The Sun. — 1846-12-16 (London, England)

ROBERT METCALF. " To T. M. Ray, Esq." Mr. O'Corizinitx then rose to address the Association. He considered that on the last day of meeting he had accurately pictured the horrible state of destitution to which the country was reduced; but it appeared that they had not as yet reached the acme of the calamity.—(Hear.) Snow and frost had set in„and the evils of the country were consequently aggravated tenfold. It was horrible to think of the contents of the communications from the province of Connaught. Forty-eight deaths had already taken place from starvation in that portion of the island. About one hundred and thirteen letters had been received detailing these horrible facts. The deaths to which he alluded could not be imputed to any other cause but starvation, the results of the coroner's inquests exhibited but too true a verification of the fact. It was with the deepest regret that he was obliged to announce that the mercantile classes had as yet done nothing. The cities and great towns had not as yet met to take means to provide for the safety of their inhabitants. He hoped the hint he felt it his dot" +-.1---vias out would not be lost, and particularly Stik_v'T.e„nwt. call upon them, in the name of the forty:eight murdered human beings wbo had already fallen ,victims to starve tion, to discharge the duties which their stations and means necessarily imposed upon them.—(Hear, hear.) The Times might sneer and laugh at him (Mr. O'Connell), but, he asked, would it sneer at the sacrifice of forty-eight lives? That it would sneer at the fact he should not be surprised; such conduct would be quite suited to the spirit by which that infamous journal was actuated.—(Hear.) He (Mr. O'Connell) would have to attend on this day, when ho left the association, a preparatory meeting of the landed proprietors of Ireland, and he trusted that their deliberations would be confined to the real question at issue, the condition of the country, and these gentlemen would not allow their judgment to be carried away by their feelings to make any attack on the Government.—(Hear, hear.) This morning an account had come to band which stated that an application having been made to an absentee landlord who derived a large income from this country, for some assistance to relieve his tenantry-, and that in• dividual had sent but 31. for the purpose.—(Name, name). He would not mention his name as yet, but the moment he ascertained that the fact was correct ho would not hesitate to do so.—(Cheers). He would submit to the association a letter which he had received from the Right Rev. Dr. Colne on ;the condition of the country, and which was well worthy of consideration : " Loughrea,Dec. 12, 1846. " My dear Mr. O'Connell,-As you always feel the deepest interest in promoting the welfare of Ireland, and are most anxious to alleviate not only the heart• rending calamities with which its inhabitants are at present visited, but also to prevent the recurrence of similar visitations hereafter, I hope you will excuse the liberty I take of submitting to your kind attention a few suggestions, in hopes that, after being maturely considere by you, they may become the groundwork of a simple and efficacious plan to be submitted to Government, in order to realise so important and happy a consummation. "It appears that vast sums have been already ex• pended, and, it may now be naturally asked, what real advantage has resulted from such an expenditure of public money ? I must in candour declare that, as far as I can perceive, very, very little, short of mere daily employment. Now, the plan which I recommend to remedy this evil would not only afford temporary relief, but also prevent a more alarming consequence, which must inevitably follow if such or some similar system be not speedily adopted by Government before the seedsowing season sets in. " I would divide the inhabitants of each parish into three classes ; the first comprising those who hold twenty acres of land and upwards ; the second those holding from ten to fifteen or upwards ; and the third holding about five acres and upwards. I would then recommend that a relief committee be appointed in each parish, composed of the clergy .of each :religious de_nomination, and also of a few of the most respectable and intelligent of' their parishioners, whose duty will be to form a list of the destitute therein contained,