seems, that he is specially ill used. Agricultural
wages have been nearly doubled in Ireland during the last fifteen
years. Think of that, Master Brook. Work for which, at six shillings
a week, there would be a hundred hungry claimants in 1845,--in the
good old days before the famine, when repeal was so immediately
expected--will now fetch ten shillings, the claimants being by no
means numerous. In 1843 and 1844, I knew men to work for fourpence
a day--something over the dole on which we are told, being mostly
incredulous as we hear it, that a Coolie labourer can feed himself
with rice in India;--not one man or two men, the broken down
incapables of the parish, but the best labour of the country. One and
twopence is now about the cheapest rate at which a man can be hired
for agricultural purposes. While this is so, and while the prices
are progressing, there is no cause for fear, let Bishops A and B,
and Archbishops C and D fret and fume with never so great vexation
touching the clipped honours of their father the Pope.

But again; Quo Musa tendis? I could write on this subject for a week
were it not that Rhadamanthus awaits me, Rhadamanthus the critic; and
Rhadamanthus is, of all things, impatient of an episode.

Life and soul were kept together in those terrible days;--that is,
the Irish life and soul generally. There were many slips, in which
the union was violently dissolved,--many cases in which the yellow
meal allowed was not sufficient, or in which it did not reach the
sufferer in time to prevent such dissolution,--cases which when
numbered together amounted to thousands. And then the pestilence
came, taking its victims by tens of thousands,--but that was after
the time with which we shall have concern here; and immigration
followed, taking those who were saved by hundreds of thousands.
But the millions are still there, a thriving people; for His mercy
endureth for ever.

During this month, the month ensuing upon the death of Sir Thomas
Fitzgerald, Herbert could of course pay no outward attention to the
wants or relief of the people. He could make no offer of assistance,
for nothing belonged to him; nor could he aid in the councils of
the committees, for no one could have defined the position of the
speaker. And during that month nothing was defined about Castle
Richmond. Lady Fitzgerald was still always called by her title. The
people of the country, including the tradesmen of the neighbouring
towns, address