The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-27 00:00:00

DIsTRESS AND FAMINE IN IRELAND.

A public meeting was held yesterday, at Exeter-
hail, for the purpose of taking into consideration,
and of providing increased means of relieving the
frisidful distress which prevails in many parts of the
west of Ireland. The meeting was numerous and
respectable, though we regret to say, the numbers
were by no means what were expected. Amongst
the persons friendly to the object of the meeting,
we noticed on the platform the Marquis of Clan-
ricarde, Viscount Lorton, the Bishop of Elphin,
Lords Calthorpe, Teynham, Lifford, Manners, Ash-
town, Seises, and Lord James O'Brien), the Right
Hon. Stratford Canning, Sir John Burke,
Sir Richard O'Donnell, the Hon. and Rev. a
Noel, J. E. Gordon, M.P., tie Rev. E. Thron
(Chaplain to the Countess of Glengall), the Rev.
N. Armstrong, the Rev. W. Beaminsh, the Rev.
Mr. Dalton, &c.
At the opening of the meeting we should suppose
that the number present did not exceed 500, though
it increased very considerably in the course of the day.
Soon after one o'clock,
Lord LowroN took the chair, and opened the bu-
siness of the day. The object for which they had
met was for the purpose of considering the best
mode of relieving the distresses which xisted
amongst the most destitute people on earth. In
many parts of Ireland the people were in a state of
absolute starvation, and required the immediate aid
of those to whom Divine Providence had given the
means of relieving their fellow-men. The relief now
sought was only temporary ; but he hoped that, be-
fore the close of the ensuing Session of Prtrliament,
the Legislature would devise some means of securing
permanent employment in Ireland for those who
were willing to work.—(Hear, hear.) Unless some
means of that kind were devised, the situation of
the country would become worse and worse from
year to year. The Noble Lord here called the at-
tention of the meeting to three letters which he had
received on the subject for which they were assem-
bled. The first was from Sir John Conroy, en-
closing, by command of her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, a cheque for fifty pounds for the
relief of the distressed Irish. The Gallant Officer
stated in his note, that this was her Royal Iligh-
ness's third donation for the same object. It was
added that her Royal Highness and -the young
Princess were engaged in making little articles, to
be sold at the Bazaar for the relief of the Irish poor.
—(Applause.) The next letter WaS from the Duke
of Devonshire, enclosing one hundred pounds, his
Grace's second donation, and regretting that he was
not enabled to attend the meeting. The third letter
was from the Earl of Shrewsbury, expressing his
regret that he was obliged to leave town, or he
would willingly advocate the cause of the Irish poor.
His Lordship referred to his previous donation of
one hundred pounds, and regretted that his aid must
be limited to that sum, as he was not connected by
property with Ireland.
The Noble Lord then called on the Hon. Secre-
tary, J. S. Reynolds, Esq., to read the report.
Mr. REYNOLDS then read the report, which con-
sisted for the most part of extracts of letters from
several correspondents in the distressed districts.
From these we select the following from a gentleman
at Sligo :
" When I recollect that to-morrow is only the Ist of
April, I look forward with horror to the state of this
country in two or three months, judging from what I
witnessed yesterday. The beach between Inniscrone and
Pulocherry was quite covered with women, picking the
common black sea-weed off the rocks, which, I am told,
they carry home to the mountains and boil for food, to
eke out their few remaining potatoes. What is to become
of them in June or July I know not. I think when the
tide was out, there could not have been less than 3,000
persons employed as I have stated."
In a letter addressed to Mr. Dombraine by N.
Foster, Esq., he thus writes :
" The distress all around is increasing rapidly ; it is really
heart-rending to look at many as they pass ; their appear-
ance speaks loudly as to their internal sufferings, although
they do not utter a single word."
Another equally respectable and competent eye-
witness thus writes :
" You will see by my letter to 4 * the sad state of
poor Rosses at this moment, and I am sorry to say, the
famine is very general over the kingdom. I could tell
you tales of suffering which would harrow up your soul,
but suffice it to say, the family (named Noonan) that you
found ill in the cell.ir in St. Giles's were in comparative
comfort to many that I know of here ; they are lying all
swelled from hunger, as if ill of dropsy, unable to leave
their wretched homes, with all their children crying for
hunger round them. Roth description and imagination
fall short of the dreadful reality.
" Your sincerely obliged and attached,
" G. M. N."

