owers of Relief Committees to the _preparation
of lists_ of persons in need of relief by employment on the works,
noting them in the order in which they are considered to be entitled to
priority, either on account of their large families, or from any other
cause; these lists to be supplied to the officers in charge of the
works, who are to revise them from time to time. 4. With regard to
donations from Government, in aid of private subscriptions, "their
lordships consider that they may be made as heretofore, where necessary,
from public funds placed at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant for that
purpose, and in the proportion of from one-third to one-half of the
amount of the private subscriptions, according to the extent of the
destitution, and the means of the subscribers; but in consequence of
such assistance, their lordships are of opinion, that the proceedings of
such Relief Committees should be open to the inspection of Government
officers, appointed for the purpose." 5. The Relief Committees are to
exercise great care in the sale of meal or other food provided by them;
such sale not to be made except in small quantities, and to persons who
are known to have no other means of procuring food. 6. As to the
Government depots of food, their lordships "desire that it may be fully
understood that even at those places at which Government depots will be
established for the sale of food, _the depots will not be opened while
food can be obtained by the people from private dealers, at reasonable
prices_; and that even when the depots are opened, _the meal will, if
possible, be sold at such prices as will allow of the private trader
selling at the same price, with a reasonable profit_."[123] The rule to
allow private dealers to sell at a reasonable profit, excellent in
itself, required an amount of supervision which it did not receive, and
in consequence, the starving poor were often obliged to pay unjustly
exorbitant prices for their food supplies. Commissary-General Hewetson,
writing from Limerick on 30th December, 1846, says: "Last quotations
from Cork: Indian corn, L17 5s. per ton, ex ship; Limerick: corn not in
the market; Indian meal, L18 10s. to L19 per ton. Demand excessive.
Looking to the quotations in the United States markets, these are really
famine prices, the corn (direct consignment from the States) not
standing the consignee more than L9 or L10 per ton. The commander of an
American ship, the 'Isabella,' lately