Patents appointing the 5th Earl Lieutenant and Custos rotulorum of King’s County in succession to his late father,
including two letters from [the Lord Lieutenant], Lord Aberdeen, on the subject (one of them making unsubtle reference to the necessity for the 5th Earl’s committing himself to political support of the government of the day), letters to the 5th Earl giving confidential opinions as to the suitability of various people for appointment as J.P.s, and a tradesman’s account for supplying a Lieutenant’s flag for Birr Castle. [Not in chronological order.]

‘P’, ‘Q’, ‘R’ and ‘T’ - including letters from the Hon. Geoffrey L. Parsons, in Basingstoke, relating to the affairs of Birr Castle Demesne, during the period in which he acted on behalf of the sixth earl in his minority (1918-1924). Also includes letters from members of the Pigott family [see V/24], Mrs Manning Robertson, the 5th and 6th Earls of Rosse, J.H. Tyler (the Womersley agent [see H/117]), etc, etc.

‘N’ and ‘0’.

‘K’ and ‘L’ - a very miscellaneous lot, but including Colonels Kingscote and Lodwick (two more of Garvey’s employers -[see Section V/21-2]).

‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ - principally Evans, Barraclough & Co., Bayswater, London (solicitors to the Hon. Richard Clere Parsons), French & French, solicitors, Dublin (who acted for Mrs Manning Robertson of Drumbane House, Birr, another
of Garvey’s employers), the General Accident Assurance Corporation and the Guardian Assurance Company, both of Dublin (who write about Birr Castle and the Rosse estate), etc, etc.

Two boxes of letters from ‘D’ -principally Darley, Orpen & McGillycuddy/Synnot, solicitors, Dublin, who write mainly in their capacity as solicitors to the Rosse estate, but who also acted for other employers of Garvey as well.

‘B’ - principally Richard F. Barry & Son, solicitors, Birr.

Box of in-letters from correspondents whose names begin with ‘A’ and ‘C’, including correspondence about Sir Nesbitt Armstrong’s trusts, and letters from James Callaghan (a thatcher employed by the Rosse estate), from the ‘Chief of Staff, January 1923’ about the occupation of Birr Castle by the Free State Army, from W. Y. Chisholm (manager of the Rosse sawmill [see Q/327]), from Miss Edith A. Cramer, [see M/18], from Messrs Coutts & Co., etc.

Includes: Letter from Padraig Ua Maolchatha, Col. Comdt., G. O. C. 3rd Southern Command, Roscrea: I am directed by the Chief of General Staff to inform you that it will not be possible to evacuate any portion of the premises occupied by the troops before Christmas. I am at present unable to give you any idea when we may be able to evacuate Birr Castle but assure you that we will not occupy it any longer than necessary. I regret being unable to facilitate Lord Rosse’s family in this matter but trust that the owner will appreciate the circumstances which force us to remain in occupation.’ (4 December 1922)

Includes letter from Capt. F. O’Brien for the Chief of General Staff, Dublin, to Toler Garvey: ‘I have been in communication with the General Officer Commanding of the Area who informs me that we was aware of game being shot on the Rosse Estate, but did not prevent it, as he was not aware that the game was preserved.’ (8 January 1923)

Original box of Birr Estate Office in-letters to the then Rosse agent, A.E. Telford, many of them from the 6th Earl and Anne Countess of Rosse. Lord and Lady Rosse’s letters do not confine themselves to estate business, but include arrangements for house parties at Birr Castle. [For the other side of the correspondence with Lord and Lady Rosse, see T/34].