There is too a feeling of great uneasiness

TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 15

TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 15

Augt 20th [1914]

Nice morning, thunder-storm in afternoon. Were expecting Olivers & Sophie J. but too wet. F & B. Oliver turned up at 5 ocl. after the rain stopped. No special news, it seems an ominous pause while one feels sure the battle is gathering. It is said that 50 extra policemen have been drafted into Arklow, wherefore? – There is an appeal in the papers today from Sir Hutchinson Poe urging that Sir E. Carson & Mr. Redmond should meet & see if they cannot come to some agreement of the Irish question so that the present good feeling may be taken advantage of & north & south volunteers may join for the defence of Ireland & the Empire.

Augt 21st

The Germans have entered Brussels, the Belgian army is said to be falling back in Antwerp. The news in general is rather depressing. There is too a feeling of great uneasiness, about the Home Rule question next week. I really do not know what will happen if Mr Redmond puts pressure on the government to have the H.R. bill put on the statute book. Mrs. Bayly & Lady Howarden came in the afternoon, the latter’s only child her son is at the front in the Coldstream guards. She was attractive, very sad poor thing. Sophie Johnston & her cousins then arrived for tea & the former said that she heard from her Aunt at Buncrana that everyone near the sea was made to paint their houses black