Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Ernest Blythe

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This letter is from Ernest Blythe (1889-1975), to Mabel FitzGerald (née Washington McConnell) (1884-1958), wife of politician and intellectual Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947).Blythe writes from Brixton Prison. He was surprised to hear that Desmond FitzGerald had been imprisoned but he believes he will not have to serve for long. He hasn't heard anything of his friends since he was arrested and for approximately a fortnight he hadn't been getting newspapers so he doesn't know what friends may have been killed or imprisoned in that time.Earnest Blythe was an organiser for the Irish Volunteers. He had been arrested under the Defence of the Realm Act. He was released from prison in England before the Easter Rising but was rearrested there during Easter week 1916. Mabel Fitzgerald was the wife of Irish Volunteer Desmond Fitzgerald. Mabel was a former governess in London. She later vigorously canvassed her former acquaintances in London's liberal circles for support for Francis Sheehy Skeffington during his hunger strike in 1915. Both Mabel and Desmond would serve in the GPO garrison during Easter Week.

 University College Dublin Archives FitzGerald Papers, P80/1602/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/1481 English Ernest Blythe 1916-06-08 Brixton, England Mabel FitzGerald Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 In replying to this letter, please write on the envelope :- Number 3134 Name Blythe E Brixton Prison 8 th June 1916. Dear Mabel, I was glad to get your letter yesterday. I thought you must have moved from Bray and I didn't know what address would find anybody or who had been left at large that I could write to. I wrote to Helen but a letter apparently takes more than a fortnight in going and coming; so I have had no news of any of my friends since the postcard I got from Jack a few days after I was arrested. I was surprised when I read about Desmond because Jack said he was all right. Seven-and-a-half years would be a devilish long time if he had to serve it all; but I don't suppose there's any question of that. I was informed a couple of days ago that Kate had written asking if she could visit me, so I shall expect she'll be round here on Saturday. I should have written to her but I had not her address. I was in the same plight in regard to Arthur who was down to see me the day before I was arrested. Someone has been sending in my dinner since Sunday. I have money on hands but I took the prison food because I knew I should have to revert to it in a few weeks and might then want the money for something else. In any case, you will remember that it suits me and I thrive upon it so I suffer no hardship. I got the 'Weekly Irish Times' I suppose from you a couple of days ago. ItI was glad to have it for there were several items of news in it that I had not seen before. I have been getting the 'Independent' fairly regularly from Helen since Desmond's sentence was announced. I also get 'The Times' every day. Before that, however, I was nearly a fortnight without papers. So that a lot of people I knew may have been killed or imprisoned without my knowing. Yours Ernest Blythe Mrs.Fitzgerald, Bray Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 15 Jult 1916. Brixton, England Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916. Mabel FitzGerald Letter from Margaret Pearse to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 July, 1916.Letter from Neans bean í Rathgaille (Nancy O'Rahilly) to Mabel FitzGerald, circa 26 May 1916.Letter from Nancy O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Burgess to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 November 1915Postcard from Mabel Fitzgerald to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 22 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 March 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 March 1916Letter to Mabel FitzGerald, 1916Letter from T.M. Healy to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Anna O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Brosnan to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Muldoon to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from T.J. Hanna to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Laurence Ginnell to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Julia Evans to Mabel FitzGerald, 13 May 1916Letter from Captain, Richmond Barracks to Mabel FitzGerald, 14 May 1916Letter from J.H.G. Stantin to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 May 1916Letter from R.F. Sergeant probably to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to Brigadier General, Richmond Barracks, 22 May 1916Letter from Nancy Campbell to Mabel FitzGerald, 23 May 1916Letter from George Bernard Shaw to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from W. Goodman to Mabel FitzGerald, 12 April 1916.Telegram from Superintendent of Police, Kingstown to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor of Richmond Barracks, 11 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to John Redmond, 27 May 1916.Letter from Annie F. to Mabel FitzGerald, 27 May 1916.Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916.Letter from John Redmond to Mabel FitzGerald, 29 May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Ní Shéaghda to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 May 1916.Letter from the Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916Letter from Harry Stockman to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916.Letter from R.C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from R. C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Mountjoy Prison, 2 June 1916.Letter from Máire Ní Catháin to Mabel FitzGerald, 3 June 1916.Letter from Austin Stack to Mabel FitzGerald, 4 June 1916.Letter from the Charles Arthur Munro, the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 June 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916.Letter from M.B. McDonough to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 15 Jult 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald 4 August, 1916.Letter from The Governor, Dartmoor Prison to Mabel FitzGerald, 18 August 1916.Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 November 1915Letter from Mabel FitzGerald [June 1916]Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 7 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 February 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Dartmoor Prison, 22 June 1916. Ernest Blythe Letter from Ernest Blythe to George Gavan Duffy, 18 April 1916Letter from Ernest Blythe to George Gavan Duffy, 12 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Ernest Blythe, 14 May 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe, Brixton Prison, to George Gavan Duffy, 29 May 1916.Letter from George H. White to Ernest Blythe, Brixton Prison, 2 June 1916Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Ernest Blythe, 21 April 1916.