ter occurred in Limerick, by an explosion of gunpowder in the premises of one William Richardson, a gun-maker and vendor of gunpowder, No. 1, George's-street. Eleven persons were killed by this explosion, viz. Margaret M'Mahon, John M'Mahon, Bridget O'Donohoe, John O'Brien, Patrick Doolan, Mary Barry, John Enright, Bridget Doolan, John M'Mahon, and Michael O'Neill, a watch-man. The cause of the catastrophe could never be clearly ascertained, as the only person in the part of the house where the gunpowder lay was blown up, and his body torn in pieces. The terrific details of this dreadful affair1 cause a shudder of horror whenever they are brought to memory, while the miraculous escape which some respectable families had from being involved in the worst consequences of the explosion, is referred to the special agency of Providence. Every effort was made by the Mayor and magistrates to mitigate the sufferings of the survivors. A deputation laid the matter before the Lord Lieutenant, who gave his active 1 There were four persons under the roof at the time, three of whom were killed, while a young man named Teskey, an apprentice, escaped with his life, though he had been blown to a great height, and came down senseless in the street, at a considerable distance. At the house No. 2, George's-street, the widow of Michael Ryan, Esq., one of the most extensive and esteemed merchants in the city, resided with her family, two sons,* a daughter and a sister-in-law; they were all in bed, being instantly stunned after lying unconscious under the ruins for an hour, the first recital or perception that Mrs. Ryan remembered was hearing her daughter, Barbara, a child of eight years old, who slept with her, crying, "Mamma, where are we?" they were at the time buried amid the debris. A long and fruitless search had been made for them-it was suggested that they had gone to the country; further exertions were about being relinquished when the almost inaudible cries of the child were heard under the ruins. Efforts were again made, and the child was heard to cry "to take care of Mamma"-whose collar bone had been broken-their persons having been overwhelmed in rubbish between the shop and the underground apartment yet supported by two doors having came together, in their fall, so as to form an arch over themthe legs and feet, however, were so crushed that they could not change their position. One of the sons, William, was blown up in the air on the matrass where he was sleeping and came down in the street with it blazing about him-he asleep all the while! He sustained no injury. The elder brother Edmond was not blown up-but the corner of the floor whereon his bed stood could be seen for days after from the street, like a shelf without support attached to the tottering wall. Mrs. Catherine Ryan, the sister-in-law of Mrs. Ryan, had no perception of anything having happened until the next morning when she found herself in a public house on Arthur's Quay-having been blown out, so stunned as to be senseless, buried under a heap of rubbish, and lying for an hour in the street with a beam of timber over her. A servant who slept in the room next to Mrs. Catherine Ryan's was blown into the hall of the house No. 3, belonging to Mr. William Wilson. Mr. Ellard who resided near the corner of Denmark-street, opposite to Richardson's, was lifted off the ground and with a whirling motion dashed across the street and buried under a heap of rubbish, from which he was dug out. His respectable family had a most narrow escape-as had also the family of Mr. Thomas Tracy, who lived in No. 13, of Mr. J. Hallowell, No. 10; of Mr. J. Burke, No. 18, &c. &c. The gas throughout the city was on this occasion extinguished, and windows were broken on the North-strand at the opposite side of the Shannon. The verdict of the Coroner's jury threw blame on the incautious manner in which Richardson had exposed the gunpowder for sale. Mrs. William Massy, of Belmont, while passing over in a cot to Hermitage, at Christmas, in a fog, was drowned. May 24th.-Universal sorrow in the city of Limerick, consequent on the death of John Vereker, Esq., brother of Lord Gort. June 7th. Considerable sums raised by public subscription in the city for the relief of the poor. June 26th.-The Masters and Wardens, and the great body of the Congregated Trades of Limerick, in full dress, bearing the standards and insignia of each craft, waited upon the Mayor, at Cruise's Hotel, George's-street, with a complimentary address, in which they manifested the most anxious desire for his re-election to office. Edmond, afterwards Mayor of Limerick in 1846, and now (1865) R. M. of Middleton, County Cork, and William, after wards drowned. sympathies, and a public subscription was raised, to which every one contributed. We turn from this appalling scene to the state of local politics and parties. Between O'Connell and William Smith O'Brien, a strong feeling of antagonism had prevailed since the Clare Election-and in this year an interchange of lengthened letters showed that their differences on public questions were widening, and that there was but little hope of reconciling them. The popular party was gaining strength. Baron O'Loghlen was elevated to the proud position of Master of the Rolls, with a Baronetcy-and never did a public man better deserve the honor than Sir Michael O'Loghlen. Mr. Woulfe, afterwards Chief Baron, was appointed Attorney General-and re-elected for Cashel-Mr. Brady, (now Lord Chancellor Brady), Solicitor General, and Mr. Pigot, (now Chief Baron Pigot), law adviser to the Castle. Parallel with these events, went the Irish Municipal Reform Bill in Parliament, and the motion for the expulsion of the Bishops from the House of Lords for which the two "Limerick Roches" gave their votes, but which was rejected by a majority of 197 to 92. Grand Jury Reform, tithe adjustment-though with the abandonment of the appropriation