Mr. Forster has met at Dublin Castle a strong deputation
of the Mansion-House Committee, and told them that he was quite aware that, although there had been exaggeration about some places, the Irish distress was most real in others. He feared that although the weather was milder, the resources of food were diminished, and that June, July, and perhaps part of August would be the worst period they had to deal with. He fully acknowledged it to be the duty of the Government to pre- vent starvation, and had found that the permanent officials acknowledged it, too, and that sums increasing every week were being authorised for works of permanent utility. If these were insufficient to tide the people over the calamity, the Boards of Guardians must be set in motion, and finally the Government must step in. As a general principle, he wished the small farmers to be helped by the Charitable Relief Funds, and the labourers by the Guardians and the Government. The practical acumen of the reply, and the hearty willingness it displayed, appear to have greatly pleased the deputation and the Irish public, always accustomed to expect a certain want of sympathy.
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