The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-21 00:00:00

PUNCH'S PRIVY COUNCIL.

Sir R. PEEL.—My Lords and Gentlemen,—it is not often
that I look into the newspapers, but having lately peeped
into some df them, I hope I don't offend the prejudice of any
one present if I say—l fear there is a failure of the potato
crop.
Duke of WELLINGTONMUCh exaggerated. Fellows in
newspapers say anything. If a failure, what of it?
Sir ROBERT—Why, don't you think, my Lord Duke—
mind, I have no wish to be precipitate in anything: no, I
think it always shows greater address to run after a calamity
than to stop it—nevertheless, don't you think we may begin
to consider the future propriety of some day or the other—
with famine, as it were, menacing us—to consider the pro-
priety, I say, of gradually opening the ports?
Sir E. KEA:minium—My dear Sir Robert ! The venerable
institutions of our country ! Our blessed Constitution !
Church and State ! The House of Brunswick ! A bold
peasantry, our country's pride ! Well, you do surprise me !
Open the ports ! And as that Molesworth said—but you may
expect anything of a man who reads Hobbes—open the ports,
and who'll shut 'em again ? It's a virtual repeal of the corn-
laws; and they once repealed, how are we to pay our
daughter's dowries—our wives' pin-money ? Think of pin-
money, Sir Robert.
Sir J. GRAHAM—It's very true; they do say potatoes have
failed in Ireland. But with O'Connell there, who's to believe
anything that comes from that country?
Lord LYNDHURST—If the potatoes are rotten at heart, it's
only because O'Connell's been making Repeal speeches to
them. And then for the Irish, are they not aliens in
Lord STANLEY—NM my dear Lyndhurst, be quiet on
that point. They are aliens; but don't say so. Let us stick
to potatoes. If the crop has failed
Sir JAMES—Pooh, pooh! if it has—the starch is all right.
And people may live very well upon starch and—resigna-
tion. Besides, I'm convinced of it, hunger is only a vulgar
habit—a wretched prejudice of the common people; nothing
more.
The DuKE—Good deal of that true, Graham. Tried it
in Spain. Soldiers there lived on chesnuts. Lived well.
Fought like devils.
Sir RoßEßT—Nevertheless, to return to the opening of
the ports.
Earl of ABERDEEN---PEI just thinking we cannot be too
deliberate.
Earl of HADDINGTON—CertainIy not. Besides, if the poor
are hungry, why can't they, like sailors on short allowance,
why can't they chew tobacco?
Sir ROBERT—That never struck me; again, as the Noble
Earl says, we cannot be too deliberate. Besides, there's the
sliding scale, and Parliament must meet in February. Well,
wheat may go up—so there's a great load taken from my
mind. By the by, what beautiful weather we've had for
November 1
The DUKE—Very. Seven this morning saw a butterfly.
Duke of Bucazucir—They say the gooseberry-bushes are
actually shooting.
Earl of RlPON—Shouldn't wonder.
[And, with this remarkable observation of the Noble
Earl's, the Council broke up.]—Punch.

NOTTINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—OPENING OF THE
PORTS.-At a meeting of the Town Council this day, Mr.
Taylor brought forward a motion, on the subject of memo-
rialising the Government, to open the ports at this important
crisis, to prevent difficulties which must occur, should they
not be opened, from a scarcity of food, arising from an in-
sufficient crop of wheat and the disease amongst potatoes.
He urged the necessity of the memorial to strengthen the
hands of those in the Cabinet who might be favourable, and
condemned the policy of deferring to do an act which all
the nations of Europe had thought it right to pursue, for
the purpose of affording an ample supply of provisions to the
inhabitants, and to prevent them being visited with the
horrors of famine. He begged to move, that with the fearful
prospect of distress occasioned by the deficiency of the late
harvest, the council deem it expedient, that a memorial in
conformity with this resolution be prepared and transmitted
to the Lords of the Treasury, and that the mayor do affix the
common seal to such memorial. Mr. John Bradley se-
conded the motion. Mr. Wakefield thought the alarm
created bad been greater than was necessary, but he should
vote for the memorial. Many members of the council
spoke in favour of the motion, and it was carried unani-
mously, and a committee was appointed to draw up the me-
morial agreeing with the spirit of the resolution.
This year Lord G. Bentinck has won 68 races with
25 horses, netting 17,3721., besides a cup, value unknown,
being the greatest winner of the season.
THE HOUSELESS POOR.--Preparations are going on
for opening the asylums in Ogle-street, Playhouse-yard, and
East Smithfield, which will take place as soon as the frost
sguiratAceS.