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HISTORY & LITERATURE 13 MARCH 2016
52
1812 letter from Viscount Wellington in Spain
Single sheet in Wellington’s hand “My Dear William”, referring to a letter “enclosing one from Mr Wilcocks”
date and location illegible, confirming he is happy to assist Mr Wilcocks’ son.
Provenance: By descent from Sir RichardWilcocks to the present owner.
Arthur Wellesley, the Dublin born distinguished military officer and nemesis of Napoleon, was created Vis-
count Wellington in 1810. He was later made the First Duke of Wellington, and later served as Prime Minis-
ter.
Estimate €200-€300 £156-£234
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 5253
1819 (10-31 July) Arthur O’Connor lengthy correspondence with his lawyers over a dispute with his
elder brother Roger.
This fascinating manuscript, 12 pages plus postal cover, 13,000 closely spaced words, apparently entirely in
Arthur O’Connor’s hand gives a detailed account of the dispute which involves a sum of over £10,000 owing
to Arthur O’Connor by his brother Roger, whom he refers to as “your friend” when writing to Sir Francis
Burdett . Includes copy letters to and from Sir Francis Burdett, who appears to support Roger in the matter.
An important primary source document for biographers of these two famous Irishmen.
Arthur O Connor (1765 - 1852) was of the Conner family of Manch House, Ballineen, County Cork. He
changed his name to O’Connor, attended Trinity College, Dublin, and was called to the Bar, practised in
Dublin and was a Member of Parliament. When he joined the United Irishmen he was arrested, tried for
high treason, imprisoned several times and, in 1803, deported to France. He became a general in Napoleon’s
army and married Elisa de Condorcet, daughter of the French philosopher and statesman, the Marquis de
Condorcet. He was known as General Condorcet O Connor of the French Service. His wife was a niece of
the Marshal de Grouchy who commanded an abortive invasion of Ireland between 1796 and 1797.
Arthur’s elder brother, Roger O Connor (1763 - 1834), was a barrister and was also a member of the United
Irishmen, which led to him serving a term of imprisonment in Fort George, Scotland. He had a colourful
history and was apparently a spendthrift which explains the financial dispute with his younger brother. His
home, Dangan Castle, heavily insured, burned down in suspicious circumstances. He eloped with a married
woman. He was tried for robbing the Galway mail train and claimed that he “had but wanted to obtain from
it some letters incriminating a friend”. He was outrageously eccentric and took to writing imaginary annals
and nonsensical books.
12¼ x 7½in. (31.12 x 19.05cm)
Estimate €1000-€1500 £780-£1170
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 53