London 14.th Jan.ry January 1805
Sir,
From the message you sent to day by Margaret, saying that you would not sign a settlement of the House, but that perhaps, you may give a letter of Atn, 2 I have been induced to write to you to explain my Reason’s Reasons for Soliciting you for the Deed.
At the Death of my dear father3 (& only truetrue friend) he he he left that house & the Houses in Crones, & portneys Lane’s Lanes 4(now fallen to the Ground ) to my Mother, for the term of 31 years, that being the longest Lease that could then be given to a Roman Catholic, and the Reversion to you, whom he thought would Act as his Son & my Brother, by giving it to me, my OTHER Brothers,5 being wild, he left me one hundred pounds 40 £ of which was paid after my Marrriage6 to my Mother for her Interest of the House, As House. As you at that time sent a letter which I now have in my possession, that you resign your Title of said places in favor favour of your Uncle John Reardon,7 & at his Death to me, & family (you said your Sister) Now as Bulkley has made Over that House & my All on my Good Son,8 what a proceeding!! - And gave him the Lease nothing but a Deed of Settlement drawn on a Stamp in favor favour of Margaret will do as Bulkley’s Creditors could fall on it if given to me, his Debts being over 600£ And Burning your former Letter, for if that letter was produced even you could not retake it - Now sir Margaret being but 15 Years Old & of course not of Age, it would be Requisite to have a person to take it in Trust for her during her minority, a minority. A Friend of mine has offered to draw the Deed & take it on Trust for her (M.r Reardon, At.y 9) if you will be so kind as to Sign it, if not it will remain with my Son for Ever - You ask why I came to London, Sure Sir you could not Deceive yourself so much as to think I came to Beg from you -
If indeed you did think so I am convinced this will alter your oppinion opinion , give me leave to propose a single Question to you, - What did you give my Child when she was here last June; did you Ask her to Dinner, in Short did you Act as an Uncle or as Christian to a poor unprotected, unprovided for Girl – (turn over)10 Who had not been brought up to think of Labor Labour and, Alas! whose Education is not finished to put her in a way to get Decent Bread for herself 11 & whose share has been given to a Brother -
I must inded indeed have lost my Reason if I came to you for support – No Sir. I left Ireland because I have been Ill. Very Ill treated there. Thrown out of house & home by a Husband & Son. Good God what could I do if I was to Induster12 there, the fruits of mymy Labor Labour would be seized on by Bulkley’s Creditors even he would have given them up himself toto them I them. I had no Choice left but to starve or come here to try to Get Bread – Oftenten Often had I been importuned by my friends to come & see you but I would not nor would I come here now if I knew any other Country. I forget I am speaking to a disinterrested disinterested person, but I have not said thus much for any Interest, No Sir. But as you are a Well Bred Man who knows the World to let you know my reason for coming […] [gap in transcription (illegible)]... I shall no longer intriiide intrude on your time but just to tell you whhy I called to you, it was to see you after a period of more than 30 years to see if there was one relation of whom I may ask advice in the World but Disappointment has attended that & many others of the undertakings of Sir,
Yours &Cc &Cc &Ca
Mary Anne Bulkley
P.S. You will greatly
oblidge
oblige
the
Daugter
Daughter
of John & Julian Barry13 if you
will sign the deed, it
is my last request
Adieu14
