182 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK IT. 



The Commissioners, being anxious to know the actual 

 state of the sick poor, went round with the visitors of the 

 Sick Poor Society. The number of cases which fell under 

 the observation of one or other of the Commissioners was 

 about forty. The following are not selected, but taken 

 nearly in the order in which they occurred. The con- 

 versations 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 

 a single covering over, each of them. A young woman at- 

 tending them, a daughter, said she had just recovered from 

 fever. She showed a few miserable, black, wet potatoes, 

 and said they had nothing else to eat. So struck were the 

 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. Being addressed, she said 

 ss I y m very badly off; I can't stir a step without some- 

 body to help me ; I 'm a prisoner here ; my husband 

 has nothing to do now ; I '11 just tell the truth, he cut a 

 handful of briars, and sold them to get something to eat." 



The husband was asked, " How do you support your- 

 self?" 



" 1 do as well as I can, one way or another." 



a How do you pay your rent ?" 



" Sure, I owe 9s. for this place, and I don't know how 

 I '11 pay it at all." 



"Would you let your wife go to the House of In- 

 dustry?" 



" Is it let her away from me ? Why then I wouldn't, 

 as long as I could do anything if I was forced to beg 



