Halpins of Wicklow, etc. - Part 4

[Shanachai]

Part 2.

So far as Ireland is immediately concerned we cannot see that she has any cause to complain.  ''Rulers are a terror to them that do ill,'' and it is against such only that the power of British law is directed.  The respectable portion of the Irish community, the vast majority of the inhabitants of the sister isle, can have but the same feeling in the matter that we have; and they feel that it is for Ireland's good that one portion of the charter of our common liberties has for a time been suspended.  It is quite a mistake to suppose, as many do, that the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act is equivalent to a declaration of martial law.  The Habeas Corpus Act, passed in the reign of Charles II, does not regulate the manner in which persons shall be tried, but the time of trial.  The object of the enactment was to prevent the accused persons being kept in prison for an indefinite period without trial: and its main feature was that accused persons should be tried at the next term or assizes.  This Act is now set aside till the 1st of March 1867, but to prevent any abuse of it, it will be necessary that the warrant for the arrest of any person, must be signed by six members of the Privy Council of Ireland, or by the Lord Lieutenant or his chief secretary.  In fact there is not one safeguard for the fair trial of the accused which is affected by the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act.  It gives the Executive considerably more power, but the prisoners will not have one atom less of justice.  On the whole, we applaud the decision and firmness of the Government, and we sincerely trust that the attitude our Queen and Parliament have now assumed may speedily put an end to this insane and wicked rebellion.

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, December 15th 1866.

Wicklow Town Commissioners.

A special meeting of these commissioners was held on Monday last, for the purpose of electing a member to replace Mr. John P. Hopkins.  Present - Messrs. T. Troy (Chairman), H. McPhail, J. W. Dillon, J. Hayden, J. O'Brien, J. Oakes, T. Doolittle, and T. Gregory.

Mr. Hayden proposed that Mr. Wakefield be appointed to fill the vacancy.  Mr. McPhail had great pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr. Wakefield.  He thought that a better selection could not have been made, and he only wished there were more like him on the Board.  Mr. Wakefield had always been most energetic in his efforts for the improvement of the town.

There being no other candidate proposed, Mr. Wakefield was elected nem con.

Mr. Wakefield said that he would endeavour to make his private interests subservient to the public good, and would always support to the best of his ability any project for the improvement of the town.  He hoped there would be no more about any little unpleasantness that had arisen between the Board and himself, and that they would all now unite to advance the interests of the community, and he was sure their efforts would be successful.

The proceedings then terminated.

[Unite to advance the interests of the community was what some on the Board adamantly refused to do.  To circumvent this opposition, which was based on a mainly Anglo-Irish attachment to feudal political arrangements that were, in practice, colonial in nature and prejudicial towards the interests of Irish Catholics, Francis Wakefield and Robert Wellington Halpin maneuvered their way into controlling positions within the Board of Commissioners and the Harbour Board - the two most powerful local government bodies in Wicklow at that time.  From there, they actively attacked the ancient monopolies that did so much to stymie development in Wicklow.  The Bridge Inn Halpins were a demonstratively loyal part of the old regime, and were to do all they could to oppose, and discredit, Wakefield and his most trusted political ally - R. W. Halpin.  Wakefield was to become the Radical candidate for the Liberal party in Wicklow, and was described in his obituary as a champion of local government in Ireland, but not quite a Home Ruler.  In 1867 he wrote what could be described as a political manifesto cum autobiography, in which he describes his travels in the 1840s into some of the most isolated regions of Ireland, his impressions of Daniel O'Connell, whom he heard speak before a monster rally at Tara in 1843, and his proposals for the reformation of administrative governance in Ireland.  His book was written to inform public opinion in the United Kingdom of the ongoing injustices in Ireland, and to propose a number of workable solutions.  The reasons for my great great grandfather's affection for him can be gleaned from the following passages of Wakefield's manifesto:

