Several assured me that the charity oatmeal had been kept so long, and so little attention had been paid to its preservation, that it was damaged and unfit for use. I went this evening to ascertain the fact, and found the assertion wholly groundless, the oatmeal is as good as need be. It is a thousand times better adapted to the use for which it is intended, than is the house it is stowed in, which happens to be the prison, and is nearly as bad a one as can be found in the country.

--

2d. At an early hour this morning a crowd assembled in front of Mr. Dowling's house, and after breakfast a few were admitted. The representations of these persons were unanimous in substance, but lest what they advanced should lose any part of its importance, Mr. Dowling, who is a magistrate, examined them severally upon oath, which they voluntarily took as they came forward. They stated, that through the pressure of severe want they were compelled to dig up their potatoes at times when it was physically impossible they could do so with any benefit, but rather with a ruinous waste of that resource in future wants; and that many of them with numerous families had to subsist on even that miserable and worse than scanty supply for an almost incredible length of time;-that when the charitable distribution took place, they received occasional relief in return for daily work, at reduced wages; but that the relief so extended was virtually only about one half the amount of the order obtained from the distributors: some declared, in the same solemn manner, that they were refused either provisions or work, whilst both were afforded to other persons like themselves, who were more fortunate in obtaining relief: - but all their declarations bore upon one point, namely, that they had not experienced relief to that extent, nor with that wholesome impartiality which the

subscribers must have had in contemplation. As this information involves some delicacy, though much of public interest, I have given the matter thus summarily, leaving the motives or merits of the proceeding as it stood between the parties concerned.

While these inquiries were going on a gentleman came in, Captain Berrell, revenue surveyor of the island of Valencia, and in the course of conversation stated that he had subscribed three pounds towards a fund to provide for the poor; and when potatoes arrived for that purpose, he had recommended one man as a fit object for relief, but he was refused; for which reason he would not again subject himself to a similar humiliation. This gentleman gives it as his opinion, that, from the manner of distributing the provision, it would have been much better had none at all ever arrived in that part of the country, and that the poor will be worse off next year. As many were driven to shift

for themselves, and subsist on herbs and weeds, he thinks others might perhaps have done so too; whereas by constantly attending in hope of getting relief, many lost their time, and were obliged, after all, to return to to their cheerless homes, and embrace their wretched families with tears, all the solace left them. Without money, he further observes, they could seldom obtain any thing, be their wants ever so urgent.

In the course of the forenoon, Mr. Spotswood, a magistrate for Valencia, came in, and remarked that most of his tenants had been refused relief; that many of them have made affidavits of the fact before him; and that he himself would have very little hesitation in swearing that every one of them is true, as he knows the persons by whom they were made, and never suffered any one of them to make an affidavit without carefully examining him

on the subject. About this time one of the persons who came forward with their complaints, and whose appearance was somewhat superior to the others, produced a large bundle of papers purporting to be affidavits, which on examination appeared to have been sworn before the Rev. Michael Dowling, and John Spotswood, Esq.; these documents were accompanied by a written paper, now in my possession, of which the following is a copy:

"Affidavits, by different individuals complaining of having received none, or not a due proportion of the charity provisions imported by the London Committee for the relief of the Irish poor.

The number given Mr. Warmington to

lay before the London Committee

84

476"

Had I remained here some time longer, and been disposed to seek for information avouched in this manner, I could have collected materials for a volume. Some statements relative to smuggling are reserved for another place. This happening to be the fair-day in the little town of Caher-civeen, I went to see the country people assembled; and never did I see a village fair so crowded.

There were a good many black cattle and sheep, both of a diminutive growth; but I was informed there were no buyers. I saw a heifer, a year and a half old, disposed of for nine shillings, and that in payment of an old debt: I saw a lamb also several months old, which brought only twenty-five pence. Some idea may be formed of the depreciated state of things at this period, from the fact, that the Rev. Mr. Dowling received but one pound nine shillings, out of three hundred pounds due and to be paid on this very day for account of tithe.

In the course of the afternoon a battle took place, in which about a dozen persons of both sexes were engaged, and mauled one another without the least mercy. One man appeared to be an object of general hostility, and he defended himself with wonderful address; but the prowess of a woman vanquished him at last. This Amazon took off her apron, and enclosed in it a large angular stone, and winding this terrific catapult two or three times round her head, she then let fly at the head of her towering antagonist, still holding the ends of the apron in both her hands. The blow brought him to the ground streaming with blood; it was not necessary to repeat it; he lay along as senseless as a log. I was not able to learn the cause of the quarrel, but was told they were all Catholics.

Captain Berrell had formerly commanded a merchantship, and touched at several foreign ports, some of which I had myself visited since his time, which served to bring us more speedily acquainted. He invited me to accompany him to Valencia; having accepted his invitation, we departed about seven, and did not arrive till near ten, the tide being against us. He told me that Mrs. Berrell was

on the subject. About this time one of the persons who came forward with their complaints, and whose appearance was somewhat superior to the others, produced a large bundle of papers purporting to be affidavits, which on examination appeared to have been sworn before the Rev. Michael Dowling, and John Spotswood, Esq.; these documents were accompanied by a written paper, now in my possession, of which the following is a copy:

"Affidavits, by different individuals complaining of having received none, or not a due proportion of the charity provisions imported by the London Committee for the relief of the Irish poor.

The number given Mr. Warmington to

lay before the London Committee

84.

476"

Had I remained here some time longer, and been disposed to seek for information avouched in this manner, I could have collected materials for a volume. Some statements relative to smuggling are reserved for another place. This happening to be the fair-day in the little town of Caher-civeen, I went to see the country peoplę assembled; and never did I see a village fair so crowded.