"I beg to inform you that distress to an alarming extent prevails in this district.

"The land for the most part is marshy bog—is wretchedly poor. The potatoes, the staple food of the people, could not be planted in early spring, and, in consequence, were slow in coming—never, in fact, came to maturity. Similarly the oats sown late did not ripen. A good part of this crop might be seen in the fields uncut in December, and some was never submitted to the sickle, as it was not worth the labour of cutting.

"In addition to the barren nature of the soil the rents are very high, the land for the most part being purchased in the Incumbered Estates Court.

"Labouring under these disadvantages, it is no wonder the people are steeped in debt, many of them owing, without any fault of theirs, even two, and some of them three, years' rent, and no prospect of being able to pay.

"A Committee has been formed here for their relief, but I will not attempt to describe the harrowing scenes I have had to witness since its foundation.

"Being commissioned to apply for the query sheet required to be filled before your Committee makes a grant from the funds at its disposal, I hereby request you will send it with as little delay as possible; and if you will dispense with that formula on this occasion, and be generous in granting aid to relieve as poor and afflicted a people as is to be found in any part of this ill-fated land, you will perform a real act of charity, and confer on them a favour deserving their everlasting gratitude.