The distress in the West of Ireland, especially in parts
of "Kerry, Galway, Sligo, Mayo, ROBCOM mon, and Donegal," and also in the south of Cork, is now officially acknowledged. At least, the Duchess of Marlborough, the wife of the Lord-Lieu- tenant of Ireland, appeals through the Times to all Englishmen for help to form a Relief Fund, to be used in buying fuel, food, and clothing for the poor. The Duchess says there will be "extreme misery and suffering" this winter, "owing to want of employment, loss of turf, loss of cattle, and failure of pota- toes," unless private charity can supplement the Poor Law. Sir Stafford Northcote, it will he remembered, publicly expressed his apprehension of a turf famine, and there can be no doubt that the poor in these districts are exceedingly distressed. The Duohess of Marlborough promises to see to the fitting distribution of the money, without any reference to creed or politics, and it is trusted that the response will be as large as the nation's liber- ality. There can be no more justifiable appeal.
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