diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25170.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25170.txt | 1358 |
1 files changed, 1358 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25170.txt b/25170.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..86a7e4b --- /dev/null +++ b/25170.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1358 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Facts for the Kind-Hearted of England!, by +Jasper W. Rogers + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Facts for the Kind-Hearted of England! + As to the Wretchedness of the Irish Peasantry, and the Means for their Regeneration + + +Author: Jasper W. Rogers + + + +Release Date: April 25, 2008 [eBook #25170] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FACTS FOR THE KIND-HEARTED OF +ENGLAND!*** + + +E-text prepared by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen Blundell, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +[Illustration: University of London] + + Presented by + the Worshipful Company + of Goldsmiths. + 1903. + + + FACTS + + FOR THE + + KIND-HEARTED OF ENGLAND! + + AS TO + + THE WRETCHEDNESS + + OF THE + + IRISH PEASANTRY, + + AND + + THE MEANS FOR THEIR REGENERATION. + + + BY JASPER W. ROGERS, C.E. + + + This Edition (500 copies bound), has been presented by the Author, as a + donation;--to be sold at the Ladies Bazaar, for relief of the famine in + Ireland, and distress in Scotland. + + + + + + + + LONDON: + JAMES RIDGWAY, PICCADILLY. + 1847. + + + + +FACTS FOR THE KIND-HEARTED OF ENGLAND. + + +In my twentieth year my first visit was made to London--how long since +need not be said, lest I make discoveries. I arrived at the "Swan with +_two_ necks," in Lad Lane, to the imminent peril of my own _one_, on +entering the yard of that then famous hostelry, the gate of which barely +allowed admission to the coach itself--and first set foot on London +ground, midst the bustle of some half-dozen coaches, either preparing +for exit, or discharging their loads of passengers and parcels. + +Four "insides" were turned out, and eight "outsides" turned in--I, +amongst the unfortunates of the latter class, taking possession of the +nearest point I could to the coffee-room fire. It is to be recollected +that in those days one had but _four_ chances in his favour, against +perhaps forty applicants for the interior of the mail--and he who was +driven in winter, by necessity of time, to the top of a coach in +Liverpool, and from thence to Lad Lane, and found himself in the +coffee-room there unfrozen, might be well contented. So felt I, +then,--and doubly so now, as I think of the dangers of flood, and road, +and neck, which I encountered in a twenty-six hours' journey, exposed to +the "pelting of the pitiless storm,"--for it snowed half the way. + +Dinner discussed, and its etceteras having been partaken, in full +consciousness of the comforts which surrounded me, contrasted with the +discomforts, &c. from which I had escaped,--I sank into an agreeable +reverie; and during a vision,--I must not call it a doze,--composed of +port wine and walnuts--the invigorating beams of Wallsend coal--an +occasional fancied jolt of the coach--the three mouthfuls of dinner, by +the name, I had gotten at Oxford--and the escape of my one neck, when, +goose as I was, I presented it where two seemed to be an essential by +the sign of the habitation and the dangers of the gate,--I was aroused +by a crash, something like the noise of the machine which accompanies +the falling of an avalanche or a castle, or some such direful affair at +"Astley's;" and starting up, I thought,--had the coach upset? but, much +to my gratification, found myself a safe "inside." Still came crash +after crash, until I thought it high time to see as well as hear. "What +on earth is the matter?" said I to the first waiter I met, as I +descended from the coffee-room, and got to the door of the "tap," or +room for accommodation of the lower grade of persons frequenting the +establishment. "Oh! sir," said he, "it is two dreadful Irishmen +fighting: one has broken a table on the other's head; the other smashed +a chair." I stopped short, and well do I recollect that the blood +rushed to my face as I turned away; I confess, too, that while +returning to the coffee-room, when the waiter followed and asked, should +he bring tea, I "cockneyfied" my accent as much as possible, in the hope +that he should not know I was an Irishman:--such was my shame for my +country at the moment. + +Many minutes, however, had not elapsed until I felt shame another +way--namely, that I should for a moment deny the land which gave me +birth;--and I at once determined to ascertain the facts and particulars +of the outrage. Down I went, therefore, again, and entering the +tap-room, found that in truth a table had been broken, and a chair too, +not to speak at all of the heads; but, on further investigation, it +appeared that the table, being weak in constitution, sunk under the +weight of one of the belligerents, who jumped upon it to assail the +other with advantage,--and that the chair had been smashed by coming in +contact with the table; the gentleman on the ground having thought it +fair to use a chair in his defence when his enemy took to the larger +piece of furniture:--hence the awful crash, crash--that awoke me from +my--vision. + +So far well--but further inquiry brought forth further truths. It came +out that one of the party had called the other "a beggarly bogtrotter," +for which he received in reply a blow upon his nose. Thus the row +commenced; but better still, it appeared that _one_ of "the dreadful +Irishmen" _was a Welshman_! and that it was _he_ who called poor Paddy +"a bogtrotter." + +First then, said I to myself, the table was _not_ broken on the +Irishman's head; it was smashed by the Welshman's _foot_--and it was +_not_ "_two_ dreadful _Irishmen_," but _one_, who had been engaged in +the fray, and he was insulted; therefore, at the most, ONLY ONE HALF OF +THE STORY IS TRUE! _And in about that proportion have I since found +almost all the stories and charges against the lower class of my unhappy +countrymen_--and so will others too, who please to investigate facts. + + * * * * * + +Amongst my earliest introductions to "London Society" was "St. Giles's." +Notwithstanding the warnings of my friends, as to the danger attendant +even on a walk through its streets, I ventured a little farther; and who +ever may have suffered there, I have not, except from witnessing the +almost indescribable misery of its inhabitants. Throughout my entire +search into its wretchedness, I never received even an uncivil answer +but on one occasion, and I am the more desirous to state this fact, +because, although "St. Giles" sounds to English ears as a spot +_contaminated_ by the abode of Irish only, I found many and many an +Englishman there, as wretched as my own wretched countrymen. + +In the instance I allude to, I had entered the first lobby in one of +the houses of a most miserable street, where I saw a woman "rocking" in +the manner the lower class of Irish express silent agony of feeling. Her +body moved back and forward in that peculiar motion which told to my +heart she was in misery; and entering the room in silent respect for her +suffering, I forgot to knock or make any noise to attract attention. In +a moment a figure darted from the side of a bed behind the door, and +having caught up something as it passed between me and the entrance, he, +for I then saw my assailant was a man, brandished the "miserable +remains" of a kitchen poker before my face, and demanded, "_What did I +want, and how da-ar I come there to throuble thim with my curosity?