Carlow Born
Philanthropist Thomas Pleasants
and
The Royal Dublin
Society.
Alan R Eager, R.D.S.
ON the landing leading to the Members'
restaurant in the premises of the Royal Dublin Society,
hangs an oil painting executed by Solomon Williams, an
historical and portrait painter who became a pupil in
the Dublin Society's School of Art in 1771. This
painting was presented to the Society by Mr. Williams in
1820 and measures approximately five feet by four feet.
The subject appears seated, clear eyed, with prominent
nose, of frail disposition, holding in his hand the plan
of the Botanic Garden while the Stove Tenter House is
shown in the background. The overall impression at first
sight tends to the forbidding, and one feels the artist
was less than kind, for this is a portrait of one of the
greatest philanthropists Ireland has ever known—Thomas
Pleasants. Pleasants was born in Co. Carlow in 1728, but
little is known of his early life, though it is believed
that he was educated for the bar but never practiced. He
married Mildred Daunt in 1787 when he was almost sixty,
and though the marriage was childless, it lasted for 27
years.
Mildred Pleasants died in 1814 and was buried in
St. Bride's Churchyard. She was possessed of a
substantial fortune, and though there is no record of
her will having been admitted to probate, it appears
that Thomas Pleasants came in for this vast sum. He
seems to have received his fortune almost immediately,
for in March 1814 he started on the first of his great
enterprises, the building of the Stove Tenter House in
Cork Street, Dublin. As Wright notes, "before the
erection of this building, the poor weavers in the
liberty were wholly destitute of employment in raining
weather, or else endeavoured to tenter their cloths
before the ale-house fire; the natural consequence of
this wretched state was an inducement to drink,
consequently to run into debt, and ultimately be removed
to the Debtors'-prison.
The jails were crowded with
persons of this description and the hospitals filled
with others under disease of mind and body resulting
from the pressure of want." (In weaving, the ‘warp’ of
the piece of cloth must be prepared with size and must
then be allowed to reach a certain degree of dryness
before it is woven in the loom. After it is woven it
must be stretched on hooks, or, as they were called
‘tenters'—thus the term 'tenter-hooks' which is still in
daily use). On the 22nd July, 1814,
Pleasants received
the freedom of the city of Dublin as a mark of the
Corporation's esteem "for erecting the Stove Tenters in
the Earl of Meath's liberty for the advantage of the
woollen manufacturers," and the following year his
liberality was recognised by the Dublin Society. At a
meeting held January 19th, 1815, it was proposed that he
become an Honorary member of the Society. Pleasants was
no procrastinator, and was evidently very pleased with
the honour bestowed, for almost immediately he presented
to the Society a fine collection of books valued at over
one hundred pounds which included Hakluyt's Voyages (5
vols.) in an edition limited to 75 copies. (These books
are now in the National Library).
It was resolved that
the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr. Pleasants
for his liberal donation. At the same meeting February
23rd, 1815, it was further resolved unanimously: "That
the Secretary be directed to write a letter to Thomas
Pleasants, esq, to represent to him that the Dublin
Society, as trustees "for promoting and encouraging the
Arts, Husbandry, and Manufacturers of Ireland, have this
day elected him an Honorary member of their Institution,
for his exemplary munificence in expending for public
benefit, a sum exceeding six thousand pounds, in the
erection of a Stove Tenter House, of great extent and
singular utility, in the manufacturing district of this
city; and that, although not within the sphere of their
immediate objects or duties, they feel the value of that
benevolence materially enhanced by the recollection,
that this generous and distinguished act of philanthropy
has proceeded from the same individual, who has by a
donation of six thousand pounds, established a hospital
for the relief of the indigent and suffering poor of
that most populous district; and who has also been
conspicuous in alleviating personal distress by an
unsparing distribution of his private fortune; and that
the Society most heartily congratulate Mr. Pleasants on
the happy and undoubtedly beneficial results, which have
been generally felt by a large population from
patriotism so distinguished, and benevolence so usefully
extended for the interest and happiness of the working
poor of the city of Dublin."
