Monday 1 January 1844. Cork. This day twelve month I passed in Rome and assisted at the Pontifical chapel. Today I officiated at S. Mary's. Afterwards paid a visit to Mrs [i.e. Rev^d Mother] England of the North Presentation convent. She had many particulars to relate of Mrs [i.e. Rev^d Mother] Cantillon and Miss O'Regan.

Dined at Dominic Street.

Tuesday 2 January 1844. Bishop Olliffe breakfasted with me this morning. Whilst at breakfast we heard of the death of poor Cronin of Brunswick Street by drowning. He had dined at the Chamber of Commerce, where a party had assembled to honour Mr. Beamish on the termination of his mayoralty, and on leaving at about 11 o'clock last night he walked towards Merchants' Quay, where he fell into the river.

Dined at J. Goold's - met Mr. O'Connor, P.P. of *Decomcies* - a curious fact he relates in reference to Clancy - that he was refused Orders in Maynooth, and that it required all the intercession he could employ with D^r Murphy to induce him to consent to his ordination.

Dined at Dominic Street. Shortly before dinner Mr. Russell announced the arrival of two young ladies by the name of Duff, and an English clergyman named Davies from Lisbon. They were asked to dine, and by some mysterious arrangement these two young ladies met me as candidates for the Demerara Mission. They go to Youghal on the invitation of Miss [Sister] Goold of the Presentation Convent, and will there serve their noviceship. This indeed has been a most happy encounter.

Thursday 4 January 1844. Assisted at the Office and High Mass for Revd. Mr. Cronin, and afterwards attended the funeral to Fr. Mathew's cemetery.

Dined at J. Logan's - met an old school acquaintance in J. Hacket, late of Van Diemen's Land. Had several conversations today with the Misses Duff. - they appear decided in their resolution to go to Demerara. There is some chance also of being able to secure the cooperation of Mr. Davies. He would indeed be a good acquisition, speaking Portuguese so well.

Friday 5 January 1844. The young candidates for the Demerara Mission have been taking the round of the Convents, dining yesterday with the Sisters of Charity, today with the Presentation.

There seems something providential in the meeting with these young persons, who seem to have a special call from God to that Mission. They called on D^r Crotty this morning - and at the Ursulines.

Saturday 6 January 1844. My young friends are starting today for Youghal. Mr. Davies has spoken to me seriously of joining the Guiana Mission. He has given me his address and will immediately write to his superiors in Lisbon for permission to come along with me. Should he succeed, I will consider my excursion to Cork to be a profitable one. Introduced the three to Father Mathew and saw them off - God grant they may be steadfast in their present resolutions.

Sunday 7 January 1844. Dined with good Mr. Troy. D^r Olliffe was amongst the party.

Monday 8 January 1844. Set off for Cove this morning accompanied by J. Ryan, to see D^r Crotty relative to the two Miss Duffs - fortunately found the old gentleman at home and well disposed to favour my intentions. He at once agreed to write to Mrs Goold to say that the young ladies could go through their noviceship at Youghal, and that she might apply a portion of his own funds for the purpose.

A letter from Bp. Griffiths informing me that he had been written to from the Propaganda, requesting him to exert himself in procuring for me official letters from Lord Stanley, which he promised to do.

Tuesday 9 January 1844. Dined with Mr. J. Gould - a large party was asked to meet me - a letter from D^r Crotty, written in a very friendly spirit; accompanied by one for Miss Gould of Youghal, in which that lady is informed that the two Miss Duffs are destined for the Mission of Guiana.

Wrote to D^r Griffiths enclosing him D^r Clancy's letter to him from Southampton.

Wednesday 10 January 1844. Started this morning for Youghal, accompanied by Mr. Ryan - in passing Middleton made a visit to Middleton Lodge - found Mrs C. at home - lunched there - arrived at Youghal same evening. Made the acquaintance of Miss Gould - and saw my young candidates - afterwards paid a visit to the Parish Priest, Rev^d Mr. Sheehan, with whom we had a long talk respecting Demerara - dined and slept at the Devonshire Arms.

Thursday 11 January 1844. Youghal. Said Mass and breakfasted at the Convent - looked in at the schools - on the whole the Establishment has not satisfied me, and I regret that I am not surprised that the Miss D's do not appear to be quite contented with it - Fanny plainly told me so. The Confessor (Foley)) I should think has disgusted the girl. Left Youghal about 1/2 past 11, and arrived in the afternoon at Middleton Lodge, where I dined and slept. - met Stephen Coppinger, Mrs Cantillon's counsellor - disabused him of some of his erroneous notions.

Friday 12 January 1844. Middleton. Paid a visit to the Presentation Convent, found it apparently more orderly than the one at Youghal. All the nuns are acquainted with those in Demerara.

Left for Cork accompanied by Mrs Coppinger and Stephen.

A letter from the Parish Priest of Enniskean in reference to a young man from Enniskean named Lordan, who has been for some time in Drumcondra College by order of D^r Clancy.