_" +And what right had I to pry into their miseries, unless to relieve them? +I confess my object in visiting St. Giles's then, had not arisen from so +pure a motive, and I felt the justice of his demand--The miseries of the +heart are sacred amongst the rich: why should they not be equally so +amongst the poor? Nature has made original feeling alike in all; but the +poor feel more deeply; for the rich suffer in heart midst countless +luxuries and efforts from others to wean them from their sufferings, +while the poor suffer midst numberless privations, and almost utter +loneliness. Why then should I have "_throubled thim with my curosity_?" + +But I made my peace, with little effort too; and then, for the first +time, saw a dead body lying on the bed from whence the man had come, +"waking," in the Irish fashion of the lower orders. It was a child of +about seven years old. Its last resting place on earth was dressed with +flowers, and the mother's hand had evidently done the most within its +feeble power to give honour to the dead. Rising, she with her apron +rubbed the chair she had been sitting on, and placed it for me; thus +offering, in her simple way, the double respect of tendering _her own_ +seat, and seeking to make it more fit for my reception by dusting it. + +I need not repeat all the tale of misery, the cause of their suffering +then, was apparent. "She was their last Colleen--th' uther craturs wur +at home with the Granny," and "_he_ had cum to thry his forthin in +Inglind; _an' bad forthin it was_. But the Lord's will be done, fur the +little darlint was happy, any how--an' sure they had more av thim at +home--an' why should she be mopin' an' cryin' her eyes out for her +Colleen, that was gone to God!" + +Thus the poor creature reasoned as she cried and blamed herself for +crying; for miserable as she was, she evidently felt that she should be +thankful for the other blessings that were left her. Do we all feel +thus? Yet, at the moment that she did so, I believe there was not a +morsel of food within reach of her means, and that her last penny had +been spent to deck with flowers the death-bed of her child. + +It is needless for me to describe the general miseries of "St. +Giles,"--now no more. Its wretched habitations have yielded their place +to palaces; its dreaded locality lives but in recollection; and its +inhabitants have gone forth--Whither? _Perhaps to greater wretchedness._ +Aye, almost surely! The misery of St. Giles's has ceased, mayhap to make +misery double elsewhere; but, thank God! there no longer exists in +London a special spot upon which the ban is placed of _Irish residence +being tantamount to crime_. + + * * * * * + +Years and years have since gone by, and many a time the story of "the +_two_ dreadful Irishmen" has risen to my mind, as I have read paragraph +after paragraph in the English papers, telling of some direful thing +which had occurred and was wrapped in mystery, but concluding after the +following fashion:-- + + "HIGHWAY ROBBERY--(_Particulars_). There is no clue whatever to + discover the parties who committed this atrocious act--but _two + Irish labourers who live in the neighbourhood are, it is supposed, + the delinquents_!" + + "BURGLARY AT ---- (_Particulars_). The parties who committed this + robbery acted in the most daring manner. _The country is now filled + with Irish harvest labourers!_" + + "FOOTPAD.--A daring attempt was made by a most desperate-looking man + to rob a farmer some days since--(_further particulars_) after a + great struggle he got off. _He is supposed to be an Irishman!_" + + "MARLBOROUGH-STREET.--There is a class of persons now known, called + 'Mouchers,' who go about in gangs, plundering the licensed + victuallers, eating-house and coffee-shop keepers, to an extent that + would be deemed impossible, did not the records of police courts + afford sufficient evidence of the fact. _The Mouchers are mostly of + the lower order of Irish._"--_London Morning Paper, 12th April, + 1847._ + + "HORRIBLE MURDER--(_Particulars_). Every possible search has been + made for the murderers, but unfortunately without effect. However, + _it is positively known that four Irish harvesters passed through + the village the day before, and there cannot be a doubt the dreadful + deed was committed by them_!" + +Such are the kind of announcements seen frequently, particularly in +provincial papers. In the latter case, the facts impressed themselves +strongly upon my mind. A horrible murder had been committed, as well as +I recollect, in Lancashire. The widow of a farmer, much beloved in the +neighbourhood, and known to possess considerable property, was +barbarously murdered in her bed at night, and her presses and strong box +thoroughly rifled; nothing, however, having been taken but money, of +which it was known she had received a considerable sum a few days +previously. Much sensation was created by the fearful occurrence; and it +was fully believed that "the four Irishmen" had committed the +murder--why? _because they had been seen in the neighbourhood!_ +verifying most fully the adage, that "one man may steal a horse without +being suspected, while another dare not look over the hedge." So it +eventually turned out. A month elapsed; the four Irishmen could never be +traced; but luckily the real murderer was. A labouring man offered a +L20. note to be changed in a town some miles distant from the scene of +the murder, and suspicion having arisen as to how he obtained it, he +was taken up: eventually turning out to be the confidential farm servant +of the unfortunate woman, still continuing to live unsuspected where the +murder had been actually committed by himself; and he was subsequently +executed. + +But did this clear "_the four Irishmen_" from the imputation, or +retrieve the character of their class? Not an iota. The journalist who +accused them was not the fool to proclaim his own injustice; and +perhaps, even if he did, the refutation would never have met the same +eye that read the condemnation. No; "the four Irishmen" continued as +thoroughly guilty in the public mind as if twelve jurors on their oaths +had declared them so. The editorial pen had signed the death warrant of +_character_, if not of life, as it has done in many and many instances +with just as much foundation. + +Poor, unhappy "Paddy" the labourer has had years and years of outcry to +bear up against and suffer under, a thousand times more trying to him +than that now raised