APPENDIX.

I.

LETTER FROM A LADY WHO VISITED THE ISLAND OF ACHILL IN SEPtember, 1835.

DEAR MR. BARROW,

I AM glad that my Letter has afforded you some interest. Your desire to print it word for word makes me think that I should have written it differently had I ever dreamed of so unlooked-for an event; but, as a real extract from a private letter, I suppose it must stand as it is, in order to be honest*.

I fear, however, I cannot comply with your wish to mention my name. One is apt to write to a sister with a little more warmth of colouring than is quite discreet on other occasions; but, by entering into some further details of the history of the Achill mission, you will judge better whether my sympathy with this interesting and suffering little colony may not admit of some apology, even in the eyes of those who are least partial to the principle of proselyting exertions.

When Mr. Nangle landed with his family on the Island of Achill, in July or August, 1834, nine or ten months after the initiatory labours had commenced on the tract of land procured for the settlement, he was hailed by the inhabitants as a benefactor, and fires were lighted on the shore to express their welcome. They were already able to estimate some of the benefits they had to expect. The steward had preceded Mr. Nangle by about a year; the land was inclosed and partly

* Alluding to the "Extract" of a former letter, inserted at page 209.

drained; two houses, which, simple as they are, were of a description never before seen in the island, had been erected; and a scripture-reader* and a schoolmaster had already begun to work in their particular departments. The grateful and affectionate feeling of the poor islanders increased as the settlement continued to advance. Native labourers were employed with the Protestant colonists, and as much as sixty pounds were frequently paid amongst the poor for a month's wages, when there was no money to be earned in any other part of the island. Mr. Nangle was soon enabled to establish schools in different places under competent teachers, and many parents sent their children to them without reluctance, whilst the children seized with avidity the instruction offered them. Some of these, who were nearly naked, were supplied with necessary clothing; the sick also were furnished gratuitously with medicine, and the convalescent, to a considerable extent, with food, when their extreme poverty demanded it. An influence was thus created which, however beneficial, was opposed to that Catholic supremacy which had hitherto been undisputed in the island. It was not to be expected that it should be suffered to gain ground with impunity, and accordingly, other free-schools for the Catholics, by the aid of funds from the National Board of Education, were opened, and the people had no longer the excuse for sending their children to heretical seminaries, that they had no other places of gratuitous instruction.

So far we cannot blame the Catholics; nor did Mr. Nangle: "Let them say all they can against me and my schools," I have heard him say, "I would do the same; but let them stop short here." They were far, however, from stopping short here. An inquisition was soon organized, and inquisitors appointed in each village to report the names of persons working on the mission

The Scripture-readers are men originally of the peasant class, of good character, and carefully instructed in the knowledge of the Scriptures, whose business it is to enter the cottages, whenever they are willingly admitted, and read the Bible to the poor.

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grounds, or sending their children to its schools; they were published in the chapels of Achill and Newport, and the intermediate one of Tirinar; and the most frightful imprecations were pronounced from the altar on all (their names being mentioned) who had any connexion with the colony, either through the schools, or by working in Mr. Nangle's service, which was described as "working for the devil." A respectable Roman Catholic woman, the wife of a coast-guard officer, on one occasion left the chapel, publicly protesting against the language employed. I believe it is on her testimony that the parish priest is known to have prayed "that those who disobeyed his orders might not have a child that day twelvemonth, and when they died, they might have none to stretch them." Does not the epithet ruffian, even on Mr. Nangle's lips, seem excused by such an indecent outrage on the feelings of humanity? In order to give additional authority and effect to these proceedings, the parish priest of Newport landed in Achill, February 14th, 1835, after beating up recruits on the way, "to put down the preachers." It would seem as if he understood well the affection recently borne by the islanders, and not yet extinct, perhaps, towards their Protestant benefactor, and so brought in a body of strangers having no such grateful prejudices, in whom he could better trust for the accomplishment of his object. The next day, which was Sunday, what ferocious prayers! what sanguinary curses! The people were desired to have their pitchforks well sharpened; and in case Mr. Nangle or any of his agents entered their houses, one was to stand at the back-door and another at the front*, to render escape impossible;

*The cottages in Achill, as in most parts of the west of Ireland, consist of only one room, in which are two doorways, opposite to each other; the one on the lee side being left open, while that to windward is closed; this is done by means of a moveable straw matting, fitting to the doorway, and shifted as occasion requires. In the worst of these cottages, it is only through these apertures that daylight is admitted into the interior.

and then this unholy minister of a religion of peace and love prayed that the people might lose the power of their hands if they failed to execute his orders! The intended effects immediately followed. The Irish mind, with all its fine and endearing qualities, is easily excited, prone to violence when its passions and prejudices are roused, and, above all, and this is its worst property, exceedingly disposed to sympathize with, or submit to, the arm of power, and to side with the strongest *.

The day following the priest of Newport's arrival the steward of the colony was assaulted with a bludgeon, while sitting in his own dwelling, and the labourers were informed that, if they ventured beyond the Sound of Achill, they might bring their coffins ready made along with them. Several assaults were committed at different times on the road between Achill and Newport + upon persons connected, or supposed to be so, with Mr. Nangle, and were alluded to by the priest in the chapel, to show what was the real effect of being denounced from the altar, and what others had to expect. Mr. Nangle deemed it necessary to wear arms about his person when on the road, and on one occasion attributed his preservation, under Providence, to this precaution, and to an escort of police which had been ordered to accompany him on his return from Newport to Achill. During this, or some other short absence he

* See, for instance, the case of the Rev. Mr. Stoney's steward at Castlebar. This poor, inoffensive man, whose only crime was that he was a Protestant in Mr. S.'s service, and had been seen in the Catholic chapel the preceding Sunday, listening to the denunciations from the altar, was knocked down by six ruffians, hired, it is supposed, for the purpose; who, with iron-headed sticks, struck him on the head till they left him for dead, weltering in his blood. This was not done in a bye-lane or corner, but on the fair-green, on fair day, before hundreds of witnesses, yet not one lent a helping hand to save or defend him. Such an absence of all generous and manly feeling could not have been met with in England. We saw this poor man, a few days after, at Newport.

After crossing Achill Sound, the distance to Newport, the nearest town on the main-land, is 17 Irish miles.