My opinion and my testimony are valuable, because my prejudices are directly contrary to the convictions I have been forced deliberately to entertain.  I go with the tenants and with the Roman Catholics because my conscience tells me they have right on their side, and because I see, as any unprejudiced Englishman must see if he has lived in Ireland, and sought out the truth as I have done, that the people and the priests have been wrongfully used.  Far greater and far more eloquent men than myself have discussed Irish questions, but splendid advocates like Mr. Butt and Mr. Bright are practically unacquainted with the effect produced by the years of misrule amongst Irish tenantry, popular as both these gentlemen are in Ireland; and Lord Dufferin can only see the faults in the Church management, and ignores the defects of Irish landlords; clever and well-meaning as he is, he cannot see why a landlord should not exercise the right of doing precisely as he likes with his own.
     ...I claim therefore to be the first unprejudiced, well-informed "Saxon" who has studied the Irish questions, and given the pros and cons without humbug, and to have laid bare many things studiously concealed, or not previously known.
     ...Let [my readers] remember that Ireland is not England, but an island held as a conquered country for generations, where all attempts at trade were crushed at their first development, lest they should affect the reign of England's commerce.
     ...Pray remember the Abyssinians reject beads and brass buttons and prefer dollars, and that money and money's worth are appreciated even amongst those outer barbarians - the Munster and Connaught peasantry - who are every day leaving the chance of starvation and a bit of land for plenty elsewhere, and who, as railways, education, and civilization are introduced, will become more desirous to be independent and well fed.
     Lastly, I beg [my supporters] to assist me in encouraging the present Government in their crusade both against the Fenian conspiracy and the intemperate exhibition of Orange bigotry in the north, and in causing every inhabitant of these islands to understand that matters will be henceforward so managed that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland shall have no ill-fitting joint in its armour through which any insidious foe can smite.]

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, December 15th 1866.

Part 1.

The Future Of Wicklow.

To the Editor of the Wicklow Newsletter.

Sir - During the last days of one of the most remarkable years which the present generation has witnessed, it is well to take stock of our town, and to see what has happened to increase or diminish our prosperity, and to make us hopeful or despondent for the future.

Of the great struggle in Europe, and of the agitation in America, we have felt nothing; and though we must, as inhabitants of Ireland, be aware that Fenianism exists, no voice in our town has asked for protection, and were the loyal inhabitants called on tomorrow, we could show a numerical front of Protestants and Catholics calculated to win approval even from the Times.  The Cattle Plague [outbreaks were reported at the beginning of the year] has providently spared us, in common with the rest of Ireland.

The Cholera, which has proved so fatal to our neighbours, has just let us know how its terrors could be felt by taking one of our best townsmen, and a few of those whom illness of some kind so frequently destroys in the first days of winter; but the disease has been encountered wisely and well, and its stay has been short, its ravages few.

Of the terrible commercial crisis which shook the credit of England, and has impoverished thousands who thought themselves beyond the reach of fate, Wicklow has felt little.  The National Bank stood firm, and the only relative concern we have felt is for the collapse of the Chairman of our Railway, Mr. Dargan.  Grieved as we are for the misfortune to a man who has everyone for his friend, we still believe that the dynasty which will succeed him may see matters according to newer lights.  To concentrate all the traffic upon Bray, as a second Brighton, to make Kingstown the only shipping port, so as to bring empty carriages over all but twelve miles of the important Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford line, while the mineral traffic which ran past Wicklow was carried at half-price - all these are errors in judgement not likely to be continued by those who do not have heavy house investments in Bray, and who do not want to show even at a loss an increasing mileage of mineral traffic.  We are soon to be connected with Carlow and Waterford; and there is good hope that, either by Government supervision, or by general amalgamation, the whole railway system of Ireland may be joined, when increased speed, efficiency, and cheapness, may be looked for. 

Wicklow has been visited by many this season, who have been struck with the beauty of the situation as a summer retreat, and the facilities the port presents for trade.  Whatever the natural advantages we enjoy, however kindly Providence has spared us from afflictions others have sustained, to prove worthy of these blessings we must look for future progress to our own endeavours.  Some weeks since, you printed a speech of Mr. Rooke's given at the dinner to Captain Halpin, in which the necessity of united action for the public good was inculcated.  Any one who attended the late meetings on the sanitary state of the town must have been struck with the improved feeling exhibited by everyone.  In every little town there is certain to be suspicion of the motives of everyone, intolerance of opposition, and also want of business attention to details.  While we feel gratitude for the perils we have escaped, I hope we shall all lay aside personal feelings, and join together even at some sacrifice of prejudice and pocket, for the public good.  In a Town like Wicklow no interest can be benefited without everyone participating.  Unfortunately, though we possess a harbour splendidly situated for trade, the sacrifices we have made of our whole available property are at present useless, for the Government plans have resulted in failure.  We must take all the Harbour Dues to save the harbour, and to keep and increase the extra business coming to our port.  To increase these funds the Wicklow shipowners must show their willingness to give up some of the exclusive privileges they now enjoy.