against "Paddy" the Lord. The poor and lowly +struggle single-handed and alone; the rich and high face the enemies of +their order shoulder to shoulder, and as one. Poor fellow, he is like +the cat in the kitchen: every head broken is as unquestionably laid to +his charge, as every jug to pussy's. And he has another direful mark +which stamps him at once; namely, that "profanation to ears polite," +_his brogue_! He possibly may not look ill to the eye--perhaps the +reverse; his countenance may be honest and open, and his bearing manly, +as he approaches an employer to seek for work; up to that point all goes +well, perhaps; but once his mouth opens, the tale is told; instantly +_Prejudice_ does her office, unknowingly almost, and unless actual need +exist, Paddy may apply elsewhere, again and again to meet the same +rebuff. Lancashire, Somersetshire, Yorkshire, may revel in their patois +without raising a doubtful feeling or a smile, but the brogue of Ireland +does the work at once, and the unhappy being from whom it issues slinks +back into himself degraded, as he hears the certain laugh which answers +his fewest words, and the almost certain refusal to admit him within the +pale of his class in England. Hence St. Giles's as it was--the purlieu +of Westminster, as it is--the Irish labourer's refuge in England, is +often the lowest point, because he cannot be driven lower. + +And all this arises, not from ill will, but from long felt prejudice, +and the repetition of stories and anecdotes and caricature of Irish +character, which trifling circumstances have given rise to and upheld; +and which, I grieve to say, is greatly due to the domiciled Irishmen in +England, of the middle and better class. They sometimes forget their +country, and in place of explaining away fallacies and making known +facts which would have roused England long since to our aid, had they +been fairly understood, _fear_ to tell truths which they deem to be +unpalatable, while perhaps their own palates are being feasted on the +good things of the party who declaims against their country: thus +permitting the continued existence of prejudice and consequent +estrangement. + +It is in no small degree amusing to observe the _attempt_ made, in +addition, to disguise the fact that the delinquent I speak of (I had +almost written renegade) is an Irishman. No wonder that he should +attempt the disguise, for he must deeply feel his delinquency. In all +cases such as this, the Cockney twang and occasional curtailment is +assumed to overcome the _brogue_, but in vain. For the first half dozen +words of each _paragraph_ in a conversation it gets on well enough, but +the conclusion is sometimes exquisitely ridiculous. + +I had the _honour_ to meet at dinner recently, a person of this class, +and a conversation having arisen on the subject, he said, "I aam +pe-fectly ce-tain no one caaen know that I aam an I-ishman;" and the +next instant, turning to a servant, he added, "Po-ta, if you _plaze_." +When this thoroughly low-bred Irishism came out I could not help +smiling, and caught at the same moment the eye of a lady opposite, who +seemed greatly amused. In a few minutes after, she said, evidently for +the purpose of having another trial of the Anglo-Irishman, "Pray, may I +help you to a potato?"--the killing reply was, "Pon my hona' I neva' +_ate_ pittatis at all at all." + +This was too much for the lady, as well as for myself; so we laughed +together. The Irish _gentleman_, however, perfectly unconscious of the +cause. + +Having subsequently mentioned the circumstance to an "Irishman in +London," who does not fear to acknowledge his country, he said, "O! the +feeling descends lower still--the better class of labourers attempt to +speak so that they shall not be known." Continuing, he said, "A _porter_ +in our establishment, who is an Irishman, came to me the other day, and +speaking very confidentially, whispered, 'Sure now, Misthur ----, you +woudn't guiss be me taulk, thit I wus an Irishmin.'" "Certainly not," +said my friend, laughing, when the fellow replied, quite happily, +"Whi-thin that's right any how." + +Who will excuse the man in a better grade who panders to prejudices, and +not only forgets the country of his birth, but aids, _by consent_, to +let her remain in misery? But must we not excuse the low and helpless, +who are driven by such prejudices to keep themselves in existence by +following the example of those above them? who, thus, have double sin to +answer for; _their own_, and that which their dastardly conduct creates. +Still, why should the unhappy labourer who feels that the tone of his +voice keeps bread from his mouth, not wish it changed? + +"Move on," said a policeman to a poor Irishman, who was gazing with +astonishment at a shop window in the Strand, his eyes and mouth open +equally, with intensity of admiration. But Paddy neither heard nor +moved. "Move on, Sir, I say," came in a voice of command delivered into +his very ear. "_Arrah, ph-why?_" said the poor fellow, looking up with +wonder, and still retaining his place. "_You must move on, you Irish +vagabond_," now roared the policeman, "_and not stop the pathway_," +accompanying the "must" with a push of no very gentle nature. Paddy did +move, for he could not help it; but as he turned away from the sight +which was yielding him harmless enjoyment, to the forgetfulness of +misery for the moment, and perhaps to create in him desires for better +things, and give him greater energy to work and labour for them; he was +rudely branded, with a mark of debasement, and I could see in the poor +fellow's eye and gait, though _labourer_ he was, pride and degradation +contending for the mastery; but the latter conquered, and he did "move +on," almost admitting by the act that he _was_ "AN IRISH VAGABOND." + + * * * * * + +The position of the lower class of Irish in England is evidently not to +be envied, but what is it in Ireland? + +In the paper annexed, on "_The Potato Truck System of Ireland_," will be +found the ground-work of the misery of the peasantry. The whole +recompense for their labour is the potato. If it fail, they starve. In +summer's heat and winter's cold the potato is their only food; water +their only drink. They hunger from labour and exertion--the potato +satisfies their craving appetite. Sickness comes, and they thirst from +fever--water quenches their burning desire. Nature overcomes disease, +and they long for food to re-invigorate their frame. What get they?--the +potato! The child sinks in weakness towards its grave. What holds it +betwixt life and death?--the potato. It is the Alpha and Omega of their +existence. A blessing granted by Providence to man, but made by man a +curse to his fellow-beings. From what causes come the charges made, and +made with truth, against the Irish peasant, of "_indolence_" and "_filth +in and about their habitations_?"