Letters
Category
Archive Collections
Date
1893
Materials
Collection
Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire
NT 1192020
Summary
Collection of handwritten and printed correspondence and other papers relating to Lewis Dawnay’s attempts to raise a Yorkshire Corps of Gentlemen Volunteers to assist the Irish Loyalists, 1893 in the event of the passing of the Home Rule Act. Largely replies to him from other estate owners.
Full description
In April 1893, new Liberal Prime Minster William Gladstone attempted to pass the Second Home Rule Bill to give Ireland a degree of domestic independence within the British Empire. Swayed by appeals for military support to defend loyalist interests in Ireland by the Ulster M.P. Edward James Saunderson (1837-1906), Dawnay took it upon himself to raise “A Yorkshire Corps of Volunteer Gentlemen Volunteers with a view to rendering assistance to the Irish Loyalists”. He placed newspaper notices and wrote to the leading landowners in Yorkshire asking for their active support in this completely unofficial military enterprise, to a less than enthusiastic response. Lord Minto (Lewis' brother-in-law by marriage) recorded in his journal that he thought Dawnay’s appeal was, “ill-judged and premature, [but] it shows the way the wind blows” (quoted in ‘Lord Minto’ by John Buchan, 1924). In the event, Gladstone’s ‘Home Rule’ bill passed the House of Commons but was heavily defeated in the Lords and so Dawnay’s commitment was untested.
Provenance
By descent from Lewis Dawnay (1846-1910) of Beningbrough Hall to Alan Pryce-Jones (1908-2000) via Lewis' daughter, Vere Pryce-Jones (1884-1956). Donated to Beningbrough Hall in 1991 by Alan. Deposited with North Yorkshire Record Office in 2011 (catalogued as ZZG 6/2/1-41).