To multiply further evidence on the subjec
would surely be a work of supererogation. It is
only necessary to subjoin the following extract from
the petition of the inhabitants of the island of
Arranmore
That your petitioners, consisting of about 300 fami-
lies and not less than 1,000 persons, are at this moment
in a state of desolation and starvation, from the visitation
of two succeeding bad seasons, being totally destitute of
any sort of provisions to subsist on, their children staring
them in the face with hunger, and not having the means
to relieve their wants; and which has been the case for a
considerable time, with the exception of a small portion of
barley-meal mixed with sea-weed, which is now con-
sume". That the seed which they intended to have sown
in their ground was also had recourse to, to keep them
from starvation. That they now humbly lay before a
feeling and generous public their total impossibility to
crop their lands in this year without aid and relief, the
consequence of which will be misery, starvation, and
death, to all those who may survive the present visitation,
and live to encounter the difficulties of the ensuing year."
The report then went on to give other extracts,
to show the confidence that might be reposed lii the
zeal and prudence of the gentlemen who undertook
in Ireland the task of appropriating the funds that
might be raised here for the relief of the distressed
districts in that country.
The Rev. Mr. BEAMISII moved the first reselu-
tion—" That it appeared from the facts laid before
the meeting, that the increasing distress which pre-
vailed on the coast of Cunnemara, Mayo, and Do-
negal, called for increased exertions to alleviate its
severity." The resolution then named a committee
for the purpose of carrying its object into effect.
The Rev. Gentleman, after pointing out how strictly
it was enjoined as a duty by our divine Redeemer,
to attend to the temporal wants of distressed fellow-
creatures, went on to describe the dreadful condition
to which the inhabitants of many districts in Ire-
/and were reduced by hunger. In several places
this distress was periodical. In August and Sep-
tember, the potatoe crop of the preceding year was
generally exhausted, and in that period, and before
the new crop was fit for use (which was always
some six or eight weeks later than in England), the
poor peasants had nothing to feed upon but wild
turnips and wild kale. The Rev. Gentleman then
contended that much of the divress which now pre-
vailed in Ireland was caused by the wickedness of
the_ people, and the want of religious education.
:Much was also to be attributed to the general use
01,
ardent spirits, of which, on an average of four
years, from 1826 to 1829, nearly 11,000,000 of
gallons per year were consumed. This was an
outlay of
other useful poi!) °°/'' which, if applied in trade or
vast number of purposes,
would give employment to a
row out of employment. He
„loss next adverted to the ssesdustained by the number
of absentees, and expressed
rank and property in Ireland a hope that those of
mightt be induced to
reside there much more than did at present,
from which the greatest advantage would
be derived
derived
to the country. It would be well for Ireland if
of her nobles or wealthy commoners would manythe conduct of the Archbishop of 'roam, at imitate
palace 300 of the poor Irish were provided with
food daily. This Right Rev. Prelate had expended
upwards of 1,000/. in provisions, and offered to give
fifteen per cent. on his whole. income from. the
Church as long as distress existed in his diocese.
Capt.- V. HARCOURT, R.N. seconded the motion.
The resolution was then put and c.arried..
The Hon. and Rev. G. NOEL, in moving the
next resolution, said that no Englishman could look

back at the connection which subsisted between
this country and Ireland for ages without blushing.
Every calamity had rolled into Ireland from this
country. She had been the constant object of spo-
liation and rapine, and the victim of misgovernment.
lie concluded by moving, that though some of the
funds raised in 1822 for the relief of the Irish might

have been misapplied, vet that the experience of
the past would be a good guarantee for a more care-
ful and prudent management in future.
The Rev. N. At%TRONG, in seconding the mo-
tion, detailed some of the scenes of distress which
existed in many parts of Ireland, as stated in seve-
ral extracts of letters which he held in his hand.

In one place it was stated that twelve deaths had
already occurred from want. In another place the
-eed for the next potato crop was dug up frotit-the
ground, and unwholesome as it was, was made to
answer the cravings of nature. In another place a
poor woman who was herself half-famishing endea-
voured to prolong the lives of three of her children
by alternately suckling them at her bretr,.t. In other
instances the peasants went out on the mountains
and bled the cattle, that they might boil the blood
and eat it ; and fears were entertained, that if relief
were not afforded, the peasants would not leave any
of the cattle alive, such was their state of utter des-
titution. Yet it shcutd be remarked, that with all their
misery, tlwst:: peasants exhibited no signs of disturb-
ance—none of those outrages which were seen in
Clare and Limerick, amongst those who were much