--One and all from that dreadful +system, the "_potato truck_!" + +Tourists tell that "_the cabin of the Irish peasant must be approached +through heaps of manure at either side, making it necessary to step over +pool after pool, to reach the entrance_." This is no more than fact, but +the cause should be told too. + +From the detail of the truck-system, it will be seen that the +unfortunate peasant is paid for his labour by land to cultivate the +potatoes which sustain his existence, and these potatoes cannot be +effectively grown without manure. His cabin is usually situate on some +road-side, his potato-garden rarely with it, and the only spot he +possesses, upon which he can collect manure to obtain food for himself +and family throughout the year, is the little space reserved before his +door. He has nothing else, it may be said, in the world, but that +manure. It is that which is to yield sustenance to his family, and if he +have it not, they starve. If put outside the precincts of his holding +it is lost to him, and that which he collects scrap after scrap from the +road side, or elsewhere--that upon which his life actually depends, is +too precious to be risked beyond his care. Why should he be blamed then +for the apparent "filth" which surrounds it? Whether is it his fault, or +that of the system which has driven him to this degrading necessity? Not +his, surely! + +Then he is described as to be seen "supporting his door-frame, and +smoking his 'dhudeen,'[1] while he should be at work." It is true; but +whence his seeming idleness? The truck system again! He is engaged by +the year to some farmer, and is bound to do his work, for which he gets +his potato land; but the farmer is not bound, as he should be, to give +him continuous labour throughout the year. And many a day, and half-day, +and quarter-day is cut off his year's labour, when the weather, or the +farmer's absence, or his _mighty_ will and pleasure, may make him think +it fit to stop the work. When this occurs, and it is sadly frequent, it +is impossible that the poor labourer can either seek or find a half, or +even a whole day's labour. He has no garden, or patch of ground upon +which he might expend with profit his leisure, or his extra time; he has +nothing to occupy him; nor can he make an occupation perhaps, for he has +not the most trifling means to obtain even lime to whitewash his cabin. +Then, if he do smoke his "dhudeen, leaning against his door-way," where +so proper for him to be, as with his wife and children? And is the +so-named "weed of peacefulness" sought for by the highest in the land as +a soothing enjoyment; by those who have but to wish for and obtain every +luxury and blessing that wealth can give--is the scanty use of the +meanest portion of it, improper or slothful in him who knows no single +blessing but his wife and family? But it cannot be fairly deemed so. The +custom is universal, and the Irish peasant, declared by the Legislature +it may be said, to endure more privation than the peasant of any other +country in Europe, ought not to be set down as _slothful_, because, to +soothe his care, he smokes his "dhudeen." + +Again, we are told by tourists of the fearful fact, that men, women, +children, a cow, a horse, a pig, congregate together at night in one +cabin; _one bed for all_! How dreadful the truth--for it is true to the +letter. But we are not told the cause; on the contrary, subsequent +commentary ascribes the fact, in no gentle terms, to the "slothful, +filthy habits of the people." Yet, when such realities exist, it is not +wonderful that they who so patiently bear, should be set down as the +producers of their own misery--still they are not only not so, but they +have no power to release themselves from the thraldom which sinks them +day by day deeper in degradation. + +Once more I return to the truck system of the potato. If 4,000,000 of +the people of Ireland have sustained life, and barely, on that root +alone--many and many a day without even salt--how well may it be +understood that they have not means to buy proper clothing. In fact, +their only hope for this, is on "_the woman_," as they express, whose +sole dependance has been on eggs from her few hens--knitting stockings, +in some localities, in others, spinning. But the numerous calls for +family necessities swallow up these little means; and it may with truth +be said, that except a single blanket, or a coarse rug, there is rarely +to be found any thing in their cabins as covering for the night. The +clothes of all are clubbed together to do the office of the blanket and +the counterpane. Then, think of the cabins they live in. In one county +alone, Mayo, there are 31,084 composed of one apartment only, without +glass windows, and without chimneys; and the door so frail and badly +made, that every blast finds its way through it. The floors are _mud_, +the beds straw or ferns strewed sometimes on stones raised above the +ground. The father and mother sleep in the centre, the children at each +side, and the pig and horse, or goat, as may be, at one end. How +dreadful it is to contemplate that such should be a fact existing in a +Christian country--and worse, that this most fearful reality, which +arises from the people's helpless misery, should be made a charge of +"filthy habit" in place of being urged as the ground-work for the +perfect change of a system which could allow so crying an evil. It is a +truth, that men, _women_ and children, pigs and cattle, lie in one +bed!--but what causes it? Their hopeless, helpless, poverty. They have +not a sufficiency of clothes to cover them at night in winter; _and if +they did not bring in the pig and cattle to create warmth in their +cabins, they must perish of cold_. This is the cause, and the only +cause, and the true proof is, no tourist will pretend to tell you it +occurs in summer. + + * * * * * + +Having now seen what the lower class of Irish endure, it may be well to +look into their natural character, and ascertain what is the cause of +that endurance--what are their virtues, and what their vices? + +That "endurance under privation, greater than that of any country in +Europe," is the true characteristic of the peasantry, cannot be +questioned, particularly after being declared by the high authority of +the Devon Commission. That it is innate in their character, is evident. +They believe that "whatever is, is best"--not as fatalists; for under +the most severe suffering, you will hear them say, "Well, shure, it's a +marcy 'twasn't worse any how." "Well, I'm shure, I might be contint, +bekase it might be double as bad." And every sentence ends--"And God is +good." They have also a certain natural _spring_ (lessening daily) +which upholds them, and they _try_ to make the best of every thing as it +comes. + +"Jack," said I, some years since, to a handy "hedge carpenter," in the +county of Wexford, "why did you not come last night to do the job I +wanted? It is done now, and you have lost it." "Whi-thin, that's my +misforthin any how--an be-dad 'twas a double misforthin too, for I wus +dooin nothin else thin devartin meeself." "_Diverting_ yourself," said +I, "and not minding your business?" "Bee-dad it's too thru; but I'll +tell your hanur how it happened. I wus workin fur the last three days +fur my