The £6,000 mentioned above was donated
to the Meath Hospital to build an operating room and
offices, operations having previously been performed in
the general wards within sight and hearing of the other
patients. Of this sum the residue of £2,000 was to be
applied forever to purchase wine and other necessities
for the afflicted.
At a meeting held on March 30th the
following letter from Mr. Pleasants was read: Mr.
Pleasants's best compliments to the Secretary of the
Dublin Society; requests he will make known to the
Society at large, that he has a high sense of the honour
they have conferred on him; and that he sends them, by
the hands of Mr. Joshua Pasley, as a contribution to
their Botanic Garden, with more hearty wishes for its
prosperity, a Bank note of one hundred pounds.
Pleasants donation was the main part of
the business of the meeting held a week later, as Mr.
Farran presented the following report from the Committee
of Botany. "The Committee of Botany, having taken into
consideration Mr. Pleasants' donation to the Botanic
Garden, recommend that it be applied towards erecting a
suitable entrance and Porter's lodge, on a proper site,
to the gardens. They are of opinion, that this would be
the most eligible appropriation of the money, not only
as a new entrance is much wanted, but as it would be a
lasting testimonial of the liberality of Mr. Pleasants
to the Society. The Committee therefore propose, that
plans and estimate of a new entrance, and the proper
site thereof, be prepared and laid before the Society
for their approval."
In less than a week Thomas Pleasants
replies in the form of a letter dated 12th April, 1815.
"Mr. Pleasants having his writing-thumb hurted, can
hardly hold a pen; but wishes, under his own hand to
present his best compliments to the Secretary of the
Dublin Society; is heartily glad to find that an
appropriate entrance is determined on for the Botanic
Garden, that institution of such immeasurable value to
the community and so worthy of the public's
consideration. Many years ago, he regretted to a friend,
who was with him there, that there was not a proper
entrance into it. How great would be his regret, now,
that it has been brought to such eminence, by the
splendid abilities and laborious applications of Dr.
Wade. Mr. Pleasants hopes that a plan will be drawn
suitable to the place; and that the porter's lodge will
be, as well as convenient, comfortable: and whatever the
estimate may run to, beyond the hundred (if one or two
more) he will send it, as soon as he knows it; and every
shilling of it, with pleasure. He is very glad at seeing
such a number of his countrymen as the Dublin Society's
list exhibits, so universally and unweariedly proving
themselves to be true (not mock) patriots".
The Society obviously mindful of the
extraordinary charitable and Christianlike character of
Pleasants feel that the time is opportune to show their
appreciation of Pleasants unique benevolence, so at a
meeting held on 11th May, 1815, it was resolved that the
Dublin Society impressed with a lively sense of the
munificent acts of kindness and substantial gifts
bestowed upon their Botanic Garden and library by Thomas
Pleasants, esq. are desirous of perpetuating the same in
such way as may be agreeable to him and creditable to
themselves. Resolved, that the foregoing resolution be
respectfully communicated to Mr. Pleasants, and that he
shall at the same tune be entreated to permit that
distinguished artist, Mr. Smith, (the Society's
Professor of Sculpture) to execute a bust of him in
marble, in order that the same may be placed in the
gallery or the new garden-house of the Society, as may
be deemed most proper or acceptable.
Resolved, that, in the event of Mr.
Pleasants' acquiescence in the wishes of the Society,
the Committee of Fine Arts are requested to take the
necessary measures to have the same carried into effect.
The following notes of subsequent meetings speak for
themselves.
Thursday, May 18th, 1815. The Society
having received from Mr. Pleasants, by Mr. Pasley, a
message, requesting permission to decline the honour
intended him by the Society of placing his bust at the
Botanic Gardens. Resolved, that the society does very
reluctantly comply with Mr. Pleasants' request.
