The Measures of Relief for 1846-7—­Difficulties—­Shortcomings of the Government—­Vigorous action of other countries—­Commissary General Routh’s Letter on the state of the depots—­Replies from the Treasury—­Delay—­Incredulity of Government—­English Press—­Attacks both on the Landlords and People of Ireland—­Not the time for such attacks—­View of the Morning Chronicle—­Talk about exaggeration—­Lieutenant-Colonel Jones—­Changes his opinion—­His reason for doing so—­Mr. Secretary Redington’s ideas—­Extraordinary Baronial Presentments—­Presentments for the County Mayo beyond the whole rental of the county!—­The reason why—­Unfinished Public Works—­Lord Monteagle—­Finds fault with the action of the Government, although a supporter of theirs—­Expenses divided between landlord and tenant—­Discontent at rate of wages on public works being 2d. per day under the average wages of the district—­Founded on error—­Taskwork—­Great dissatisfaction at it—­Combination—­Attempt on the Life of Mr. W.M.  Hennessy—­True way to manage the people (Note)—­Stoppage of Works—­Captain Wynne—­Dreadful destitution—­Christmas eve—­Opposition to Taskwork continues—­Causes—­Treasury Minute on the subject—­Colonel Jones on Committees—­Insulting his officers—­Insult to Mr. Cornelius O’Brien, M.P.—­Captain Wynne at Ennistymon—­A real Irish Committee—­Major M’Namara—­His version of the Ennistymon affair (Note)—­Charges against the Gentry of Clare by Captain Wynne—­Mr. Millet on Ennistymon—­Selling Tickets for the Public Works—­Feeling of the Officials founded often on ignorance and prejudice—­The Increase of Deposits in the Savings’ Banks a Proof of Irish Prosperity—­How explained by Mr. Twistleton, an official—­Scarcity of silver—­The Bank of Ireland authorized to issue it—­The Public Works of 1845-6 brought to a close in August, 1846—­The Labour-rate Act—­Difficulty of getting good Officials—­The Baronies—­Issues to them—­Loans—­Grants—­Total—­Sudden and enormous Increase of Labourers on the Works under the Labour-rate Act—­How distributed over the Provinces—­Number of Officials superintending the Public Works—­Correspondence—­Number of Letters received at Central Office—­Progress of the Famine—­Number employed—­Number seeking employment who could not get it—­The Death-roll, 196

CHAPTER VIII.

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