Photocopies of letters and documents held in Stonyhurst College, England, concerning Irish Jesuits trained in Palermo, Italy (Corsini MSS).

1. From Marmaduke Stone SJ at Stonyhurst College, England (2pp);
2. From Marmaduke Stone SJ at Stonyhurst College, England (3pp);
3. From Charles Plowden SJ at Stonyhurst College, England (2pp);
4. From Peter Kenney SJ (4pp);
5. From Peter Kenney SJ in Milan, Italy (4pp);
6. From Marmaduke Stone SJ at Stonyhurst College, England (2pp);
7. From or regarding Paul Ferley SJ (6pp).

Letters to scholastic William Sutton SJ from fellow Jesuits, Frs Heinrich Thiemann (Stonyhurst) and Edmund O'Reilly (Milltown Park) on philosophical matters.

A file of letters to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ (term 7 May 1883 - 2 February 1888). Includes an index/précis to the letters by Fr James Rabbitte SJ.

File of letters to Irish Fr Provincial James Murphy SJ. Includes an index/précis to the letters.

A file of letters written by various people to Fr Robert Haly SJ:

• Includes a letter from Fr Murphy SJ referring to the polka. Remarks '…I do not consider it, absolutely speaking, a proximate occasion of sin, as I have the assurance of some reliable young persons of both sexes that they never found any harm in it (nd, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Drinan SJ, Sant' Andrea, Rome describing his life as a novice in the Society of Jesus. Describes his fellow novices (21 March 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ, Hardwicke Street, Dublin referring to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ. Remarks that he has returned from the Isle of Man. Continues '…(he has) done much good amongst those poor neglected Catholics. But now they are without a priest and of course will fall back again into the old way.' (28 August 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Francis Mahony (Prout) concerning his ordination to Deaconship ([ ] 1828, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr St Leger SJ. Refers to the woods at Clongowes. Remarks that new trees have been planted and hundreds of old trees have been cut down. Refers to Daniel O'Connell 'Mr O'Connell hopes to enter Parliament by a clause in the Act of Union which only requires the oath of abjuration, which was abolished…C. Butler of London has published his opinion that Mr O'Connell's admittance to Parliament cannot be refused according to law…' Includes a note from Fr Peter Kenney SJ at the end of the letter concerning the death of Fr Haly's uncle, Robert in Calcutta on 27 July 1826 (30 September, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from [ ], Clongowes Wood College concerning Christmas celebrations in Clongowes. Refers to the church services and remarks that the Parisian Cope made its first appearance and 'dazzled the natives'. Remarks that the number of scholars in the college is small and many vacancies exist. Refers to Fr Aylmer and Fr St Leger and their plans to erect a new chapel in Dublin. Refers to Fr Moran's departure for Buenos Ayres. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell's determination to go to Parliament (5 January 1829, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from George Oliver, St Nicholas' Priory, Exeter containing queries about members of the Society in Ireland for a publication he is preparing (17 July 1838, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ concerning his stay in Rome. Describes dining with Fr General on St Stanislaus Day (23 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Sheehan SJ, Roman College concerning news from Rome and general Society matters. Reports that Fr General is pleased with all the Provinces under his direction and has expressed a wish to open a Japanese Mission (30 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bartholomew Esmonde SJ, Al Gesu, Rome enclosing a sketch of his design for the altar at St Francis Xavier's Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin (9 February 1842, 3pp).
• Includes a transcription of the same letter, 9 February 1842, by Fr Francis Finegan SJ [1975].
• Includes a letter from Fr Bartholomew Esmonde, SJ, San Calcedonio, Malta concerning the suspension of Fr Rillo by the Bishop. Remarks that the business has become public due to the intervention of Lord Clifford (25 July 1842, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Cunningham SJ, Rome. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell. Refers to Fr Rillo and remarks that he is no longer in Malta. Remarks '…after his justification had been fully established he removed to Palermo. Mr Esmonde is authorised to select whom he pleases to succeed the former.' (25 November 1843, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Esmonde concerning his missionary work in Malta. Remarks 'I have a curious time of it here, strange folks as if all the odd fish of the Mediterranean had climbed up on this rock.' Refers to a new church opened by the Protestants on the island. Refers to the power of the government a governor of the island who control everything (15 November 1844, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from John Lynch, SJ, Church of St Joseph, Willings Alley, Philadelphia, PA describing his surroundings (1 February 1840, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Gaffney concerning the Archbishop's (Dr Cullen) decision to prohibit the dancing of the polka. Discusses the implications of this decision and expresses the opinion that the Society should not pursue a different course of action to the clergy of Dublin and rural areas (20 January 1858, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bishop George Browne of Elphin concerning a retreat to be conducted by Fr Robert Haly SJ. Refers to the parishioners eagerness for a mission (19 April 1858, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from the Bishop of Clonfert, John Derry agreeing to consecrate the Society's church in Galway (11 May 186[ ]), 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ granting Fr Haly privileges with regard to his mission work (26 September 1867, 3pp).
  Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ advising Fr Haly on how to deal with confessors who declare they are members of the Fenians (8 December 1869, 4p

