Surely this extreme wretchedness and neglect
must be, to a great extent, attributed to the want of a resident
proprietor.
"Leaving Dungloe," says Mr. Tuke, "we proceeded to Glenties, still on
the same property; and throughout our journey met with the most squalid
scenes of misery which the imagination can well conceive. Whilst
thousands of acres of reclaimable land lies entirely neglected and
uncultivated, there are thousands of men both willing and anxious to
obtain work, but unable to procure it. On the following morning, William
Forster had an interview with the resident magistrate, as well as with
the rector of the parish and some other gentlemen, who gave distressing
accounts of the poverty existing around them. Their attention was
directed to the necessity for the immediate establishment of
soup-kitchens, the employment of women in knitting, and the formation of
local committees for their relief, extending over several parishes. We
visited the poorhouse at Glenties, which is in a dreadful state; the
people were in fact half starved and only half clothed. The day before,
they had but one meal of oatmeal and water; and at the time of our visit
had not sufficient food in the house for the day's supply.
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