1 13, Clare Street,
Dublin, 28th March 1916

Dear Mr Attorney General, I beg to apply for
the appointment of Chief Crown
Solicitor for Ireland which has
become vacant by the death of
Sir Malachy Kelly. I enclose a few of
the testimonials I received
in 1889, when I was applying
for the position of Solicitor
to the Irish Law Commission. Since that, 26 years ago, I
have had a large practice
in almost every branch of
the profession. I am a Justice of the
Peace & have some knowledge
of Criminal Law. I am
Yours truly
WS Collis

The Rt Hon.
The Attorney General
Dublin Castle. 2 From the Right Hon. Mr. Justice Madden, then Attorney
General for Ireland, M.P
Law Room,
Dublin Castle, October 29, 1899.

My Dear Mr. Collins, I willingly comply with your request that I should
state your professional ability and character. I have had many opportunities of observing the manner
in which you conduct your professional business, and I have
formed a high opinion of your legal knowledge and capacity.
I have always found you devote yourself most zealously to the
interests of your clients. Yours faithfully,
D.H Madden W.Stewart Collins, Esq. 3 20 Hatch Street, Dublin, 31st October , 1889. I have great pleasure in testifying to my knowledge of Mr.
Wm. S. Collis, B.A, who is a candidate for the post of Solicitor
to the Land Commission. He was admitted a Solicitor in 1882,
after a most distinguished examination, in which he won Gold
Medal and Findlater Scholarship. Since that date he has been
in excellent practice and has a considerable experience in nearly every
branch of his profession. He is able, energetic and prudent, and is
a gentleman of the highest honour and integrity. I have no doubt
that if appointed he would give the Land Commission and those
with whom he had to do business every satisfaction. T.G. Overend, Q.C 4 From the Solicitor for the Church Representative Body,
Trinity College, Dublin Metropolitan Police, etc.
18 Stephens Green, North,
Dublin, 29th October, 1889.

My Dear Collis, I have very great pleasure indeed in saying that
I believe your appointment to the office of solicitor to the
Land Commission would give general satisfaction to the pro-
fession, and send to the Commissioners an officer whose
capabilities and knowledge of his business would enable him
to discharge efficiently the duties of his office, and to the
public one with whom they could communicate with confidence
and pleasure. Believe me,
Very faithfully yours,
John Maunsell

W.S. Collis, Esq, 3 Westmoreland Street. 5 20, Fitzwilliam Square,
Dublin, October 30th,
My Dear Collis, Having heard that you area a candidate for the vacant
office of Solicitor to the Irish Land Commission, it gives me
great pleasure to state my opinion of your fitness for the office. I have been associated with you professionally in a very
large number of cases of every nature--many of them of a
very heavy and responsible character, and have had constant
opportunities of testing your ability and character as a Solicitor.
You are one of the few Solicitors whom I know who can
grapple with heavy business of a complicated nature, and I
am satisfied that your sound judgement and practical common-
sense, added to your legal knowledge and high sense of honour,
make you in every way qualified to fill the responsible position
of Solicitor to the Irish Land Commission. Faithfully yours
Charles L. Matheson.
W.S. Collis Esq. 6 Ulster Club, Belfast. I have known Mr W Stewart Collis for several years,
and have had frequent opportunities of observing the way in
which he conducts the legal proceedings entrusted to him. In
my opinion he is possessed of very high attainments and
qualifications for his profession. His knowledge is extensive, and he is most painstaking
and accurate in the management of his cases. I have observed
that he is invariably guided in his practice by the principals which
regulate the conduct of a man of honour and a gentleman. Henry Fitzgibbon.
October 29th, 1889. 7 From the Right Hon. Sir Edward Carson, Q.C., M.P.
80, Merrion Square,
Dublin, October 30th, 1889.

Dear Collis, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to your
fitness for the appointment of Solicitor to the Land
Commission. I have had the opportunity at the profession of judging of
your ability and zeal, and I cannot speak too highly of your
qualification. I wish you every good luck. Yours truly,
EDWARD CARSON. 8 Graves C. Colles, of the firm of Meade, Colles and Co.
31, Kildare Street, Dublin, 30th October, 1889.

Dear Collis, In accordance with your request I can confidently
testify as to your capability and energy in carrying out business
matters entrusted to you, having had ample opportunity for
forming such an opinion during the time you served your
apprenticeship in this office. Your character during the time
I have had the pleasure of knowing you has always been that
of an honest upright gentleman. Yours faithfully. GRAVES C. COLLES.

W.S. Collis, Esq. 9 From Sir. Benjamin Whitney,
46, Kildare Street Dublin, 29th, October, 1889.

Dear Mr. Collis, I am very glad to learn that you are a candidate
for the post of Solicitor to the Land Commission. Know-
ing you as I do, I have much pleasure in stating that I believe
you to be exceedingly well qualified for the post. What is
wanted is, I believe, a clever, steady, hard working and
energetic man, and in these respects I feel confident that you
are suitable. I trust you may be successful and feel sure that your
appointment would give great satisfaction to the members of
our profession, who desire to see the post filled by the man
best qualified to do the work. Yours very truly,
BENJAMIN WHITNEY.

William S. Collis, Esq., B.A.,
Westmoreland St. 10 From Mr. Serjeant Campion , K.C.
13, Hatch Street, October 30th, 1889. I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with Mr. W.
STEWART COLLIS for several years. He is a gentleman of high character, and, in my opinion,
of considerable ability. In the discharge of his professional
duties, I have always found him most competent and zealous,
and I have no doubt he would prove worthy of confidence in
any position in which he might be placed. W. BENNETT CAMPION. 11 65. Merrion Square, Dublin. 29th October, 1889.

Dear Mr. Collis, I understand you are a candidate for the office of
solicitor to the Land Commissioners. From my experience of you in several heavy cares, as a
solicitor, I am satisfied with your professional capacity, and of
your fitness for any office requiring intelligence and knowledge
of your business. Hoping to hear of your appointment. I am,
Yours very truly,
C.H. HEMPHILL.
W.Stewart Collis, Esq. 12 25 Clare Street, Dublin, 31st October, 1889.

Dear Mr. Collis, In reference to your Candidature for the office of Solicitor
to the Irish Land Commission, I have no hesitation in bearing
my testimony to your fitness to fill the post with credit to your-
self, and satisfaction to the public. My firm has been engaged
in important legal matters with you, and always found that they
were conducted with ability and despatch. I am ,
Yours very truly,
Robert O. Longfield.
W.S. Collis, Esq. 13 66 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, 31st October, 1889.

Dear Mr. Collis, I have much pleasure in stating that in my opinion you are
well qualified in every respect to fill the post of Solicitor to the
Land Commission. Having experienced your energy, accuracy,
and ability in the discharge of your ordinary professional duties,
I consider that your selection to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of the late Mr. Browning, ought to give much satisfaction
to all those who are brought into business relations with the
Commissioners. I hope that you will get the post. Believe me,
Yours faithfully,
David Colquhoun.

W.S.Collis, Esq.,
3 Westmoreland-street 14 51, Merrion Square,
Dublin, 29th October, 1889.

Dear Mr.Collis, Without respect to the high honours you gained when
entering our profession, I have much pleasure in certifying ,
from the knowledge I have had of you in business, that you
are well qualified to fill the post of Solicitor to the Land
Commission. Yours faithfully,
RICHARD S. REEVES.
W. S. Collis, Esq.