A file of letters to Fr Charles Aylmer SJ. A brief précis to the letters is included in the file, and list of Irish Jesuits (1831).

A file of letters to Fr Bartholomew Esmonde SJ. A brief précis to the letters is included in the file.

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ concerning his friend Fr Matthias Bodkin SJ. Includes letter of condolence written to Fr Gwynn following Fr Bodkin’s death in 1973, from Mrs Brigid Hardwick, Stonyhurst College, Lancashire (4 November 1973, 4pp) and Alan Denson.

Letters from Fr Richard Sykes SJ to Irish Fr Provincials.

Letters from Fr John H. Wright SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ.

A file of letters from Fr David Bearne SJ to Fr Matthew Russell SJ concerning contributions for 'The Irish Monthly'.

A file of letters from Fr Charles Plowden SJ (novice master at Stonyhurst) concerning Society matters to to Fr Charles Aylmer SJ. Many of the letters relate to the Irish novices studying in Stonyhurst and English novices studying in Ireland and general Society matters.

• Includes a letter concerning the appointment of Fr Lavizzario as the agent of the Society in Rome (11 February 1818, 3pp).
• Includes a letter concerning an official letter received from the Bishop re-affirming that the Society of Jesus had not been restored. Remarks that their property in London is under threat '…Dr Poynter has employed a lawyer to claim our property in London. He has means of succeeding and his success will complete our ruin. We are in fact in a very dangerous crisis.' (23 July 1818, 2pp).
• Includes a letter concerning three scholastics from the English Province he proposes to send to Ireland for their studies. Describes the three (1 September 1818, 3pp).
• Includes a letter referring to a refusal to ordain students from Stonyhurst 'who do not renounce their religious state.' Continues 'very probably a requisition to us all to make such renunciation will soon arrive and this will bring the matter to an issue. Our refusal will be followed by censures, suspension…' ( 10 September 1818, 1p).
• Includes a letter remarking that the Society of Jesus in England has no way of obtaining Holy Orders except by going to Clongowes. Remarks 'The candidates must be adopted there as students of your college in order to be presented by you.' (29 September 1818, 2pp, incomplete).
• Includes an account of money owed to Stonyhurst College for the upkeep of Irish scholastics studying there (18 February 1819, 4pp).
• Includes a letter referring to Fr Kenney's voyage to America (15 July 1819, 3pp).
• Includes a letter referring to lay brothers and the observance of the various customs in the colleges where he (Fr Plowden) studied (19 September 1819, 2pp).
• Includes a letter concerning Fr General's displeasure at having received no communication from Fr Aylmer. Includes details about Fr Kenney's visit to America and the state of affairs in America (22 November 1819, 3pp).
• Includes a letter concerning orders from Fr General to Fr Kenney to remain as visitor to America. Remarks that he heard that Fr Kenney had already set sail for Liverpool (30 July 1820, 3pp).
• Includes a letter remarking on his ill health (30 July 1820, 3pp).
• Includes a letter written from Rome concerning Society matters and directions from Fr General. Refers to Spain, remarks 'In Spain all seems to be lost for the Society excepting their religious spirit. Their letters and petitions for directions how to act show that they retain the full spirit of their vocation…on the other hand God sends comfort from Vienna, where the Austrian Emperor openly protects the Society and settles it in Gallicia and with generous allowances for subsistence and many privileges and exemptions.' Refers to Fr Kenney's return from America (23 September 1820, 2pp).
• Includes a letter referring to the sudden introduction of the Catholic Bill. Remarks '…the Catholic Bill fills my head, heart and time…In this crisis we must have an agent here…there must be somebody to speak in our cause. The General must decide this point before Easter, and he go with me to the Pope...' (7 April 1821, 3pp).