lan'lady, which av coorse goes agin the rint; and whin I cum home +yisterday evenin, throth, barrin I tuck the bit from the woman and +childre, sorra a taste I could get--so sis I, Biddy jewel, I'm mighty +sick intirely, an I cant ate any thing. Well, she coxed me--but I +didn't. So afther sittin a while, I bethought me that there wus to be a +piper at the Crass-roads, an I was thin gettin morthul hungery; so sis I +t'meeself _I'll go dance the hunger off_--and so I did:--an that wus the +way I wus divartin meeself." Now, I have no doubt, that many an Irishman +has _danced_ the thought of hunger away as well as Jack. But the +following incident will prove that the innate feeling of the people is +to make the best of their miseries. + +It was, I think, in the winter of 1840, a fortnight of most severe +weather set in at Dublin. I had suffered in London from "Murphy's +coldest day" in 1838, and thought it was in reality the coldest I had +ever felt; but 1840 would have won the prize if left to his Majesty of +Russia to decide the question. In addition to a black frost, there came +with it a biting, piercing, easterly wind, which seemed to freeze and +wither every thing it came upon. Pending this infliction (for I confess +I suffered under sciatica as well as the easterly wind), I left home +rather early one morning, muffled in two coats, a cloak, muffler, "bosom +friend," worsted wrists, and woolsey gloves; and yet as I closed the +door, I half repented that I had faced the blast. + +Not twenty yards from my dwelling, I overtook a little creature, a boy +of about eight or nine years old, dressed in--of all the cold things in +the world--a _hard_ corduroy habiliment, intended to have fitted closely +to him; but his wretched, frozen-up form, seemed to have retreated from +the dress, and sunk within itself. I believe he had not another stitch +upon him. His little hands were buried into his pockets, almost up to +the elbows, seeking some warmth from his body; and he crept on before +me, one of the most miserable pictures of wretchedness my eye ever +rested on. + +As I contemplated him, I could not but contrast my own blessings with +his misery. I had doubted whether I should leave the comforts of my +home, although invigorated by wholesome, perhaps luxurious food, and I +was clothed to _excess_; while the being before me, likely had not +tasted food that day, and was _barely covered_. Such were my thoughts; +and I had just said to myself, we know not, or at least, appreciate not, +a tithe of the blessings we possess, when that little creature read me a +lesson I shall recollect for my life. He shewed me that _he_ could bear +up against his ills, and make light of them too. + +At the moment I speak of, I saw one hand slowly drawn from his pocket, +and in effort to relieve it from its torpor, he twisted and turned it +until it seemed to have life again. Next came forth the other hand, and +it underwent the same operation, until both appeared to possess some +power. Then he shrugged up one shoulder and the other, seeking to bring +life there also; and at length flinging his arms two or three times +round, he gave a jump off the ground, and exclaimed in an accent half +pain, half joy, "_Hurrah! for the could mornins!_"--and away he went +scampering up the street before me, keeping up the life within him by +that innate natural power of endurance I have described, evidently with +a determination to make the best of his suffering, and not sink under +misfortune. What a noble trait of character--but how little appreciated! + +With such a ground-work to act upon, what might not these people be +made? and that they have intellect of almost a superior order, cannot be +questioned. Their ready replies alone prove it; and their usual success +any where but in their own country, tells it truly. Some years ago I +stood talking to an English gentleman on particular business at a ferry +slip in Dublin, waiting for the boat. A boy, also waiting for it, +several times came up to shew some books he had for sale, and really +annoyed my friend by importunity, who suddenly turned round and +exclaimed, "Get away, you scamp, or I shall give you a kick that will +send you across the river." In an instant the reply came--"_Whi-thin +thank yur hanur fur thit same--fur 'twill just save me a ha-pinny._" +They are quick to a degree--and have great activity and capability for +labour and effort, _if but fed_, which may be seen by every Englishman +who looks and thinks. The coal-whippers of the Thames, the hod-men, or +mason's labourers of London, the paver's labourers, and such like, +almost all are Irishmen. But they must be fed, or they cannot labour as +they do here. Treat them kindly, confide in them, and be it for good or +evil; I mean to reward or punish, _never break a promise_, and you may +do as you please with them. My own experience is extensive; but one who +is now no more, my nearest relative, had forty years of trial, and he +accomplished by Irish hands alone, in the midst of the outbreak of '97 +and '98, as Inspector-General of the Light-houses of Ireland, the +building of a work, which perhaps more than rivals the far-famed +Eddystone,--namely, the South Rock Light-house three miles from the +land, on the north-east coast of Ireland,--every stone of which was laid +by Irish workmen. And to the honour of the people be it spoken, when +the rebellion broke out it was known that a large stock of blasting +powder and lead lay at the works on the shore; yet not a single ounce of +one or the other was taken. It was known, too, that their employer was +then engaged in the command of a yeomanry brigade, formed for the +defence of the east side of Dublin; still his _lead_ and _powder_ lay +safely in the north of Ireland. But more extraordinary still, after the +battle of Ballinahinch, where the rebels were routed, his yacht was +taken by a party of them to make their escape to England; and lest any +ill should befall it, when they arrived at Whitehaven they drew lots for +three to deliver it up to the collector of the port, and state to whom +it belonged. They were immediately arrested, as indeed they must have +expected, and with great difficulty were their lives afterwards saved. + +I could relate several similar instances which occurred to others; but I +shall only state one more, as occurring to a defenceless woman. My +maternal grandmother occupied at the time of that rebellion the castle +of Dungulph, in the county Wexford, the family residence. It was an old +stronghold regularly fortified and surrounded by a moat, with a +drawbridge; and when she left it to take refuge in the fort of +Duncannon, with the other gentry of the county, it was immediately taken +possession of by a force of rebels from the county Kilkenny, as a most +valuable place of defence, &c. They remained in possession for about a +fortnight, and during that time killed twenty of the sheep found in the +demesne. At the expiration of the period, the rebels of the +neighbourhood, who had been in the interim engaged at the battle of +Ross, returned, forced the others to leave the