n in existence, and despair caused by
their sufferings, constituted the incentives to atrocities which threw a
hue of blood and gloom over the pages of Irish history.

The political differences which had long rent the country were
exasperated, although men of all sects and parties united with equal
zeal for the relief of the poor. No charities seemed to soften the heart
of the Irish peasant towards those who entered strongly into political
or religious combinations to which he was averse.

The new political disputes gathered strength; the different sections
of repealers waged not only a wordy war with one another, as in the
previous year, but the "Old Irelanders" frequently committed outrages
upon the "Young Irelanders," characterised by insolent intolerance and
ferocity.

Foreign nations saw, with admiration, the magnitude of the scale upon
which government extended relief. By an act of parliament a loan of
eight millions sterling was contracted by government for the purpose
of mitigating the wants of Ireland. On the first of March it was
adjudicated; Messrs. Barings and Rothschilds having coalesced, they
were declared the contractors. The loan was in 8 per cent. Consols; the
bidding was 89 1/2. The total amount of stock created by the transaction
was L8,938,548. The annual charge for the dividend was L268,156 8s.
10d. The scrip, which opened at 2 premium, rapidly fell to discount, and
gradually declined, showing the feeling of the monied interest regarding
the monetary prospects of the period as affected by Ireland. The
commercial distress in Ireland, partly consequent upon the famine and
partly upon the general causes then operating in England, was extensive
and profound. Heavy failures, in connection with houses of much
reputation, shook the general credit, and aggravated the other existing
influences by which suffering was originated or increased.

A new form of lawlessness appeared along the Irish coasts. Piracy had
not been known there for a great length of time: the coast-guards and
revenue cutters prevented that crime, as well as smuggling; but, early
in the spring, formidable piratical attempts were made along an extended
line of coast. Generally such attempts were frustrated when any weapons
of offence were possessed by the attacked; for these enterprises,
although furtive and made by considerable numbers, were seldom conducted
or maintained with spirit. Thus, in April, the _Christian_, while on
her passa