Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-04
THE CROPS IN GREAT BRITAIN.


The condition of the public mind in Eng
land, growing out of the failure of the crops
may be inferred from the annexed article, CO.
pied from the Liverpool Times Of the 4th ult :
FAMINE EXPECTED IN ENGLAND.
Hitherto, the cycle of the seasons has be-
iriended Sir Robert Peel. Four good harvests
IN succession, have filled his exchequer-fled
the stomachs of the lieges-made the nation
prosperous-the people contenied. Alas 1!
the scene is changed-the evil day has come
upon him, and has found him unprepared to
face 1t. Famine-gaunt, horrible, DESTROYING
iamine--seems impending. Fears have seized
;he public mlnd In Ireland matters look ap-
palling-in England gloomy. The granaries
oil the continent are exhausted. The corn
fields Of the V:stula, the Danube, and the Ell
be, are barely sufficient for the local wants of
the inhabitants. The nation is in commo,ion :;
aud the cry of "Open the ports and let in corn,
duty free"' is heard, OH all sides, reverbera-
leu from every part of the empire. The
"pressure from without" has made itself heard
IN Downing street, and faith i'm the sliding
scale-Peel's sliding scale-is gone forever
A third of the potato crop in Ireland, is des-
troyed.
Inc Government has sent scientific profess
sors 10 the scene OF the mischief, and the aw-
Iui truth Is out that this large portion of the
peoples fooG-the esculent that Goblet alb
horred-is unfit for use. What is to be done
IN this terrible, this unlocked for emergency /?
>.Open the ports ~ is the reclamation and
there stands the shivering Premier, like reed
IN the wind, paralysed between affection for
ms sliding scale and the horrors of public ia
mine. There he is, balancing the pros and
cons. But necessity is superior to consislen-
cy, superior even law The ports must be
opened. O'Connel, who assumes to be the
tribune OF the Irish people, goes beyond this
lie demands grant Of public money TO the
extent oil million and a half to be expended
IN the purchase OF food-he calls for a tax of
MY per cent on the absentees, and a tax of
ten PSF cent on the resideTts-he asks for the
prohibition oil corn and provisions leaving the
isiand-and the prevention of distileries con-
suming grain. Large demands these, will
they be conceded A day or two will solve
tue question; III the meantime speculation will
Ind wide margin for the exercise of its in
genuity.
The sliding scale-that cunning scheme to
make iood artlhcally dear-is in the crisis of
us late. Swept away now, as it will be. its
re-impostion, with the views which the pub
Tic entertain, (and which conservative and
even agricultural members have lardily adopt-
ed) Will be found impossible. 1t is gone for
ever. In future years small fixed duty may
DC lmposcd-the sliding scale never Every
'hing proclalms the speedy extinction of the
sliding scale-ihe tone of the government or
gans; the Language of the protested supporters
OF the ministry, the feeling in the public mind
IL mas long been seen and foretold that the
hrst season OF scarcity would fix its DOOM
30 1t has Peel is good actor his .'shver-
ing" is probably simulated, and not real.
RACED between cross fires, exposed on his
hank and his rear, it is necessary that he
should play his part SO as not to appear to
give triumph to either party. This lie has
done; this he is doing.