castle, and when my +relative came back to her residence, she found that twenty sheep had +been brought from another part of the country, and placed with her own +in the demesne; which on being traced by their marks, were discovered to +belong to a county Kilkenny grazier, the county from whence the rebel +party had come; thus the sheep were brought from the same place the +rebels had come from,--it was supposed, as an act of retaliation. I +should add, too, that while these occurrences took place, the heir to +the property was engaged in the defence of Ross, where many of his own +tenantry were slain or wounded, as rebels, by the military under his +command. + +Naturally the mind of the Irish peasant is good, honourable, and +grateful--but it has been deteriorated by miseries and neglect; and is +being so, more and more daily _at home_; while, when they go abroad they +seem to inherit all their original good qualities. + +It is a fact too, known to all who know them, that when they settle in +England as labourers, they almost invariably share their earnings with +their relations at home. The remittances from London alone to Ireland +amount to many thousands yearly. There is no possible means of +ascertaining the sum; but I know numerous instances myself, and it may +be judged of from the facts which appear in the following statements, +recently published in the _Times_ and _Morning Chronicle_, shewing the +amount which comes yearly from America. + + "A curious fact is presented in a letter from a correspondent at New + York, showing that it is not to England alone that the Irish + proprietors are largely indebted for the support of their poor. It + has generally been understood that the Irish emigrants to the United + States have always remitted very fully of their hard earnings to + their relatives at home, but most persons will be surprised to hear + the extent of this liberality. 'A few days since,' says our + correspondent, 'I called upon the different houses in New York who + are in the daily practice of giving small drafts on Ireland, from + five dollars upwards, and requested from them an accurate statement + of the amount they had thus remitted for Irish labourers, male and + female, within the last sixty days, and also for the entire year + 1846. Here is the result--"Total amount received in New York from + Irish labourers, male and female, during the months of November and + December, 1846, 175,000 dollars, or 35,000_l._ sterling; ditto, for + the year 1846, 808,000 dollars, or 161,600_l._ sterling."' These + remittances are understood to average 3_l._ to 4_l._ each draft, and + they are sent to all parts of Ireland, and by every packet. 'From + year to year,' our correspondent adds, 'they go on increasing with + the increase of emigration, and they prove most conclusively that + when Irishmen are afforded the opportunity of making and saving + money, they are industrious and thrifty. I wish these facts could be + given to the world to show the rich what the poor have done for + suffering Ireland, and especially that the Irish landlords might be + made aware of what their former tenants are doing for their present + ones. I can affirm on my own responsibility that the amount stated + is not exaggerated, and also that from Boston, Philadelphia, + Baltimore, and New Orleans, similar remittances are made, though + not to the same amount.' With regard to the feeling in America upon + the calamity under which the Irish people are at present suffering, + the same writer observes: 'Collections are being made for their + relief, but the distress is so general that our benevolent men have + been almost afraid to attempt anything; they think the British + Government and Irish landowners alone competent to the + task.'"--_Times, 3rd of Feb. 1847._ + + "AMERICAN SYMPATHY.--We do not think we can better express the + sympathy which is now so universally felt in the United States, for + the sufferings of the people of this country, than by stating that + _immediately after the news brought by the Cambria had been + promulgated, 1,500 passages were paid for by residents in New York, + into the house of George Sherlock and Company, for the transmission + of their friends in Ireland to the land of plenty_. Through the same + house, by the last packet, there have arrived remittances to the + amount of 1,300_l._, in sums varying from 2_l._ to 10_l._"--_Dublin + Evening Post._--_Morning Chronicle, 5th of April, 1847._ + +As to the vices[2] of the Irish peasant, a few years since they might +have been set down as three--whiskey drinking, cupidity, and +combination. The first exists no longer, and if we seek for proof of +good intention and desires in the people, this gives it forcibly. Having +food of but one kind, and that possessing no stimulating power, nor +capability of imparting grateful warmth, such as the "brose" of the +Scotch, or the soup of the continental peasant; and the climate being +cold and humid to excess, they _naturally_, it may be said, used the +only stimulant they could obtain. And if we think how anxiously _we_ +seek such, under the influence of wet and cold, (we, who have all +comforts and all varieties and luxuries of food)--can it be wondered +that the Irish peasant, who working for the day in a winter's mist, his +clothes saturated through, and none to change when he returned to his +wretched cabin, should have been tempted to take this stimulating +poison? But, by the gentle guidance of one good and great man, they have +been led from the evil, receiving no substitute for what they +relinquished; getting nothing in return, they gave up their only luxury +at his bidding. What may not be done with such a people? + +But the peasant has two vices which still continue--cupidity and desire +for combination. Strange that amongst all the evils laid to his charge +the first has been passed over. It exists to a great extent, and in +place of being reckless as to money, he too eagerly grasps at it when +the opportunity offers; hence the combinations which have at different +times occurred in the accomplishment of public and also private works. +He mars his object by his ignorance. This has arisen principally from +the unfortunate frequency of public undertakings, caused by famines or +distress. In any such case he took it, to use his own expression, as a +"good luck," and sought by any means to make the most of it while it +lasted. Then, in private works, when he imagined a necessity existed for +their accomplishment, he sought to make the most by demanding higher +wages, and forcing the well-inclined to join in the demand. It is a fact +that he suffers under _natural cupidity_, and its evils have been +increased by the circumstances named, the effects of which will require +care to overcome, if his regeneration be attempted; and, perhaps, under +all circumstances, it cannot be wondered at. The opportunity to obtain +money for his labour so rarely occurred, that when it did he could not +resist the temptation of getting as much as possible to provide against +the day which he knew would soon come again, when