The amount expended under the Public Works Act (_9th and 10th Vict. cap. 1_) was 476,000_l._, one-half a grant, the other half to be repaid by twenty half-yearly instalments. The expenditure under the Labour-Rate Act (_9th and 10th Vict. cap. 107_) was 4,850,000_l._, half of which was a grant and the other half to be repaid as before. The sum advanced under _9th and 10th Vict. cap. 2_ for local purposes, was 130,000_l._, to be repaid in various periods out of grand jury presentments. Lastly the sums expended under the Temporary Relief Act, _10th Vict. cap. 7_, in the distribution of food, and under the _10th Vict. cap. 22_ in medical and sanitary relief, amounted to 1,676,268_l._, of which 961,739_l._ was to be repaid, and the remaining 714,529_l._ was a free grant. So that the entire amount advanced by government in 1846 and 1847 towards the relief of the Irish people under the fearful calamity to which they were exposed, was 7,132,268_l._, of which 3,754,739_l._ was to be repaid within ten years, and the remaining 3,377,529_l._ was a free grant.[144] ----- [144] See ‘The Irish Crisis,’ p. 110. ----- But it was not the government alone that contributed to the relief of the Irish people in this trying emergency.[Sidenote: Private subscriptions.] Individual subscriptions were poured forth from all parts of the British empire. Associations were formed, local committees were appointed, all were active in sympathy and benevolent efforts for the relief of Irish distress. The chief organ for receiving and dispensing these various contributions was “The British Association,”[145] which collected subscriptions to the amount of 269,302_l._, and to which was likewise committed the proceeds of two royal letters inviting contributions, amounting to 200,738_l._, making together no less than 470,041_l._, one-sixth of which was apportioned to Scotland,[146] and the remainder to Ireland.[147] Then there was the “Society of Friends” who collected 168,000_l._, which was distributed almost entirely in provisions, whilst a great number of persons in all parts of England acted independently of any association, but all directing their efforts to the same benevolent object. ----- [145] The present Lord Overstone, then Mr. Jones Loyd, was chairman of the acting committee of the association, and Mr. Thomas Baring was the vice-chairman. ----- [Sidenote: The British Association.]