To the Right Hon. Lord J. Russell

Kilclooney, Tuam, August 17, 1848

Galway Vindicator, date ? August 17, 1848

My Lord the dire necessity of the case must plead any excuse for addressing your lordship on matter of deep importance.

In coming from Dublin by Galway to this place, I have had ample opportunity of seeing the blight in the potato stalk extending in some instances to the roots which become black and rotten with a bad smell perceptible from the road. Some times you see the bad potatoes in heaps on the ridge, the wheat and oat crops which promised well up to this, will now I fear be bet down, by the incessant rain for the last three days.

In the west the spirits of all classes are depressed by heavy assessments sure to be heavier. Farmers finding their capital reducing as each rate if paid may possibly at the upcoming autumnal fairs dispose of their property and start for America or elsewhere glad to escape with any remnant of property.

Your lordship will easily imagine the state of the country when deserted by this class and left with bankrupt proprietors and tenants; no one to employ the labourers who of necessity must go on the rates.

The five acre farmers and under which form a vast body of western tenants have paid but little rent for two or three years, and the prospects for this year are not promising.

Observe well in all adverse seasons the West has, from its position, suffered most, has most poor, and yet from repeated failures of the crop, least incans for their support.

I tremble for the consequences if the coming corn harvest, in addition to the potatoes, shall be bad, and that parliament shall separate without your Lordship devising some plan and holding out prospects of relief of these western districts. ("A stitch in time saves nine") may be applied to the situation in which Ireland is placed in August, 1843.

I implore your Lordship to hold out a prospect of enquiry into the Fiscal burthens of the county with a view of next sessions equalizing their now most partial assessments, by placing the several charges which are now upon the country at large under the Grand Jury Act as also those under the Poor Law Act, for the maintenance of the poor house and town paupers and vagrants with the staff, all which charges being incurred for the good of the community at large, ought in fairness to be placed on property of all description leaving the land to pay for the barony roads (no mail lines) on which to employ their able—bodied and the electoral division to leave only the cost of maintaining in the workhouse their own paupers only.

A declaration of your determination to this effect will, I assure your Lordship, be taken in good parts by all proprietors and occupiers and inspire them with fresh vigour to meet the bad times on their own land.

But to induce capital at once into this country to complete our railroad (a) the arterial drainage of the country (b) land improvement (c) piers and harbours for our fisheries (d) completing unfinished roads (e) navigation and drainage of our rivers and lakes (f), power should be given to the cess—payers in every Barony or such similar denominations to borrow money on mortgage of the rate, repayable by ten instalments, with the concurrence of the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council.

Your Lordship giving precedence to these new traded, I regret to say, by the tempestuous state of the weather for the last few days. But all these good things cannot be accomplished without aid and encouragement from a benevolent public and the important question to be considered is, how we shall be able to maintain the educational machinery now in operation in those schools and the charities connected with them, without clashing with those invaluable institutions which here of piety and zeal have already called into existence in the different parts of the town ? A few intelligent persons, friends of their kind, differing in creed but united in the God—like cause of charity, have reflected upon this subject and agreed to solicit public support and patronage in aid of these schools upon the ground work of their town practical usefulness. They have resolved on holding an "Industrial and Fancy Fair" once in the year, and the chief portion of the articles to be exhibited for sale shall be made by the children attending for sale shall be made by the children attending the Claddagh and Taylor's Hill schools. As the Patrons of these schools hope to be enabled to clothe a few of the most destitute of the children, they respectfully trust that the zealous and charitable ladies of the town and county will kindly co—operate and contribute something to the ornamental department of the "Fair", and that their charity, like that of God, will embrace every thing useful within the sphere of their influence. thanking you, dear sir, for your kindness, I have the honour to be, your obedient and obliged servant,

Thomas R. Rush
P.S. Due notice of the time at which the fair is to be held will be given.