at Mallow—­Rev. Mr. Daly—­Lord Mountcashel—­Famine Demonstration at Westport—­Sessions at Kilmacthomas—­Riot at Dungarvan—­Captain Sibthorpe’s Order—­Mr. Howley’s Advice—­Attempt to rescue Prisoners—­Captain Sibthorpe asks leave to fire—­Refused by Mr. Howley—­Riot Act read—­Leave to fire given—­People retire from the town—­Two men wounded—­The carter’s reason for fighting—­Lame Pat Power—­Death of Michael Fleming, the carter—­Formidable bands traverse the country—­Advice of the Clergy—­Carrigtuo
hill—­Macroom—­Killarney—­Skibbereen—­March on that town by the workmen of Caheragh—­Dr. Donovan’s account of the movement—­The military, seventy-five in number, posted behind a schoolhouse—­Firmness and prudence of Mr. Galwey, J.P.—­Biscuits ordered from the Government Store—­Peace preserved—­Demonstration at Mallow—­Lord Stuart de Decies—­Deputation from Clonakilty to the Lord Lieutenant—­Ships prevented from sailing at Youghal—­Sir David Roche—­Demonstrations simultaneous—­Proclamation against food riots—­Want of mill-power—­No mill-power in parts of the West where most required—­Sir Randolph Routh’s opinion—­Overruled by the Treasury—­Mr. Lister’s Account of the mill-power in parts of Connaught—­Meal ground at Deptford, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Rotherhithe; also in Essex and the Channel Islands—­Mill-power at Malta—­Quantity of wheat there—­Five hundred quarters purchased—­The French—­The Irish handmill, or quern, revived—­Samples of it got—­Steel-mills—­Mill-power useless from failure of water-supply—­Attempt to introduce whole corn boiled as food, 221

CHAPTER IX.

The Landlords and the Government—­Public Meetings—­Reproductive Employment demanded for the People—­The “Labouchere” Letter—­Presentments under it—­Loans asked to construct Railways—­All who received incomes from land should be taxed—­Deputation from the Royal Agricultural Society to the Lord Lieutenant—­They ask reproductive employment—­Lord Bessborough answers cautiously—­The Prime Minister writes to the Duke of Leinster on the subject—­Views expressed—­Defence of his Irish Famine policy—­Severe on the Landlords—­Unsound principles laid down by him—­Corn in the haggards—­Mary Driscoll’s little stack of barley—­Second Deputation from the Royal Agricultural Society to the Lord Lieutenant—­Its object—­Request not granted—­The Society lectured on the duties of its Members—­Real meaning of the answer—­Progress of the Famine—­Deaths from starvation—­O’Brien’s Bridge—­Rev. Dr. Vaughan—­Slowness of the Board of Works—­State of Tuam—­Inquest on Denis M’Kennedy—­Testimony of his Wife—­A fortnight’s Wages due to him—­Received only half-a-crown in three weeks—­Evidence of the Steward of the Works; of Rev. Mr. Webb; of Dr. Donovan—­Remarks of Rev. Mr. Townsend—­Verdict—­The Times on the duties of Landlords—­Landlords denounce the Government and the Board of Works—­Mr. Fitzgerald on the Board and on the farmers—­Meeting