aid to carry it into execution; they seemed to make it a point to throw obstacles in its way, and certainly showed anything but a disposition to make it a success.  Very likely, the Board of Works had too many officers; doubtless they could not all be competent, or even trustworthy persons, there being ten or eleven thousand of these raked together from all quarters in three months.  Mr. Fitzgerald next attacked the farmers for not employing the workmen.  In fact, according to him, every class of the community had responsibilities—­was called on to make exertions and sacrifices to save the people from famine, except the landlords—­the owners of the soil of the entire kingdom.  He expressed his opinion, that the proper way to begin the business of the meeting was, to pass a vote of censure on the Board of Works and send it to the Lord Lieutenant.  The Chairman, Richard G. Adams, thought Mr. Fitzgerald’s suggestion a good one.  So it was, from the landlord’s point of view; it being their policy to turn attention away from themselves and their shortcomings, and make the Board of Works the scapegoat of all their sins.  Mr. Fitzgerald proceeded:  the farmers, he said, were banking their money.  He had cut out of the Times the article on the increase of deposits in the Irish Savings’ Banks, which he intended to have read for the meeting, but he had unfortunately mislaid it.  No matter, there could be no doubt of the fact.  No one present opened his mouth in defence of the unfortunate Board of Works, but a Mr. Kelly took up the cudgels for the farmers.  He said, few farmers in that district had money to put in Savings’ Banks, but if the farmers had hundreds, as was asserted, surely the gentlemen ought to have millions.  When the gentlemen complained of want of means, no wonder the farmers did the same.  There was not, Mr. Kelly maintained, enough of corn in the haggards of the country to last until the 1st of June,—­

Mr. Fitzgerald:  The haggards are in the Savings’ Banks.

Mr. Kelly:  You will find them in the pockets of a great many landlords. 
I don’t say in yours.[183]

In Bandon there was a somewhat similar meeting.  Lord Bernard, who presided, told his hearers in solemn accents that the Government was awfully responsible for not either assembling Parliament, as they were called upon to do, or at least providing effectively for the relief of the people.  His lordship recommended the suspension of the Poor Laws as a measure that would be advantageous at the present emergency!  Undeveloped though the poor law system was in Ireland at the time of the famine, it still afforded much relief in many places.  It is hard to see what Lord Bernard hoped to gain from the suspension of the Poor Laws during the famine, unless exemption from his own share of the rates.