s, calling on magistrates and others to assist in protecting "the
lawful trade in the articles of food." He also announced that the
Government works would be stopped, wherever those employed on them
manifested a disposition, "by violence, to obtain a higher rate of
wages," or to resist the arrangements made by the officers of the Board
of Works. His Excellency added, that he desired in an especial manner to
thank the ministers of religion, of all persuasions, for their useful
and exemplary conduct on the trying occasion of those riots.

The want of conveniently situated mill-power, to grind the Indian and
other corn purchased by the Government, caused them for some time great
anxiety. It was of the utmost importance to have the means of grinding
corn as near as possible to their depots. Economy, convenience,
regularity, despatch, would be secured by it. In reply to inquiries on
the subject, it was found that the quantity of corn required for current
demands could not be ground within reach of those depots at all. At
Broadhaven and Blacksod Bay, on the western coast, both in the midst of
a famished population, there was no available mill-power whatever. Even
where mills existed, a new difficulty arose. The policy of the
Government was to encourage, as much as possible, private enterprise in
supplying food for the people; and this private enterprise had the
mills, in many places, pre-engaged. For instance, such was the case at
the important stations of Westport and Limerick. Sir Randolph Routh,
pressed by this difficulty, wrote to the Treasury, to say he could not
altogether forego the Government claim to have, at least, some corn
ground at Westport. As to the mill-power at Limerick, it was so
uncertain, so dependant on the weather, and so very much required there
by the merchants, that he would make no demand upon it. Mr. Lister,
however, the official at Westport, dissuaded him from grinding any corn
even there. Quoting from a recent Treasury Minute, the passage about not
opening the depots, while food could be obtained by the people from
private dealers, at reasonable prices, he continues: "To delay resorting
to this alternative, and in order to stimulate exertion, it is, I beg to
repeat, absolutely essential that the trade should have the full and
exclusive benefit of all the mill-power in its own locality."[168] In a
Treasury Minute of September the 8th, the head of the Commissariat is
informed that, considering the li