1798 (November). Letters and secret documents written or translated by Theobald Wolfe Tone. (8)
Appropriated by Adjutant-General Sir George Hewett;
Thence by descent;
Bonhams, London, 26 June 2019, lot 17;
Private collection.
The date should read 13 Brumaire year 7, i.e. 3 November 1798 in the French republican calendar; most reco...Read more
The date should read 13 Brumaire year 7, i.e. 3 November 1798 in the French republican calendar; most records show Tone was made prisoner in Buncrana on 3 November, and brought to Derry the same day under a strong escort.
Tone writes as adjutant general 'Smith' (his pseudonym), to the commander in chief of the French expeditionary army, Général Jean Hardy, who received it. It was even republished in Hardy's Correspondence intime (1901), but has hardly been referenced by historians. Hardy himself acknowledged receipt of this letter in a reply dated 4 November (Tone, Writings III, p. 364-5.). Though the authorities had Tone's letter delivered, they ensured it was copied and perused for its contents.
Tone informs Hardy how astonished he was to have been put in irons, and that he had written to Lord Cavan 'respectfully' but 'firmly' protesting at this 'meditated indignity' against the honour of the French army. He also insisted he should be treated as a prisoner of war with all due regard to his rank.
Général Hardy de Perini (ed.), Correspondence intime du Général Jean Hardy de 1797 à 1802 (Paris, 1901).
(ii) 1798 Contemporaneous copy in another hand of Tone's letter from Derry Prison to 'My lord' [i.e Major-general the Earl of Cavan] 18 [sic] brumaire an 6, 3rd Nov 98 N[ew] S[tyle]. The date should read 12 brumaire An 7. Pp2, quarto.
Lord Cavan, Richard Ford William Lambart was military commander of the Londonderry district, and had interrogated Tone at Buncrana. Tone eloquently, but rather defiantly, writes to Cavan that the orders to have him put in irons had been 'issued in ignorance' of his rank in the French army, recaps his various commissions since '1 Messidor 4' [19 June 1796], and claims the rights and privileges of a prisoner of war. Presuming his Lordship had discretionary powers, he did not doubt he would 'give immediate orders that the honour of the French nation and the French army be respected in his person.'
(iii) 1798 Contemporaneous copy in same hand as previous, Cavan's reply to Tone: 'Answer, Buncrana, 3 November 1798, one page, quarto on same sheet as (ii) above.
Cavan unsurprisingly replied, no less eloquently, that he looked upon Tone, who had also 'proved' himself to be, a 'traitor and rebel' to his sovereign and native country, and as such would he be treated. He would enforce the orders he had given that morning, and as a man lamented the fate that awaited his addressee. He would grant Tone every indulgence that would not be 'inconsistent' with his public duty.
From Derry, Cavan wrote to Cooke in Dublin Castle on 7 November, that Tone had written him 'a rather impudent letter for a man in his situation'. Cavan had sent a copy to Castlereagh's secretary, Alexander Knox, who would probably show it to him. He hoped Cooke would be 'amused with Tone and that he will amuse Dublin by his execution'. It thus seems clear why copies would also have circulated privately. Both Tone's letter to Cavan, and the latter's response were published in the printed Proceedings of Tone's trial; see also Tone Writings III, 359-61; 368.
(iv) 1798 Letter in Tone's hand to Hardy, marked 'Copy', 16 Brumaire Year 6 [6 November 1798, Armagh]. pp1, foolscap.
This letter and its content had never been identified to date, in Irish or French records; it is unclear if Hardy received the original. Tone was known to retain copies of letters and documents, and it seems likely this one had been found among his belongings after his arrest. While not adding anything substantial to the historical record, it confirms that Tone had received Hardy's letter of 14 Brumaire (4 November, reprinted in Writings III, 364-5) replying to his own of 3 November. Tone states they had just arrived in Armagh, and he expected to be in Dublin in 2 or 3 days. While the route from Derry seems logical looking at contemporary maps, to date no record of Tone passing through Armagh has been found.
He writes that his situation had not changed, somewhat naively expecting that when [Lord Lieutenant] Cornwallis received Hardy's pleas, he would be treated honourably as a prisoner of war. As Hardy was no doubt writing to the French Directory, he asked him to inform them, as well as the Minister for Marine [Bruix] of his situation, and did not doubt their support. He reiterated his own trust in Hardy's friendship, knowing that he would support his claim to be treated as a prisoner of war as soon as he arrived in Dublin. Hardy had promptly written to Cornwallis on 4 November, claiming Tone's rights, but the reply stated that Tone was a traitor who would be punished as befit the crimes he had committed against his king and country.
(v) 1798 Letter in Tone's hand to 'My Lord' [Chief Secretary Viscount Castlereagh, Dublin Castle], Provost [prison] Dublin barracks 9th November [1798], marked 'Copy'. Pp2, quarto.
Though the contents of this letter were known, no original in Tone's hand had been identified to date; the transcript in Writings III, p. 369-70 was taken from a contemporaneous copy in another hand held by the National Library of Ireland. Tone requests that Castlereagh forward three letters from him to 'Citizen [Joseph] Niou', French commissioner in London for the exchange of prisoners of war, Minister of the Marine (Bruix), and 'a short memorial' to the French Directory. It is unclear if these were sent, but unlikely they were. Tone then aggravated his case by reiterating his claim to be treated as a prisoner of war, with due attention to the rank he had 'the honour to hold in the armies of France republic.
(vi) Tone to Niou, 'de la prison de Dublin ce 19 brumaire an 7 [9 November 1798], in the name 'T W Tone dit Smith'. Pp2, quarto.
Reprinted in Tone Writings III, p. 370 [transcript taken from contemporary copy in another hand, NLI].
Joseph Niou was posted in London and on 13 September had there signed a Franco-British 'Cartel' for the exchange of prisoners of war. Tone requests that Niou forward a letter to the French Minister of Marine (Eustache Bruix, directly responsible for the French expeditions, and the POWs) and a memo to the French government. Unreasonably hopeful, he also asked that Niou would take measures to ensure that nothing would be decided in his case by the English government until their French counterparts had pronounced themselves.
(vii) Tone to the Minister of Marine [Bruix] 19 brumaire 7, in the name 'T W Tone dit Smith'. Not reprinted in Tone Writings III. Pp2, quarto. ADD NOTE???
(viii) Tone to the 'Directoire exécutif de la République française', 19 brumaire 7 [9 November, in the name 'T W Tone dit Smith'. pp2, quarto.
Reprinted in Tone Writings III, p. 371. [transcript taken from contemporary copy in another hand, NLI].
Tone informs the Directory of his captivity and his treatment, of his communications with Hardy, and of requests he had made for due regard to his rank. But given he was for the moment considered more as a 'prisoner of state', and would probably soon be tried, he appeals to them to take measures and contact the British government. He repeats phrases from the earlier letters, namely that he be treated honourably as a French officer, and a citizen (which he was not).
When Tone arrived in France in February 1796, he self-dramatised in his diary that he hardly knew any French. This was something of a conceit, as written records demonstrate he was perfectly operational in the language. While this letter rambles a bit as any man would, in his desperate situation, it is remarkably eloquent and displays near-fluent competence in French.
Dr Sylvie Kleinman, March 2020
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