The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-03-12
Correspondence Of ihc Gree Grader
Nav YonK, Feb. 18Th, 1877.

/ few evenings since to devise means
more cfTectually to render aid to the
starving poor of Ireland. Liberal
contributions were made and com
mittees appointed to carry out the
object Of the meeting. About $780,
600 were subscribed, and it is pre-
sumed that much larger sum will
be raised in this city. 1t is to be
hoped that every town and village
in the country will initiate this move
ment, and contribute their mite to-
wards this noble work of charity.
Though poor Ireland's wrongs
have been many and grievious, yet
her devoted sons bowed themselves
in sorrow, and bore their sulferings
in silence. Alas TO drink the cup
of sorrow to the dregs, seems not
enough ofhuman wo. A still great
err calamity has now bcfalcn that
beautiful but most unhappy Isle
Famine that gaunt, lean monster
ofsuch f,ightGul mein, stalks through
the land like demon ofdcstruction,
driving before it health, comfort and
happiness; and leaving in its track
sickness, wretchedness and death.
The once happy home of the honest
peasant, becomes the abode of mis-
cry. The sole dependence for food
has failed-the last morsel is at
length consumed-the weary hours
on, and craving hunger begins the
work of torture. Hours are length
encd into days, each of which fear
fully augments the sufcrings of the
starving victims, The hue ofhealth
fades from the faces that once beam
with JOY andhappincss. The horri-
bic certainty ofactual starvation and
lingering death becomes appalling.
Children in vain raise their feeble
voices in supplication to their UNI
happy parents for food. The heart
broken father in the agony of despair,
attempts TO make another and
vigorous effort TO procure sus-
tenance, but the cold chill Of death
is already upon him, lie cannot walk,
his brain whirls, his limbs totter,
and he falls to rise no more. The
feeble mother still impelled by ma
tcrnal affc ctionS, strives to nurse her
dying babe, but exhausted nature
fails at length to yield sustenance,
and Tie unhappy mother holds in at
toms embrace, only the corpse Of
her child. The Futrid bodies Of the
dead lie unburied and Wondering
beside the living. Whole families
have been found lying thus dead and
unburicd. Such are but few of
the many tales Of horror told as tie
effects of the famine in Ireland
Their snfierings at present are such
as to awaken the liveliest sympathy
from every feeling heart. All should
join in alternating their fearful dis
tress. Every one should bear in
mind that the little he may contrib
ute, will perhaps be the means of
saving more than one human life.
The generous conduct of the noble
hearted Irishmen in this country, re-
fleets upon them the highest credit.
Even the poor, or those mostly in
moderate circumstances, have sent
from the city of New York alone,
during the last year SS0S, 600 to their
relatives and friends in ireland.
The Cambria has just arrived,
bringing Is days later intelligence.
The distress continues undated.
Government have at length done
their duty, and opened the ports for
the free admission of produce. This
is the final blow to that system of OPP
preston, mis-called " Prote 4"
which has been so productive of mis-
cry and poverty in Great Britain.
! 1t will afford great relief to the pco-
pie of that country, and at the same
time add much to the wealth of this.
Flour and grain had declined little,
but it was only in consequence OF
the opening Of the ports and the re-
moval Of all duties. But the price
here will rather advance than recedc.
The accounts from France state that
great distress is beginning felt in ma
nv Darts of that country ou,in, n