The Most Rev. Dr. Walshe, Bishop of Kildare and Leiglilin, wrote:—

"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship's respected communication of the 30th ult. I was painfully surprised at hearing the statement which was reported to you. It is certainly without foundation. I am confident that your excellent Committee possesses, as it eminently deserves, the confidence of the public, and is justly entitled to our warm gratitude for its generous and laborious exertions to relieve the great distress now so general and pressing so very sorely in many places upon our afflicted people.