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From Fr Patrick Bracken SJ, writing from Tullabeg, to James O'Shaughnessy. Replies to the latter’s enquiry in relation to Fr Gahan’s will, and also with regard to the agreement to Bishop Briggs to give £800 to the Society in compensation for their property on the Isle of Man.

From Fr Matthew Gahan SJ in the Isle of Man to Fr Patrick Bracken SJ in Tullabeg. Declares that he would not think he should cross the Channel (back to Ireland) in his current state of health, and furthermore that he would only leave if the person who was to supply for him had been there for a time. Refers to the debts owed by him to various people. States that he would rather ‘die in a ditch’ before yielding to ‘a Judas like trick on the part of Dr Briggs [Bishop of the Northern District]’.

Letter from Fr Patrick Bracken SJ to [ ]. Recommends various sources for J[ohn] O’Connell and other Catholic members of the House of Commons for their argument against the supremacy of the Crown. Suggests that they identify themselves, in this matter, ‘with all the Presbyterians of Ireland & Scotland as well as with the other Dissenters in denouncing & repudiating the Royal Supremacy’, and in doing so, gain support. Also refers to the Catholic episcopacy and the Reformation.

From Fr Patrick Bracken SJ, writing from Tullabeg, County Offaly to Fr Gahan in the Isle of Man. Reports on some members of the community in Tullabeg, including Fr Robert Haly and Fr Aylmer, and adds that Fr Esmonde is on his way to Rome. Refers to Fr Gahan’s problems in the Isle of Man in relation to the provision of Mass for Catholics in Douglas, and the question of whether the Bishop would permit this. Asks him to defer the sale of the chapel in Castletown until he (Fr. Bracken) receives a reply from the Fr. General.

Letter from Fr Patrick Meagher SJ, writing from Gardiner Street, Dublin, to Fr Patrick Bracken SJ, Vice Provincial, St Stanislaus College Tullabeg, King's County (County Offaly). Refers to the case of a young [novice] – ‘H.T.’, who is suffering from some sort of illness. Reports that he (Meagher) consulted a surgeon on the state of the man’s health. Reports that he received a letter that morning from Fr Bartholomew Esmonde SJ in Rome, who wrote about the church re-decoration in which he was involved, and also, more extensively, about a lecture given in Rome, which cast aspersions on the Catholic clergy of Ireland. Also refers to a letter he received from Fr Aylmer. Describes preparations for the ‘Festival’, including the recruiting of clergy to say Mass. Reports on the progress of building work also.

From Fr Peter Kenney SJ to Fr Patrick Bracken SJ. Announces that he will not be able to go to Tullabeg that year. Reports on the situation in Clongowes, and on the various Jesuits residents there. Reports also on the Jesuit mission in the Isle of Man, where Fr Aylmer stopped for a time to assess the situation. Refers to the debate on the question of whether the mission there should be retained by the Irish Jesuits, and also to the opening of a new chapel in Douglas.