[Shanachai]

Part 2.

The great advantage we have over other towns is our splendid health-giving Murrough.  We must not let it become a dirty cart-track, but have a decent drive, while the elastic turf promenade is kept well fenced in for ladies and children.  Then we must remember that though in another year the Commissioners will have a fine income, they have none now.  We call upon them to clear away nuisances, to save us from disease, to give up Harbour Dues, and to improve the Murrough, and then we call out: "No taxation!"  Now, Sir, this won't do.  We have all but escaped disease in Wicklow, and we shall escape the 3s 6d in the pound a neighbouring town will have to pay; but this year, you and I and all of us must put our hands in our pockets and thank God we are so well off.  As we pay, however, we will consider that the excellent line taken by Mr. Chapman, in regard to coupling our parish with Glanealy and Newcastle, may save us something in future in our poor-rates, and we will tell him to appoint a ''Finance Committee'' at once from the corporate body of Wicklow.  A committee of this kind would see that the rents were duly got in at the proper time, and that the debts were duly paid.  The best of us is all the better for a little looking after, and accounts were never overhauled yet without good result. 

If we can write that "After 1866 Wicklow Harbour improved, owing to the abandonment of privileges by its shipowners, and the dedication of all dues to that object; that the Murrough was rendered all that it was capable of being made, by the efforts of its inhabitants; that the Commissioners became remarkable by their readiness to sacrifice personal interest, and (accepting the voluntary tax offered by the townsmen to pay the expenses incident upon warding off disease, and other matters), appointed a 'Finance Committee' who were enabled to effect great results by their attention to their duties.''  If we can write this of 1866 we may, indeed, call it a ''wonderful year.''

I am, Sir, yours &c., "Hopeful.''

[I have tried to figure out who ''Hopeful'' might have been by comparing the style of his letter with other letters sent to the Editor of the WNL, and by inference based on the contents of the letter itself, but have had no success.  From what I have read of Wakefield's letters, it lacks his forceful positivity.  From what I have read of my ancestor's writings, it lacks the humility of someone of his class and background, and displays a presumption that he - as Secretary to the Board of Guardians - would have been unlikely to demonstrate in so public a way.  But the letter encapsulates everything both men stood for, which leads me to believe it was written by them.  It would not be the first time they spoke in unison, and it would not be the last.]

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, December 22nd 1866.

Wicklow District Relief Committee.

At a meeting of the Wicklow District Relief Committee held this day (Friday), Captain Wynne in the chair, other members present:- Rev. H. Rooke, Rev. M. Sullivan, Francis Wakefield, Esq., Dr. H. Banks, Dr. W. Nolan jun., Messrs Hayden, O'Brien, W. J. Nolan, and R. [W.] Halpin.

The shortness of the notice given occasioned the absence of many influential persons, who, otherwise, would have attended to support a movement of such general interest, the following resolutions were agreed to. 

Resolved - That Dr. Banks be appointed Hon. Secretary.

Proposed by Mr. Hayden and seconded by Dr. W. Nolan jun., and Resolved that it appears to this meeting, that the relief given be continued for the present to assist in aiding the amount allowed by the Poor Law Guardians, and that Dr. Banks, Dr. Andrew Nolan, Dr. W. Nolan jun., and Dr. Halpin send written orders to the Committee in every case of destitution.

Proposed by Mr. R. Halpin, and seconded by Francis Wakefield, Esq., and Resolved that six tons of coal be distributed amongst the poor of Wicklow before Christmas - in accordance with the above resolution.

Resolved - That Dr. Banks take the Irishtown district; Dr. W. Nolan jun., the Murrough; Dr. A. Nolan, Main Street and Abbey Street; Dr. Halpin, back of the town and Crossroads.

Proposed by Rev. M. Sullivan, and seconded by Dr. Banks, that in consequence of the amount of destitution in the town of Wicklow, a public meeting of the Gentry, Clergy, Merchants, &c., &c., be called with a view to open a subscription list to alleviate the present distress, and that the Committee meet again on the 27th inst., at 7 o'clock pm, for the purpose of fixing the day of meeting.

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, February 24th 1866.

On Monday morning a marine named Lambert was flogged on board the Royal George at Kingstown, for striking his superior officer.  The full number of lashes ordered by the Court Martial, four dozen, were given, and the shrieks of the unfortunate man were distinctly heard at the Railway Terminus.  If discipline were not vigorously maintained the service could not be properly carried on; still, it is most revolting that there should be such a mode of punishment.  Some other, less repugnant and as efficacious, might surely be devised.  Incorrigible youths and treason-plotters should only be subject to the lash, and even then to a far smaller extent than four dozen.