Saturday 13 January 1844. Wrote to the Parish Priest of Enniskean.

The mail this morning has brought me a note and three Guiana papers from Mrs Firebrace - also a letter from Rev^d E. MacNamara, and one from Rev^d Mr. Rogers dated Barbados, imploring pardon for intruding into the Vicariate of B. Guiana.

Dr. C., it would appear, has taken to drink - his cousin has pledged the chalice of the Berbice church for grog!

Sunday 14 January 1844. Wrote to Mr. Schade to request he would take charge of the case taken out by Rev^d MacNamara.

Monday 15 January 1844. A letter from D^r Cullen. F. Clancy is in Rome and has been frequently at the Propaganda accompanied by D^r Donovan, promising all manner of submission on the part of the Bishop.

Posted a Nation for D^r O'Finan.

Tuesday 16 January 1844. Wrote D^r Cullen enclosing MacNamara's letter and Mrs Firebrace's note. Sent him also three Demerara newspapers. Wrote likewise to M. Kelly.

Posted these letters and papers myself

A visit from Mr. J. MacNamara.

Wednesday 17 January 1844. Dined with Mr. J. MacNamara, S. Terrace.

Met an old acquaintance, L. Kennedy, son of the clergyman of that name. Saw him last in the West Indies, some fifteen years ago.

Thursday 18 January 1844. Wrote to the London Joint Stock bank enclosing two bills, one for 500£, the other for 300£, both payable in London on the 4^th. prox., being the amount of Mr. Troy's bond.

A circumstance I heard yesterday is worth noting. Mr. O'Sullivan, it appears, at a large gathering of the Priests at the Blackrock Convent, gave as a proof of the slovenly manner in which papers are kept in the Propaganda, or of the corruption to which parties therein are open, that D^r Clancy succeeded in purloining his act of resignation, that document having been wilfully or by mistake placed before him along with other papers!

Friday 19 January 1844. Had a quiet evening with good Mr. Troy.

I have a strong impression that D^r Clancy has contrived to get hold of his resignation. The report is that he has got back his bulls - perhaps he may have tendered his bulls together with his resignation, and by some means or other got both back.

Saturday 20 January 1844. A visit from Rev^d Mr. Cunningham, who seems anxious to return to his Order. Promised to call on Hogan, to facilitate his views.

Sunday 21 January 1844. Mr. Troy has had a letter today from Mrs Breen in which she most warmly accedes to the proposal respecting the Miss Duffs.

Had a letter this evening from Bp Griffiths giving an account of his interview with Lord Stanley - letters also from M. Kelly and Mr. Jerningham.

Tuesday 23 January 1844. Said Mass this morning for the nuns of the Blackpool Convent.

Wrote to D^r Cullen enclosing him a copy of Dr Griffiths' letter giving an account of his interview with Lord Stanley.

Posted the letter myself.

Wednesday 24 January 1844. Wrote to Dr Griffiths in acknowledgment of his letter of the 20^th. inst.

Thursday 25 January 1844. A letter from the London Joint Stock Bank acknowledging receipt of bills forwarded on the 18^th. inst.

A long visit from Rev^d S. Coppinger. Succeeded at length in convincing him that the Establishment of the Presentation under Mrs Cantillon had better been swept away.

Friday 26 January 1844. Visit from Revd Mr. Cunningham, who has had a very kind letter from the Franciscan Provincial, inviting his return to his Order and sending him an Obedience for Broad Lane.

A letter from the Parish Priest of Portarlington informing me of having obtained D^r Haly's consent to the reception of the Miss Duffs.

Received from a young man named Mahony 4£.10 s.for Mrs Loyd, Demerara, in payment of a debt of 20 dollars.

Wrote to Mr. Jerningham.

Saturday 27 January 1844. Heard from Mr. Ryan yesterday that he had a letter from Harold enclosing one to be forwarded to Savage. Can this be my communication from Rome? Strange that R. has contrived not to shew me H's letter.

Sunday 28 January 1844. A letter from Miss Duff confirmatory of her dislike to Youghal Convent.

Saw Harold's letter to Ryan.

Monday 29 January 1844. Started for Youghal at 3 p.m. accompanied by J. O'Connor.

Tuesday 30 January 1844. Youghal - called this morning at the Convent and saw Mrs Goold and the Miss Duffs - breakfasted there. After breakfast started for Mount Melleray, passing through Cappoquin - accomplished the journey in about five hours. Went over the monastery with the Abbot, D^r Ryan - returned to Youghal same night.

Wednesday 31 January 1844. In Cork again - disappointed at receiving no letters, either from Demerara or Rome.

J. Leahy has a letter from the Superioress of the Sisters of Mercy, Limerick, in reply to his enquiry respecting pension for Postulants, which is usually 25£ per annum, but is sometimes under circumstances reduced to £20 - 5£ additional for clothing.