nvestigation, others believed that most of the converts were like the
poor woman mentioned by the late Dr. Whately, in a conversation with Mr.
Senior.

In 1852, Mr. Nassau Wm. Senior was on a visit with the Archbishop, at
his country house, near Stillorgan, five miles from Dublin. Mr. Senior
asked him, to what cause the conversions made during the Famine were
attributable. The Archbishop replied, that the causes must be numerous.
Some, he said, believed, or professed to believe, that the conversions
were purchased; this of course was the Catholic view. He then related
the following anecdote on the subject:

"An old woman went to one of my clergy, and said, 'I'm come to surrender
to your Reverence--and I want the leg of mutton and the blanket.' 'What
mutton and blanket?' said the clergyman. I have scarcely enough of
either for myself and my family, and certainly none to give. Who could
have put such nonsense into your head?' 'Why, Sir,' she said, 'Father
Sullivan told us, that the converts got each a leg of mutton and a
blanket; and as I am famished, and starving with cold, I thought that
_God would forgive_ me for getting them.'"[311]

Dr. Whately was president of the "Society for protecting the Rights of
Conscience," and he indignantly denied that any reward or indemnity had
been held out, directly or indirectly, by that Society, to persons, to
induce them to profess themselves converts; and he adds: "not only has
no case been substantiated--no case has been even brought forward." This
may be true of that particular Society, but to deny that neither money
nor food were given, to induce persons to attend the Scripture classes
and proselytizing schools, is to deny the very best proven facts.

In the _Tralee Chronicle_ of the 19th of November, 1852, Archdeacon
O'Sullivan, of Kenmare (lately deceased), published an abstract of a
Report of one of those Missionary Societies which fell into his hands.
The expenditure of a single Committee was L3557 1s. 6d. The salaries of
clerical and lay agents are set down at L382 0s. 11d. What became of the
remainder of the money?

But here is testimony that Dr. Whately himself would scarcely impugn:

Dr. Forbes, in his "Memorandums made in Ireland" in 1852, visited
Connaught, and examined many of the proselytizing schools. He speaks
without any doubt at all of the children who attended those schools
receiving food and clothing. It did not seem to be denied on any side.
Here is an ex