The arrival of the American ships naturally excited great interest at the various ports.  ‘On Monday, April 13,’ writes Mr. Maguire, ’a noble sight might be witnessed in Cork harbour—­the sun shining its welcome on the entrance of the unarmed war-ship Jamieson, sailing in under a cloud of snowy canvas, her great hold laden with bread-stuffs for the starving people of Ireland.  It was a sight that brought tears to many an eye, and prayers of gratitude to many a heart.  It was one of those things which one nation remembers of another long after the day of sorrow has passed.  Upon the warm and generous people to whom America literally broke bread and sent life, this act of fraternal charity, so gracefully and impressively offered, naturally produced a profound and lasting impression, the influence of which is felt at this moment.’

The clergy, Protestant and Roman Catholic, almost the only resident gentry in several of the destitute districts, worked together on the committees with commendable zeal, diligence, and unanimity.  Among the Roman Catholic clergy, Father Mathew was at that time by far the most influential and popular.  The masses of the peasantry regarded him as almost an inspired apostle.  During the famine months, he exerted himself with wonderful energy and prudence, first, in his correspondence with different members of the Government, earnestly recommending and urging the speedy adoption of measures of relief; and next, in commending those measures to the people, dissuading the hungry from acts of violence, and preaching submission and resignation under that heavy dispensation of Providence.  Of this there are ample proofs in the letters published by Mr. Maguire, M.P.  ’It is not to harrow your feelings, dear Mr. Trevelyan,’ he wrote, ’I tell this tale of woe.  No; but to excite your sympathy in behalf of our miserable peasantry.  It is rumoured that the capitalists in the corn and flour trade are endeavouring to induce the Government not to protect the people from famine, but to leave them at their mercy.  I consider this a cruel and unjustifiable interference.  I am so unhappy at the prospect before us, and so horror-struck by the apprehension of our destitute people falling into the ruthless hands of the corn and flour traders, that I risk becoming troublesome, rather than not lay my humble opinions before you.’  Again:  ’I hail with delight the humane, the admirable measures for relief announced by my Lord John Russell; they have given universal satisfaction.  But of what avail will all this be, unless the wise precautions of Government will enable the toiling workman, after exhausting his vigour during a long day to earn a shilling, to purchase with that shilling a sufficiency of daily food for his generally large and helpless family?’ Father Mathew earnestly pleaded for out-door relief, in preference to the workhouse, foreseeing the danger of sundering the domestic bonds, which operate so powerfully as moral restraints in Ireland.