he would be left to +the potato alone; and on this point he will require to be led and taught +as in other things. But the Irish peasant is, in fact, now in that +position which it is fearful to contemplate. From the nature of his food +alone he has been long retrograding in physical capability, and, of +course, energy of mind. It is impossible that beings living entirely +upon one description of food, no matter what it be, can exist in +strength and healthfulness. But if the food be of that nature which, +used as the potato is, tends to produce evil from the _quantity_ +necessary to be consumed, in order to give to the body bare nourishment +to uphold existence, it must be evident that the very _quantity_ alone +will produce listlessness and want of energy, while the system itself +receives scarcely enough to uphold its vital powers. + +My own memory (and I am not so old as to count half centuries) shows an +evident change in the general physical appearance and capacity of the +peasant labourer. He is not the same, even within twenty years; and to +those who recollect fifty, the alteration must be painfully great. + +A little thought will shew it could not be otherwise. The potato, eaten +in the way it is, simply boiled, and as I have again and again pointed +out, _without aught else with it but salt!_ and not even that sometimes, +contains but little more than _two pounds weight_ of that description of +nutriment (gluten, or animal matter) which is essential to uphold +strength, in fact to re-create bone and muscle in the system, for every +_hundred pounds weight_, the unfortunate being condemned to live upon it +solely, is obliged to gorge himself with, in order to sustain his animal +powers. + +The average quantity of potatoes an adult peasant labourer consumes in +the day is about ten pounds--his meal being usually a quarter of a stone +each at breakfast, dinner, and supper; thus he receives into his system +every twenty-four hours, about 3 ounces of that which is essential to +give him power to perform his functions of labour. In other words, he +eats in that time but 3 ounces of the representative of _meat_. What +would the railroad "Navvy" of England say--what the farm labourer--if +either was doled out 3 ounces of beef or mutton per day to work upon? +and if he seemed _listless_ and unenergetic, was then taunted with the +name of "_indolent, reckless, good-for-naught_." Still, my unhappy +countrymen have received this quantum of food, with submission for ages; +and with it received those degrading appellations, as a fitting reward +for their "_endurance_." + +Now, medical research has fully established that the quantum of animal +matter, be it obtained from vegetable or else, actually necessary to be +taken into the system merely to reproduce the bone and muscle worn away +by the general labourer in his day's work, is 5 ounces! It cannot +therefore be doubted, that the Irish labourer, _in Ireland_, is and has +been deteriorated in physical capability, and consequently, mental +energy, by want of proper nutrition. + +Such has been his position for ages; and my firm belief is, that his +sufferings would not have been so long borne, but for the hope which +has been, from time to time, kept alive in him. Alas, how delusively! +In "Emancipation"--he was taught to see deliverance from his +miseries--mayhap, remission of his rent. In "Repeal"--"plenty of work +and plenty of money; and the cattle kept at home, and the pigs to be +eaten by himself, in place of by _the Saxon_." + +Unhappy designation, and unhappy delusion, which have held the countries +asunder, in place of being one and the same in all things. But he has +lived upon that hope, until now, when it has vanished from him for ever. +And with his hope, the food that kept life barely in him has gone too. +He is bereft of all that holds existence and soul together, and sees +nought before him, even if he do live, but ceaseless struggle and +ceaseless misery. Can such a being aid himself? No more can he, than the +invalid, weakened and powerless from sickness. Aid must be given him by +those who have strength and knowledge, or he will sink, if not into +death, to that which will be worse,--_hopeless, helpless degradation_. + +And will Ireland then be "the right arm of England?" No; she will be the +blot upon her noble scutcheon--mayhap the "millstone" to sink her in +that ocean over which she now so proudly and gloriously rules. + +It has been proved that above 4,000,000 of the peasantry of Ireland live +upon the potato, which they receive as payment for their labour--about, +or nearly _one half_ of the population of the country, and from whom +should, and now does spring its almost entire wealth. Their hands, with +God's permission and will, produce the means to feed themselves; to feed +the remaining half of the population, and to give to England many +millions' worth yearly; which supports the aristocracy of Ireland, and +pays the taxes to the nation. Humanity and justice, then, are not the +only claims upon us; self-interest, nay, self-preservation demand, that +they who yield us food and comfort, should have ample food and comfort +themselves--that they who aid to clothe us should have at least +sufficient covering to protect them from the rigour and humidity of the +climate in which they labour--that they should have houses fitted for +the inhabitants of a civilized country, not wigwams worse than those of +the savage--that they should be taught and led and fostered till they +understand and can practise at home the arts of proper industry--to give +not only blessings to themselves but the nation at large. Then would +Ireland be in truth "England's right arm;" but more, she would have her +heart, which now lies open, yearning to receive and give affection. I +know my country and its feelings well--I mean _its people's feelings_; +and there exists not elsewhere more genuine gratitude than in its heart. +Causes and circumstances already explained have encased it in icy doubt +towards England; but now England has proved her heartfelt pity; not +alone her money, but the kind and high and noble-minded have risked +their lives to distribute food and help and covering to the wretched +beings as they lingered between life and death. And I know the people +not, if I may not vouch, as a man and Christian, that every mouthful +given (not through public works), every comfort yielded, every gentle +and kind and consoling word uttered, is indelibly impressed upon their +feelings, and will live there. Seize, then, the opportunity to +amalgamate as one, Ireland with England's people. Fear not the idle +stories of the past; look but upon the present, and think of the +glorious future which the guidance and help of England may accomplish. +England has laboured for, and won her glories by her labour. Teach +Ireland, and she will win glories too--not for herself alone, but for +the general weal. Lead her kindly now, and she will rush to your +foremost ranks in the hour of danger--not _pray_ for that hour, that it +may give her chance of rescue from her misery. + + * * * * * + +Shall