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Buswell's Hotel, Dublin. 17th. July, 1916 Dear Sir Some Irish men and women
who are deeply grieved at the
events of the last few months propose to petition the Government
to show mercy to Roger Casement. They are not influenced by
any sympathy for his acts but believe that any further shedding
of blood will not tend to improve the relations between the two
islands, or to smooth the irritation which unfortunately exists. It is not proposed
to prepare any monster petition at
present ; in this matter we must be guided by circumstances
as they arise, and at present such a course does not seem advisable.
The time available does not permit much delay for consultation
but we hope you will approve of the form of petition now drawn up;
We propose that the present petition should go forward with only
a limited number of signatures - those of people of note or
influence in literature, art, politics, etc., being placed together.
This will give it a separate distinct character. If you approve we shall be glad
if you will return the
petition signed so that it can be attached to others of the same
nature. Yours faithfully, Maurice Moore
Agnes O'Farrelly
Committee :-
The Lord ffrench
Right Rev. Monsignor Ryan P.P.
Rev. Matthew MacGuire P.P.
Dr. Hyde L.L.D.
Colonel Moore C.B.
Lorcan Sherlock Esq. Late Lord Mayor, Dublin
P.J. Allen Esq.
Mrs. Hutton
Mrs. O'Nolan
Miss O'Farrelly
Miss Young
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Petition of Col. Moore & Agnes Farrelly letter mostly re R. Casement 1916-18 from
A.S.G., 'Máire' clement Shorter, A. Monell, James Stephens, etc.
This letter was written by Maurice George Moore (1854-1939) and Agnes O'Farrelly.
Moore was an Irish author, soldier and politician. Born in Co Mayo, he was the younger
brother of the writer George Moore. He reached the rank of colonel in 1902. He resigned
his commission in 1906 over matters of principle during the Boer War. A member of
the provisional committee of the Irish Volunteers in 1913, he was made the organisation's
Inspector General, spending much of 1914 organising the troops in Ireland. In 1916
he collected a petition with Agnes O'Farrelly asking for a reprieve of the death sentence
against Roger Casement. The letter is addressed to 'Sir' and concerns the petition
for the reprieve of Roger Casement. In the letter both state that they believe that
the shedding of blood will not improve Anglo-Irish relations.