case of necessity; and subsequent
proceedings will show how very judicious and prudent their arrangements
were. In a short time an express arrived in town stating that an
immense mob was plundering the boats at Kilsheelan, within four miles of
Clonmel, and forthwith a party of the 33rd got on the cars and proceeded
to the scene of outrage, together with a party of the 1st Royal
Dragoons, under the command of Major Galloway. Mr. J. Bagwell, Mr. W.
Riall, Major Shaw, and Sub-inspector Fosberry accompanied them, and when
within a short distance of the scene of plunder, word reached them that
the robbery going on was most extensive. Mr. Fosberry and a mounted
policeman immediately galloped on, and when they reached the spot, the
scene which met their view is more easily imagined than described. An
immense multitude were plundering the boats; a vast quantity of Indian
corn, the property of Mr. Going, of Caher, was destroyed or made off
with, and a quantity of wheat, the property of Mr. T. Hughes, was
also stolen and destroyed. The military quickly came up, and a regular
engagement took place. Stones were firing in all directions--several
soldiers were struck; Mr. Fosberry received a blow of a stone in the
leg, and it was not until some time had elapsed that this lawless rabble
were subdued, and thirteen of them taken prisoners and brought into our
gaol. Nothing could exceed the coolness of our magistrates, officers,
and soldiers during this rencontre, and we are happy to say that a
portion of the wheat was retaken."

Such was the state of Ireland up to the harvest time of 1846, when,
unhappily, all the fears of men, such as have been quoted, and the
predictions of Sir Robert Peel, were fulfilled. There was another
failure of the harvest; the crops of potatoes and oats suffered to
such an extent as to increase, many fold, all the miseries previously
experienced, and the dangers previously apprehended. Five millions,
five hundred thousand tons of potatoes, and five millions two hundred
thousand quarters of oats, below the average, was produced that harvest.
The estimated loss in money, from the deficient produce of the year, was
sixteen millions pounds sterling!

The efforts to mitigate these evils were manifold. Subscriptions were
raised in every part of the British Isles, and, indeed, in every part
of the British empire. From various places on the continent, especially
France, donations were transmitted in either money or