Item 522 - Christopher Ormsby to Thomas Ormsby

1 item

Letter from Christopher Ormsby of Dublin to his brother Thomas Ormsby of Ballinamore, Co. Mayo, largely concerning business, legal and family matters. A long letter [7 sides] giving details of the repair and redecoration of his house and offices which was last done 2 years ago. He and his servants have been busy moving furniture from room to room. "Christopher's room was done last summer". The repairs are being carried out so that he can let the house. He finds it very hard that he should be expected to keep up so large a house "for Jenny's gratification, and I indebted to you, the Colonel and Frank Elwood the amount of Eliza's portion, so that it is impossible for me to invite Tom and Jane Ruttledge and their family to come to this house ... I very would guess her {Jeny's] reason for going with Anne Ransford to the country. It was to come about you to join in opinion with her that I ought to ask Jane and Tom". He gives a number of examples of Jenny's extravagance, such as "4 grand parties ... the year before Sarah was married". He describes himself as "having been for nearly half a century one of the greatest slaves in this city, first during my apprenticeship with Nugent, next a partner for 3 years and since my marriage being obliged to give into all her schemes, and now in our old age to persist in going on in the same way is unpardonable and not acting honest". He gives quite a detailed description of his financial affairs and continues "What I proposed to Jenny is to take in or near Dublin convenient to the sea a small neat house with 3 or 4 acres of ground ... and by such a situation near the rock of Dunleary ... this plan is adopted by many citizens at our time of life and would readily be approved of by Christopher who likes the country ... Jenny does not know that I have the house repaired ..." otherwise she might write "with directions about shades and patterns which letters I am not able or in spirits to answer, I therefore wish to surprise her on her return home ... and if I could set the house which I shall advertise next week ... after all my trouble [it would] raise my spirits - Jane and Tom and children shall be the first asked when I finally fix on a house in either city or country ... I am sure I have tired you but you can take your time to read this..."

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22/08/2018
23/06/2025