['Shady deals' re Aylesford Priory.] Two Typed Letters Signed from Carmelite friar and prior Malachy Lynch to Major G. Wynne-Rushton, with two letters written for him (by ‘J. Cleeves’ and ‘J. R.’), on ‘Soulsby’s shady deals’ over a pilgrimage to Rome

The context appears to be that Wynne-Rushton is supplying Aylesford with ‘inside information’ regarding the ‘shady deals’ of one Soulsby, proprietor of the Westminster Association, a travel agent’s being employed by Aylesford with regard to a pilgrimage to Rome. Lynch’s two letters and that of J. Cleeve’s all in good condition, lightly aged and each folded three times. Letter by ‘J. R.’ in fair condition, on aged paper. Lynch’s letters are both signed ‘Malachy Lynch O. Carm.’ ONE: By Lynch, 21 January [1950]. He explains: ‘I understood that the Agency had made provision already for 1,000. When bookings did not seem to be coming in, I asked Mr Soulsby if he had overbooked or if he expected that we should produce 1,000, he said that it did not matter because even if we had overbooked the Agency could dispose of the bookings later. / I should regard 750 as a very large Pilgrimage. We have 350 now and think that we will reach 750.’ States that it was ‘Brother Anthony of Faversham who selected the Westminster after making several calls to others and getting very little satisfaction. The Westminster seemed, at the time, to be the best of a very inefficient lot.’ He regrets that Wynne-Rushton is ‘leaving the Agency. It would have been a great help to have had you on the staff’. He ends with details of his forthcoming movements. A long postscript provides an update. He has ‘spoken with Mr Soulsby on the ’phone[.] Naturally I did not mention your name but he may suspect that I am getting information from somewhere. [...] I would not have anything to do with Cooke’s who seem to me to be Freemasonary [sic] in Excelsis.’ Pencil note (by Wynne-Rushton?) at head of first page, on the ‘power of being a Gentleman’. TWO: Lynch, 4 February 1950. Reporting on a ‘far from satisfactory’ discussion with Soulsby. ‘It was a great mistake to have given them charge of the pilgrimage in the beginning, but we can’t do anything about that now.’ Discusses ‘the Company in Italy’ and states that ‘our next move will be a threat to take the pilgrimage entirely out of his hands’. Ends with thanks ‘for the inside information’: ‘I certainly think we produced a great flutter in the office yesterday.’ THREE: J. Cleeves, ‘Pilgrimage Secretary / p. p. The Prior.’, 9 February [1950]. States that he ‘went up with Father Prior to interview Soulsby. That finished Fr Malachy with him. We have put the matter in the hands of our solicitors. [...] Soulsby has a week to deliver receipts for Firm railway bookings, names of Hotels etc and if he can’t we are off.’ He believes ‘the Prior would give you the first appointment’ were the post of ‘leader, courier etc’ to become open. FOUR: ‘J. R.’, ‘p. p. The Prior.’, 24 March [1950]. The Prior is grateful to Wynne-Rushton for ‘the information which you have given us in the matter of the Westminster Association. He is especially grateful for your latest letter with details of Soulsby’s shady deals. [...] We feel sure that Soulsby will continue to bluff and to threaten us. [...] Any threat of his as to a legal action against us becomes less and less likely as we get more information against him. So if you have anything more to tell us, we will be glad to hear of it.’ Ends with details of the pilgrimage, which is going very well: ‘travel will be 3rd class throughout and accomodation will be in Religious Houses, in Rome only’. Accompanying the items is a leaf of 8vo paper, both sides of which are covered with three manuscript transcriptions from Pope Pius XI each dated to 1931, headed ‘Fides Intrepido’ (title of papal encyclical?). The name of the transcriber is not given.