Cooper's observations at Markree Castle--Lord
Monteagle's motion in the House of Lords for employing the
people--Profitable employment the right thing--The Marquis of
Lansdowne replies--It is hard to relieve a poor country like
Ireland--Lord Devon's opinion--The Premier's statement about
relief--The wonderful cargo of Indian meal--Sir R. Peel's
fallacies--Bill for Baronial Sessions--Cessation of Government
Works--The Mallow Relief Committee--Beds of stone!--High rents on
the poor--The Social Condition of the Hottentot as compared with
that of Mick Sullivan--Rev. Mr. Gibson's views--Mr. Tuke's account
of Erris (_Note_)--Close of the Session of Parliament, 131

CHAPTER VI.

The Labour-rate Act passed without opposition: entitled, An Act to
Facilitate the Employment of the Labouring Poor--Its
provisions--Government _Minute_ explaining them--Heads of
Minute--Rate of wages--Dissatisfaction with it--Commissary-General
Hewetson's letter--Exorbitant prices--Opinion expressed on this head
by an American Captain--The Government will not order food as Sir R.
Peel did--Partial and unjust taxation--Opposition to the Labour-rate
Act--Reproductive employment called for--Lord Devon's
opinion--Former works not to be completed under the Act--Minute of
31st of August--Modified by Mr. Labouchere's letter of 5th of
September--People taxed who paid a rent of L4 a year--In many cases
a hardship--Barren works the great blot of the Labour-rate
Act--Arguments against the Act--Resources of the country should have
been developed--Panic among landowners--Rev. Mr. Moore's
letters--Level roads a good thing--Food better--A cry of excessive
population raised--Ireland not overpeopled--Employ the people on
tilling the soil--Sir R. Routh takes the same view--Relief Committee
of Kells and Fore--Reproductive employment--Plan suggested--Address
to the Lord Lieutenant--True remedy--O'Connell on the Famine--Writes
from Darrynane on the subject--Money in the hands of Board of
Works--Compulsory reclamation of waste lands--Drainage Bill--Mr.
Kennedy's opinion--Who is to blame?--The Government, the landlords,
or the people?--O'Connell for united action--Outdoor relief will
confiscate property--Proposed Central Committee--Several Committees
meet in Dublin--Mr. Monsell's letter--His views--Against
unproductive l