"In consequence of the great distress which I am daily compelled to witness among the poor and unemployed of my parish, I feel it a duty l owe to them to appeal page 52 to you for some trifling assistance. In conformity with the suggestions from your Committee, published in the Freeman's Journal of Tuesday, a Local Committee has been formed, the first meeting was held to-day, and, as secretary, I was directed to at once write for the "Query Sheet," which your Committee requires to be filled up by applicants for relief, will you kindly forward it immediately, as the distress is pressing and unprecedented.

"I have just been informed that a man and his wife, both about 80 years of age, who were in the habit of receiving money from their children in America, but who have not received any for the past few months, are in such terrible circumstances that they remain in bed most of the day to avoid producing an appetite, as my informant says, and that such is their horror of going to the Union that they would prefer going to die where they are breadless, penniless, and almost homeless. Similar cases I know to exist and these certainly demand immediate relief. Anxiously awaiting your reply,