Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 38

"Parochial House, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, 12th, February, 1880

"Parochial House, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh,

"Dear Sir,

"May I, through you, again be permitted to appeal to the Mansion House Committee for another act of charity and mercy towards the many hundreds now suffering dreadfully in my parish? In truth, the distress is now assuming here an alarming appearance. On yesterday, our day of meeting at Mulleek to afford relief, the crowd was so great, looking for anything at all we could give, that it occupied the Relief Committee up to two hours after night to get through our list of applicants, and they had to give up the task nearly in hopeless despair of knowing what to do to get the shivering creatures away. It was sad to see hundreds crowded together around the door of where the Committee met, waiting from twelve o'clock noon to eight at night, under drenching rain, for whatever little we could give. From 1s. to 2s. 6d. was our rule, and in the end had to curtail even these small sums, sooner than hear the cries of the disappointed. Really the people are on the point of dying. If something be not done very soon to give employment, alms will not at all meet the crisis much longer. On last Monday in Pettigo several poor women and strong men came to the priest's house, and some of them fainted with hunger and exhaustion. The appearance of the poor is appalling. I will also ask, with whatever the feeling consideration of the Committee will be pleased to grant our poor people here—tickets, if you have such, and sheets to make returns on—if such be required by the Committee. We have none here, and I don't know where we are to procure such. Most gratefully thanking your Committee on behalf of our Local Committee, myself, and all my poor parishioners,

"I am, dear Sir,

"Yours very faithfully,

"J. M'Kenna,

P.P., Pettigo, Belleek.

"W. Wright,

Esq. Secretary."