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Holograph letter to Dr Michael Cox from Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins, in which he comments on the thesis of a book, or pamphlet, lent to him by Dr. Cox. The book in question was 'Arts and Industries in Ireland' by S.A. [Sarah Atkinson] (Dublin: M.H. Gill & Son: 1882), which contains two essays, one of which is ‘Irish Wool and Woollens, passages from the history of the staple trade’. Its thesis was that English interests had secured the suppression of the Irish woollen trade, thus contributing to the poverty of Ireland. Hopkins does not accept this – ‘Irish writers on their own history are naturally led to dwell on what in history is most honourable to Ireland…They are also led to dwell on what in history is most dishonourable to England…the most extensive…Irish woollen industry was frieze…this was never checked by English legislation…’.

Dr Cox, a university colleague of Fr Hopkins, was a distinguished Dublin physician, lecturer in the Medical School of the Catholic University Dublin and Examiner for the Royal University of Ireland.
S.A. was Sarah Atkinson, author of a Life of Mother Mary Aikenhead, Foundress of the Irish Sisters of Charity.

The letter along with another by Fr Hopkins (See J11/7) was presented to the then Editor of 'Studies' Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ by the late Fr Arthur Cox, son of the recipient. Both letters were published in 'Studies', Spring 1970 (Vol. LIX, No. 233) pp.19 - 25, with an explanatory introduction and notes by the then Editor, Fr Peter Troddyn SJ.

Typescript copy of original holograph letter of Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ to Dr Michael F. Cox (31 March 1887) commenting on the thesis of the pamphlet on the Irish woollen industry by Sarah Atkinson. ‘I now return your pamphlet with thanks…I more than ever note the selfishness of the legislation of 1699 etc., but I also more clearly see that it goes but a very little way to explaining the poverty in Ireland…’ Comments on a paper by Rev. William Cunningham (a distinguished economic historian), from which he lists a number of ‘relevant facts’ and concludes ‘The above shews a picture of selfishness and shortsighted folly, but it also fails to shew the cause of Ireland’s want of commercial prosperity. So far as there is blame Irishmen must be in great part to blame for that.’

With note on top left corner by Fr Peter Troddyn SJ (Editor of 'Studies'), ‘Copy typed from original (which is mislaid at Feb 1970)’ i.e. this copy was made by Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ about 1965 when he received the two letters from Fr Arthur Cox, son of Dr. Michael F. Cox. The letter published in 'Studies' was taken from this typescript copy as the original holograph letter had, by that time, been lost. (See article in 'Studies', Spring 1970, pp.19-25 for explanatory notes and introduction to the letter.)