of a Priest of St. John’s—­Dublin—­Dysentery more fatal than cholera—­Meetings—­“General Central Relief Committee for all Ireland”—­Committee of the Society of Friends—­The British Association for the Relief of Extreme Distress in Ireland and Scotland—­The Government—­Famine not a money question—­so the Government pretended—­Activity of other countries in procuring food—­Attack on Divine Providence—­Wm. Bennett’s opinion.—­Money wages not to be had from farmers—­Was it a money or food question?—­The Navigation laws—­Freights doubled—­The Prime minister’s exposition—­Free Trade in theory—­protection in practice—­The Treasury says it cannot find meal—­President Polk’s message to Congress—­America burthened with surplus corn—­could supply the world—­Was it a money question or a food question?—­Living on field roots—­Churchyards enlarged—­Three coffins on a donkey cart—­Roscommon—­no coffins—­600 people in typhus fever in one Workhouse?—­Heroic virtue—­The Rosary—­Sligo—­forty bodies waiting for inquests!—­Owen Mulrooney—­eating asses’ flesh—­Mayo—­Meeting of the county—­Mr. Garvey’s statement—­Mr. Tuke’s experiences—­Inquests given up—­W.G.’s letters on Mayo—­Effect of Famine on the relations of landlord and tenant—­Extermination of the smaller tenantry—­Evictions—­Opinion of an eyewitness—­A mother takes leave of her children—­Ass and horse flesh—­something more dreadful! (Note)—­The weather—­its effects—­Count Strezelecki—­Mr. Egan’s account of Westport—­Anointing the people in the streets!—­The Society of Friends—­Accounts given by their agents—­Patience of the people—­Newspaper accounts not exaggerated—­Donegal—­Dunfanaghy—­Glenties—­Resident proprietors good and charitable—­Skull—­From Cape Clear to Skull—­The Capers—­Graveyard of Skull—­Ballydehob—­The hinged coffin—­Famine hardens the heart.  Rev. Traill Hall—­Captain Caffin’s narrative—­Soup-kitchens—­Officials concealing the state of the people—­Provision for burying the dead—­The boat’s crew at a funeral—­State of Dingle—­Father Mathew’s evidence—­Bantry—­Inquests—­Catherine Sheehan—­Richard Finn—­Labours of the Priests—­Giving a dinner away—­Fearful number of deaths—­Verdict of “Wilful murder” against Lord John Russell—­The Workhouse at Bantry—­Estimated deaths—­The hinged coffin—­Shafto Adair’s idea of the Famine, 364

CHAPTER XIII.

The Irish Relief Act, 10th Vic., c. 7—­Rapid expansion of Public Works—­They fail to sustain the people—­Clauses of the new Relief Act—­Relief Committees—­Their duties—­Union rating.  Principal clergy members of Relief Committees—­Duties of Government Inspectors—­Finance Committees—­Numbers on Public Works in February, 1847—­Monthly outlay—­Parliament gives authority to borrow L8,000,000—­Reduction Of labourers on Public Works—­Task work condemned—­Rules drawn up by new Relief Commissioners—­Rations to be allowed—­Definition of soup—­First