Star.
London, England, 1822-05-20 00:00:00

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IRELAND. . -

/110)1 THE DUBLIN JOURNAL 07 FRIDAY:
FAMINE AND rEwErt.
Four years have not yet elapsed since this island
suffered under the severest visitation by which -
country can be afflicted ; it was scourged by pesti-
lence and famine, and, according to Mr. Grant's -
t!iof ity, upwards of 60,000 of its people were carried
off by the combined influence of these destructive
agents. Our terror and alarm were great at the cora.
riencement of that general calamity; but what woul
have been cur fears, had we been aware that such
loss of human lives would have ensued? An 0
sir.iilar in every respect, save in its extent, awaits
urge portion of our people, unless averted by
timely interference of the Government, and by
rnerestic and humane efforts of the Local Authorities.
Famine has commenced its ravages in extent
oktrict„ and fever, as might be anticipated, has it.
quickly followed in its train. This is the moment
tor action, before the evil has gained ground—t.
the occasion in which we should endeavour to profit
by the dearly purchased experience of .the past.
The following extract of a letter from the • night
MAuntce FrrzoitaALD, M.P. dated Bailin-
rilddery, 29th April, 1822, gives a melancholy ac-
count of the distressed state of the peasantry in the
County of Kerry. .1-le says.—
" The prospect before us le quite appalling—it appears to me
that great numbers will inevitably starve. The case is greatly
aggravated by the almost total cessation of employment for
labourers, caused by the pressure which bows down all classes
cf landholders. The local subscriptions have been liberal. The
residents (Many beyond their means), seeing the distress, have
done much to cheapen human food, and some of our absentees
have been.early and generous in their contributions to such
fug le ; but employment is the hest medium through which relief
can be administered.
u For such encouragement of industry, we already have high
ezimples among some of our absent proprietors. The Earl et
Kentnare has employed numbers in the farming of his great do-
riesne. The Earl of Listowell has engaged a skilful professional
person in the execution of considerable Works of drainage and
embankment. Mr. Bernard has ordered improvements to be
undertaken with reference to the employment of the people.
)Ir. Stauebton has likewise done much. But Lord Headley is
t'e very converse of an absentee, and, with the concuttence of
his noble and benevolent mother, expends English income in the
e::couragement of our poor. It occurs to me, that if called on
by a strong public appeal (and a County Meeting could not be
called for a better purpose), and the ease explained to them, war
great proprietors, who are principally absent, would order some
useful works to be executed on their respective estates during the
ensuing three months. Such works, judiciously planned, would
repay the expenditure.
" I know intimately the benevolent feelings of many of them,
and an, convinced that if the scheme were proved tothem to be
practicable, they would rejoice in giving it effect. The forty prin-
cipal absentees from our county, whose estates average above
four thousand pounds a year, could, by an expenditure of 40
pounds each, give daily employment for three months to sixteen
hundred men. Can I doubt that if they knew this, they would
gladly adopt the suggestioa. The state of want amongst the
poor is such, that many witness their children dying around them
through hunger ; and so high is the price of food, that the ordi-
nary wages do not obtain a day's subsistence for the labourer
and one child. What is to become of the rest of his family ? It
is obvious that increased employment would do much for the
tranquillity of the country, and check an extensive system of
plunder likely otherwise to arise. lam not aware of the amount
of the deficiency in different districts, but new have enough of
laud."

DUBLIN MEETING.
Thursday, a highly respectable Meeting of the No-
bility, Gentry, Bankers, and Merchants, took place at
the Mansion House, convened by the Right Hon.the
Loon MAYOR, for he purpose of taking into consi-
deration the necessity of opening a general subscrip-
tion, and of adopting such measures as may be
deemed expedient for alleviating the temporary dis-
tress which prevails to a lamentable extent in the south
;cal south-west of this country.
Amongst the distinguished persons present were—
His Grace the Duke of Ldnster, the Lord Chancellor, the Mas-
or of the Rolls, the Right lion. W. Downes, General A. Fats.
gzrald, the Bishop of Kildare, the Hon. Judge Johnson, the
Hon. Captain Trench, Admiral Oliver, Mr. Grattan, Mr.
O'Conn.:ll, &c. &c.
The LORD MAYOR rose, and after stating the busi-
ness of the Meetir,g, said-r,04 1 would have felt it my
duty to have called you together at a much earlier
period for the purposes described in the notice in-
serted in the several newspapers, but that a vast di-
versity of opinion existed in the minds of the best in-
formed men of the country, as to the propriety of
such a measure at the particular time to which I al-'
lude. I felt that exertion should first be made by the
resident Gentry where distress ezisted, as also by the
absentee Noblemen and Gentlemen connected with
Ireland ; besides, I was fully aware of the paternal
toziety and laudable exertions of our excellent Chief
Governor, and the Government of the country, in en-
deavouring to alleviate the distress in the interior."
Mr. Emus' M.P. said that he had counselled the
delay, which he thought was very satisfactorily ac-
counted for. He concluded by moving—" That a
Subscription be opened for the purpose of affording
relief to the distressed districts in Ireland." -
The Hon. J. Hawrrr seconded this motion. He
perfectly concurred with the Learned Gentleman in
the propriety of the delay of the Meeting, and said
tire best way to relieve the distressed districts was by
purchasing provisions in those where plenty prevailed.
Thus they would give a market to one portion of the
people, and food to another. The Hon. Gentleman
Celt that the statement of the distress was not exag-
gerated. Of the many melancholy instances which
VCre given of its truth he would relate one: A man,
ith a large family in the country, was reduced to
such a state of famine, that he rushed out of his
house, and ran toa huxter's shop, where he greedily
cci:lk!d a piece of raw bacon. His conduct attracted
attenticn of some" persons, who returning with
1,;ot to his house, found some of his family either
dead or at the very peiat of being cleat. from starva-
tion. Too frequent instances of similar deep.distress
might be mentioned.
Mr. LEADER said, he rejoiced to see such an assem-
lrls.ge of rank and wealth around him. The first
Ching, he said, which our feelings and our duty to
our countrymen required, was to put oor hands in
our pockets, and, as far as our means permitted, con-
tribute to the relief of our starving fellow-creatures.
Fie could state, on the authority of his friend Mr.
Gore, who bad only just arrived from the County of
Clare, that as fine a peasantry as ever breathed, and
who had not been engaged in the recent disturb.
ances, were lying on their beds of straw, the victints
of protracted misery and lingering death—that many
females were expiring of actual want, and a fine and
immense district ,of-that beauteous and once plenti-
fully country, presented
Codas übique pavor
Übique luetus, et plurinot mortis imago."
ford Liverpool was pleased to say, that he was not