Fever, famine and dysentery are daily
increasing, deaths from hunger daily occurring, averaging weekly
twenty--men, women and children thrown into the graves without a
coffin--dead bodies in all parts of the country, being several days dead
before discovered--no inquests to inquire how they came by their death,
as hunger has hardened the hearts of the people. Those who survive
cannot long remain so--the naked wife and children of the deceased,
staring them in the face--their bones penetrating through the skin--not
a morsel of flesh to be seen on their bodies--and not a morsel of food
can they procure to eat. From all parts of the country they crowd into
the town for relief, and not a pound of meal is to be had in the
wretched town for any price."
"This parish (Keantra, Dingle) contained, six months since, three
thousand souls; over five hundred of these have perished, and
three-fourths of them interred coffinless. They were carried to the
churchyard, some on lids and ladders, more in baskets--aye, and scores
of them thrown beside the nearest ditch, and there left to the mercy of
the dogs, which have nothing else to feed on. On the 12th instant I went
through the parish, to give a little assistance to some poor orphans and
widows.
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