Letters from Fr. Theobald Mathew
TitleLetters from Fr. Theobald Mathew
ReferenceU140/L/74
Date
1845 - 1951
Production date 1845 - 1851
Scope and Content1. 15 Apr 1845 MS. letter from Fr. Theobald Mathew (Father Mathew) to 'Dear Mr. Dowden', recommending the bearer, James Connell, a member of Mathew's Juvenile Band, and teetotaller, asking Dowden to grant his 'very laudable petition'. Signed 'Your affectionate Friend'. (2pp)
2. 3 Aug 1848 As above. He is relieved that Mr. Cahill is with him in London, '...the bubble has burst, and all the newspaper rumours have dissolved into air...it was a strange delusion to imagine that the most powerful Government in the world could be overthrown by such falsities...the Teetotallers everywhere remained faithful.... If the People of Ireland were, as in former days, slaves to drunken habits, our greenest Fields would have been deluged with blood...', etc. (2pp)
3. 25 Jul 1849 As above, from Boston, USA. He has been well received in the U.S. Mentions pension granted by British government, which he hopes Dowden will defend, etc. (2pp)
4. 27 Aug 1849 As above, from Boston. Regards his reply to an address to the Temperance Society in New York, subject to remarks in the press. The person publishing remarks made use of expressions which Mathew did not utter, and he did not correct it for various reasons, including that Party feeling is running high in the Irish in America. Refers to 'Garrisson's treatment... independent of the injury of the Temperance Cause... from my advocacy of Anti- Slavery in the States...'. He did not imagine that he could labour as he has done, but his health 'continues good'; etc. (3pp)
5. 18 Dec 1851 As above, to Miss Susan Dowden, Rathlee, Sunday's Well [daughter of Richard]. He will present an address to the young ladies of St.Paul's Temperance Hall on St. Stephen's day. Compliments to Richard Dowden, his 'most valued friend', and his wife. (2pp plus envelope)
2. 3 Aug 1848 As above. He is relieved that Mr. Cahill is with him in London, '...the bubble has burst, and all the newspaper rumours have dissolved into air...it was a strange delusion to imagine that the most powerful Government in the world could be overthrown by such falsities...the Teetotallers everywhere remained faithful.... If the People of Ireland were, as in former days, slaves to drunken habits, our greenest Fields would have been deluged with blood...', etc. (2pp)
3. 25 Jul 1849 As above, from Boston, USA. He has been well received in the U.S. Mentions pension granted by British government, which he hopes Dowden will defend, etc. (2pp)
4. 27 Aug 1849 As above, from Boston. Regards his reply to an address to the Temperance Society in New York, subject to remarks in the press. The person publishing remarks made use of expressions which Mathew did not utter, and he did not correct it for various reasons, including that Party feeling is running high in the Irish in America. Refers to 'Garrisson's treatment... independent of the injury of the Temperance Cause... from my advocacy of Anti- Slavery in the States...'. He did not imagine that he could labour as he has done, but his health 'continues good'; etc. (3pp)
5. 18 Dec 1851 As above, to Miss Susan Dowden, Rathlee, Sunday's Well [daughter of Richard]. He will present an address to the young ladies of St.Paul's Temperance Hall on St. Stephen's day. Compliments to Richard Dowden, his 'most valued friend', and his wife. (2pp plus envelope)
Extent5 items
Physical descriptionFragile
Persons keywordMathew, Father Theobald
SubjectReligion, Temperance, Irish America
AccessHard copies: Accessible to Readers by appointment. Access restrictions apply to some collections. Digital object/copy: see Download Media and/or Digital Reference
RightsLicensing information available on request by email to archivist@corkcity.ie Copyright Cork City and County Archives, Cork City Council, unless otherwise indicated. All Rights Reserved.
Levelseries