The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-15 00:00:00

DANGER OF FAMINE.

DUBLIN, Nov. 13.—The following is the letter addressed
by Lord Cloncurry, as Chairman of the Mansion-house Com-
mittee, to Sir R. Peel, and the Right Hon. Baronet's reply
"Mansion-house, Dawson-street,
7th November, 1845.
" Sir,—As Chairman of a Committee consisting of highly
respectable gentlemen of all classes of political and religious
opinions, appointed at a recent public meeting of the citizens
of Dublin, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair,
it devolves upon me, as a public duty, to address you as re-
sponsible adviser of our most gracious Sovereign, and which
1 do with unfeigned respect, and in the most anxious man-
ner, to call for your fullestland most immediate considera-
tion to the preaent afflicting and most dangerous state of
the people of Ireland. We can assure yOu that our infor-
mation is both accurate and extensive; that it reaches over
all parts of Ireland, and is derived from sources altogether
unaffected by ally political party motive whatsoever. Be
assured, Sir, we tell you but the simple truth when we inform
you that the danger of famine is immediate and pressing, and
if not averted by the activity of man and the blessing of a
merciful Providence, must result in a pestilence of the most
frightful nature.
" We do solemnly assure you of our perfect knowledge
that the destniction of the potato crop is extremely ex-
tensive, with some slight mitigation in particular localities;
but as a general calamity is extending to all the provinces
and counties of Ireland—nor does the evil rest here—for
day after day the disease is extending. Quantities of pota-
toes apparently in the most healthy state one day are
found, on the ensuing, partially, if not entirely, unfit for
human er even animal food. The disease is in its nature
expansive, and it is to our knowledge daily and hourly
expanding; nor is there any rational evidence to show that
that this wide-spreading rottenness will find any other limit
than in the destruction of the entire potato crop. We
do not intend you any disrespect, quite the contrary; but
we do wish to impress upon your mind the awful responsi-
bility which, as her Majesty's principal adviser, you incur
if your Government hesitates to adopt the most speedy and
extensive possible modes of alleviating the impending cala-
mity. Whilst you hesitate, if hesitate you shall, the people
of Ireland are about to perish in countless numbers. May
we respectfully refer you to Lord Devon's report of last
session, where you will find, or, indeed, whence we take
for granted you are already informed, that the Irish agricul-
tural labourers and their families are calculated to amount
to more than four millions of human beings, whose only food
is the potatoes—whose only drink is water—whose houses
are pervious to the rain—to whom a bed or blanket is a
luxury almost unknown, and who are more wretched than
any other people in Europe. We respectfully call your at-
tention to the fact that the foregoing description of the state
of the Irish peasantry was published long before there was or
could be the least suspicion of the most afflicting visitation
of Providence in the destruction of the present crop. If then
such was the condition of a large portion of the Irish people
even in favourable harvests, you will in your humanity
easily judge what must be the horrors of their situation if
the approaching famine be allowed to envelope the entire
population.
"We implore of you, Sir, not to allow yourself to be
persuaded that we exaggerate the horrors or certainty of the
approaching famine; we have no motive under Heaven of
misleading or misinforming you, and even if we had you may
believe we are utterly incapable of acting on such a motive;
our only object is to impress on your mind what we know
to be the fact, that famine and pestilence are at our door,
and can be averted only by the most extensive and active
precautions. The season for receiving- supplies of foreign
food is rapidly terminating, the northern ports of Europe,
as also the ports of the British American colonies, as well
as of the Northern American States, will soon be closed,
until it will be too late to receive supplies from these
countries. Other foreign countries—afflicted by a similar
calamity—have already been before us in the market, and
are daily enhancing the price of those supplies, which our
Government might otherwise calculate on. The lives of the
people of Ireland are in the hands of your Government, if you
determine not to take immediate precautions, we are unable
to contemplate the extent of the horrible consequences re-
sulting from the destruction of the people's food, and from the
neglect of the protection of Government. We are incapable
of using any language that could be construed into dictation,
but we respectfully declare it to be our conviction that it is
the imperative duty of the Government to adopt some or all
of the following measures, together with such others as that
Government may deem advisable to meet the impending
evil:—
" 1. The opening of the ports of Ireland for all kinds of
human food, free of duty.
"2. The closing the ports of Ireland against the exporta-
tion of oats, either ground or whole.
"3. That the consumption of oats by cavalry regiments In
Ireland be diminished as much as it possibly can w►th safety
to the public service.
"4. That the distillation from grain be suspended in
Ireland, due precaution being taken to prevent illicit dis-
tillation.
5. That there be immediately-'raised money, by way of
loan, to the extent of one million and a half at the least, and
chargeable upon Irish resources—such as the department of
Woods and Forests, &c. ; and that the amount of such loan
be applied, in the first instance, to the increasing the quantity,
and decreasing the price, of food in Ireland.
" 6. That we earnestly recommend the forming of granaries
in each of the poor-law unions, and other localities through-
put kelepd, so a.s to Drip; food within. the reach of all its
inlaainteuts,
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