less distressed. The Rev. Gentleman went on to con-
tend that there were three things which ought to be
done that would improve the condition of Ireland.
We ought to do every thing to encourage landed
proprietors to reside in Ireland,—every thing to
promote the application of British capital in that
country,--every thing to stres►gthen the measures of
Government there. But none of these could be
done, unless a moral influence was created. That
moral influence, he proceeded to contend, could only
he created by the introduction of the gospel of
Christ, in place of that which was now preached in
that country (the doctrines of Popery.) We should
show that the Protestants of these days were diffe-
rent from those of Elizabeth and James,—we should
protest against that religion which withheld the
Bible from man; for if the word of Ged were true,
—if there be a God of retributive justice,—he must
visit that country with his darkest cloud whose
priests or bishops withheld from the people the book
of his word. lie then went on to contend, that if
the earth were cursed for the sin of Adam—if it

were cursed for the sin of Cain, or the Jews were
cursed for the sin of the rejection of Christ,—a'
country would be cursed by the sin of apostacy ; and
if there were an apostacy, the Roman Catholic reli-
gion was that apostacy.—(Great uproar followed
the utterance of this sentence.) Several persons
rose at once, in different parts of the Hall, and en-
deavoured to obtain a hearing : one Gentleman, in
particular, in the body of the Hall, called out that
the conduct of the Rev. Gentleman was most unfair
to the object of the meeting, and most insulting to
the feelings of those Roman Catholics who had
come to the meeting to promote the common object.
—(Applause and some hisses.) He insisted on
being heard in reply to the Rev. speaker. The
Chairman said, that if the Gentleman in the Hall had
any observations to make, he would hear him at the
close of the proceedings, but he would not allow the
business of the meeting to be interrupted.—(Ap-
plause and disapprobation.)
The Rev. Mr. ARMSTRONG then went on to con-
tend, that if they believed that God would curse a
country for apostacy, they ought to remove that
apostacy.—(Applause and hisses.)
H. DRUMMOND, Esq., in supporting the resolu-
tion, contended for the absolute necessity of giving
to the Irish poor, who were willing to work, some
means of permanent employment by which they
might support themselves. This could only he done
by some system of poor laws. That system could
not be good under which thousands of tons of pro-
visions were exported from a country whilst its own
population was starving.
The CHAIRMAN, in putting the question, agreed
in the suggestions of the honourable gentleman who
last spoke, as to making some provision for employ-
ing the poor, but objected to the words" poor laws."
The resolution was then put and carried.
A gentleman on the platform here attempted to
address the meeting, but was not permitted by the
Chair. He then retired from the front, observing
that the whole meeting was only a pretence for sup-
porting tithes and rents.
The Rev. Mr. DALTON, in moving the next reso-
lution, thanking the committees who had already
exerted themselves in behalf of the Irish, acknow-
ledging the services of tile Record newspaper, and
soliciting the aid of other portions of the Press,
took occasion to observe upon the necessity of at-
tacking Romanism, not because he had any hostility
toßoman Catholics, but because he believed the souls
1 of persons professing those doctrines were in danger.
Sir JOHN BURKE rose to order, and endeavoured
repeatedly to obtain a hearing, which the Chairman
refused to give. (The confusion in the meeting
was now immense. Several persons cried out
" Hear Sir John Burke ;" others cried out" Chair;"
and others as loudly declared that they wanted no
religious discussion.)
The CHAIR3IAN would not allow the order of the
proceeding to be interrupted.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE rose and endea-
voured to obtain a hearing for his Hon. relation
(Sir J. Burke). At the same time he protested
against the unfairness of allowing attacks to be made
upon the private opinions of individuals, without
giving them an opportunity of being heard in re-
ply.—(Applause and disapprobation.)
Sir JOHN BURKE had come to that meeting for a
charitable purpose, and for that only, and he would
not sit there to hear his religion abused, more par-
ticularly as the religion of any man had nothing to
do with the object for which they were assembled.
—(Applause and hisses; the uproar and confusion
in the meeting were now extreme; a dozen persons
rose at the same moment, each endeavouring to be
heard, and the effort of each preventing that of the
other. Sir John Burke and the Marquis of Clan-
ricarde were among the number, but what they
said could not be heard. Some degree of silence
was at length restored, and Lord Lorton said that
he would have no objection to hear Sir John Burke
in his proper turn, but he would not allow any man
to interrupt the regular course of the proceedings,
If Mr. Dalton did not choose to continue his ad-
dress, Sir R. O'Donnell was the next in order, and
after him he would he would hear Sir J. Burke.)
Sir R. O'DONNELL deprecated the introduction
of religious discussion under the cloak of a meeting
assembled solely for a charitable purpose; the attack
made was an insult to the Roman Catholics (English
and Irish) who were present.—(Applause.) It was
wholly foreign from the object for which they met.
Sir J. BURKE now addressed the meeting, and
said, whatever religious differences they might have,
that was not the place for their expression. The
Hon. Baronet then proceeded to detail the necessity
of increased exertion to promote the object for which
they had met.
Mr. DALTON was now about to resume his ad-
dress, when
Mr. ENEAS 11I'DoNNELt. claimed the attention of
the chair. This in some degree renewed the former
confusion; but after a short time the Chairman
said he would hear Mr. M'Donnell afterwards.
The Rev. Mr. DaLTON resumed his address. He
denied any want of charity to his Roman Catholic
brethren ; and in the course of his remarks observed
upon that dearth of the word of God which pre-
vailed in Ireland, compared with England and Scot-
land. [Here the confusion was renewed. A gen-
tleman in the body of the Hall, who said that he
117 i
a Dissenting Minister, wished to be heard, as
iength,x or seven gentlemen on the platform.] At
The Hon. and Rev. G. NOEL rose to call the
Rev. Mr. Dalton to order. Was this a Reforma-
tiona I
Society, or was it one for he t
es d p
discussion
question respecting Roman
testants ? If it were not, then he must say tha°i-t

