Virginia Argus

The Poor Haymakers.—To this subject we would call the attention of Landholders and Parish Vestries. It is impossible to conceive the distress in which these poor people (a majority of them itinerant strangers) have been reduced by the late incessant rains. At Burnet, on Tuesday, a gentleman happening to go into the market-place found about 140 poor people literally starving, he ordered them to be supplied with half a quartern loaf each, and to come back next morning for another. On Friday the number that applied for relief was 58, when they got the same bounty. On Saturday morning those (all strangers) who applied were 776, who each received one third of a quartern loaf and from the Parish, the Vestry having been roused to attend to the business, a quarter of a pound of cheese each.—Go thou and do likewise: for in your own neighbourhood there is a similar distress.