The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-07 00:00:00

IRELAND.

THE POTATO DISEASE.-GOVERNMENT IN-
_ QUIRY.

DUBLIN, JAN. 4.—ln consequence of the following
requisition, addressed to the magistrates of Ballick-
moyler, by Lord de Vesci, the Lieutenant of the Queen's
County, a meeting of the landholders of the district was
held on Monday rest:—
" Abbeyleix, December 16, 1845.
" Gentlemen,—l have to request, in compliance with
directions I have received from his Excellency the Lord
Lieutenant, that you will, for the information of Govern•
ment, in conjunction with the gentry, clergy, and respect-
able persons in your district, inquire from time to time
into the state of the peasantry, and propose such mea-
sures as may appear most practicable for providing relief
in case of urgent necessity, and means for giving em-
ployment to the people.—l have the honour to be,
(Signed) "DE VESCI."
The Court-house was crowded at an early hour, all the
respectable landholders of the neighbourhood being in
attendance. The magistrates were—Win. C. Cooper,
Peter Gale, William B. Fitarnaurice, and James Fitz-
maurice, Esqrs. The chair was taken by Wm. Cope
Cooper, Esq.
The CHAIRMAN read the requisition, and stated that
he was ready to hear any gentleman who wished to ad-
dress the meeting.
Air. GALE stated that whatever measure would be
adopted by the meeting, one thing was certain, they
could not tax the farmers. If a crisis were at hand, he
thought the only way to meet it was by procuring em-
ployment for the people. it was suggested that public
works would afford a means of employment, and if that
were practicable, no time should be lost in sending pre-
sentments before the special sessions. However, in
doing so, the expense would ultimately fall on the
farmers, and, therefore, the prudence of adopting such a
course was very doubtful.—(Hear, hear.) The grand
jury, he was certain, would do all in their power to co-
operate, and if thought advisable to put in present-
ments for public works, the expense not to be levied for
one or two years; they could retrace their steps and
make no outlay if not deemed necessary. If, therefore,
employment was to be given by presenting for public
works, no time should be lost, as the following day
would be the last for lodging applications.
Mr. COOPER—It is clear that the object of the Go-
vernment is to provide employment for the people in the
event of a scarcity arising from the failure of the potato
crop in this populous district. Whatever measure is
most beneficial to the people will be cheerfully adopted
by my brother magistrates and the landholders, for it
cannot be denied that in this district the potato crop is
in a most precarious condition—( Hear, hear)—and,
without any wish to create a panic, I think our object
should be to provide for the future.—(Hear, hear.) There
is no %ant of employment at present, but, neverthe-
less, we should be prepared for any emergency that may
arise—(Hear, hear.'
Mr. WILLIAM R. FITZMAURICE stated that their first
object was to consider the condition of the peasantry,
and to ascertain from the farmers present whether there
were any poor people in the neighbourhood in want of
employment ; and, with that view, they ought to confine
their inquiries for the present into the state of the potato
crop—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. KEEFE, a landholder, stated that the seed potatoes
were in a precarious condition throughout the district.
Mr. COOPER—Is there not as large a quantity in your
district this as last year?
Mr. KEEFE—By no means ; and fully one half are
gone already. The potatoes I left in the ground were
the safest. Those dug out were one half lost ; but there
is a large quantity which can be used for feeding.
Mr. W. R. FITZMAURICE—Then you consider the
disease progressing ?
Mr. KEEFE—I do, in my district.
Dr. EDGE—I think seven-eighths of' my own perfectly
safe ; but all around me, for three or four miles, fully
one half the crop is gone. The general belief is, there
will be no potatoes in that district the Ist of May.
Mr. FITZMAURICE—In the colliery district that is not
unusual on the Ist of May in any year.
To Mr. FISHBOURNE—There is not a labourer in my
neighbourhood unemployed, I think thirty or forty men
are required in the Rushes Colliery— (Hear)—and
Wicklow men were sent for, owing to the deficiency of
hands.

Mr. DOWLING considered the potato crop was not at
all so bad in the low land, at all events, in the neigh-
bourhood of Graigue, where fine potatoes may be pro-
cured at six or seven shillings a barrel.—(Hear, hear.) It
would be well if committees were formed to purchase
potatoes, and sell them again at a moderate rate to the
people next May.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN and several of the farmers expressed
it as their decided opinions, that had the advice of the
potato commissioners been followed generally, the crop
would be lost, and not a potato left in the district.
Mr. FITZMAURICE and the general body of the meet-
ing considered a loan, to be made available in case of
necessity in May, would be the best plan they could
devise.

from
olr .
atC o oPE
present,it— The
and
is
de
while i
le stchaeryc i
might
y or w anto
require
f a employ-
mentloan
m the Government, it did not follow that they should
expend the money, if not required.
The following resolutions were then proposed, and
passed unanimously ~..
Proposed by Mr. GALE, J.P., and seconded by Mr.
EDWARD DOWLING,
" That, in the opinion of this meeting, though there
is at present no want of food, or a deficiency of employ-
ment,
distress is
iscoimikpealyretdo vsa'ri
it
she f
forromme r
the y ecaorns ,s
uyme
pt
ttiho
na t goreat
tatoes, the staple food of the peasantry, much earlier at
this than at.any former season, caused by the prevail-
ing disease in the potato crop, and that this meeting
hope and expect the Government will provide some
means of employment in addition to the usual sources,
to meet the destitution that is likely to arise in this
district."

Proposed by Mr. JOSEPH FISHBOURNE, seconded by
Mr. JOHN EDGE,
" That all methods, including those recommended by
the Commissioners appointed by Government, have not
been found effectual for preserving the potato crop,
where tried in this district, and that we now respect-
fully suggest to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant that
he will be pleased to take measures to procure sound
and suitable seed potatoes, to be sold at reduced prices
to all poor persons in the district, at the proper season
for planting,"
Mr. GALE having been called to the chair, the marked
thanks of the meeting were voted to the Chairman, and
the meeting separated.