was a trespass on good manners as well as Christian
candour in those of his Rev. Brethren who had gone
out of their way to attack the religious opinions of
those who met them there fur a common object of
Christian charity.—(Applause.) In all that was
urged by the Rev, Gentlemen he was disposed to
concur with them, but he considered the time, and
the place, and occasion, wholly foreign from such
discussion, and they owed an apology to their Ca-
tholic brethren for this uncalled for attack upon
them.—(Applause.)
Lord LORTON said, that after the Christian
benevolence of the explanation just heard, they
would best consult the object for which they met,

if they avoided any further reference to controversy.
The Rev. Mr. ARMSTRONG (who had been
taking notes of what passed for the purpose, we
presume, of again addressing the meeting) now
came forward, but the sense of the meeting seemed
to be strongly against his being again heard, and he
did not press the attempt.
Mr. ENEAS M'DONNELL now pressed himself on
the attention of the meeting, and was objected to
liy some, whilst others loudly insisted that he should
be heard.
The CHAIRMAN seemed in some doubt whether
to give permission, as there were five or six other
candidates for a hearing who might protract the
business of the day.
Mr. M'DONNELL urged upon the Noble Lord
his promise that he should be heard, and at length
was allowed to proceed. He deprecated in strong
terms the introduction of such topics as had been
selected by the Rev. Gentlemen on this occasion,
and contended that not only were they altogether
irrelevant, but insulting to the feelings of Roman
Catholics, who, having come there for an equally
benevolent purpose as their Protestant brethren,
had a right to expect that their private opinions,
which were between themselves and their God, and
had nothing to do with the particular object for
which they assembled, should at least be respected,
—(Applause and disapprobation.) The Learned
Gentleman went on to say that he had that day re-
ceived the donation of a Catholic barrister, who
had not time to leave his avocations in West-
minster-hall, but after what had passed, he did not
feel himself authorized to give it.—(Much disap-
probation.) He would return it to the donor, to
let him dispose of it as he pleased.
As soon as Mr. M‘Donnell concluded, three or
four gentlemen attempted to address the meeting at
the same instant, but all without effect. The con-
fusion was so great that no one could be heard.
In the midst of this, a genteel elderly lady got up
on one of the forms, and by her gesticulation seemed
as if she wished to be heard. The only thing we
did hear from the lady was, that she was ashamed
of her sex. This, we presumed, must have re-
ferred to the conduct of some of her female ac-
quaintance out of the Hal), for in it we saw nothing
to reprehend in the conduct of any lady, except the
elderly lady aforesaid. Indeed, the ladies had much
to complain of, for many of them must have been
greatly annoyed at the scene of confusion before
them.—After several ineffectual attempts to restore
order,
Lord LORTON left the Chair, and declared the
meeting at an end ; but this did not satisfy some of
the speakers, who still kept up their harangue whilst
they could get any persons to listen. One of these,
a Mr. Curran, loudly deprecated the conduct of the
Rev. Gentleman who had introduced religious con-

troversy.
During Mr. Curran's address there were several
calls for the police, of whom some were present : but
they did not notice the call.
The Marquis of CLAN RICARDE, after Lord Lorton
had left the Chair, came to the front of the platform,
and expressed a hope that the meeting would forget
every thing but the benevolent purpose that had
called them together.
The meeting soon after separated.