"The people of Milltown and its surrounding districts being led to believe that a system of arterial drainage, which was so much talked of taking place in this locality, would tide them over their present distress, kept secret their sufferings, and made no clamour about their destitute condition as long as there was a flickering hope.

"The inhabitants having now lost all faith in the would-be Drainage and Railway, and having almost eaten the last seed potatoes, are in utter despair about the future; how they shall exist for the next six months, and where they shall get seed potatoes and oats for setting their crops.

"I am personally aware that many families are living upon yellow meal since the last week of November.

"Many are in such straits that they have depended for the last three months on the charity of neighbours only less wretched than themselves.

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"There is a class of persons amongst the Irish peasantry who disdain to mention their distress, even though famine is on the threshold; not until it comes to the hearth will they admit their sufferings.

"Of this class Milltown is not destitute, and such is another of the reasons why an appeal was not made sooner.

"Local resources there are none to cope with the distress. Credit is at an end, as the only local shopkeeper who had ever given any has, within this week, issued notices, and has told the public that he will give no more but to such as shall pay a portion of the outstanding debts.

"Poor Law relief is out of the question, for a two-fold reason: 1st,—If any further strain be put upon the Union those who would be able to struggle through the year will be pauperized. 2ndly,—Most of those in actual want would sooner die on the roadside than don a pauper's uniform.

"Within the last eight days numbers of persons have come to their respected Pastor, and detailed to him their sufferings, and earnestly implored him to apply for some of the funds that are being distributed.

"Their good Pastor, although thoroughly acquainted with their wants, still, to put it beyond all doubt, sent trustworthy men into the villages to collect accurate information of the distress prevailing in them.

"On Sunday last the leading men of the parish met at the chapel, after second mass, for the purpose of relieving the sufferings of such as are in actual distress.

"Those engaged (some of whom were members of the Committee) in collecting accurate information as to the distress in each village, handed in their reports to the Parochial Relief Committee on Sunday evening. Two hundred families are in distress, of whom seventy are dependant for their support upon the charity of their neighbours, and, consequently, in actual want of, and unless immediately assisted must necessarily die of starvation.

"The Hon. Secretary was specially requested by the members of the Committee to apply to the Mansion House Fund for relief on behalf of the Milltown Parochial Committee.