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men to be assured that those humane efforts , as well as those making by our government , will save thousands of famishhijg creatures from the death which otherwise awaited them . Hitherto they have been supported by the exertions of a nearly exhausted country—exertions stretched far beyond the means of those making them , but no longer able to carry them on . We have hitherto heard of but
few deaths arising from actual starvation ^ but a short time more would make it tremendous , had it not been for this timely assistance . The pale and emaciated faces met with in the streets and on the roads , proved the rapid approach of this last stage . I have known an instance
of a man who for three days had not a morsel to eat , and then stretched exhausted on his bed to die—a trifle saved him , but his recovery was slow . It would be painful to dwell on those instances of misery , and I only mention them to shew how timely the relief has been .
From Roscommon . I am induced to address you in consequence of finding your liberality extended to several parishes in the neighbourhood of the one I reside in , the poor of which have already received £ 50 remitted me by the Commissioners appointed by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; which sum , along with private contributions , was
applied to the relief of the two parishes of Donamon and Kilbegnet , and is now very nearly expended ; and those two very populous parishes will then be in the utmost possible distress , having no resident gentleman in either of them ( except myself ) , which at this moment is not a very enviable situation , as there are nearly three thousand inhabitants who in a few
days will again be reduced to a state of starvation . From Killarney . I will venture to say that no case , however melancholy , that has come to the knowledge of the London Committee , can in any particular surpass the actual misery and wretchedness of the residents of
Ibrickkane and the adjoining Barony . Even in the best of times the appearance and condition of the poor creatures is sufficient to excite compassion . The soil , the most barren that can be conceived , yields but a scanty supply of potatoes , the
only article of food . Happy are they , if they possess a sufficiency of this vegetable , and can add to their humble fare the luxury of a little milk , A total failure of the last year ' s crop deprived them of the sole means of subsistence . To prolong a miserable existence , they have been compelled for some months past to
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support themselves on rock weed , limpets and the tops of nettles . Hundreds fc have * daily witnessed flocking to the seaside to collect a scanty meal . It is scarcely possible to convey to you an idea of their actual sufferings and privations : humanity shudders on viewing their pale and sickly forms , worn away by disease and
famine . In some of the wretched hovels may be seen the father and mother of a family lying down in the last stage of a fever , surrounded by their starved and half-naked children , with no support , beyond the casual pittance bestowed by the charity of an unfortunate neighbour , whose condition , with the exception of sickness , is no way superior .
With feelings of joy and gratitude they hail the exertions made by a generous public to alleviate their misfortunes ; but without the influence of some kind friend is exercised , to have their situation immediately attended to , relief will come when it can no longer be considered a blessing . From Tarbut .
When we reflect on this glorious instance of lively feeling and generosity on the part of the English nation , any language of ours would fail in giving adequate expression to our most heartfelt
sentiments of gratitude on the occasion , We shall , therefore , not attempt the fruitless task , impressed as we are , that to great and generous minds such deeds of humanity and generosity are their own truest rewards .
But we beg further to state , that notwithstanding the degree of relief we have already received , the distress of our pining population is weekly and daily increasing in consequence of the running out of the last remnant of provisions , and the season getting almost hopelessly late for
sowing potatoes . We therefore beg to add , that unless further and immediate relief be afforded , the distress from actual want of food for 2197 individuals , with a prospect of * daily increase to that number , will be calamitous in the extreme , as the funds on hand , are only equal to a scanty supply for six or seven days more .
From Mayo . That the population of the parish of Kilmina exceeds eight thousand souls ; that , from the unprecedented calamity of the last season , and almost total failure of both the potatoe and flax crops , the one half of those unfortunate beings arc
now literally in a state of starvation And what renders it more m elancholy , that the numbers crying out for relief arc increasing daily .
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384 Intelligence . — Distress in Ireland
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1822, page 384, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2513/page/64/
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