APPENDIX B.

SIR,

O'CONNELL CENTENARY NATIONAL

COMMITTEE.

Mansion House,

Dublin, 21st May, 1875.

We have great pleasure in laying before you, by direc tion of the Committee, a copy of the Programme of the coming Ceremonial of the National Celebration of the O'Connell Centenary-a programme adopted, after long and mature consideration, by this Committee. It has been framed with a view to give full effect to the unanimously expressed desire of the country to render the National Celebration worthy of Ireland, by rendering it worthy of O'Connell,

This programme indicates the great outlines only of the features of the Ceremonial; yet we trust with sufficient clearness and fulness to convince you that to carry out the Celebration in all its details, and secure its success, considerable funds will be required. We respectfully request your active co-operation and influence to aid us in this great National Ceremonial, and shall be happy to receive your subscription towards the heavy expenses incidental to the occasion.

We are, Sir,

Your very obedient servants,

PETER PAUL M'SWINEY, Lord Mayor,

President,

ANDREW O'CONNELL, D.D., P.P., Dean,

JAMES POWER, Bart.,

CHARLES BIANCONI, D.L.,

JOSEPH M'CANN, Alderman,

PROGRAMME

OF THE

NATIONAL CELEBRATION.

The Celebration of the Hundredth Birthday of the immortal O'Connell, born 6th August, 1775, will take place in the Irish metropolis on Thursday, the 5th; Friday, the 6th; and Saturday, the 7th of August next.

THURSDAY.

The Celebration will open this morning with a Solemn Religious Ceremonial in the Cathedral, Marlborough-street, at which His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin will preside, and at which the Irish and other Catholic prelates will assist. Very Rev. Father Burke, O. P., will preach on the occasion. At three o'clock, Mendelsshon's Grand Oratorio, "Elijah," will be given in the Great Concert Hall of the Exhibition Palace, with full orchestra and chorus. Conductor, Joseph Robinson, Esq.; Leader, R. M. Levey, Esq. At eight o'clock there will be a Grand Miscellaneous Concert of Selected Irish Music, in the Exhibition Palace. Conductor, Joseph Robinson, Esq.; Leader, R. M. Levey, Esq. In the course of the evening will be recited the Centenary Ode, by Denis Florence M'Carthy, M.R.I.A.

FRIDAY (the Centena).

At ten o'clock the several bodies to form the Grand Procession from the City Mansion House will assemble in Stephen's-green, and other available sites to be hereafter indicated, and join in their assigned order. The route will be so cast as to cover some miles of the city, ita termination being the site of the National Monument, Sackville-street, where the Oration on the Centenary will be delivered. In the evening there will be grand banquets and balls.

SATURDAY.

Excursions from Dublin to the chief scenic and historical districts in the country will be arranged. Boat races on the river, for which a valuable Commemoration Cup and other prizes will be offered for National competition. At eight o'clock, in the Exhibition Palace, Glover's Cantata, "St. Patrick at Tara," with a selection of Irish music. Conductor, Professor Glover. Bands will perform, and brilliant displays of Fireworks will be given at various parts of the city.

A Reception Committee will sit daily at the Mansion House, and afford all necessary information to visitors to the Ceremonial.

Signed on behalf of the National Committee,

PETER PAUL M'SWINEY, Lord Mayor, President.

Mansion House,

Dublin, 21st May, 1875

THE END.

THE HISTORY

OF THE

GREAT IRISH FAMINE OF 1847,

WITH NOTICES OF EARLIER IRISH FAMINES.

BY THE

REV. JOHN O'ROURKE, P.P., M.R.I.A.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

"THE readers of Father O'Rourke's book will be able to comprehend how it was that two millions of people perished in a Christian land, and in the centre of the very richest empire on the globe. From the perusal of "The History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847," it will strike them that never before did they find the sources of that tremendous catastrophe so intelligibly traced, and the causes of its dire prolongation so lucidly set out. They will further own that until this graphic and masterly picture was presented to them their conception of the famine was defective, and lacked that feature of horrible magnitude which ranks it among the most terrific scourges ever inflicted upon a nation.”—Freeman's Journal.

66

It is by no means a mere compilation. The writer evidently prepared himself for his task, by a long and careful examination of the materials which were procurable by diligent searching."-Irish Times.

"But as the eye-witnesses of the famine and the fever-plague are every day becoming more few, all the more reason was there for the accomplishment, in our time, of the work which has been so ably performed by the Rev. Father O'Rourke. . . The work was undertaken from a sense of duty, and in that spirit it has been performed..... His style is