796 [recto 1797] Jan. 7.
| In Collection: | Conolly-Napier papers, 1783-1840. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Lady Louisa Conolly, writing from London to her husband writes ‘…I begin to be impatient to leave London in order to get back to Ireland, for although I hope that Lord Bridport [Admiral Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport, (1726-1814)] will be fortunate enough to catch the French fleet, I cannot feel easy at what I heard yesterday. At Lloyd’s Coffee House it is known that no less than 4 invasions were planned. The two first were to be made on Ireland, at Galway and Belfast. The other two were in readiness and were to be so near at hand that upon the first moment of success in Ireland, the other two were to be on England, at Hull and somewhere in the South of England, but I do not know exactly where. We have thank God happily escaped the Irish attempt, but until we have some account of this French fleet it is impossible to be easy. … how happily for Ireland has it ended in the best possible manner, viz: the good will of the people, of which I am not a little proud, having always thought that when it came to be, between French and Irish, to fight against Irish, the country would not divide itself. I even think that Belfast would turn out fewer traitors than is envisaged…’. She writes of her immediate plans and the unhappiness of her mother-in-law. Of a visit from Charles James Fox, she remarks he is ‘very desponding about politics – delighted about the escape that Ireland has had’. |
| Main Creator: | |
| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 1 item (1 sheet). |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS 40,242/13
(Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland. |