Operations of the Commissariat Relief Department—­Not to interfere with Mealmongers or Corn Merchants—­Effects of this Rule—­Deputation from Achill (Note)—­Organization of the Commissariat Relief Department—­Reports on the Potato Crop—­The Blight in Clare—­Commissary-General Hewetson’s Opinion—­Commissary-General Dobree’s Report—­Depots—­Universality of the Blight—­Rules with regard to Food Depots—­Fault of the Treasury—­Scarcity of Food—­Depots besieged for it in the midst of harvest—­Depots to be only on the West Coast—­What was meant by the West Coast—­Coroner’s Inquests at Mallow—­Rev. Mr. Daly—­Lord Mountcashel—­Famine Demonstration at Westport—­Sessions at Kilmacthomas—­Riot at Dungarvan—­Capt.  Sibthorpe’s Order—­Mr. Howley’s Advice—­Attempt to rescue Prisoners—­Captain Sibthorpe asks leave to fire—­Refused by Mr. Howley—­Riot Act read—­Leave to fire given—­People retire from the town—­Two men wounded—­The carter’s reason for fighting—­Lame Pat Power—­Death of Michael Fleming, the carter—­Formidable bands traverse the country—­Advice of the Clergy—­Carri
gtuohill—­Macroom—­Killarney—­Skibbereen—­March on that town by the workmen of Caheragh—­Dr. Donovan’s account of the movement—­The military, seventy-five in number, posted behind a schoolhouse—­Firmness and prudence of Mr. Galwey, J.P.—­Biscuits ordered from the Government Store—­Peace preserved—­Demonstration at Mallow—­Lord Stuart de Decies—­Deputation from Clonakilty to the Lord Lieutenant—­Ships prevented from sailing at Youghal—­Sir David Roche—­Demonstrations simultaneous—­Proclamation against food riots—­Want of mill-power—­No mill-power in parts of the West where most required—­Sir Randolph Routh’s opinion—­Overruled by the Treasury—­Mr. Lister’s Account of the mill-power in parts of Connaught—­Meal ground at Deptford, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Rotherhithe; also in Essex and the Channel Islands—­Mill-power at Malta—­Quantity of wheat there—­Five hundred quarters purchased—­The French—­The Irish handmill, or quern, revived—­Samples of it got—­Steel-mills—­Mill-power useless from failure of water-supply—­Attempt to introduce whole corn boiled as food.

Two Governmental departments were told off to do battle with the Irish Famine; namely, the Board of Works and the Commissariat Relief Office.  The duty of the former was to find employment for those who were able to work, at such wages as would enable them to support themselves and their families; the latter was to see that food should be for sale within a reasonable distance of all who were necessitated to buy it, and at fair market prices; but more than this the Commissariat Office was not empowered to do.  Corn merchants, food dealers, and mealmongers were not to be interfered with; on the contrary, they were to be encouraged in carrying on their trade.  It was only where such persons did not exist, or did not exist in sufficient numbers, that the Commissariat depots were to sell corn or meal to the people.  No food was to be