A file of letters from Amelia Brownlee, 4 Argyle Place, Rothesay and 24 Burnbank Terrace, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Glasgow, Scotland and Stonyhurst College, England. The letters are all of a personal nature, inviting Fr Seaver to visit, personal news and wishing him a happy Christmas.

Letter from Mr Thomas Counihan SJ, Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ, concerning the results in his exams and his move to Stonyhurst. Remarks that he is looking forward to studying Philosophy.

Letter from Mr Richard O'Mara SJ, St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, Blackburn to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning money he received.

Letter from Maggie Mc[ ], 174 Gowcaddens, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England concerning his departure for America. Refers to her desire to become a religious and asks Fr. Seaver to pray for her.

Letter from Maggie [ ], 10 Abercorn Street, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England expressing her regret that she did not get to say goodbye to Fr Seaver before his departure for America.

Letter from M Finlayson, 104 Hill Street, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England concerning family news. Includes lines of a poem entitled 'He is Fooling Thee', after Longfellow.

Letter from Fr Thomas Betagh to Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ. Relates that four years previously Fr Callaghan had discussed with Archbishop Troy the fund of the ex-Jesuits in Ireland. Refers to a letter from Cardinal di Pietro to Troy on the matter, of which a copy is transcribed on the same document.

Letter from Fr Joseph Tristram SJ, writing from Stonyhurst College, to [ ] in Clongowes. Refers to Fr Weston, and gives permission for him to visit his friends. Announces that he intends to come to Ireland with some pupils, who are to go to Dublin, and states that they are to travel ‘by the Waterloo steam packet’. Also refers to the death of the English Fr Provincial Charles Plowden SJ, and to Fr Scott’s report on how it happened. Reports that Fr Plowden’s body ‘lies in the middle of the church yard at Jougné’. Fr Tristram declares himself to be ‘well satisfied’ with Fr Carr, who, he believes, will ‘prove a worthy son of the Society’.

Letter from Fr Edward Purbrick SJ, Stonyhurst College, to Irish Fr Provincial Nicholas Walsh SJ. Announces that some [brothers/ scholastics] are to form a class at Manresa that year ‘to prepare that matter of the 1st B.A. Examination in the University of London.’ Discusses the first and second B.A. examinations. Suggests that Fr John O'Carroll SJ should be capable of teaching Matriculation subjects.

Letter from Fr Cornelius Perazzi SJ, Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, England to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ.

Letter from Dr John Thomas Troy, Archbishop of Dublin to Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ, English Provincial. Refers to collections for the rebuilding of ‘more than one hundred Chapels in different parts of the Kingdom’, most of which were destroyed during the Rebellion. Refers to letters shown to him by ‘Mr. [Richard] Callaghan’ from Fr Gabriel Grüber in which the latter styles himself ‘Praepositus Generalis Societatis Iesu’ and announces that the Society is ‘perfectly re-established by the Holy See’. Expresses his doubts in this regard. Remarks, 'No one more sincerely deplored the suppression of the Society that I did, nor wishes more anxious for its reestablishment'.

Letter from Archbishop Troy to Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ. Encloses a bill for £60 (not included). Refers to ‘Mr. Callaghan’, and expresses his hopes for the re-establishment of the Society.

