operations, so well managed, so
creditable to all engaged in it, and such a lasting testimony to the
generous charity of the subscribers.

Such frequent reference has been made in these pages to the
"Transactions" of the Relief Committee of the Society of Friends, during
the Famine, and so much use has been made of the information contained
in that carefully compiled book, that I will only here repeat the amount
of the charitable offerings confided to them for distribution. It
was:--L198,326 15s. 5d.

The General Central Relief Committee for all Ireland, which met in
College Green, received in contributions L83,934 17s. 11d., but of this,
L20,000 was given by the British Association. The Marquis of Abercorn,
the most Rev. Dr. Murray, Archbishop of Dublin, the Lord Mayor, the
Provost of Trinity College, Lord Charlemont, O'Connell, the Dean of St.
Patrick's, and several other noblemen and gentlemen were members of this
Committee. The president was the present Duke of Leinster, then Marquis
of Kildare. It remained in existence just one year, from December,
1846, to December, 1847.

"The chief source," says the "Transactions" of the Society of Friends,"
whence the means at our disposal were derived, was the munificent bounty
of the citizens of the United States. The supplies sent from America to
Ireland were on a scale unparalleled in history."

When authentic intelligence regarding the Irish Famine reached America,
a general feeling of sympathy was at once excited. Beginning with
Philadelphia, in all the great cities and towns throughout the Union,
meetings were almost immediately held to devise the best and speediest
means of relieving the starving people of this country. "All through the
States an intense interest, and a noble generosity were shown. The
railroads carried, free of charge, all packages marked 'Ireland.' Public
carriers undertook the gratuitous delivery of any package intended for
the relief of the destitute Irish. Storage to any extent was offered on
the same terms. Ships of war approached our shores, eagerly seeking not
to destroy life but to preserve it, their guns being taken out in order
to afford more room for stowage."[304]

The total contributions received from America by the Central Relief
Committee of the Society of Friends, were,--Money, L15,976 18s.
2d.--Provisions, 9,911 tons, valued at L133,847 7s. 7d. Six hundred and
forty-two packages of clothing were also received, the precise value o