Nick Maxwell The 1851 Summary Jurisdiction Act banned bullet-throwing, and the extent of the sport then becomes evident in prosecutions and related newspaper coverage. The crescendo does not arise immediately. Of 78 newspaper references found, there are only eight in the entire period up to 1865. The reform of the Belfast police in that year may have … Read more
One of the consequences of the Crimean War (1854–6) was the abolition by parliament of access to military commissions by privilege and its replacement by public examinations, particularly for the more technical branches, artillery and engineers. The new system was also adopted by the Indian Civil Service (ICS). The change required an educational revolution at … Read more
With the passing of Galbraith in 1890 the partnership of over 40 years was dissolved and the agreement put in place between the two men was enacted. The equal-share copyright and equal-share profits from the series held by the deceased were transferred entirely to the surviving partner. When Haughton died in 1897, he directed that … Read more
Since 1844 G&H had been teaching mathematics-based subjects, and after seven years they had a body of experience which they decided to publish. The first volumes of what became G&H’s Mathematical Series appeared in 1851, and the full collection, twelve titles, was ready in 1864, including manuals on Algebra, Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry (two volumes), Hydrostatics, … Read more
‘Informer! A horror to be understood fully only by the Irish mind . . . Good God! An informer is the great danger’. (Liam O’Flaherty, The Informer) Probably one of the most notorious informers in Irish history was Leonard MacNally, and he is unusual in that his role was not exposed during his life and … Read more