The Beresford Letters Politics in Waterford & Londonderr...

Hammer

€2,600

The Beresford Letters
Politics in Waterford & Londonderry in the Wake of Catholic Emancipation 1829-1833


Beresford, Viscount (General Sir William Carr).  An Archive of approx. 70 Letters, 6 July 1829 – 21 Sept. 1833 (but mainly 1829-1830) on political affairs in Waterford and Londonderry, written to the Kerry solicitor Pierce Mahony, mostly by Viscount Beresford (General Sir William Carr Beresford, natural son of the first Marquis of Waterford), with some by his half-brother General Lord George Beresford.

In the general election of 1826, Lord George had lost his seat in Waterford County to the pro-Emancipation candidate, Henry Villiers-Stuart.  However, the passing of the Emancipation Act in April 1829 caused a realignment of forces: Villiers-Stuart, job done, resigned his seat; Mahony, alienated by O’Connell’s campaign for the repeal of the Act of Union, allied himself with the Beresford faction – hence these letters. 

In the ensuing by-election (March 1830), Lord George regained his seat, easily defeating his O’Connellite rival, John Barron.  Then, three months later, the King’s death precipitated a general election, in which Lord George and Daniel O’Connell won the two seats for Waterford County. Lord George again stood in the general election of May 1831, but, finding that his support had evaporated owing to his opposition to some provisions of the Reform Bill, withdrew at the last minute.

The letters provide a fascinating insight into the attitudes of the Beresford faction towards their political allies and rivals, their political manoeuvrings, and their fond “hope we are now a united people, and that the political distinction between Protestant and R. Catholic is at an end.  I trust it will be so in society, as politically”.

The letters also deal with affairs in the Beresfords’ other home turf, the county and borough of Londonderry, and their rift with the sitting MPs, George Dawson and Sir George Hill.
A very interesting insight to the period covered. As an Archive of manuscripts, w.a.f. (1)