Prospects.

The sum now in the hands of the Committee would not last for five weeks at the present rate of distribution. Generous subscriptions, however, still page viii flow in: and the Committee trusts that it will be able to continue its operations to the end of the crisis.

The months of March, April, and May will be trying months; but the Committee hopes that, with the funds still at its disposal, and with the contributions that are still coming in, it may be able to meet, to a moderate extent, the claims upon it.

But the Committee fears that it is only at the close of this period that the worst will have come.

If the experience of former famines in Ireland be a guide, the greatest distress will be found in the months of June, July, and August.

It is to be apprehended that whilst the crops are ripening the people will perish.

It might be said that public works, which have been projected, would partially relieve the distress; and that recent legislation, by enabling the Guardians of the Poor to give a larger measure of relief, without forcing upon the people the humiliation of entering the Workhouse, would do the rest. In the one case, the result of the meetings of the Baronial Sessions, at which these works should have been presented for, shows that not much can be expected from that source; while, in the other case, it is to be apprehended that the distress is so general that, in very many districts, the great increase of the Poor-rate, which would necessarily follow upon a larger burden being thrown on the Unions, would only drag to the level of paupers those struggling ratepayers now barely able to keep out of the list of the miserable. It is thus apparent that external aid only can save the people from perishing as their forefathers did in the memorable Famine of 1847.

The total number of persons who are now, according to the returns of the Local Committees, dependent for support to a large extent upon our funds amounts to over 350,000. Even assuming that there should be no increase upon this number, the amount of money that would be required during the months above referred to—namely, June and July and August—will be very large.

During the months of January and February, in addition to the grants made by this Committee, it is estimated that at least £150,000 have been expended through various other charitable channels, of which £120,000 are believed to Have been contributed from the United States of America, thus making the total sum distributed reach £200,000 in two months.

This Committee is of opinion that at least the same amount of aid will be required to be given during the months of March, April, May, June, and July, and that for these months a sum of about £500,000 will be absolutely necessary to keep the people from starvation.

March 1st, 1880.