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Ireland and France in 1848

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

D. N. Petler
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Extract

It has long been recognised that the French revolution of 1848 had a profound effect on the rest of Europe. The overthrow of the Orleans monarchy and the establishment of the second republic were seen as heralding the dawn of a new age. Established governments, most of which had recognised that the Continent was approaching a period of crisis, anxiously expected the spread of the revolutionary contagion and the outbreak of a major European war, whilst the discontented elements found encouragement and inspiration from the events in Paris. In Great Britain the reaction to the events across the English Channel reflected this trend. This is the beginning', noted one member of the cabinet, recalling 1792; who will live to see the end?' The Chartists were jubilant, declaring that the time was now ripe to achieve their demands.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 24 , Issue 96 , November 1985 , pp. 493 - 505
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1985

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References

1 John Cam Hobhouse's diary, 27 Feb. 1848 (B.L., Add. MS 43751, f. 100).

2 R.G. Gammage, History of the Chartist movement, 1837-1854 (London, 1894), pp 293-301.

3 Denis Gwynn, Young Ireland and 1848(Cork, 1949); K.B. Nowlan, The politics of repeal: a study in the relations between Great Britain and Ireland, 1841-1850 (London, 1965).

4 Nation, 4 Mar 1848, quoted in C.G. Duffy, Four years of Irish history, 1845-1849 (London, 1883), p. 537

5 Freeman's Journal, 1 Mar. 1848.

6 United Irishman, 4 Mar 1848.

7 David Goodway, London Chartism, 1838-1848 (Cambridge, 1982), passim; W.J. Lowe, ‘The Chartists and the Irish Confederates: Lancashire, 1848’ in I.H.S. , xxiv, no. 94 (Nov. 1984), pp 172-96.

8 United Irishman, 18 Mar 1848; Duffy. Four years, p. 540.

9 Freeman's Journal, 4 Mar. 1848; Nowlan, Politics of repeal, p. 184

10 Dufry, Four xears, p. 541.Google Scholar

11 Normanby to Palmerston. 4 Mar 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/NO/130). (I should like to thank the trustees of the Broadlands Archives Trust for permission to consult and quote from the Broadlands papers, which are soon to be moved to Southampton University Library.) The demarche got no further as the price of O'Connell's co-operation was a modification’ to the union.

12 Smith O'Brien to Duffy 1 Mar 1848 (Gwynn, Young Ireland, p. 160). Cf. ibid., pp 158-60; Duffy, Four years, pp 542-3, 547-51.

13 United Irishman, 4 Mar 1848.

14 Ibid., 18, 25 Mar., 8 Apr 1848.

15 Burgraff to Lamartine, 11 Mar 1848 (Charles Pouthas (ed.), Documents diplomatiques du gouvernementprovisoire et de la commission du pouvoir executif(2 vols, Paris, 1953-4), i, 146.

16 Quoted in Porter, B.J., The refugee question in mid-Victorian politics (Cambridge, 1979), p. 157 Google Scholar, n. 147

17 Clarendon to Russell, 27 Feb. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish letter-book, vol. ii, f. 134). (I should like to thank the earl of Clarendon for permission to quote from the Clarendon papers, which are on loan to the Bodleian Library, Oxford.)

18 Clarendon to George Grey, 1 Mar 1848, and Clarendon to Russell, 3 Mar 1848 (ibid., ff 139, 142-4).

19 Clarendon to Wood, 30 Mar. 1848 (Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, York, Halifax Papers A4/57/2).

20 George Grey to Clarendon, 3 Apr. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 12; Nowlan, Politics of repeal, pp 196-7).

21 Nowlan, , Politics of repeal, pp 197-8.Google Scholar

22 Wood to Russell, copy, 9 Apr. 1848 (Halifax papers, A4/56/3); Wood to Clarendon, 8 May 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 31).

23 Lord Grey's journal, 9 Apr 1848 (Durham University, Department of Palaeography, 3rd Earl Grey Papers C3/14). Cf. Hobhouse's diary, 25 Mar 1848 (B.L., Add. MS 43752, f. 2).

24 Clarendon to Russell, 27 Feb. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish letter-box, vol. ii, ff 133-4).

25 Clarendon to Normanby, 23 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers, 0/154). (I should like to thank the marquis of Normanby for permission to consult and quote from the Normanby papers, in whose possession they are, at Mulgrave Castle, Whitby, North Yorkshire); Duffy, Four years, p. 534.

