Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

"Under the fostering protection of the Society, it will appear, that in our public works, the citizens, together with the inhabitants of the county, have not been less attentive to the comforts and advantage of the community,-of this the Infirmary, the Court-house, and the School, bear testimony; and we cannot omit this opportunity of expressing the grateful sense we entertain of the beneficial grants made to the latter, as well by the Society as by the different Companies, which has enabled this valuable establishment to be conducted upon an extensive and improved scale, and to hold out the promise of being of the utmost advantage to the rising generation.

"We beg leave further to state, that within these few years a most valuable and extensive library has been established by the private subscription of the citizens, which is conducted upon a liberal scale, and promises to be highly useful to the community. But the funds of the establishment, we are sorry to say, are totally inadequate to the erection of a suitable building; we, therefore, look forward with a confident hope, from the encouraging declaration of this Deputation, that this Honorable Society will lend their assistance in such manner as they may think best calculated to enable the subscribers to that institution to procure more suitable and respectable accommodation than they at present possess.

"The Charitable institutions of this city, namely,-the Charitable Loan, the Penny Society, and that for the relief of Indigent Room-keepers, together with a School for the Education of poor Children, are subjects which, we understand, have already occupied your consideration.

"You, Gentlemen, have, during your stay here, had so many opportunities of personally inspecting the improvements of the numerous tenantry of the Honorable Society in this city and liberties, that we think it unnecessary to call more particularly your attention thereto; but we cannot

withhold the expression of our hope, that you will not overlook the interest of those individuals at whose private expense the improvements have been made.

[blocks in formation]

A liberal entertainment was afterwards provided, and the Deputation returned the following answer to the address.

"GENTLEMEN,

Londonderry, 7th September, 1819.

"We, the Governor and Deputation from the Irish Society, fully sensible of the honour conferred on us by our present appointment, have received, with great satisfaction, the congratulatory address of the merchants and citizens of Londonderry.

"We are aware of the importance of the duties undertaken by this Deputation, and which consideration has induced us to examine with minute attention and care every public institution and private interest requiring our investigation.

"We are anxious to fulfil our commission with liberality to the merchants and inhabitants at large, keeping in view our bounden duty to the Society we represent; and we assure the gentlemen who have honoured us with this communication, that it will not be conformable to the desires of the Society, or our own wishes, unless our labours shall tend to unite more closely the city of Londonderry and the parent Society. It is, therefore, highly gratifying to receive from such a respectable body of gentlemen an acknowledgment

of those substantial benefits which the liberality of the Irish Society has been able to confer upon this city; and it will further afford us great pleasure to report to the Society the objects to which you specially call our attention, namely the building a public library, and a school for the liberal education of all classes of the poor inhabitants of Derry and its liberties, as well as to promote generally any other benevolent institutions.

"We cannot conclude without assuring the respectable body of merchants, whom we have now the honour to address, that this Deputation are fully sensible of the kind attentions already received during their abode in this city; they feel very much obliged by the handsome entertainment to which we have been this day invited, and hope ever to appreciate that generous hospitality experienced by us during this visit.

"With the greatest consideration, and best wishes for the prosperity of the city of Londonderry,

"To the Merchants and Citizens

of Londonderry."

"We remain, &c.

66

(Signed by the Deputation.)"

8th September. Various memorials, from persons holding parts of the reclaimed slob, were read and considered; and Mr. Babington, the law agent, entered into a full explanation as to the rights of the Society to that description of property; after which several persons, who had presented memorials, were admitted to conference on the subject of their claims. The Bishop of Derry had an interview with the Deputation, and gave them a full explanation with regard to the charitable institutions in Londonderry. A deputation from the Presbyterian congregation also waited upon the Deputation, and suggested their disposition to subscribe to a general school, to be established in the Upper

Liberties. The Dean of Derry also conferred with the Deputation on the subject of the parsonage house.

The principal part of the following day, 9th of September, was occupied in discussing the memorials for parts of the Slob, hearing various tenants thereon, viewing parts claimed, in order to estimate the amount of rent to be demanded, and making proposals to the tenants thereof. After which the Deputation took into consideration the measures which it would be necessary to adopt, with regard to the property formerly leased to the Corporation, called the Larisks, Pennyburn Mill, Spring Town, and Coglast, held by tenants under toties quoties leases, and also with regard to part of the town land of Termonbacco, just out of lease.

The Governor being now sufficiently recovered from his late serious indisposition, occupied himself in an examination of the records of the Corporation of Londonderry, from which he had been hitherto prevented.

10th September.-The former part of this day was ococcupied in considering the cases of the under-tenants on the lands of the Larisks, Springtown and Coglast, and the various tenants were admitted to conferences thereon. Several memorials from other tenants were read and discussed; after which the Deputation went to view the infirmary, Bishop's school, the shore of the River Foyle, and proceeded next to take a survey of Pennyburn Mill, the Larisks, Springtown, and Coglast.

On this day the following address was presented to the Deputation from the Mayor and Corporation of Londonderry.

"To Alderman Thorp, Samuel Favell, and James Williams, Esqrs.

"The Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of Londonderry, in Common Council assembled, this 7th day

of September, 1819, bid you welcome to the city of Londonderry, as a Deputation from the Governor and Assistants in London of the New Plantation in Ulster, within the realm of Ireland. They beg leave, through you, to renew to that body their assurances of sincere respect, and of their anxiety and determination to co-operate, to the full extent of their subordinate means and power, with the Irish Society, in promoting the welfare and prosperity of the city and liberties of Londonderry.

66

They feel confident of the liberal intentions of the Society towards this community, and receive the appointment of this Deputation as a decided proof of their parental kindness.

(Signed by order)

"WILLIAM SCOTT, Mayor."

The freedom of the city of Londonderry was presented to Mr. Favell and Mr. Williams, the Governor being previously one of the freemen of that Corporation.

11th September.-The Deputation were engaged all the morning in conferences with the Deputation from the Presbyterian congregation, and in making final arrangements with tenants of parts of the reclaimed Slob; after which they proceeded to Coleraine.

14th September.-A Deputation, consisting of the Mayor, and other members of the Corporation of Coleraine, waited upon the Deputation of the Irish Society; and the Mayor presented a letter, which he stated he had received from Mr. Meara, the chamberlain, as follows:

66

Raphoe, 11th September, 1819.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I have been favoured with your letter, and regret,

very much, that the present state of my health prevents me from going to Coleraine to state, in person, to the Deputa

« ElőzőTovább »