the contributions from the
London Tavern Committee; the Dublin Mansion House Committee, and, to a
limited extent, by private charity.[37] In June, 1822, Parliament voted
L100,000 "for the employment of the poor in Ireland, and other purposes
relating thereto, as the exigency of affairs may require." And in July,
L200,000, "to enable His Majesty to take such measures as the exigency
of affairs may require." The London Tavern Committee, with the aid of a
King's letter, received subscriptions amounting to L304,180 17s. 6d., of
which L44,177 9s. was raised in Ireland. The Dublin Mansion House
Committee collected L30,406 11s. 4-1/2d. Thus, the whole sum from
charitable collections was L334,587 8s. 10-1/2d., of which L74,584, Os.
4-1/2d. was raised in Ireland. This, with the grant of L300,000 from
Government, makes a grand total of L634,587 8s. 10-1/2d. The sum appears
to have been quite sufficient, as the London Tavern Committee closed
its labours whilst it had yet in hands L60,000, which sum was partly
distributed and partly invested in ways considered beneficial to this
country.[38]

Every two or three years from 1821 to the great blight of '45 and '46, a
failure of some kind, more or less extensive, occurred to the potato
crop, not merely in Ireland, but in almost every country in which it was
cultivated to any considerable extent. Reviewing, then, the history of
this famous root for over a period of one hundred years, we find, that
although it produces from a given acreage more human food than any other
crop, it is yet a most treacherous and perishable one; and it may,
perhaps, surprise future generations, that the statesmen and landed
proprietors of that lengthened period did nothing whatever to regulate
the husbandry of the country, in such a way as to prevent the lives of a
whole people from being dependant on a crop liable to so many
casualties. Perhaps the social and political condition of Ireland,
during these times, will be found to have had something to do with this
culpable apathy.

It is commonly assumed that the subjugation of Ireland was effected by
Elizabeth, but the submission to English rule was only a forced one; the
spirit of the nation was one of determined opposition, which was
abundantly shown at Aughrim and Limerick, and on many a foreign field
besides. Great Britain knowing this, and being determined to hold the
country at all risks, was continually in fear that some war or
complication with fore