Descriptive List - University College Cork Library

gossip about family and friends and expresses her deep happiness at the news
of his forthcoming marriage “ when I salute you a married man I will be even
happier than when I welcomed you from the other world”. She knows his
fiancée Mary Roche and all her family well, and holds them all in high
esteem. She is at [their sister] Fanny’s having “reached Fannys breakfast
table at the same moment with her urn”. Details her stay at Ballygriffin with
the O’Callaghans, Lawsons, Phealan’s and Miss Mahoney FitzGerald “we
passd our time gaily”. Describes her recent activities and people she has met
and dined with at Patt Nagles, “we brought Margt Goold for whom he
proposed lately after having been refused by Nancy”. Refers to scurrilous
rumours about the state of General Dalton’s marriage.
388 17 July 1783
Letter to George Ryan from John McCarthy congratulating him on his
engagement.
389 25 July 1784
Letter to George Ryan from [MacC], Dublin, explaining the shock of hearing
on his arrival in Ireland of Fanny Woulfe’s death prevented him contacting
friends. He is devastated by the loss to her children. Sends belated
congratulations to George on his marriage “though it is now rather late, pray
receive them”. He is expecting their friend Nash to call, but is wary he may be
disappointed like before “when a brace of Fine Girls carried him off to the
Black rock, what they did there I do not know, nor will his wife if he can help
it."
390 16 July 1785
Letter to George Ryan from his neice Eliza (Bess) Woulfe, Bath, declaring
herself “more agitated than you can concieve, or I wish to appear”. She is
tormented as to whether or not to accept Walter Mansfield’s proposal and
bemoans the fact George is not there to advise her. Stresses how much she
values his advice. Mentions also a friend Justin Kearney who arrived recently
“with a pair of Irish legs & nothing else”. His aim is to join the Guards, but
with no money she feels that would be impossible and criticizes those in
Ireland who duped him into thinking he could set himself up without expense.
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