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, February 10th 1866.

Postal Arrangements In Wicklow.

We beg to inform the inhabitants of Wicklow and vicinity, that a Memorial lies at our Office for signature, praying the Postmaster-General to cause some change in our present Postal Arrangements, so that replies to letters received at 11 o'clock am may be posted on same day, and forwarded in time for delivery in Dublin or for transmission by the English Mail Steamers, instead of remaining as now twenty-one hours in the post office, a serious inconvenience to all, but especially to our mercantile community.

Wicklow Town Commissioners.

At the monthly meeting of the Wicklow Town Commissioners, held in the Courthouse, Wicklow, on Monday last - Mr. O'Brien took the Chair.  Mr. Halpin, the Secretary, gave a lengthened history of the circumstances under which the various plots of ground for building, on the Commissioners' property in this town, were taken.  This was done in pursuance of a resolution moved some months since by Dr. A. Nolan, with a view to ascertain how far the holders of building plots had fulfilled their agreement with the Commissioners.  Its further consideration is postponed to next meeting.  A very noteworthy movement also stands for consideration in the providing of a suitable depot for storing the timber which usually blocks up the South Quay, by giving room for it on the North Quay.  Some matters of routine were also disposed of.

Court Of Chancery - Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Wakefield v. Deane.

This was a petition filed to compel specific performance of an accepted proposal for a lease of part of the lands of Rogerstown, situate near Raheny, in the county of Dublin, for three lives, or eight years, and prayed for a reference to the Master if necessary.  It appeared that the petitioner was seized of the lands in question, with a power to grant leases for three lives or eight years; and on the 4th of September 1858, the respondent sent to the petitioner a written proposal to take 100 acres of the land, at a rent of £3 an acre for three lives or eight years, the lands to be managed in a proper husbandlike manner, and to be properly laid down in grass before the termination of the tenancy.  This proposal the petitioner accepted, and sent back to the respondent, and in pursuance of the contract possession of the land was delivered up to the respondent, who has ever since held them, and paid the rent for them, but he never executed the lease, although frequently required to do so, and, as the petitioner alleged, has allowed the outbuildings to go to ruin, and has used the lands in an unhusbandlike manner, taking several successive crops of corn off same, and in order to compel him to execute his contract, and to take out a lease, the present petition was filed.  The respondent insisted that after such a lapse of time he ought not to be required to take out a lease, and he denied that he had managed the premises in an improper manner. 

Messrs Brereton, QC, Hemphill, QC, and O'Driscoll were for the petitioner.  Messrs Warren, QC, Chatterton, QC, and Romney Foley were for the respondent.  After some discussion the case was sent into the Master's office, in order that inquiries might be made as to the state of the lands and the manner in which they had been treated.  Under these circumstances, the respondent agreed to pay a certain sum equivalent to £4 per acre on the land not properly laid down, and all costs.

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, February 17th 1866.

Tenant Right.

To the Editor of the Wicklow Newsletter.

Sir - I was the plaintiff in the case of Wakefield v Deane, and I am happy to say that the defendant being convinced his sub-tenants had not properly laid down the land, has arranged with me without further litigation, and the principle of a tenant being compelled to do justice to his land is established.  Since I have resided in Ireland, I have been convinced that the question of tenant right must be satisfactorily settled before the country can become prosperous and peaceable.  I see continually instances of landlords being oppressive and unjust, and tenants dishonest and averse to farm their holdings in a proper manner.  In discussing the question, the landlords as a body regard with aversion any interference with what they call their property, and the tenants insist on being fully paid for all improvements.  Each party says all the advantages of increased value, from whatever cause, should belong to him.

                                                                               

[Shanachai]

Part 2.

Now, it appears to me that a compromise would meet the case, and I see such is suggested in an English paper.  At the end of a term, let the tenant, who has been paying say 30s per acre, and considers the land worth 40s per acre, be entitled to a new lease for twenty-one years at 35s per acre, or half the increased value.  If the landlord refuses this, believing it is worth 50s per acre, then let the tenant be entitled to 10 years' purchase of half such increased value.  Thus, in a case where the landlord valued the land which had been 30s per acre at 50s per acre, he would have to pay the tenant ten times 10s, or £5 per acre.

