Handwritten letter from James McNeill to Desmond FitzGerald (Dublin)

Dear D.[esmond] F.[itzGerald]

I think I ought to tell you that I am good for, at most, one year more of exile. I hope you will think that four years is long enough. I thought I had ended my nomadic life ten years ago. By this time next year the boundary excitement should be over and any trouble incidental to the swopping of remote houses¹ will not exist. I am giving long notice because you will probably wish to have reasonable time for finding the next H.C.

I am anxious to get back to Ireland & have another try at settling down. I don't want to grumble unduly but life here is not for me exactly a succession of thrills.

Of course if it suits you to detach me earlier I can have no grievance. This is not a letter of grievance in any sense but a dutiful notice. Good luck.