| Title: | Rev Robert Gage, Rathlin, To McManus, Relief Commissioner |
|---|---|
| ID | 1110 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Gage, Revd Robert/69 |
| Year | 1847 |
| Sender | Rev Robert Gage |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | clergyman |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Rathlin Island, N.Ireland |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | Mr McManus |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | business |
| Source | T.1883/65: Copied by Permission of D B McLaughlin Esq #TYPE LET Rev Robert Gage, Rathlin Island, To McManus, Relief Commissioner, [Londonderry?]. 3rd May 1847. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8811041 |
| Date | 03/05/1847 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | 05:12:1988 GC created 22:10:1990 GC input 23:10:19 |
| Word Count | 982 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Rathlin Island May 3rd 1847 My Dear Sir I have received and laid before our Relief Committee, your form of the 26th Ult covering the reply of the Relief Commission to our Memorial dated 13th Ult & addressed to His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant And I am requested to inform you that the Committee finding the objects they had in [memorialing?], are [virtually?] refused, and feeling in consequence their capabality [capability?] of usefulness to be so much diminished, have come to the resolution of tendering their resignations as Members of the Rathlin Island Relief Committee Allow me to assure you that it was not without great reluctance that the Committee came to this determination, and I can say for myself and I am sure I may venture to say for the other Members, that we came to it from no wish to save ourselves any trouble. As Proprietor of the Island (my only property) I am of course deeply interested in its welfare and if I thought the poor Inhabitants would be in any way benefitted [benefited?] by my Continuing on the Committee, nothing would induce me to tender my resignation. To prove that such are my feelings, I beg to say that if I thought there was any probability that the Relief Commission as would so far alter or modify their Rules & regulations/ as Contained in their printed instructions/ as to such the peculiar circumstances of our Case, I would have much pleasure in urging the Committee to withdraw their Resignation, feeling as I do that we ought not to break off our connection with the Government relief measures on light grounds I now proceed to state to you the modifications or alterations I think we would require in order to enable us to be of any use to the poor people. And First, I think, that a Grant should be made to the Island irrespective of any sums raised by private subscriptions, There being no person who has any property in the Island but myself, so of course there are none from whom private subscriptions could be expected, as it will be found that those whose means are limited have as much to do as they are able, to releive [relieve?] the distress in their own localities, and they whose means are more ample & are both able and willing to contribute to the relief of other districts than their own, prefer subscribing to the social associations formed in towns for the relief of Irish destitution, owing to this, Any relief we have hitherto got has been from associations & Relief Committees thus formed I would myself be willing to subscribe a sum equal to what a shilling rate on Rathlin electoral division would produce say about 40- altho [although?] my means are much circumscribed by what I have already done it is true I have not been able to give much in actual money, but by allowing the people to use as food what was formerly applied to the paymt [payment?] of their Rents, they have been benifitted [benefited?] as much as they would have been by a cash contribution & I think this ought to be taken into consideration in any grant government might be disposed to make In the second place, I wd [would?] wish it to be distinctly understood, that we could not consent to be accountable to the Finance Committee for the Expenditure of any sums of money hitherto granted to me or any member of my family either from Individuals or public bodies, or hereafter to be granted, except such as may be given or placed specially at our disposal, as a Relief Committee Thirdly I am if possible more than ever convinced that a daily distribution of the rations or indeed oftener than once a week would be utterly impracticable, No inconvenience could arise from this, for as each member of the Committee personally knows who the poor are, their daily attendance prevent imposition wd [would?] be altogether unnecessary. Again, As the only person on the Island capable of acting as clerk to the Relief Committee is the Parish Clerk & Schoolmaster, It would be quite impossible for him without neglecting his other avocations, as well as occasionally impracticable for him, to attend each meeting of the Finance Committee, or at the distribution of rations, more than weekly, I would therefore suggest that it might be sufficient to send over the Books by some other person when practicable. Understanding that the Commissioners will allow food to be sold to the Inhabitants generally at first cost & soup at less than first cost at the discretion of the Committee I have no remarks to make on this point. The foregoing are the Modifications which I consider wd [would?] be essential to enable the Committee to be of the least use to the people and which if complied with I would lay them before the members of the Relief Committee in the hopes they wd [would?] then resume their labours, but as I have not had an opportunity of a personal communication with them, I cannot take upon myself to say what their determination may be, The Inhabitants of the Island of Rathlin are industrious and honest, they have been brought with few exceptions into great distress, by a Visitation of Providence in the destruction of their Potato Crops. The great object I have in view is to endeavour to alleviate their distress under what I trust is but a temporary calamity, without hurting their feelings by treating them as common beggars or fit inmates for a Poor house Rather than do this had I no other means I would mortgage my property to raise funds for their support for I cannot forget that by their labour & industry in the time of their prosperity, my family & myself derive all our support. I have the Honour to be My dear Sir Very truly yours Rob't [Robert?] Gage |
