On Saturday last the inhabitants of Westport witnessed a novel and at the same time, a heart rendering sight. About mid-day some thousands of the rural population marched into town to have an interview with the Most Noble the Marquis of Sligo: they approached the grand entrance of the Noble Lord's residence and having, after some little delay, obtained admittance, they proceeded, with the most becoming order to the Castle, none attempting to even walk off the road, lest their doing so might injure the grass of the demense.
Having arrived before the hall door the Noble Marquis (as was custom of his deceased father) instantly came forward to meet them; he talked to them; deplored the visitation with which God had affliated the land: told them he would instantly state their condition to the Government, in order to obtain them relief, and that as to himself, he would go as far as any landlord in the country to redress the grievances of his tenantry. He also told them his intention was not to harress them with regard to his rents: that then it was almost useless to talk on that subject, as the time for collecting the rent had not yet arrived.
Finally, the Noble Marquis assured them that no exertions of his should be spared to obtain for them, from Her Majesty's Government immediate employment. The people expressed themselves satisfied with declarations of their Noble Landlord and returned to the town in the same orderly manner which characterised their march to the castle.
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