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the poorer classes in Ireland have been most incontrovertibly established, 

 and may be particularly illustrated by a reference to the city of Cork 

 Charitable Loan Society, whose losses upon advances of 38,520, to 

 12,840 families have amounted in six years only to .8 17s.; also by a 

 reference to the Gorey Loan Fund, county Wexford, and the Courtmac- 

 sherry and Lislee Loan Funds, in the county Cork; in each of which 

 places a considerably increased capital could be worked. 



"That the difficulty of obtaining proper encouragement in remote 

 districts is the most serious obstacle to the advantageous establishment 

 of loan institutions; and that local co-operation, and local contributions 

 towards the expenses of management, are so desirable to insure the 

 successful working of such institutions as to render it prudent to make 

 them indispensable conditions to aiding the formation of such funds. 



"That the operative fisherman could well afford to pay for the accom- 

 modation afforded to him by small loans, a consideration so far exceeding 

 the ordinary rate of interest at which money may be procured by the 

 Government, as to form a fund in aid of local contributions, sufficient 

 to cover losses and the expenses of management. 



"That it is not reasonable to expect from the Government more than 

 co-operation in providing the funds and in exercising a salutary general 

 control over their administration. 



"That it is desirable, if only for the purpose of insuring judicious and 

 honest management, either to require security for the reproductiveness 

 of the fund, from the intermediate sources of its administration ; or, in 

 cases where that may not be possible, to devise some other means to 

 guard against mismanagement or misappropriation by irresponsible 

 persons. 



"That the advantages of these establishments would be materially 

 increased by rendering them depositories for the small savings of the 

 industrious classes : and that each establishment may, by being furnished 

 with the forms and models for the institution of a benefit society, or 

 sick and widows' fund, or Boat Insurance Society, become a nucleus for 

 producing industrious, moral, and provident habits, and for improving 

 the condition of the coast population generally." 



SUCCESS OF A LOAN FUND. From the time when the storm of famine 

 first broke over Ireland, while none could doubt the hand of visitation, 

 few hesitated to believe but that all would work together for good in 

 the end. Amidst appalling scenes of mortal anguish and distress, heart- 

 stirring energies were called forth in many directions, where the bene- 

 volent and the good stood forward in the noble work of exertion. In 

 this cause, many priests of the Roman Catholic persuasion who devote 

 themselves to the service of their church and people were con- 

 spicuous, while as a body they helped to sustain that exemplary 

 patience under hunger and deprivation for which Irishmen are so 

 remarkable in history. Ministers of the Protestant Church proved, in 

 numerous instances, the value of their services to their parishioners at 

 large. Among the foremost in the cause of charity, the Society of 

 Friends has always been conspicuous. The seed they sowed with a 

 liberal hand fell on fruitful ground in one instance. Amongst nume- 

 rous urgent applications for aid received by them, was a pathetic 

 appeal from the Minister of King, a maritime parish on the coast of 

 the County Waterford, situated at the western side of Dungarvan Bay, 