26 Alphonse de Lamartine, Histoire de la Revolution de 1848 (2 vols, Paris 1849), ii, 34-41.

27 Duffy, , Four years, p. 545.Google Scholar Cf. United Irishman, 11 Mar. 1848.

28 Clarendon to Russell, 2 Mar. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish letter-box, vol. ii, f. 142).

29 Palmerston to Normanby, secret, 3 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers, P/20/11).

30 Clarendon to Palmerston, 7 Mar 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/CL/483).

31 Normanby to Palmerston, private and confidential, 28 Feb. 1848, quoted in marquis of Normanby, A year of revolution: from a journal kept in Paris in 1848 (2 vols, London, 1857), i, 133.

32 Jennings, L.C., France and Europe in 1848: a study of French foreign affairs in time of crisis (Oxford, 1973), pp 1–7 Google Scholar

33 Lamartine, , Histoire, ii, 164.Google Scholar

34 Normanby to Palmerston, 4 Mar. 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/NO/130).

35 Normanby to Palmerston, 12 Mar. 1848 (ibid., GC/NO/135).

36 Normanby to Clarendon, 11 Mar 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 20).

37 Palmerston to Clarendon, 9 Mar. 1848 (ibid, Box c524, quoted in Evelyn Ashley, The life and correspondence of Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston(2 vols, London 1879), ii, 76). According to Jennings, Palmerston came the closest of any foreign statesman to understand the true meaning of the manifesto (Jennings, France & Europe, pp 18-19).

38 Jennings, Frame & Europe, pp 48-9.

39 The Times. 20 Mar. 1848.

40 Palmerston to Clarendon. 9 Mar 1848 (Clarendon papers. Box c524); Cf. Russell to Normanby. 9 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers. P/23/24).

4l Normanby to Palmerston. no 162. 15 Mar 1848 (PRO., F.O. 27/804, quoted in Normanby Year of revolution. i. 225).

42 Normanby to Palmerston, 17 Mar. 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/NO/139).

43 Norraanby to Palmerston, no. 171. 18 Mar 1848 (P.R.O., F.O. 27 805, quoted in Normanby, Year of revolution. i, 243-5).

44 Palmerston to Normanby, no. 117, 22 Mar. 1848 (P.R.O., F.O. 27/797).

45 Morning Post, 23 Mar 1848; Daily News, 30 Mar. 1848.

46 Palmerston to Normanby, 21 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers P/20/19. quoted in Ashley, Palmerston, ii, 76-7).

47 Normanby to Palmerston, no. 187, 23 Mar. 1848 (P.R.O., F.O. 27/805, quoted in Normanby Year of revolution, i, 250-53).

48 Normanby to Palmerston, 22 Mar 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/NO/144).

49 Gwynn, , Young Ireland, pp 164.Google Scholar 168; Nowlan, Politics of repeal, p. 190.

50 Obhouse's diary, 25 Mar. 1848 (B.L., Add. MS 43752, ff 2-3). Cf. Palmerston to Normanby, 27 Mar 1848 (Normanby papers, P/20/22).

51 Clarendon to Normanby, 23 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers, 0/154)

52 Clarendon to George Grey. 23 Mar. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish letter-box, vol. ii, ff 172-3); Palmerston to Normanby, 25 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers, P/20/21).

53 Normanby to Palmerston, 30 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers, P/14/82).

54 Normanby to Palmerston, 29 Mar. 1848 (ibid., P/14/80).

55 Normanby to Palmerston, 5 Apr 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/NO/151).

56 On 31 March, for example, the agent reported that Smith O'Brien had quarrelled with the rest of the deputation and that the Irish were disappointed by their reception (Normanby to Palmerston, 31 Mar. 1848, Broadlands papers, GC/NO/149). Evidence from Confederate sources, however, reveals that the Irish were impressed and encouraged by what they saw of the revolution (Gwynn, Young Ireland, p. 167), and gives no hint of a quarrel. Even Palmerston developed doubts about the value of the informant (Palmerston to Normanby, 4 Apr 1848, Normanby papers, P/20/26).

57 Palmerston to Normanby 25 Mar. 1848 (Normanby papers P/20/21).

58 Undated note by Russell (ibid.. P/23/25).

59 Normanby to Palmerston. des. no. 202. 26 Mar. 1848 (P.R.O., F.O. 27/805).

60 Clarendon to Wood, 30 Mar. 1848 (Halifax papers, A4/57/2).

6l George Grey to Clarendon, 31 Mar 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 12). In fact, it seems that most foreign revolutionaries who had taken refuge in England before 1848 left in March to join the continental revolutions (Porter, Refugee question, p. 14).

62 Jennings, , France & Europe, pp 36-8Google Scholar, 55-6.

63 Cottu to Lamartine, 4 Apr 1848 (Pouthas, Documents diplomatiques, i, 613). Cf Burgraff to Lamartine, 23 Mar 1848, and Cottu to Lamartine, 24 Mar 1848 (ibid., pp 369, 386-7).

