JUL
with them some roots of grass and earth. What for? So attached to the soil are the Irish peasant that, when they leave the country and know they will never return--going to Canada on the Unite States--they carry with them little particles of their native earth to have them placed upon their graves. The famine that then afflicted the country might have been prevented, or at least mitigat We are now meeting to, do that which was not done with respect to the famine of 1816 and 1817. that is, we are meeting to prevent a famine.-(Applause.) Prevention is better than a turdy ani
ineffectual cure.
Now, with respect to the present distress, what evidence have we? We have the various letters received from our friends, and the statements in the public press; but especially I may refer to th fact that Her Majesty the Queen, with her usual generosity has given a considerable contribution to the Duchess of Marlborough's distress fund. That Peeress of benevolence in her own right, Laly BURDETT COUTIs, has subscribed largely to the fund, and Mr. GORDON BENNETT, of the New Y Herald, has subscribed $100,000.-(Applause.) I mention these facts for this reason, that fler Majesty the Queen has the very best sources of information at her disposal, that Lady BURDETT COUTTS is a charitable lady who never lays out a pound except in the right direction, and that Mr. GORDON BENNETT is also an eminent authority in every great and good work.
In addition to that.
I hold in my hand a telegram from Dublin Castle which was sent to me last week. It is to this effect. "Acute distress prevails," signed by the Duchess of MARLBOROUGH. You have, I think, before you the clearest proof that the time has come when some steps must be taken to meet the growing distress.
But you are fairly entitled to ask also, if this money he sent to the Duchess of MARLBOROUGH'S fund. how will it be dealt with? That is answered authoritatively by the last mail, in a few words, which I will take the liberty of reading, in a leading article in The Times newspaper.
"We continue to receive satisfactory assurance of the progress made with the collections for the "Duchess of MARLBOROUGH's fund, both in this country and in Ireland, and of the care with which the
money is laid out.
The object is one for which both money and care are needed. Almost every day brings fresh proof of the reality and magnitude of the existing distress in Ireland. The public has the means of judging the way in which the work is done. Every penny received is accounted for; the names of the recipients are recorded and may be seen; local committees or local agents are appointed to superintend the distribution of each grant. The utmost care is taken that the money shall reach "the fittest objects with no waste by the way.'
f
16
(C
I am aware that some gentlemen in the community would wish to send subscriptions to the fun being collected by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. I will only say this that I received information by to- day's mail that the Duchess of MARLBOROUGH'S Committee and the Lord Mayor's Committee are work- ing in complete harmony. Both Committees are working on parallel lines. Therefore, I think that you may fairly leave to the Committee you will be asked to approve of to-day, our own local Com- inittee. the question whether it may not be in the power of that Committee to send a contribution to the Lord Mayor's fund as well as to the Duchess of MARLBOROUGn's.-(Applause.) There is not, in fact, in the whole of Ireland, a man more zealous or active in mitigating distress than Mr. GRAY, the Lord Mayor of Dublin.-(Applause.) Accordingly, ladies and gentlemen, I feel convinced that, what- ever we may do in the way of subscriptions, the money will be well laid out. And of one other thing I am also confident; when I see the commercial gentlemen of the Colony in this hall to-day, when I know the character of Hongkong, its reputation as the leading commercial community in Her Majesty's Colonial Empire, a community ever distinguished for its public spirit and munificence, I also feel that the appeal which I and my countrymen are now making will not be made in vain.--- (Lond applause).
The CHIEF JUSTICE.--Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, when I entered this room I did not expect that I should be called on to take any prominent part on this occasion. It would be a very difficult thing to attempt to say why this famine exists in Ireland. I only agree in this, that there is a great amount of human misery, and when that exists I am sure it ought to call forth universal sympathy. Homo sum et nihil humanum a me alienum puto. I think every man who has a soul and power of thought must think this is an occasion for him to do his utmost. Something has been said as to whom the money is to be entrusted. It does seem to me the wife of the Viceroy of Ireland is the person above all others, if she will undertake the kindly office, to whom we should extend the distribution of the small contribution this small Colony can give. I have not the honour of knowing the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Many persons here may know him, but there is no private individual, be he what he may, there is no gentleman in the position of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, who is in the responsible position of the Duke of MARLBOROUGH. Therefore I conceive the money from a Colony like this should go to a person responsible to the world in a way which the Lord Mayor, however high a man he may
not.
I do hope that whatever money goes from Hongkong will be distributed under the responsibility of the Duke of MARLBOROUGH because it is the Duke's responsibility, although it is the Duchess' fund. I beg to move that a subscription be raised to relieve the distress prevailing in Ireland.--(Applause.)
Mr. MEHTA seconded the resolution.
Mr. F. H. ARJANEE, in supporting the resolution, said-I beg to express, on behalf of the Indian. residents in this Colony, the deep sympathy we feel for the people of Ireland in the distress which has unfortunately overtaken them. No Indian, I feel sure, will refrain from subscribing his mite, howevy r small it may be, towards the relief of the sufferers. Only a short time ago we read here with very great satisfaction how the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by their gene-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.