Letter from Fr Al. Simpson SJ, Stonyhurst College, England to Fr Patrick Bracken SJ. Congratulates the latter on the quality of his French, and corrects some errors that appeared in his letter. Refers to Fr Peter Kenney SJ and his imminent arrival in Stonyhurst. Also discusses the Jesuit presence in France, and their establishment of ‘petits seminaires’ there. Announces his departure for Paris in September. (In French).

Documents relating to the Visitation of the Irish Mission by Fr Fidelis Grivel SJ in 18[17]. Includes:

• ‘Monita P. Grivel Visitatoris’ (18[17], 18pp);
• letters from Fr Grivel to Fr Charles Aylmer SJ (whom Fr Grivel appoints as Superior of the Mission), with note on letter of 1[4] March 1820, ‘Chief letters of F. Grivel as Visitor’ (in Italian) (12 October 1817 - 28 March 1820, 9 items);
• letters from Fr Grivel to Fr Aylmer, with note on top letter ‘Less important letters Fr. F. Grivel, Visitor’ (in Italian) (9 October 1817 - 19 June 1820, 8 items);
• translated letters to Fr Grivel from various Jesuit Fathers, including Frs Charles Aylmer, Peter Kenney, Bartholomew Esmonde, Patrick Moran, James Butler, and Charles Fraser, originally in the Archives of the French Province. (In Italian) (4 August 1817 - 20 March 1820, 25 items). Includes copy of prospectus in English on Tullabeg – ‘Tullybeg ’‘Elementary School’ ‘Revd. Robert St Leger, Principal’ (August 1818, 2pp).

Material on Charles Kerin, who departed the Society of Jesus, as a priest.
Born: 30 May 1844
Entered: 8 October 1869
Left: 1877

A file of correspondence relating to the University Bill and the affiliation of Mungret College following University changes in Ireland. Includes a summary of University Examinations (Royal University) taken by students in Mungret.

Copy of letter from Fr Peter Kenney SJ in Palermo to Fr Thomas Glover SJ. Expresses delight that the latter returned safely to Stonyhurst. Reports the death of Cogan on 15 October. Reminds him to send a book for the Prince of Butera. Refers to the landing of French troops, the defence effort by the Sicilians, and the subsequent surrender of some French, and the flight of others back to Naples, upon the arrival of the British troops. States that Paccanari ‘has taken a wife & walks the streets of Rome with her with shameless effrontery.’ Expresses the fear that the Irish have complained of him (Kenney) ‘for having led F. Stone astray’.

Copy of letter from Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ to Cardinal di Pietro - reply to the latter’s letter of 7 October 1809. Refers to Archbishop Troy’s appeal to Rome in relation to the will of Fr Richard Callaghan, and reminds the Cardinal of the oath sworn by all English priests to renounce all pretensions of the Holy See to interfere in civil affairs within Great Britain. Also alludes to the dangers of such interference especially when the Holy See is subject to the rule of Napoleon Buonaparte. Discusses the will of Fr Callaghan in relation to the agreement made by Irish ex-Jesuits in 1793, and asserts that no promise was ever made to leave Jesuit property to the Irish prelates. (In Italian). Letter appears on same document as a copy of the one to which it replies, and a copy of an excerpt of a letter from Fr Stone to Archbishop Troy.

Two copies of a letter from Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ to Cardinal di Pietro.

Biographical information on Fr Peter Kenney SJ, and material related to the early years of the Irish Vice-Province.

A file of account sheets of English Province in account with the Irish Province.

Copy of letter from Fr Charles Plowden SJ. Addressed to English prelates. Refers to the suppression of the Society, to the establishment of Stonyhurst as a seminary to supply missioners to other parts of the English province, and to the papal brief obtained by the College from Pope Pius VI. States that, in spite of this brief, restrictions were placed on the members of the College, which forced each of them to serve the mission in his own native vicariate, and prevented them from being presented to ‘a different V.A.’. Refers to reports spread by Sir Hippesley and others, which had a negative impact on Stonyhurst, and to other complaints against the institution, including that made by Dr Gregory Stapleton. States that a papal decree re-confirmed the rights of Stonyhurst, and explains that this document may not have been communicated to his (Plowden’s) present addressees.