This is a reprint of a book first published in 1862. It resulted from a four-month tour by  Henry Coulter of the West of Ireland where he reported on the effects of a series of poor harvests and the prospect of impending famine. Coulter was  in Newry in Co. Down, and went on to become a journalist. He worked in Dublin on the Freeman's Journal and famously reported on the speeches of Daniel O'Connell. Later, he became special correspondent for the West of Ireland on the Saunder's Newsletter and his letters resulted in this book. The letters give a detailed account of the condition and prospects of the people living in the western counties. Not content simply to give his impression of what he observed, he has supplied us with detailed information about the harvest, wages, trade and prices in Athlone, Counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Roscommon. It is a rich source of information for local historians researching these area and for those exploring how their ancestors actually lived. This edition has been enhanced by the inclusion of an index and extensive footnotes not found in the original nor in scanned editions of the book.