Letters, notes and telegrams to Fr John Conmee SJ from various individuals in Rome on the Cause of the Irish Martyrs.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr John MacErlean SJ on various matters including:
– Fr MacErlean’s censure on a Society Appeal for Funds;
– the progress of his historical research, news from Rome and news about the Society in Australia;
– the establishment of the Society in Ireland including a ‘list of whatever documents exist to my knowledge regarding the establishment of the Society in Ireland…What exactly the establishment of the Society in Ireland means I do not know. It may be a question for a canonist to solve. The canonical succession of the New Society to the Old is disputed, and Rome has never decided the point’;
– the proposed purchase of a volume consisting of ‘the indexes of the first eleven volumes of the Bollandist Acta Sanctorum down to the 3rd volume of April’ and the binding which is ‘much older than the contents…the binding of a Missal that was presented to Father (Nicholas) Leynach in 1613 - 14 by Francis Bray, at a time when Fr Leynach was trying to establish a chapel or oratory of the Society in Clonmel’;
– the Irish College in Rome;
– lists of books the Province could present to ‘the library to be established for the use of the Coll(egium) Scriptorum and a ‘list of those members of our Province who might now or hereafter be fit to cooperate with the Collegium Scriptorum in the production of works’ and a
– ‘Brief Sketch of the Work of the Irish Jesuits from the foundation to the Suppression of the Society 1540 – 1773’ (11pp).

A file of letters to Dr Charles Russell concerning his book on the Life of Cardinal Mezzofanti, 'The life of Cardinal Mezzofanti; with an introductory memoir of eminent linguists, ancient and modern', Longman, Brown, and Co, London, 1858

The letters offer praise and compliments to Dr Russell and suggestions for a second edition of the book. The following is a list of the people who wrote to Dr Russell concerning his book on Cardinal Mezzofanti:

25 March 1859; George [ ]

7 June 1858; P. J. [Aerts]

17 April - 7 May 1855; Edward Badely

23 August 1866; L'Abbe Blanchot

19 January 1859; [ J. B. Borrcho]

4 February 1863; F. C. Brooke

25 August - 3 November 1858; Lord Broughman

11 July 1860; A. Bruni SJ

16 October 1858; [ ] Bunsen

6 May 1858; L. Major Cavagnari

13 April - 26 August [ ]; John Dalberg Acton (Lord Acton)

3 [ ] 1858; Luigi Da Via

22 December 1859; Joseph Barnard Davis

n.d.; Auguste Donnet

19 May [ ]; James E. Doyle

11 February 1859; [Fernando]

21 April 1958; Goodwin Son & [ ]

5 May 1858; Thomas Grant

5 October - 1 December 1858; Imperial Austrian Legation

19 - 28 April 1860; Evan Jones

4 July 1858; Pierre Le Croix

23 April 1858 - 9 March 1860; Longman Brown and Company

6 May 1858; E. C. Lewis

[1858]; Henry E. Manning (later Cardinal)

17 June 1858; Patrick F. Moran (later Cardinal)

25 May 1858; John Morris

[ ] 1858; A. Pezzanat

5 - 10 May [1858]; E. H. Reeves

19 April 1852; James Roche

2 March 1858; James Hope Scott

12 May 1858; [ ] Shilman

15 June 1858; W. H. Smyth

[1858]-[1859]; James Spencer Northcote

5 May 1858; A. P. Stanley

15 [ ] 1856; Franco Venditti

9 May 1858; Dr. [Wals]

19 April 1855; Charles Ward[ ]th

29 March 1858 - 12 February 1863; Thomas Watts

[1857]; Vladimir Petcherine

Letter from Fr W. H. Murphy, Irish College, Rome to Fr Joseph McDonnell SJ. Gives an account of his audience with the Pope, at which he presented to the Pontiff the address of Irish Children of Mary.

Letter from Fr Torquatus Armellini SJ, writing from the American College in Rome, to the Irish Fr Provincial Nicholas Walsh SJ. Thanks the latter for the money order which he enclosed in his last letter. Discusses the matter of the payment of stipendia for masses. Refers to the suspension of the sale of a farm belonging to the Irish College in Rome. Reports that the Pope had made a decree in relation to the Venerable Fr. Antony Baldinucci SJ, saying that he ‘possessed the theological and cardinal virtues in grada heroico’. Asks Fr Walsh to communicate to him details in relation to the proposed painting of Blessed Peter Faber, and asks where it is to be sent. Reports that the Fr General is in Fiesole at present.

Letter from Fr Alfred Weld SJ, writing from Fiesole, to Irish Fr Provincial Nicholas Walsh SJ. Confirms that the letters which the latter referred to had arrived, and refers to the travel plans of Fr Kelly and Fr. Mathew. Also refers to Dr Ricard's mission in England. Reports on a dispute with the Bishop of Salford (Herbert Vaughan) in relation to the opening of a school of the Society in Manchester. Gives an account of his own visit to Rome, including his attendance at a dinner in the Irish College on St. Patrick’s Day. Remarks that they have heard nothing from Milltown since coming to Fiesole. Refers to the success of the new Master of Novices.

Letter from Dr Charles Russell, Irish College, Rome to Rev. Doctor Denvir, Donegal Street, Belfast concerning a meeting with the Pope to put forward his 'case'. Describes how anxious he felt about the matter. Remarks 'Yesterday I received the official announcement of my liberation and they will proceed in the next congregation...to make a new appointment.'

Copy of letter from Fr. James Maher, writing from the Irish College in Rome, to [ ]. Sends greetings from residents of the College. Refers to Dr. Cullen, and states that he may return to Ireland on account of his health. Discusses death, sin, and the love of Jesus Christ for man. Also refers to his addressee’s health and household.

Copy of letter from Dr Grant, Director of the Scottish College in Rome, to Sir Augustus Paget, British Minister to Italy. Writes in relation to the fate of the Roman College, and its status as a university for foreigners.