population to adopt new habits, will be surprised at the success which attended these efforts. The “yellow meal,” as it is called, was first known as “Peel’s brimstone,” and it was remembered that the attempt to introduce it in a former season of distress occasioned a popular commotion, arising from the absurd notion that it had the effect of turning those who ate it black. [24] This minute will be found from pages 67 to 71 of the first Board of Works Series of Parliamentary Papers for 1847. [25] A member of the Board of Works, writing to a friend, observed as follows:--“I hope never to see such a winter and spring again. I can truly say, in looking back upon it, even now, that it appears to me, not a succession of weeks and days, but one long continuous day, with occasional intervals of nightmare sleep. Rest one could never have, night nor day, when one felt that in every minute lost a score of men might die.” [26] An officer of the Board of Works, observing the emaciated condition of the labourers, reported that, as an engineer, he was ashamed of allotting so little task-work for a day’s wages, while, as a man, he was ashamed of requiring so much. In some districts proof of attendance was obliged to be considered sufficient to entitle the labourer to his wages. The exhausted state of the workmen was one main cause of the small quantity of work done compared with the money expended. The Irish peasant had been accustomed to remain at home, cowering over his turf fire, during the inclement season of the year, and exposure to the cold and rain on the roads, without sufficient food or clothing, greatly contributed to the prevailing sickness. In order to obviate this as far as possible, a Circular Letter was issued by the Board of Works (1st series of 1847, page 499) directing that, in case of snow or heavy rain, the labourers should merely attend roll call in the morning, and be entered on the pay list for half a day’s pay; and if it afterwards became fine, they were to come to work, which would entitle them to a further allowance. [27] In this month (March) the expenditure upon the Relief Works was heaviest, viz.:-- Labour and Plant £1,024,518 Extra Staff 26,254 ---------- Per Month £1,050,772 In the Week ending 13 March, 1847, the expenditure for all the above services was £259,105 which gives a Daily average for that week 43,184 On the 5th March there was remitted into the interior for carrying on Relief Works 68,000 On the 30th March, only 16,000 These two are the extremes during the month. The mean (for the month) of daily remittance 38,920