ABSTRACT
Although Daniel O ’Connell had placed some hopes for reform and relief in Russell’s Whig government, disillusionment had set in by the end o f 1846. Old and ill, the Liberator struggled to hold his Repeal movement together and to restrain unrest among the Young Irelanders, while at the same time trying to beg more aid for his country. His state of mind is suggested by his speech before the last Repeal Association meeting of 1846, as reported in The Economist. He had
...only a few words, a very few words to say, as his mind oppressed him too strongly.... He was frightened at the state of Ireland; and doubly so, because he did not think others were frightened enough.... Food was wanting in the north, south, east and west.... Never was a country in such danger — never was a government so loudly called on to do something.
