Beschreibung:

Lot 1249/0217 Micheal Collins & Robert Barton An important Collection of Autoraph and typed Letters signed from Collins, to Dulcibella Barton, sister of Robert (Bob) Barton of Annamoe House, Glendalough (cousin of Erskine Childers a former British soldier who resigned in protest at the 1916 executions, joined Sinn Fein and the Volunteers, was elected to the First Dail and became a Dail Miniser. Dulcibella – afer whom Erskie Childers’ yacht was named – shared her broter’s views; among those who sheltered at her home was Eoin O’Malley after his escape from Free State custody. robert Barton was jaile din ebruary 1919 for making seditious speeches. A month later he escaped from Mountjoy, leaving a note for the governor sayin he could stay no longer as the service was not satisfactory. In January 1920 he was rearrested, and sentenced to tree years penal servitude. Collins tried to ‘spring’ him while he was being driving to prison, but the attempt failed; see letters below. Later Barton was a member o the Treaty deleation; his decision to sign was crucial to the outcome, though he later changed his mind. A few of the letters are accompanied by envelopes addresed in Collins’ hand. Collins (Michael) A very good A.L.S. to ‘A Chara dhom’ (Dulcibella Barton), one page, on plain paper dated 1 Dec. 1920, thanking her for sending a message to Bob (Barton). ‘Mrs. Childers had asked me for a note, but the sad events of last weekend kept me over employed or rather over distracted. Some people never foreget anything – I say your wreath for the two dead officers. There were no two men who had a reater appreciation of Bob.’ With a full signature, ‘Do bhuan cara / Micheal O Coileain’. The two ded oficers were Dick Mc Kee and Peadar Clancy, officers in the Irish Volunteers’ Dublin Brigade, shot dead by members of the Auxiliaries while in custoy on the night of Saturday November 20 – the evenin of ‘Bloody Sunday,’ after Collins’ famous raid on the homes of British secret service officers in Dublin. A fine letter. (1)