§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether any Report has been furnished to him by the Poor Law Inspector accompanying the steamer that has been sent to the west coast of Ireland to relieve distress in that district; if so, whether he will lay the Report before the House; and whether relief has been afforded, of what character, and to what extent?
§ SIR ROBERT PEELin reply said, the Report in question had been received from the Poor Law Inspector, Dr. Brodie, who went in the steam-vessel Geyser, and who had visited different islands on the west coast of Mayo and Galway, and there was no objection whatever to laying that Report on the table of the House. With regard to the latter question of the hon. Member relative to the relief afforded, he (Sir Robert Peel) was in a position to say that independently of the islands being in an exceptional position, separated as they were from the system of workhouses, the island of Arran was held by the Digby family, and they had given relief in provisions and meal, and also in coals, for the poorer inhabitants. He was also enabled to state that a relief committee had been formed by the Protestant clergyman and the dispensing medical officer for giving employment in that island; also that the medical officer was authorized to give invalids and people who were bed-ridden tea, sugar, wine, and also fuel. He was also enabled to state that in that island, from the reports of the medical inspector, there was only one case of dysentery and no case of fever. There was only one pauper at present from Arran in the workhouse. The sum of £150 had been advanced for the poor fishermen on the west coast, to enable them to purchase fishing gear, which amount was to be repaid in the space of six years. The Society of Friends had advanced twenty pounds as a gift for the purchase of fishing gear to those who were unable to borrow. The islands of Enniscarf and Scarf had also been visited by Dr. Brodie, and he saw Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Macaulay on the subject, and he was informed by them that the Society of Friends in Dublin had advanced twenty pounds for the benefit of the poor residents of those two islands. The island of Clare was also 1245 visited by the Poor Law Inspector. The whole of that island belonged to the Law Life Assurance Company, and the Government applied to their agent, Mr. Robinson, who also supplied funds for the poor, The Roman Catholic Priest had behaved very well, in making collections and distributing the money to the suffering islanders. The islands of Arran, Enniscarf, and Clare had also been visited by the Poor Law Inspector; and he (Sir Robert Peel) believed that he was justified in saying that the inhabitants were not suffering any unusual pressure from want of food, and he might also add fuel. With regard to the island of Achill, that did not require assistance, as he believed the land lords had given assistance, and the people were tolerably well provided with both food and fuel.