Nano Nagle writing to Miss Mulally

Cork August 24th 1778 GHAD/FD/3 Cork 24th August 1778

Dear Madam

I hope you are so good that you wont impute my not answering your kind favor, only from the true cause; which is the constant hurry I am always in; and from the great aversion I have to writing, which hinders me when I have a moment to spear of profiting of it. I can express the pleasure it gave me, to hear from Miss fitzsimons your health is so much better, I am in hopes that this summer will reestablish it perfectly and that the Almighty wont take you to himself till you see our rule established in your city, as I think known can tend more to his honour and glory in the world than it does. I wish it was in my power, to do what you propos’d to me, and I should have readily undertaken it, but I am so much involv’d in debt as the first foundation cost me, between four and five thousand pounds, and I can say with truth that wan farhen nobody contributed to it till the Ladies began their new building and Chaple, then some well dispos’d persons help’d towards it and since they ladies come over they never spear’d me any

thing, as to the expence I was at about they schools, so you must imagine from this, how little I am at present in a situation of making a foundation in Dublin, I can har[dly?] at present support the wan I have made here, I discharg’d they mistresses all to wan, who I had employ’d such a number of years that could not part with her; and as to they others, I had great fault to find with them that live at great distance from me, and could not see they schools they took care of only sarten days in the week, I should I am afread had [?] courage to undertake this establishment, only seeing how improper seculars that did it only for bread, were to take care of poor chil[dren?] it must be them that have true zeal, we have the charge of them our selves and thank god they never were tended as at present in every respect: the building I under at a time I could not afford it, has much perplex’d me to get money, to go on with it: in my opinion a person that has the name of a fortune, are the most unfit persons to undertake any foundation, expect they can themselves support it, you may be sure I should think myself happy, any way to contribut to it, if ever in my power, when we are settl’d here well, and in our new house, as I am inform’d Miss Corbalis, health is much better she could come and stay with us for some time, and should cost her nothing as I would readly pay her expence coming down and going up, and the journey may be of service to her, wan thing I am resolv’d to make a rule, among us, is that we never dine abroad, or visit or go ab[road] only to the chaple, the schools or business; any person that could not conform themselves to this, I should think very improper to [?] to it, I hope we will show the world, that nothing makes us go out only when charity oblige us: as to the person, you recom mended to me if I want’d wan without a fortune, you may be

sure on your good opinion of her, I should prefer her she is happily settled and there are many in this town, that have a good vocation and are [?ly] are great objects of charity and the poor’r they are, so they have talents would be them, I should have, as your rule oblig’s us, to take pensioners where there are know proper schools for young ladies: I must beg the favor of you, as you are acquaint’d with Mr fitzsimons, to ask him, if he brought over with them some books, that my sister french, gave him at Spa, for me there is wan that I would be mighty sorry was lost, as I dread the are all, which is the Rule of the gray sisters, which as I am afread I will find it very hard to get an other, and I intend when I got it translated to send it to you, the other books are the office of our blessed lady, which we could not get them to buy here, in Latin I sent for some and if he has them youlle be so good as to get them from him and to keep them till I get a safe way of geting them here as when Mrs Creagh, gets goods from Dubling, they can come at the same time, I am extreamly oblig’d to you for all the civility you was so good, as to show her daughter and the young Lady is very acknowledging of it and presents your her compliments and beg youlle mine to Miss Corballis and all our Sisters unite in their work affte wans and believe me to be with the highest esteem Dear madam your afftn friend and humble servant Nano Nagle

Miss Mallaly Praper Lane Dublin [?]

Cork 1778 Nano Nagle