CH. VI.] VAGRANCY AND MENDICITY. 195 



America if the means were given him ; and the people 

 throughout the country are so convinced that mendicancy 

 and vagrancy are brought on by misery, that no one ever 

 says an offensive word to the vagrants or beggars about 

 their importunity. Religion is the measure of charity 

 amongst the Irish, and not their means." 



County of Sligo ; examinations taken by T. Osier, Esq. and J. O'Flynn, 

 Esq. ; town of Ballymoat, barony of Corran. Fourteen witnesses. 



Vagrancy has increased very much of late, but not in 

 proportion to the increase of misery. When the crop of 

 potatoes fails, the number of beggars increases very much. 

 In some districts the decline of the linen-trade is one 

 great cause of vagrancy, because the weavers are unable 

 to work hard at out-door labour. 



The small shopkeepers have greater repugnance to beg- 

 ging and vagrancy than the country-people, because they 

 are better brought up, and it is amongst them that most 

 of the people reduced to this extremity die. No one 

 actually dies of starvation, but from long privations. 



Beggars and vagrants never use any violence, and very 

 seldom murmur. Those who give alms never inquire into 

 the characters of the persons they relieve, and poverty is 

 regarded as one means of salvation. 



Charity is universal. It is a custom to plant a corner 

 of the land a man holds with potatoes, set apart for 

 charity. Men frequently deny themselves food who give 

 away to others. 



The Commissioners made a calculation in the town of 

 Ballymoat, that the amount given in charity annually 

 would be equivalent to 25s. for each person. When the 

 sum was declared, there, was a murmur amongst the wit- 



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