Jacobin Emissaries in Dingle, Co. Kerry, 1794.
Letter from Jeff O'Connell to the privy council of George III, 1794 May 12.
In the Spring of 1794 the political of landscape of Ireland was thrown into turmoil. At a time when tensions had begun to simmer, United Irish membership began to wane and a new Lord Lieutenant seemed determined to introduce legislation easing restrictions on Irish Catholics - Dublin Castle made successive decisions, which proved detrimental to stability.
When it became clear what William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, the Lord Lieutenant was trying to do - Westminster and Pitt recalled him back to England immediately. This served to agitate the vast majority of the populace who saw his lieutenancy as the beginning of great era of change and reform for Irish politics.
Another event was the Jackson affair in April 1794, immediately prior to today’s primary source. Rev. William Jackson was an Anglican minister who’s life is a story I hope to discuss in great detail in the future. But for today, I’ll be brief. He primarily found work as a journalist in London but due to accruing bad debts, found himself voluntarily exiled in France in the midst of the French Revolution.
In 1794, he became entangled in a web of espionage under the regime of Robespierre and was tasked with travelling to Britain and Ireland to test the waters, as it were, for French military intervention. Upon arriving in Dublin, in April of 1794, it was discovered that his close friend had been informing Westminster of his nefarious mission and Jackson was arrested in his lodgings off Dame Street near Dublin Castle on 24th April.
Jacksons arrest, and his involvement with leading United Irishmen led to the exile of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the escape of Archibald Hamilton Rowan from Newgate Prison and most likely, the beginning of Leonard McNally becoming the governments most important spy in the United Irish network. This came just after the recall of Fitzwilliam and days before the failure of a further Catholic Relief Act. It is within this context that we find todays source to be set, from Jeff O’Connell, worried of information he became aware of during his time in Paris just prior to the outbreak of war between Britain and France - prompted by the publicised arrest of Jackson.
Sirs,
Some important matters being now before his majesty’s Privy Council in consequence of the apprehending Stone and Jackson; I beg leave to obtrude myself on your notice, to communicate some particulars, which, on the present occasion I conceive will not be deemed useless.
I went to France to recover property long due to me, was at Paris from 1791 to 1793, and after great personal sufferings, returned to England last October.
I frequently met in mixed company Stone of Paris and Jackson - the general tenor of their conduct is well known to me, but to dwell on some striking incidents would perhaps be unsuitable in this letter.
My information more particularly applies at present with respect to Ireland.
Three Jacobin emissaries were sent to Ireland in the Spring 1793. One Duckett about 22 years of age and two others of the same age - they embarked in a Danish vessel at Dunkirk, ostensibly bound to America, - were most liberally supplied by the late Guillotined minister Le Brun, and there is every reason to suppose that they were landed at Dingle on the S.W. coast of Ireland, and brought over arms and ammunition for - as it is known the insurrections first broke out in the neighbourhood of that town, of which place said Duckett is known to be a native, there appears sufficient reason to suppose, that the troubles were solely owing to the influence of said Duckett, and his associates.
I have been at some pains to discover whether such a circumstance was known to some of the leading members of the Government of Ireland.
These particulars with others I communicated on the 3rd March to a member of the Privy Council of that Kingdom, Rgt. Hon. Mr Burton Conyningham, who knew me abroad - but he has not thought it proper to answer the letter.
That Duckett and his associates lay as it were perdus, waiting a more favourable opportunity, there scarce appears room to doubt.
If among Jackson’s papers, the names of Ferris, Curtin, Madgett are found, I am confident that the ramifications of the past insurrection may be traced as far as it concern the W & S.W. coast of Ireland.
If for further elucidation of these particulars, my appearance should be at any time judged necessary, I beg leave to say, that I shall readily obey your summons.
Letter from Jeff O'Connell to the privy council of George III, giving information on the arrival of three "Jacobin emissaries" in Dingle, County Kerry and their role in certain "insurrections" 1794 May 12. Held in the National Library of Ireland at MS 49,491/2/424L