into the STATE OF THE POORER CLASSES IN IRELAND.
325 Appendix (A.)
or Is.
8^.
There was no deception detected; if there was reason to suspect any, the case was visited at some unexpected time in the course of the week, and in scarcely any instance was it found that the distress was not real.
Among those relieved by the society, a great many were tradesmen out of employment.
In many cases their tools had been pawned, and were released by the society.
The fund of the society arose chiefly from the produce of a burial ground established by the Rev.
Mr.
Mathew.
The poor are very willing to attend, each other in sickness ; when the cholera appeared first there was some reluctance, but it soon wore away.
There would be some danger of" the articles given being sold by the friends of the sick man; instances were known of this nature.
Sickness causes to the tradesman such destitution, that he sometimes becomes reckless, and ruined; often they are obliged to send their dress and tools to the pawn office.
Sick Poor.
Persons who attended the Examination.
Mrs.
Coleman-, superior of the convent of the Sisters of Charity.—Rev.
Mr.
Daly, senior catholic curate.—Mr.
Edward James Downey, clerk of the chapel for 23 years.—Mr.
R.
Howell, woolcomber.—Mr.
John Murphy, coffin-maker, president of the Sick Poor society.—Mr.
John Nagle, son of a tradesman.—Mr.
James Nolan, foreman maltster.—Rev.
Dr.
Quarry, rector of the parish.—Rev.
Dr.
Sloane, minister of the presbyterian congregation.
As a mean for relieving the wants of those destitute by sickness, there is a society in the parish called " The Poor Sick Society."
The object is, by collecting id.
a week subscrip¬ tion, to provide a fund for the sick poor; and by visiting the houses to discover fit objects for relief.
The society gets charities also from individuals.
About half the funds of the society are distributed by the Sisters of Charity.
The account of the state of the funds is as follows:— From 25 November 1832 to 24 November 1833 :—
Penny subscriptions Donations at Christmas
±.
s.
75 4 11 17
d.
£.87
The number of persons on the books varies from 48 to 58.
In the case of sickness, even contagious, it is surprising to see the willingness of the poor to attend; they are willing to go in the way of infection ; and, as a way of providing in case of sickness, the wives and daughters are frequently sent out to beg, as it is quite out of the power of the labouring class to make provision in health for the hour of sickness.
There exists in the parish a society, by contributing to which, members who fall sick are provided for; it is called " St.
Mary's Mortality Society," and consists of tradesmen and labourers, who, in case of constant employment, might be able to subscribe; but not more than half the labourers have regular employment, so that many fall of?
from the society, being unable to pay the subscription.
It was considered by those examined, that if food, fuel, &c, were given to the sick poor, it would have a tendency to promote idleness and improvidence; it would be sold in many cases.
This statement is confirmed by the following fact: when blankets were given out before the cholera, they were, in many instances, pledged ; many were marked, and found at the pawnbrokers.
The labourer's sickness always leads to the destitution of his family, and it is highly probable renders him reckless.
The conduct of the dispensary surgeons was considered kind in general by the lower classes in the parish.
The Assistant Commissioners being anxious to know the actual state of the sick poor, went round with the visitors of the Sick Poor society.
The entire number of cases which fell under the observation of one or other of the assistant commissioners, was about 40.
The following are not selected, but taken nearly in the order in which they occurred.
The conversations are given verbatim, notes of them having been taken at the time.
1.
In a small room, two women lying coiled up in corners, a mother and daughter; a little straw under, and single covering over each of them.
A young woman attending them, a daughter, said she had just recovered from fever.
She showed a few miserable black wet Potatoes in a saucepan, and said they had nothing else to eat.
So struck were the Assistant Commissioners by the evident misery, that they did not think of asking questions.
2.
A very small room in a cabin; an old woman sitting in a corner, palsied and blind; her husband, an old man, sitting on a bench; nothing in the room, but a little straw; being addressed, she said, " I'm very badly off; I can't stir a step, without somebody to help me; Am a prisoner here; my husband has nothing to do now; I'll just tell the truth, lie cut «4andful of briars, and sold them to get something to eat."
The husband Tyas asked •How do you support yourself?
" " I do as well as I can, one way or another."—"
How do you pay your rent?"
"Sure, I owe 9 s.
for this place, and I don't know how Fll pay it at all."—"
Would you let your wife go to the house of industry?"
" Is it let her away horn me ?
Why, then I wouldn't, as long as I could do any thing; if I was forced to beg uom the neighbours."
(He said this with tears in his eyes.)—"
But if you went there with your wife?"
"Sure they wouldn't leave her in the same place with me, they'd put us 0.5.
J
t t 3
asunder."
Munster.
County Cork.
Examinations taken by Thomas Martin, Esq.
John Lalor, Esq.
Par.
St.
Fiirn jBott
City of Cork.
Parish St.
Mary's
Shandon.
City of Cork
