gn country, and the subject is scarcely alluded
to in the literature of the day. No measures were adopted, either by the
Executive or the Legislature, for the purpose of relieving the distress
caused by this famine."--_Irish Crisis_, by Sir C.E. Trevelyan, Bart.,
p. 13.

[16] Probably the origin of the potato pit, as we now have it, in
Ireland was the following advice given in _Pue's Occurrences_ of Nov.
29th, 1740:--

"Method of securing potatoes from the severest frost.

"Dig up your potatoes in the beginning of December, or sooner, and, in
proportion to your quantity of potatoes, dig a large hole about ten foot
deep in such place as your garden or near your house where the ground is
sandy or dry, and not subject to water; then put your potatoes into the
hole, with all their dirt about them, to within three feet of the
surface of the ground. If you have sand near you, throw some of it among
the potatoes and on top of them. When you have thus lodged your
potatoes, then fill up the rest of the hole with the earth first thrown
out, and, with some stuff, raise upon the hole a large heap of earth in
the form of a large haycock, which you may cover with some litter or
heath. By the covering of earth of five or six feet deep, your potatoes
will be secured against the severest frosts, which are not known to
enter over two feet into the ground. The same pit will serve you year
after year, and when the frosts are over you may take out your
potatoes."

[17] "O'Halloran on the Air."

[18] _Exshaw's Magazine_.

[19] _Pue's Occurrences_, March 11, 1740.

[20] Sir John Rogerson's Quay, of course.

[21] _Pue's Occurrences_, Jan 1, 1740.

[22] This storm visited other parts of the coast. The news from Dundalk
under the same date is, that the _Jane_ and _Andrew_ of Nantz was
wrecked there, "the weather continuing very stormy, with a very great
frost." Accounts from Nenagh under date of Jan. 5th say:--"The Shannon
is frozen over, and a hurling match has taken place upon it; and Mr.
Parker had a sheep roast whole on the ice, with which he regaled the
company who had assembled to witness the hurling match." Under January
29th we have a ludicrous accident recorded, namely, "that the Drogheda
postboy's horse fell at Santry, near Dublin, and broke his neck. One of
the postboy's legs being caught under the horse _got so frozen that he
could not pull it out!_" At length some gentlemen who were passing
released him.--_Ibid._

[23]