It may be further mentioned that the people were four hours at the entrance to the town before they finally retired, although repeatedly called upon to do so by Mr. Galwey, who had resorted to the extreme measure of reading the riot act.  The people’s constant reply was, that they might as well be shot as not, as they had not tasted food for twenty-four hours.  Several of the neighbouring gentlemen took an active part in the day’s proceedings, as well as Mr. Galwey, more especially Mr. M’Carthy Downing, the present worthy member for the county.

A body of men, numbering about five hundred, marched through Mallow, on their way to the Workhouse, where they began to scale the walls, at the same time exclaiming that they were starving and wanted food.  Temporary relief was distributed to them outside the Workhouse, upon which they retired.  It was reported that an attack had been made upon Lord Stuart de Decies, on occasion of his attending the special sessions at Clashmore, during which it was said that several persons cried out, “Knock him down;” but his Lordship, in a letter to the newspapers, gave a complete contradiction to this report.  A deputation from the magistrates of Clonakilty, consisting of the Rev. Mr. Townsend, the rector, and John O’Hea, Esq., waited on the Lord Lieutenant on the 5th of October.  They stated they were deputed by the clergy of all denominations, the magistrates, the gentry, and the people of the district, to lay before Government the utter desolation caused by the destruction of the potato crop; the poor having been for some time past living on cabbage leaves and food of that description.  They pressed upon his Excellency the urgent necessity which existed for sending an immediate supply of provisions into the locality.  The magistrates, they stated, had directed them to say that they would not be responsible for the peace of the district, if such a supply as would check the exorbitant price of meal were not sent forthwith.  At Youghal two ships laden with corn for exportation were stopped by the people, and for some time prevented from sailing.  Large numbers assembled at Macroom, with the apparent intention of making an attack upon property; but, through the advice and judicious conduct of Sir David Roche, they dispersed.  Horses engaged in carrying corn to the coast for exportation were sometimes shot.  In a few places, especially in Connaught, convoys of meal and flour were seized and carried off.

The troops and police had a hard time of it.  Detachments of either, or both, had to be despatched to those places in which disturbances had occurred, or were apprehended.  Numerous arrests were made in every instance.

A very alarming symptom in those assemblages was that they occurred almost simultaneously, many of them even on the same day, although there is no trace of this being the result of previous organization.  At the moment, the whole framework of society in Ireland was shaken and disjointed, and, in fact, on the point of falling into utter confusion; yet there were no manifestations of reckless wickedness—­the demands of the people did not go beyond the cry for food and employment, at fair wages.