clause on which the Whig party had got into power-Poor Laws, &c., now became the order of the day; in the midst of agitation, King William IV. died; and Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria-a maiden queen, radiant with youth, and of highest promise, ascended the throne in the month of June this year (1837), amid the acclamations of Her Majesty's Irish subjects. Limerick was full of animation, to witness the customary pomp and pageantry of proclaiming a new Sovereign. The Union Flag floated from the Commercial Buildings; the ships in harbour hung out their ensigns; the Cathedral Bells exchanged a peal of joy for the mournful toll at the King's death. The streets were gay, crowds having come in from the country. A procession formed at the Exchange, according to programme. General L'Estrange gave the military force to the civic authorities. The various Trades mustered in great numbers, with insignia descriptive of each Guild. The Mayor, Sheriff, Aldermen, and Civic Officers, in full Corporate robes, occupied the centre of the procession. Archdeacon Maunsell and the Protestant Clergy; the Very Rev. Dr. Hogan and the Catholic Clergy; John Kelly and William Howly, Esqrs. Deputy Lieutenants; the President and members of the Chamber of Commerce, citizens, &c. were present at the ceremonial. Having traversed the principal streets, repeating the proclamation at stated places, the procession finally separated in Bank Place. The windows along the route were occupied by elegantly dressed ladies. The Mayor entertained the military Officers, Clergy, Gentry, Freemasons, and heads of all the trades at the Council Chamber of the Exchange. general election followed the immediate dissolution of Parliament by the A July 5th. Change in the dispatch of Mails, by the Post Office Department, commencing Thursday, 6th inst., at 6, P.M., when the mail coach leaves this for Dublin, and arrives here on the morning of Friday, the 7th instant, at 30 minutes past seven. The Ennis and Galway mail leaves this every morning at 45 minutes past 7-the Cork and Tralee mail coaches at eight every morning. July 12th.-Judge Crampton repaired to Court this morning, at nine o'clock, to try Mary Cooney for the wilful murder of Mrs. Anne Anderson, widow, of Harstonge-street, on the evening of Monday, the 6th of March last, by inflicting a mortal wound with a knife on that lady's neck, of which she instantaneously died. The Jury, after a short consultation, found a verdict of guilty. Hanged on Monday, the 7th August. Queen-and Limerick, county and city, became again the vortex of the political excitement. In the month of July O'Connell arrived from Dublin, on his way to Cork, and held a public meeting, John O'Brien. Esq. of Elm Vale, afterwards M.P. for the city, in the chair; when O'Connell delivered with characteristic freedom his opinion of certain members of the aristocracy, who happened at the time, or whom he believed to be opposed to the popular cause, denouncing as usual the Corporation in the most unmeasured terms of reproach. He extolled the Messrs. Roche as friends of the people, and adherents of a liberal Government. The election for the city commenced on the 1st of August, it was marked by the utmost excitement. The windows and doors of the houses in Francisstreet of the anti-popular candidates had been smashed the night before. The candidates were William and David Roche, Esqrs. on the popular interest; and William Monsell, Esq. and Mr. Wilson on the Tory interest. The following was the result of the gross poll :-W. Roche, 563; David Roche, 555; W. Monsell, 176. The Court rung with acclamations from the friends of Messrs. Roche, who having returned thanks, the Sheriff adjourned to next morning. There was no chairing of the City members. CHAPTER LII. FOUNDATION OF TWO CONVENTS IN LIMERICK.-THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT. TRIUMPHANT VISIT OF FATHER MATHEW.-GREAT REPEAL DEMON STRATION. 1837 was rendered remarkable by the introduction into the city of the nuns of the Presentation Order from Cork, whose admirable convent was founded that year in Sexton-street, chiefly through the instrumentality and zeal of the Very Rev. Patrick Hogan, P.P., V.G., St. Michael's, who gave the ground, at a moderate rent, on which the Convent and Schools were built, and who built the spacious Schools at his own expense for the instruction of poor female children by the nuns. Mrs. King, a native of Waterford, who had joined the order some time before in Cork, brought a considerable fortune to the new establishment which was speedily joined by ladies from the City and County of Limerick. This noble establishment soon gave evidence of its strength and usefulness-its schools became fre 'In October following a grand banquet was given in the Northumberland Buildings, to the city members, when 150 citizens were present. William Hawkins Bourne, Esq. of Terenure, near Dublin, died in September this year in London. He it was that first established a Mail Coach between this city and Dublin; while by pushing the sphere of his operations, he also opened new and explored sources of profit to the merchant and agriculturist throughout the South of Ireland, by forming splendid roads, and providing safe and expeditious conveyances on various lines of route. His large establishment gave employment to a vast number of persons, who deeply deplored the loss of their benefactor. quented by hundreds of children, and the great work in which the nuns were engaged prospered admirably. James F. Carroll, Esq., M.D., an eminent physician of Limerick, and a devoted Catholic, contributed a sum of £500 to build the beautiful chapel of cut limestone which is attached to the Convent, and to his memory, a white marble tablet is erected in the chapel with this inscription : PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS HE DIED SEPTEMBER 17th, 1837. AMEN. The Schools having