Galway
June 2nd/78
My dear Jasper
As I have been for a long time thinking of writing to you, so I begin at last. I am thankful to God that I still spared to do so. I have had very indifferent health this spring and feel the decay of nature approaching by infallible signs. It is no wonder as I am now merging on the appointed limit. We have a very nice parish and Glebe House here. Situated in a delightful part of Galway. This is my third year of possession but I don’t suppose I can enjoy it long. My next remove will be to a better country, even a heavenly. To which removal I at least ought to hear no objections whatever the family might think.
Mrs Hamilton tho 20 years younger is failing fast also, but still healthy. Our two eldest boys are in the Medical profession. The 3rd William is going thru Trinity College for the Ministry, the 4th Son is to be a doctor also. We have 10 children altogether 5 male, same female. A young man, one of the Creavens of Ougham is stationed in this Parish. He tells me a great deal about Tubbercurry. How the clergyman “Hansom” [see note] is invalided for life & a Curate doing duty. I enclose you a letter (the first I recd.) from Richd. Golden which will shew you the lamentable death of Lewis Golden! & some other news. I hope you and family have been very well since you wrote before & that yr. brother Rich’d as all the sisters & John are well & doing well.
I see by the paper you sent me that you hold an honorable position in your Parish in a religious point of view. You have not been entangled in the meshes of Dissent but have stood true to the Church of your race. Popery is gaining head rapidly in England thru the instrumentality of our own Church. These Puseyite and Ritualisitic Clergy are all engaged leavening their flocks and making them accustomed to popish forms & doctrines & when the flocks are sufficiently educated all pass over to Rome. What a satanic diabolical contrivance of the Jesuits to make the Church its own destroyer! The Church of Ireland is fortunately so far free from this contagion, tho we have a few in Dublin but they are held in check. It is a curious fact that the Laity are more staunch in their Protestant principles than the Clergy in Ireland at least.
I see by the papers, that Popery is gaining ground in the “States.” Rome is not content to live on terms of equality with other sects but aspires & must have complete dominion. As for unhappy Ireland, Rome has nearly all she desires, but the Protestants & their property are still in the way, & if they had Home Rule or Rome Rule, they would stamp out Protestantism and seize their lands.
Your were a fortunate family who were able to escape from this blood-stained soil where murders are continually occurring.
After murdering Lord Leitrim, a mob in Dublin endeavoured to drag the dead body from the coffin, in order to eat it, I suppose. They are cannibals and savages of the worst type. Should a rebellion ever break out here you will hear news of their exploits outdoing those of the Turks. The number of Protestants in this locality is a mere nothing at present. There was a strong Colony here formerly but the property having fallen into the hands of a Popish Proprietor, he banished every blessed soul.
When you write, let me know how every member of your family is getting on, how many children each may have & how far comfortable in circumstances? how John is getting on in the medical line? Do you till much land yourself? & do you find a difficult in procuring labourers? Are you afraid of a Fenian invasion? Is your health standing well the ravages of time?
Mrs. Hamilton desires her kindest regards to you and every member of the Circle.
God bless you all
Yours sincerely
Jno. Hamilton
The author Rev. John Hamilton, of the Church of Ireland, was the perpetual Curate of Tubbercurry in the parish of Achonry and Diocese of Achonry and Killala from 1842 to 1865. He was secretary of the Upper Leyny Relief Committee during the Famine. (Swords, In Their Own Words, Columba Press, 1999). Following him at Tubbercurry: James Jackson 1866-1870, Michael Shea 1870-1871. The post then became that of Rector, which position Michael Shea held from 1870-1873, followed by Thomas Leader Hanson 1873-1879. (Swords, A Dominant Church, Columba Press, 2004).
The parish name is more often spelled Annaghdown, same pronunciation.
The 3rd Earl of Leitrim, William Sydney Clements, or Lord Leitrim, was murdered near Milford, Co. Donegal, 2nd April 1878, probably by his tenants. See http://www.loughrynn.net/index.html.
