The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-02-14 00:00:00

THE POPE AND THE DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

The following letter has been received by the Most Rev.
Dr. M'Cabe, Archbishop of Dublin, from the Right Rev.
Mgr. Kirby, Rector of the Irish College in Rome :

"My dear Lord,—l hasten to send your Grace the en-
closed draft for £lOO. Is is the fourth part, according to
present exchange, in English money of the sum of 10,000 lire,
which the Holy Father most graciously sends out of his very
limited resources towards the relief of the poor in Ireland
who are suffering under the present most severe visitation.
His Eminence the Cardinal Secretary of State sent it to me
with a most kind letter, and suggesting that I should send
it to the four Archbishops for distribution in the localities
which they may deem most in need. The amount is only a
drop of water compared with the ocean of the prevailing
distress in Ireland. But it is large when compared with the
difficult and trxing financial circumstances of His Holiness,
and is a proof of the truly paternal solicitude and affection
which he bears to his Irish children, and especially to the
afflicted poor who are the sufferers in the present calamity.
I hope to send by this post a like sum to his Grace the
Primate, to the Archbishop of Cashel, and to the Coadjutor
Bishop of Thaw. I have the honour to be, with profound
veneration, your
T. KIRBY. o Grace's most devoted, humble servant,

"P B.—Since writing the above I received from Propa-
ganda 6,000 lire more, making with His Holiness's donation
a total of £569 Bx., the fourth part of which I have the
pleasure to send your Grace.'

The Empress of Austria has given £2OO to the Duchess of
Marlborough's fund.

It is stated that the Indian meal to be sent to the Western
Islands, In charge of Mr. Robinson' Poor-Law Inspector,
by H.M.S. Goshawk, is contributed in equal proportions
from the funds of the Duchess of Marlborough's Committee
and the Mansion House Committee, and that the only test
In its distribution will be the destitution of the recipients.

The Roman Catholic population of the diocese of South-
wark, at the solicitation of their bishop, Dr. Danell, have
given in their subscriptions-A° the relief fund. To Friday
Fast the satire amount realised was £1,427, and it was ex-
pected that Sunday and Saturday last would see a hand-
some addition to the funds.

A copy of the Treasury Minute which was issued on Jan.
12, relative to the distress in Ireland; has been issued as a
Parliamentary paper. It orders the Commissioners of Public
Works to make advances out of money In their hands until
an Act is passed legalising the action of the Government,
and making provision for the necessary expenditure. The
First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exchequer point out
that the measures which they contemplate are not taken
with a view to the promotion of public works, but are
measures for the relief on the least demoralising principle
of the distressed subjects of the Queen, and they thus satisfy
the requirements of 68111 section of the lash Church Act.

The Irishwomen of Boston have warm hearts. An
official of that city says that during the last four months he
has transmitted to Ireland from his office alone 2,250 drafts,
in sums from Ll upwards, the total amounting to 28,639 dolt
This large sum was forwarded by "servant girls' only.
A Washington telegram, dated February 10, says :—" A
resolution was introduced in the House ot ItepresentatiVes
to-day authorizing Mr. Thompson, the Secretary ot the Navy.
to appoint a United States war vessel to convey the contri-
buttons raised in America to Ireland."