Thursday, July 20th, 1815. Resolved,
that the Committee of Botany do wait on Mr. Pleasants to
express their warmest thanks for his very liberal offer
in undertaking the expense of erecting the lodges and
gate to the Botanic Garden, and the very handsome
manner, in which the communication has been made; and
that they be empowered to proceed forthwith in the
erection of the same, agreeably to the plan and estimate
given by Mr. Pleasants’ architect and builder, Mr. Thos.
Smithson, who is to execute the same. That the Committee
of Botany do meet in the Botanic Garden on Tuesday next
at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, to carry into effect the
resolution of the Society respecting Mr. Pleasants' very
liberal offer.
The following year Pleasants reprinted,
at his own expense, Madden's Reflections and Resolutions
proper for the Gentlemen of Ireland... (Dublin, 1738),
which circulated freely in a large edition. In this work
Madden describes the low condition of the country and
lays the blame on the extravagance and idle dispositions
of the people. He recommended that criminals, ordered to
being executed or transported, should be employed in
manufacturing hemp and flax in work-houses; that
itinerant husbandmen should be encouraged to travel
through the country in order to give instruction to
farmers; and that schools and professorships of
agriculture should be established in the principal
towns.
The latter part of the work enumerates the
benefits derivable from a judicious distribution of
premiums, a subject which he brought to the notice of
the Dublin Society. Thomas Pleasants died in his house
in Camden Street on 1st March, 1818, and was buried, as
he deemed, in St. Brigid's Churchyard. Under the terms
of his will he made an extraordinary amount of private
and public bequests including his house in Camden Street
for the foundation of an orphanage for girls which was
opened in 1818. Pleasants Street, situated adjacent to
the orphanage was suitably named after its founder a few
years later. To the Society he left many valuable
paintings and other works of art as noted in the
following minute dated April 2, 1818.
"Committee of Fine Arts consider it
their duty to report, that all the pictures and prints,
as specified underneath, bequested to the Society by the
late Thomas Pleasants, esq., have been delivered to them
by his executors, and safely deposited in the upper part
of the Society's house, Kildare Street, where they
remain locked up until the Society shall direct how they
are to be disposed of. The Committee beg leave to
observe, that they appear to them to be of a highly
respectable class, and for which the Society must feel
grateful. The list is as follows: twenty-five oil
paintings—sundry small presents—bust of Gay, the
poet—full length cast figure of Rubens—full length
figure of Handel—two frames containing casts of
medals—two very fine mother of pearl models of Chinese
ships—two large Chinese vases—two China figures of
elephants". The final minute concerning Pleasants is
dated June 22, 1820, recording that Mr. Williams had
been kind enough to present the Society a portrait of
the late Thomas Pleasants, esq., painted by him.
Pleasants' will was an extraordinary document which took
over two years to complete and contained the following
precise details regarding his burial. He desired to be
buried in the same grave as his wife "and that on being
put into my coffin, her slippers may be laid cross-ways
on my breast, next my heart, for I have, since her most
sincerely lamented death, constantly had them under my
pillow, kiss'd them and press'd them to my heart every
night, going to bed, and the same in the morning rising.
I request that her coffin may not be distrubed, but mine
let down gently, on it". R. Ryan in his biographical
dictionary of the Worthies of Ireland, Biographia
Hibernica (London, 1821) writes of Pleasants "A name
never to be forgotten in the annals of charity and
benevolence; when time shall have drawn the curtain of
oblivion before the records of wit, learning, and
talent, his name shall live in the breast of virtue, and
cheer distant generations, by monuments of utility".
REFERENCES
- Butler, B. Bayley. Thomas
Pleasants, 1729-1818. Dublin Hist. Rec. v. 6,
1943-44, 121-132.
- Butler, B. Bayley. Thomas
Pleasants and the Stove Tenter House, 1815-1944.
Dublin Hist. Rec. v. 7, 1944-45, 16-21.
- Gilbert, John T. and Lady
Gilbert. Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin .
. . 1889-1944.
- Proceedings of the Dublin
Society.
- Wright, G. N. An historical
guide to ancient and modern Dublin. 1821.
Source: This article appeared on p.15
of the 1972 edition of the Carloviana