64 Normanby to Clarendon, 3 Apr 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 20).

65 Normanby to Palmerston, des. no. 231, 5 Apr 1848 (P.R.O., F.O. 27/806, quoted in Normanby, Year of revolution, i, 294).

66 Alphonse de Lamartine, Trois mois au pouvoir (Brussels, 1848), pp 135-8.

67 Duffy, . Four years, p. 569 Google Scholar; Nowlan, , Politics of repeal, p. 191.Google Scholar

68 Smith O'Brien s memorandum, n.d. (Gwynn, Young Ireland, p. 168).

69 Duffy, , Four xears, p. 568 Google Scholar; Mitchel, John, The last conquest of Ireland (perhaps) (London, [1873?]), p. 167 Google Scholar

70 Nation, 8 Apr. 1848.

71 United Irishman. 8 Apr 1848.

72 Nation, 8 Apr. 1848; Hansard 3, xcviii, 75-6. Neither the Nation nor Smith O'Brien said where the offer came from.

73 Palmerston to Normanby 4 Apr. 1848 (Normanby papers, P/20/25, quoted in Ashley, Palmerston, ii, 77); Russell to Clarendon, 4 Apr. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 43).

74 Clarendon to Normanby 17 Apr. 1848 (Normanby papers, 0/156). Cf. Duffy, Four vears, pp 568-9

75 George Grey to Palmerston, 6 Apr. 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/GR/2429).

76 Hansard 3, xcviii, 147 Morning Chronicle, 6 Apr. 1848.

77 Cottu to Lamartine, 7 Apr. 1848 (Pouthas, Documents diplomatiques, i, 676), Cf. Daily News. 5 Apr. 1848; The Times, 5 Apr. 1848; Morning Post, 6 Apr. 1848.

78 Normanby to Clarendon, 6 Apr. 1848 (Clarendon papers, Irish box 20).

79 Palmerston to Normanby 4 Apr. 1848 (Normanby papers, P/20/26).

80 Hansard 3, xcviii, 73-80, partly quoted in Mitchel, Last invasion, pp 168-9.

81 Freeman s Journal, 12 Apr 1848.

82 Morning Chronicle, 12 Apr 1848; The Times, 12 Apr, 1848.

83 Cottu to Lamartine, 4 Apr 1848 (Pouthas, Documents diplomatique s, i, 612).

84 See, e.g., Daily News, 11 Apr 1848; Morning Chronicle, 11 Apr 1848; Morning Post, 11 Apr. 1848; The Times, 11 Apr 1848; Manchester Guardian, 12 Apr 1848. Goodway has argued, however, that the press, encouraged by the government, exaggerated the extent of the ‘victory’ in order to reassure the respectable classes and to discourage potential revolutionaries (Goodway, London Chartism, pp 136-8).

85 Palmerston to Clarendon, 11 Apr 1848: (Clarendon papers, box c524). Ci. Lord Grey to Clarendon, 14 Apr 1848 (ibid, Irish box 41); Clarendon to Normanby. 17 Apr 1848 (Normanby papers, 0/156).

86 Hobhouse s diary, 11 Apr 1848 (B.L. Add. MS 43752, f. 36).

87 HansardS, xcviii, 268-71, 562-72, 574-7, 579-84, 852-4, 857-60.

88 Ibid., cols 136-8, 560-61, 855-6, 864.

89 Tallenay to Lamartine, 13 May 1848 (Pouthas, Documents diplomatiques, ii, 208).

90 Porter, , Refugee question, p. 3.Google Scholar

91 'Nowlan, Politics of repeal, p. 192.

92 Ibid., p. 191.

93 Normanby to Palmerston, 15 Apr.. 5 May and 11 June 1848 (Broadlands papers, GC/NO 156. GC/NO/163, quoted in Normanby, Year of revolution, i, 363-4 and GC NO 178).

94 Clarendon to Normanby 14 Aug. 1848 (Normanby papers. 0/158).

95 Duffy. Four xears, p. 696.

96 Jennings, France & Europe, pp 137-59.

97 Palmerston to Clarendon, 28 July 1848 (Clarendon papers, Box c524).

98 See R.V. Comerford, ‘Anglo-French tension and the origin of Fenianism in F.S.L. Lyons and R.A.J. Hawkins (eds), Ireland under the union … essays in honour ofT W Moody (Oxford, 1980), pp 149-71

99 John Devoy, for example, received a useful military training with the French Foreign Legion before he deserted and returned to Ireland when the nationalist cause seemed more promising.

100 United Irishman, 18 Mar 1848; Duffy, Four years, pp 693-5.