been found incapable of containing the great numbers of children who frequent them, the foundation stone of a new school-house was laid on the 4th of August, 1864, at a cost to the nuns of £400. These additional schools are now (1865) also in operation, and afford a moral, religious and industrial education to nearly 1,000 children who should otherwise be destitute of so great a blessing. The late Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, Catholic Bishop of Limerick, was a munificent benefactor of these schools and of this truly excellent establishment. The progress which religion and religious institutions were making throughout the city was really marvellous. On the 24th of September, 1848, the convent of the Sisters of Mercy on the site of a convent of the Order of Poor Clares, who had been there some years previously, and in a locality famed in ancient days for the great convent of the Friars preachers or Dominicans. Mrs. Macauley, from the Parent House, Baggot-street, Dublin, was the foundress of the new convent; and was accompanied by Mrs. Moore, a native of Dublin, who became superioress, and who for several years has presided over the laborious duties of her office, with incalculable benefit to the interests of religion and of the poor. In the old convent of the Poor Clares were two lay sisters when Mrs. Macauley arrived in Limerick; and these, with pious solicitude, she admitted into her establishment. The house which was prepared for the accommodation of the Sisters of Mercy was small; four or five ladies joined during the first year. The growth of the establishment became vigorous, fostered as it was by the constant vigilance and munificence of the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, who encouraged the pious sisterhood in their unwearied labours, and who gave them the most substantial proofs of the deep interest which he took in their successful progress. The grounds occupied an acre, with room sufficient for building purposes and extended accommodation. School-houses, a Refuge for Servants, an Orphanage, &c., were soon erected, and brought within the reach of the destitute and the forlorn. Thousands of pounds were expended by the community in increasing the accommodation for these merciful objects; the Refuge of Servants was at once prepared and occupied, and in 1865, there are no less than forty servants out of place in the Refuge. In 1844 the Orphanage was founded, within the Convent grounds; but not having been spacious enough for the accumulating numbers who were daily offering themselves for admission, the Sisters of Mercy founded a new Orphanage, Mount St. Vincent, on the 3rd of April, 1850. On the 5th of July, 1851, the foundation stone of the present really ornamental and commodious building was laid at Mount St. Vincent by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ryan, who was attended on the occasion by a large number of clergymen connected with the city. The Limerick Convent has established several foundations, including Kinsale, 15th April, 1844; Killarney, 30th April, same year; Mallow, 13th October, 1845; Glasgow, August, 1849; and Edinburgh, 7th July, 1858. The branch convents in immediate connection with the Limerick house, are, St. Catherine's (Newcastle West), 24th October, 1849; Rathkeale, opened 19th August, 1850; Roscommon, 1853; Ennis, 1851; Adare, 1854. The handsome Convent of Adare has been built near the Catholic parochial church, at the sole expense of the Earl of Dunraven. The Sisters of Mercy were introduced to the Union Workhouse Hospital on the 4th of January, 1861. A Widows' Asylum, founded by the Very Rev. W. A. O'Meara, O.S.F., for 18 widows, was begun near the Orphanage of Mt. St. Vincent, in 1861. The Tipperary branch house was opened on the 6th of October, 1864. The community now (1865) numbers 60 nuns, who devote their time to the instruction of the children of the poor, to the visiting of the sick, &c. During his life-time, the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan gave very large sums to the Orphanage, to the Convents of Newcastle, Rathkeale, &c. The following is a list of the schools under the care of the Sisters of Mercy: Average on rolls Over the portico of the convent, in large letters, are these words:— AD MAJORAM DEI GLORIAM. On the 20th of December, 1838, the Limerick Poor Law Union, which ranks as the first, was declared. It lies partly in the county Clare and partly in the county Limerick, and embraces the entire city of Limerick. It comprehends an area of 125,085 acres. Feb. 21st, 1838.-At the reform dinner given to O'Connell, at the Crown and Anchor Tavers, London, on the 18th evening-a dinner celebrated for the speech in which O'Connell charged the Tory Parliamentary Committees with perjury, for which a vote of censure was passed against him the chair was taken by a very distinguished Limerick man-namely, Sir de Lacy Evans who pronounced O'Connell "the object of the attention of the whole empire, and the admiration of the best and most enlightened men, not only of England, but of the world." January 6th, 1839.—One of the most terrific storms ever remembered visited Limerick ; several lives were lost. July 12th, 1839.-On this day the first number of the Limerick Reporter was published. July 22nd.-A great meeting was held, presided over by General Sir Richard Bourke, to address Earl Fortescue, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on his way through Limerick to visit his brother-in-law, Lord Courtenay, at Newcastle. At Cork Spring Assizes, was called the case of the Rev. James Raleigh, falsely charged with having struck a lady in St. Michael's Church, versus Dartnell, the proprietor of the Limerick Standard, and Massy, Rector of Bruff, for libel. On the suggestion of Judge Jackson, the case was settled out of court, the defendants paying full costs, and making a most ample apology to the Rev. James Raleigh. |