CHAPTER XXVIII. —­ Double Treachery.

The state of the country at this period of our narrative was, indeed, singularly gloomy and miserable.  Some improvement, however, had taken place in the statistics of disease; but the destitution was still so sharp and terrible, that there was very little diminution of the tumults which still prevailed.  Indeed the rioting, in some districts, had risen to a frightful extent.  The cry of the people was, for either bread or work; and to still, if possible, this woeful clamor, local committees, by large subscriptions, aided, in some cases, by loans from government, contrived to find them employment on useful public works.  Previous to this, nothing could surpass the prostration and abject subserviency with which the miserable crowds solicited food or labor.  Only give them labor at any rate—­say sixpence a day—­and they did not wish to beg or violate the laws.  No, no; only give them peaceable employment, and they would rest not only perfectly contented, but deeply grateful.  In the meantime, the employment they sought for was provided, not at sixpence, but at one-and-sixpence a day; so that for a time they appeared to feel satisfied, and matters went on peaceably enough.  This, however, was too good to last.  There are ever, among such masses of people, unprincipled knaves, known as “politicians”—­idle vagabonds, who hate all honest employment themselves, and ask no better than to mislead and fleece the ignorant unreflecting people, however or wherever they can.  These fellows read and expound the papers on Sundays and holidays; rail not only against every government, no matter what its principles are, but, in general, attack all constituted authority, without feeling one single spark of true national principle, or independent love of liberty.  It is such corrupt scoundrels that always assail the executive of the country, and at the same time supply the official staff of spies and informers with their blackest perjurers and traitors.  In truth, they are always the first to corrupt, and the first to betray.  You may hear these men denouncing government this week, and see them strutting about the Castle, its pampered instruments, and insolent with its patronage, the next.  If there be a strike, conspiracy, or cabal of any kind, these “patriots” are at the bottom of it; and wherever ribbonism and other secret societies do not exist, there they are certain to set them agoing.

For only a short time were these who had procured industrial employment permitted to rest satisfied with the efforts which had been made on their behalf.  The “patriots” soon commenced operations.

“Eighteen pence a day was nothing; the government had plenty of money, and if the people wished to hear a truth, it could be tould them by those who knew—­listen hether”—­as the Munster men say—­“the country gentlemen and the committees are putting half the money into their own pockets”—­this being precisely what the knaves would do themselves if they were in their places—­“and for that reason we’ll strike for higher wages.”