Were this kind of partnership established between landlord and tenant, we should see a more kindly feeling existing, and far better cultivation of farms.  I may add, that some agents of large proprietors in England told me they generally adopted this view in making new leases, ie., they added about half the extreme improvement in value, unless the landlord had produced it by building offices, &c.  Surely this is better than having tenants taking the most out of their lands just before a lease falls in, and selling all hay, straw, and turnips for years previously.

I am, Sir, &c., Francis Wakefield.

Wicklow, 9th February, 1866.

PS - It must be recollected that a landlord can eject any tenant who owes a year's rent even if he has a lease, and he can afterwards sue for the amount due.  He can protect his land by covenants against selling hay, straw and turnips, or taking two corn crops in two successive years.  In general, such covenants are for the true interests of both parties, but on the other hand when a tenant had no lease I would make it incumbent on the landlord to pay all the County Cess, as it is unfair to make a man who may be sent away in six months pay for new roads and bridges, and I would not in yearly tenantry let a claim for rent take precedence over other debts.  - F.W.           

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, February 10, 1866.

Important Meeting Of Magistrates At Rathdrum.

(From Our Own Reporter).

Rathdrum, Tuesday, February 6.

A meeting of the Magistrates of the County of Wicklow was held this day in the Coffee Room of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, at Rathdrum, for the purpose of taking into consideration the present disturbed state of the country, and of adopting measures to secure to the County of Wicklow the protection of the Peace Preservation Act.

The following Magistrates were present:- Colonel Edward Symes Bayly, Vice-Lieutenant; Captain, The Hon. William Proby, High Sheriff, William Kemmis, W. Wainright Braddell, George Hudson, John J. Byrne, John Ebbs, Henry Braddell, Andrew Wm. Byrne, Maj. R. A Gun Cunninghame, Charles Frizell, R. Howard Brooke, John F. Nuttall, William Charles Hume, Captain Dennis, William Courtenay, John Coates, Edward Barnes, Michael Fenton, Wm. Robert LaTouche, Charles M. West, Joseph Scott Moore, late High Sheriff of County Wicklow, George Booth, Robert Hudson, Captain Drought, William Magee, St. Vincent B. H. Whitshed, Col. Tighe, Charles Putland, Captain Truell, W. Patton, and W. S. Tracy, R.M.

On the motion of the Hon. Wm. Proby, seconded by Major Gun Cunninghame, the Chair was taken by

Colonel Edward S. Bayly, Vice-Lieutenant of the County of Wicklow.

Mr. Wm. Courtenay, JP, acted as hon. sec. to the meeting.

The object of the meeting having been stated, Mr. Putland proposed the following resolution:- "That inasmuch as the adjacent counties of Carlow and Dublin have been proclaimed, by which this county may become a receptacle for arms, it is proposed that the Peace Preservation Act be extended to this county.''

Capt. Truell seconded the resolution, which was adopted.

On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Proby, seconded by Mr. Dennis, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:- "That this meeting does not wish to separate without expressing its full concurrence in all the resolutions passed at meeting held at the Rotunda, Dublin, on the 1st inst., and only regret that on that occasion it was not suggested to the Government the expediency of proclaiming the whole of Ireland.''

A vote of thanks to Colonel Bayly terminated the proceedings.

The Cattle Plague.

At a subsequent period of the day the gentlemen who constituted the meeting above, assembled at the same place, and having at some length discussed the question of the Cattle Plague, signed the following resolution:-

To the Hon. William Proby, High Sheriff of the County of Wicklow.

Sir - We, the undersigned, present at a meeting held at Rathdrum this day, hereby request that you will, at Wicklow, on the occasion of the approaching assizes, or at such other time or place as you will think most fitting, convene a meeting to consider the steps necessary to be taken to receive the expression of the opinion of this county as to the best mode of action to adopt by precautionary measures against the introduction of the Cattle Plague into Ireland, and the best course to be pursued in case it should unfortunately appear in this country, and we would also suggest the propriety of convening the meeting as soon as possible.''

February 6, 1866.

The meeting then adjourned.

[A] meeting, in pursuance of the above requisition, to consider the rules passed by the Privy Council relative to the Cattle Plague, and which will be well worthy the attendance of all concerned in keeping cattle, will be held at the Courthouse, in this town, on the 13th inst., and though, happily, this scourge has not yet visited our country, it is necessary that proper precautions should be taken in case any symptoms of disease should appear, that it should, if possible, be prevented extending from the infected to the uninfected districts.