digging his potatoes, of the species called Peelers, “thinks they did not dig as much sound potatoes as two men would do in a sound year.”  The Rev. Mr. Cantwell, of Kilfeacle, makes the suggestive announcement that “parents are already counting the potatoes they give their children.”  The good Rector of Skull, Dr. Robert Traill, writes to Lord Bernard with prophetic grief.  “Am I to cry peace, peace, where there is no peace?  But what did I find in the islands? the pits, without one single exception in a state of serious decay, and many of the islanders apprehending famine in consequence.  Oh, my heart trembles when I think of all that may be before us.”

Meantime the accounts of the progress of the disease were every day more disheartening; the Government appeared to do nothing except publish a few reports from those “Scientific men sent over from England,” alluded to by the Viceroy in his reply to the deputation of the 3rd of November.  The Mansion House Committee met on the 19th of that month and unanimously passed the following resolutions, Lord Cloncurry being in the chair:—­

1.  “That we feel it an imperative duty to discharge our consciences of all responsibility regarding the undoubtedly approaching calamities, famine and pestilence, throughout Ireland, an approach which is imminent, and almost immediate, and can be obviated only by the most prompt, universal and efficacious measures for procuring food and employment for the people.

2.  “That we have ascertained beyond the shadow of doubt, that considerably more than one-third of the entire of the potato crop in Ireland has been already destroyed by the potato disease; and that such disease has not, by any means, ceased its ravages, but, on the contrary, it is daily extending more and more; and that no reasonable conjecture can be formed with respect to the limits of its effects, short of the destruction of the entire remaining potato crop.

3.  “That our information upon the subject is positive and precise and is derived from persons living in all the counties of Ireland.  From persons also of all political opinions and from clergymen of all religious persuasions.

4.  “We are thus unfortunately able to proclaim to all the inhabitants of the British Empire, and in the presence of an all-seeing Providence, that in Ireland famine of a most hideous description must be immediate and pressing, and that pestilence of the most frightful kind is certain, and not remote, unless immediately prevented.

5.  “That we arraign in the strongest terms, consistent with personal respect to ourselves, the culpable conduct of the present administration, as well in refusing to take any efficacious measure for alleviating the existing calamity with all its approaching hideous and necessary consequences; as also for the positive and unequivocal crime of keeping the ports closed