NOTE: These letters were passed down through the family. I have attempted to duplicate the exact penmanship (ie. spelling, paragraphs); some words were difficult to make out. Brackets - [ ] - indicate information I have added.
(Written on official gaol stationery)
County of Dublin Gaol
Kilmainham
_ day of February 1875
Madame,
I beg leave to thank you for the beautiful present you sent me so graciously. I shall always esteem it very highly coming as it did from a lady who all that knew admired respected and loved for her amiable character kindness and goodness of heart but made dearer still to me (if possibly) as being a token of remembrance of an amirable gentleman an upright trustworthy Public Officer a kind master and an excellent christain.
Whose actions and career shall live in the hearts of all who knew him long after his body has crumbled to dust in the house appointed for all in the sublunary world. And whose memory I shall ever fondly cherish as being a paragon to all grades of society more particular gentlemen by birth and education placed in authority as Captain Dyer was.
I beg leave further to state that it is the earnest wish and prayer of your humble servant that Captain Dyer’s children may all grow up as did their father with that love for truth integrity and honour which was always kept in view in all his actions both public and private. And that he who has promised to be a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless may watch over guide and protect their mamma and themselves and finally that we all meet where parting shall be no more.
I am madame
Your very humble servant
John Wallace [Warder at Kilmainham]
Kilmainham
26th February 1875
Dear Mrs Dyer
You have taken me very much by surprise in sending me the kind present I have received from you. I am intent your kindness in this & other respects will never be forgoten by me & not by me alone but by all those men in the prison.
I cannot find words to thank you for so great kindness.
I am very glad to hear that it has pleased God to give you a fine young son in place of him. He hath been pleased to take to him self.
Every thing is gowing on hear much the same as usual. I think Catain Gray will be very well liked hear when we know Him better & when he gets into the ways of the prison & the prison disiplin He will be all for close disiplin & safety he does not-appear to cair much for work or for profit - he is more for punishining but he may change from that when he sees a little more.
I never heard any word from Wood they carpenter I think if he had went on well we would have heard from him. Theire is a new warden appointed on next board day to the 4 March in Mr Hill place.
I was over at Mount-Juame.
Since I wrote to you I took over a large box full of mould. It covered the top all together the rose bushes weare looking very well.
Mrs Gray told me if theire was any thing in the garden that I wished to plant at the grave that I could get them no mater what it was.
The weather has been very stormy hear for the last 10 days or so we had snow hear the last 2 days. It will do a great deal of good for the air was very cold form some time back.
Polly is well but she does not cair about any one except Mrs. Dyer.
I hope they boys are all well since they went back to school. Please give my best respects to Miss May & to all they children. I will now close with many thanks to your self for the kind remembrance you have sent me.
...one which shall be remembered by me so long as I live.
I shall remain yours truly
G. Bartley [George Bartley, Warder at Kilmainham]
Kilmainham Gaol
3rd June 1875
Dear Madam,
The Board of Superintendant of Kilmainham Gaol have instructed me to forward you the enclosed copy of the Annual Inspection Report for 1874, as they feel certain it will be a gratification to you to know the high estimation in which the character of the late Capt. Dyer, R.N., my predecessor, was held by the Inspector General of Irish Prisons.
Believe me,
Dear Madam,
Resp. faithfully yours,
St. George Gray [Governor of Kilmainham]
Mrs. H.McN. Dyer
Kilmainham
10th July 1875
Dear Mrs. Dyer
I was very glad to hear that you had so fine a passage & that you wear all well when last I heard from you for I always heard from Mrs. Dyer when there was any news from you.
Every thing is gowing on hear much as usual Capt Grays family are all hear for the last 10 days.
Mr. Hill is back hear again. They Board of Superintedants was very much displeased with him for not giving a months notice before leaving so they ordered him back to his duty for a month until theire is a warden appointed in his place.
I was at Moun jesonr semetry on Sunday the rose bushes are growing nicely for the time. I have a box of mould ready to take over to put about them & to cover the to of the grave I will take it over either to morrow or next day.
I am sending you a coppy of the sale theire is some of the prices that I have entered may not be correct but the most of them are correct the carpets is the only thing that I am not shure of the mesherment but theire is some of the things you that you have not heard about so you will see the price the garden turned out very well at the end theire is some of the things which are not sold yet I think & if the have to be sold at the sale rooms the will bring as much as the wear sold hear for
Polly is well but she does not cair for any one except Mrs. Dyer.
We are all in good health thanks be to God for it.
Miss Tilewitt conducts the Sunday serves as usual Capt. Gray & family was at church on Sunday. I have not time to say any more at present.
Remember me to Miss May & to all the children & above all to Edea.
I remain yours truly
G. Bartley [George Bartley, Warder at Kilmainham]
To Mrs. Dyer
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