20
Letter to the Rt. Hon. C. Fortescue, M.P.
5. The pauper has a secure refuge in a workhouse where he need not fear to starve. The Poor Law Commissioners, totally unconnected with politics, perform their duties firmly and impartially.
6. The number of evictions has very materially diminished.
As illustrations of the statements I have made, I will now add some information, partly derived from official returns furnished to me by the favour of the Irish Government departments, and partly from works of known reputation and authority. I am sorry that I cannot carry back the criminal returns to 1831; but none were made to Dublin Castle till 1844, the previous reports having been made to the four provincial inspectors.
| 1844 | 1845 | 1861 | 1865 | 1866 | |
| Homicide | 18 | 12 | 4 | 4 | __ |
| Firing at the person | 26 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Assault endangering life | 12 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Assault on bailiffs and process-servers | __ | 3 | __ | __ | __ |
| Incendiary fire | 121 | 185 | 25 | 48 | 29 |
| Taking and holding forcible possession | 7 | 2 | __ | __ | __ |
| Killing or maiming cattle | 54 | 56 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| Demand or robbery of arms | 9 | 7 | __ | 1 | __ |
| Appearing armed | 17 | 5 | 1 | 1 | __ |
| Riot | 5 | 2 | 1 | __ | 1 |
| Threatening letters | 417 | 395 | 105 | 73 | 32 |
| Attacking houses | 84 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Resistance to legal process | 18 | 25 | 1 | __ | __ |
| Injury to property | 69 | 54 | 25 | 15 | 6 |
| Firing into dwellings | 31 | 18 | 8 | __ | 1 |
| 888 | 799 | 198 | 162 | 83 |
