enormous cost, trouble, and anxiety.  To be sure it succeeded, at last, in securing a verdict, and in sending O’Connell and some four or five others to Richmond prison; but their imprisonment there, like their journey to it, was a continuous triumph.  Besides, the Government were in the end defeated by an appeal to the House of Lords, and the State prisoners set free in the fall of 1844.  O’Connell, it was known through the Press, had propounded a scheme to meet the impending famine, which was, in substance, the one laid before the Viceroy.  It is not much to be wondered at, that a small politician and narrow party-man, as Lord Heytesbury was, should think it a victory to make the deputation feel his high displeasure at the manner in which agitators had been, for so long a period, bearding the Government to which he belonged.

The deputation was highly respectable, and ought to have been influential, consisting, as it did, of the Duke of Leinster, Lord Cloncurry, the Lord Mayor, O’Connell, Henry Grattan, Sir James Murray, John Augustus O’Neill, and some twenty other gentlemen of position.  The journals of the next morning informed the public that the deputation was “most formally” received.  The Lord Mayor read to His Excellency the resolutions drawn up by the committee by which the deputation was appointed.  They stated—­(1), That famine and pestilence were immediately imminent, unless the Government took prompt measures against them; (2), That this could be best done by employing the people in works of national utility; (3), That the ports ought to be closed against the exportation of corn; (4), That public granaries ought to be established in various parts of the country, the corn to be sold to the people at moderate prices; and (5), That the use of grain for distillation ought to be stopped.

The Lord Lieutenant read the following reply:—­

“My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen,—­It can scarcely be necessary for me to assure you that the state of the potato crop has for some time occupied, and still occupies, the most anxious attention of the Government.

“Scientific men have been sent over from England to co-operate with those of this country, in endeavouring to investigate the nature of the disease, and, if possible, to devise means to arrest its progress.  They have not yet terminated their enquiries; but two reports have already been received from them, which have been communicated to the public.

“The Government is also furnished with constant reports from the stipendiary magistrates and inspectors of constabulary, who are charged to watch the state of the potato disease, and the progress of the harvest.  These vary from day to day, and are often contradictory; it will, therefore, be impossible to form an accurate opinion on the whole extent of the evil till the digging of the potatoes shall be further advanced.  To decide, under such circumstances, upon the most proper