WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 15/16 MAY 2021

40 19th Century 84 1895 The Aran Islands Evictions. An important archive. Includes 1894 (6 April) 2pp letter to Lord Ardilaun’s solicitor, C. E. Sutton, from Ardilaun’s land agent, Francis Crozier, describing the evictions: “we started early the following morning - 50 police with the Sheriff’s emergency men” and goes on to report eleven evictions, and to complain that the police refused to give protection to the Sheriff’s “emergency men while knocking down houses” and he had to put them up in “The Lodge here” to protect them from“a wild excited set of islanders”;1894 (April) 2pp letter from The Earl of Howth to Lord Ardilaun suggesting that Francis Crozier produce an exact account of the rents and taxes paid “by the gallant Islanders” and that “D. Plunkett”might then “in The House” (of Commons ) place “the Landladies plight before the Public”; 1894 (3 May) “Report of the Arran Evictions” by Thomas Crozier & Son, signed by Francis Crozier and Henry Robinson, 8pp folio in copperplate, giving details of those tenants who settled under threat of eviction and those who were evicted; 1894 (4 May) 2pp letter to Lord Ardilaun’s solicitor from Francis Crozier, who justifies the evictions “as a salutary lesson to others” ; 1895 (23 March) 2pp petition on behalf of 9 tenants, with a 2pp legal opinion by Henry Robinson of Roundstone recommending reductions in rent and suspension of evictions; (1893-1894) “The Memorial of the Tenants who are served with notice of Eviction on the Isles of Aran”with a note supporting their statements from“P. Colgan, Parish Priest, Aran Isles”; 1895 (26 March) typed letter to Lord Ardilaun from the solicitor for the St. Laurence Estate, C. E. Sutton, concerning Mr Robinson’s opinion, and a request from the Aran Islands Parish Priest for a contribution to set up a school. All are handwritten bar one typescript. Accompanied by two relevant newspaper cuttings. A unique assembly of primary source documents. Condition: Mainly fine well preserved condition, all fully legible, and no apparent faults. Estimate €800-€1,200 (approx £700-£1,040) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 84