Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 17 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Patrick Langford Beazley

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Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to his son Piaras Béaslaí(1881–1965). The father fills his son in on various pieces of family news as Béaslaí is imprisoned at the time of writing. Responding to his son's previous enquiry about the book collection of the Irish Journalists Association, Piaras's father tells him that while the building was damaged during the 'Dublin trouble', the association managed to rescue the books and records. Besides this, the father recommends a particular edition of the Iliad and Dante, referring to the fact that his son has both Latin and French, which will help as he learns Spanish. Béaslaí was an English-born influential member of the IRB. He joined the Irish Volunteers on their foundation late in 1913. When visiting his parents he smuggled guns to Ireland. In February of 1916 he published the Fàinne, a publication to organise Gaelic speakers.Béaslaí was an officer during the Easter Rising. He was court-martialled and sentenced to five years’ for his part. In prison he wrote and memorised poems about his captivity. This letter is part of a collection of letters by Piaras’ parents, mostly during Béaslai’s internment. After his release he soon became involved in politics.

 National Library of Ireland , NLI33973/5/3 https://letters1916.ie/item/1146 English Patrick Langford Beazley 1916-07-17 Cheshire Piaras Béaslaí Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 q116 P. Beazley Glengariff, Rudgrave Square, Egremont, Cheshire 17 th July, 1916. My dearest Pierce, Though impatient to write to you, I have de— layed answering your letter, first in order, as you sug— gested, that I might get more news about friends, and secondly, not to leave too much time between the receipt of this and the answer to your next letter, which we hope to receive in September. I need not assure you that mother and I have been thinking of you every day and every hour of the day and praying that God may con— tinue to give you good health and all the happiness that can be attained under the conditions. Your letter was a great pleasure and comfort to us, for, besides giv— ing us the most welcome intelligence that your health was good, it was written in a spirit which showed that you were bearing your lot with fortitude. It was a great consolation too to know that you are so well provided for spiritually and intellectually and that the food is good and the work not too hard. It was very kind of the Bishop to pay the visit. From what I hear, he is a man of high capacity and good presence. I have had letters at various times from his brother who is a medical doctor in Plymouth. It is a blessing too that you find the chaplain to be, as you say, a charming man. A kind disposition is like a perpetual ray of sunshine. I have not yet taken my holidays and probably will not do so till next month. I had resolved to go and see you, but after having carefully considered what you said in your letter, I decided that it is best to be content with writing to you. It is better that you should be able to write the extra letter. One could not say very much during a visit of twenty minutes. I am exceedingly glad that there is such a good library, but I would utter a word of caution against anything like hard study. When one has manual work to do tis well not to tax the brain heavily, but light intellectual work is beneficial. If you are going through the Iliad you will find it a delight, especially if there is an edition with good notes. Anthon's, though not at all critical, is very useful through saving the trouble of a dictionary in the earlier books. Knowing Latin and French, you will find Italian and Spanish quite easy. Dante is as interesting as Homer and as difficult to interpret. You will, I am sure, be glad to know that the number of friends who have been enquiring about you and desire to be remembered affectionately to you is very large. Father James, in letters I have had from him, has shown that he is most anxious to hear as often as possible how you are. His letters of enquiry are extremely kind. He has just been at the annual Clerical Retreat in Killarney. He has not yet told me when or where he is going on his holidays. Since I wrote this I have had a letter from him in which he says he is going to Bray on the 23rd He wants me to go there also for my holidays. I may be able to ar range to go there about the 29th. The only drawback is that mother will not be able to come, but she is, thank God, in very good health and insists that I must go. Father James has sent a card for you which I enclose, hoping you may be allowed to receive it. He says a number of relatives and other friends asked to be remembered to you. With his letter came one from Mr. J.J. O'Kelly. His expressions of regard for you are most warm—hearted. He has not yet had an opportunity of reading your novel, but he hopes to have time to do so soon and that it may be possible to pub lish it. He enclosed a note from Mr. Foley who writes: 'When writing to Liverpool do not fail to say how delighted we all are about our devoted P.B. Let him be told that his friends at the Bailey are always asking me for items about him and that they want their kindest regards to be conveyed.' Both Mr. O'Kelly and Mr. Foley are anxious to send books but I shall tell them they are not permitted. I think I told you in my last letter that Mr. O'Kelly said (in a previous letter) that good care should be taken of your manuscripts. You will be sorry, he says, to hear that the mothers of Padraig O'Maille and Owen O'Brien died recently. He adds that John O'Keeffe is no longer staying with the old lady in Prince's street and has started in bus iness for himself. Michael Murphy called on me the other day. He said Nellie, Norah, and Kitty desired to be warmly remembered to you. Norah has finished her first year at Hull. He said they were com ing to see us in a few days, but they have not come yet. John Smyth often talks about you and wishes me to send his kind est remembrances; also Mrs. McLoughlin. Her daughter is now married and happy. I met Dr Niven in Dale Street a week ago. He made kind enquiries about you. His daughters, he told me, have grown into young women. Annie, the younger, is studying medicine and will, no doubt, be helpful to him when she is qualified as a doctor. I have put off mentioning Langford as we have been expecting him to arrive for his holidays to day. I have, however, had a letter from him just now, saying business will not allow him to come for another week. He mentions you affectionately in every letter. In answer to your enquiry about the books of the Irish Journalists' Asso ciation, for which you were Secretary, he says : 'The building was partially damaged during the Dublin trouble, but the Association has all the books and records and nothing needs clearing up.' He adds that Jack Clancy is in Dublin but he does not know whether Maud is in Dublin, London or Timbuctoo. Now I am drawing to a close as I am leaving the next page to mother. Let me assure you again, though I know it is not necessary, that we think of you continually and pray that God may bless and comfort you. Mother, Langford and myself are all, thank God, in ex cellent health. We earnestly hope that your health and spirits continue good and that we shall all be well when we meet again. With fondest love from all three & from many friends I remain ever affectionately Father. Patrick Langford Beazley Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí , 27 January 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslai, 3 February 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 17 February 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 24 February 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 9 March 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 3 March 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí on St. Patrick's eve 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí with £1 to celebrate St. Patrick's day 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí after the RisingLetter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 14 February 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 17 July 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 7 October 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras on his article on the Irish Language.Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 8 April 1916 Cheshire Letter from Nannie Beazley (née Hickey) to Piaras Béaslaí, 14 February 1916Letter from Patrick Langford Beazley to Piaras Béaslaí, 17 July 1916