I conclude, and rest in hope of general sympathy? No; although it +has magnificently proved itself. + +History gives some thousand facts to shew that man is led to good by +woman; deprived of her gentle guidance towards that good, he usually +sinks to evil. Unchecked by the example of her patience, gentleness, and +faith, he often revels in thoughtless wantonness,--while, resting under +the beaming influence of her love and sympathy, he melts and is moulded +into a form approaching her own. Happily for Great Britain, this +peaceful, blissful influence sheds its beams over almost all men's +destinies, hence its public virtues, its private happiness; and hence +the cause of my present appeal _to the Ladies of Great Britain_! + +Pardon me, fair Ladies! if I approach you on that which may be deemed "a +matter of business;" but I am not of those who consider woman's mind +unfitted for the toils and difficulties of life and only made for its +pleasures--far the reverse. Nor shall I yet approach you under the sweet +incense of flattery, said to be a _cloud_ which gives to you a grateful +odour--I believe it not. Nor shall I, to tell you of the prowess of man +in his deeds of arms; nor of his glories midst the slain or dying; for, +thanks to God! the heart of an Englishwoman shudders at the thought. Man +shall not be my theme. I come to tell you of the ills and sufferings of +unhappy _Women_!--beings like to yourselves, in gentle and good +feelings, though poor--like to yourselves in love and affection, though +wretched--Woman, in truth, kind, affectionate, and good; blessings to +their own--Woman in all things, but in that which is her due and right +in Great Britain--_care and respect for her sex and virtues_. Those +whose cause I plead are blessed with as pure and spotless bosoms as your +own--though one may be cased in russet or in rags, the other enshrouded +in lace--and they die, not through the horrors of war, or of plague, but +of starvation and of cold. + +In my description of the cottage of the general peasantry, you will have +seen, and I doubt not recollect the fact, that upon some 2,000,000 of +your sex in Ireland is entailed the degradation of passing the hours of +her rest with the family, all in one resting-place, and getting warmth +by being forced "to herd with the beast of the field." Think of this +indignity and say shall it longer exist? + +To you is due the final accomplishment of one of the noblest acts of +England--the abolition of West Indian slavery. The battle was commenced +by man, and fought manfully; but without your aid he could not have +conquered as he did. Your generous voices cheered him on, and he became +invincible. And so will it ever be in Great Britain. O! give but the +same aid now, and you will accomplish at least an equal good. + +If of the aristocracy, tell to those whose halls you adorn, that the +peasant _woman_ of Ireland can only obtain warmth enough to save her +from perishing, and give her sleep, by herding with her pig! Say, _Woman +sleeps thus!_ and ask, _should it be?_ Mayhap when Woman in her +loveliness and power thus pleads for Woman in her misery and poverty, +the chord may be struck which will proclaim the _sin_, and produce its +abolishment. + +If the mansion of the wealthy be guided or blessed by thy residence, +proclaim the fearful fact, and whispering ask, "For what does God give +wealth?" The answer may not come at first, or for a time; but whisper +again--and 'tis said that angels' whispers fill the air with charity and +love. So, perhaps, will thine--and wealth may at thy bidding aid to +rescue Woman from such degradation. + +If the middle class (from which England's greatness springs), claims +thee as its own, tell to all around the truth which tells of Britain's +shame--_that the Irishwoman is forced to herd with cattle_! Plead, and +say--Am I not a woman, and is she not my sister? And by degrees thy +pleadings will strike man's heart, for the thought will come upon +him--"Oh! that one I love should fall to such a lot," and his voice will +join thine in truthfulness and charity, to win others to the task of +rooting out the evil. + +If thou art poor, I need not plead. The poor feel for the poor, and +spare even somewhat from their poverty. Their hearts can tell the pangs +of poverty, and pity fills them with love and charity and regret that +poverty makes them powerless. But still thou hast a _voice_. Raise it, +and cry shame on those who may, yet will not save the nation from the +stain of this deep indignity to _woman_! + + * * * * * + +And how, you may ask, is this to be done? Most simply. Ireland possesses +wealth in soil--in fuel--in minerals--in fisheries--in water-power--in +short, in all things fitted to be developed by the great and wonderful +business capability, knowledge, and capital of England; but the latter +has feared without just reason--has been acted upon by groundless +prejudices and dreads, so as to prevent that business intercourse and +mercantile enterprise, for which Ireland offers such beneficial opening; +and she has been left to herself, to anarchy, misrule, and neglect, +until she has sunk into pauperism. In a word, let England but embark a +just portion of her enterprise and capital, and talent in Ireland, in +place of _seeking_ for opportunity to do so abroad. In doing this, she +will employ the people in useful occupations highly profitable, and in +proportion as such be done will Ireland's poverty vanish, and Great +Britain's wealth increase. _Ask for this;--and that the peasant labourer +shall be paid in money, not potatoes. And if you ask from your heart, +you will succeed._ + +Then, fair pleaders for my countrywomen!--then your labours may +cease--for even those who possess _your_ affections do not, nor cannot, +value them more highly; nor those who hold you in their hearts do not +love more truly, than the peasant of Ireland. Your labours may +cease--for it will then be his labour of love to guard and protect his +own from insult and indignity. And as you rest after your glorious +victory, your pillow mayhap will not even crease by the pressure of the +fair cheek upon it, so light and so sweet will be the sleep to follow so +kind and good a work. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Short tobacco-pipe. + +[2] See Comparative Statement of the Crimes of England and Ireland, in +"_The Appeal for the Irish Peasantry_." + + + + * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Dialect + spellings have been retained. Punctuation has been standardised. The + following significant amendments have been made to the original text: + + Page 17, added 'that' to 'When this occurs ... it is impossible + _that_ the poor labourer can ...' + + Page 39, removed additional 'you' from 'And if you ask from your + heart, you _you_ will succeed.' + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FACTS FOR THE KIND-HEARTED OF +ENGLAND!*** + + +******* This file should be named 25170.txt or 25170.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/1/7/25170 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |