The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-13
CONDITION OF IRELAND.

! upon this article of food, has destroyed immense
quantities of it, and, in its consequences, threatens
, 10 visit the people with famine and with pest-
lence
I'VE lament to say that, from the contents OF the
London journals, received by the present arrival
and the last there is every TO fear that al this
moment the people of Ireland are suffering under
the accumulated horrors Of famine and disease. We
have given such extracts this distressing subject
as our limited space will admit, and in confirmation
would remark that one of the prominent causes as
ri signed by Sir Robert Peel for his recent resignation,
was disagreement with his colleagues as 10 the
means necessary TO arrest or mitigate the calamity.
He says
az will now call your attention to Ireland where
so large portion of the people subsst on potatoes.
There is a report TO the government by MIR. Lucas,
Sir r. Routh, and Professor Kane, stating that the
numerical portion Of the Irish population that may
be considered practically TO live exclusively upon
potatoes includes certainly 100000 And would
ask, would the government be justified in acting
carelessy in reference TO calamity which threaten
ed 100000 On the 18th October Lord
Heytesbary writes 10 the secretary of State The
evil will probably not be felt in all lis intensity ill
towards the month Of February or the beginning of
spring. am informed there Is no stock whatever
OF last years potatoes In the county And deep
on him, who is chiefly responsible for the tranquil
lily Of Ireland, the impression OF alarm, that not
day scarcely passed that he did not reiterate the
| WaninSb ne hou hHcduy gwen ou inc Gun
Lord Heytesbary writes; We arc most anxious
for the results Of the deliberations of the cabinet
upon the state OF the potato crops IN Ireland The
reports from various country gentlemen and public
bodies continue 10 be Of so alarming nature, that
il seems desirable that something should be done, IL
it be only to tranqullize the public mind. Every
thing is rising in price; and the people begin TO show
symptoms OF discomfort, which may rpen into
something more. Should wo lie authorized in issu-
ing proclamation prohibiting distllstion in grain
| This is a demand on all sides"
| "On the 9Th Of November he says The danger
may be upon us before we are aware Of its being
near for, as said in former letter, the sudden
decay Of potatoes dug up in u sound state, sets all
calculation at defiance. Some precautionary meas
ures must be adopted-and adopted promptly
for there is danger in delay; and | regret to say,
that Professor Lindley when he took leave OF me
yesterday said that he doubted very much whether
the potatoes would keep through the winter On
the lth the lord lieutenant says: The resident ma
gstrates now appear TO be ofoplnion that the disease
is extending, and the evil much greater than they
apprehended it to be. The heavy rains OF the last
few days have done infinite mischief On the 18th
he writes When the evil day of scarcity comes, it
will probably come with fearful rapidity. We must
| not allow ourselves to be taken by surprise
Lord Msnteage writes:
Take il, at the least, do not recOect any
former example ola calamitous failure being any |
thing great and alarming the present. |
Generally, we have seen the means of carrying our
people forward at least till summer approaches and
I'LL we within two three months Of the new
crop. The is very different now, and in some
places | know not how the peasantry will get
through the winter in very many cases. On the
3lst Of October, the Duke Of Leicester presided at
meeting in Dublin, where the following resolutions
were passed:
"'fhst the committee do respectfully represent
to the ord-ieutenant that it has now been ascer-
tanned beyond doubt that famine, and consequent
pestlence, are Immediately Imminent, unless the
government shall, without hesitation delay take
the most prompt measures to provide food for the
people, and to organize means for the distribution
of support in each locality throughout the land
That we respectfully call upon his excellency the
lordieutenant forthwith to order the ports Of Ire
land to be opened for the importation of Indian
corn, rice, and other articles suited for human
food
| "On the 5th of November, | had communication
from Lord Clare that gives account to the same
effect. Now at the first appearance Of this disor-
der thought it advisable to appoint two gentle
men-Professor Lindley and DR.. Lyon Playfair-
| to investigate the matter. They were entirely I'M
connected with Ireland, and they were TO give their
own account Of what they should observe, and
their impression with respect to the state Of the
disease. They went ireland and travelled through
several countless and on their return, my right hon
orable friend had interview with Professor Lind
lev the result of which alarming that we de-
cded that Professor Lindey and DR.. Payfair should
place upon record their opinions, and accordingly
on the 18th of November, they wrote a letter. in
which they state: During our stay in Ireland, we
carefully examined such official papers as, were
| transmitted to us from the castle. We consulted
persons acquainted with the facts of the disease
| We visited the district lying between Dublin and
Drogheda, and inspected various potato fields and
stores in the counties of Dublin, Louth, Meath
Westmeath, and part of Kildare. Judging from the
evidence thus collected, and from what we have
seen Of the progress Of the disease in England we
can come TO no other conclusion than that one-haf
of the actual potato crop Of Ireland is either de-
stroyed or remains in state unfit for the food of
man. We, moreover, feel it our duty to apprse
you that we feel this to be low estimate. We
would now add, melancholy as this picture is, that
| in all probability the late rainy weather has render
ed the mischief yet greater 1t is also necessary to
direct your attention to the quantity Of seed potatoes
which must be reserved for the coming year. if the
cultivation of this plant is to be persevered in. We
can state that on an average, one.eghth Of crop is
required for planting the same quantity Of ground,
that in fact only threeeghths of the crop can, in
our view, be at this moment assumed to be available
as food The remaining fve-eighths had been de-
| sroyed, or been reserved for seed.
"We have not room for giving more extracts.
i These have been given with the design of calling
public attention in this country to the fearful horrors
impending over lreand-hunger and disease; for, as
Mr.. John OConne observed in the House of Com
mons, there is no instance Of scarcity in Ireland
accompanied by typhus fever. 1t is not long since
we saw the walls Of this city pacarded with notices
of repeal meetings. and the sums collected there
pompously announced in the public prints. Would
not lrishmen here be acting more nationally, more
Chrstian-lke, in seeking to excite the sympathy of
their countrymen here in behalf of their suffering
countrymen at home' 1t needs but that the impulse
should be given. The generosity of the Irish char
acter the warm affections they still cherish towards
those they left behind, are sure guarantees that an
appeal to them would not be unheeded. Nor would
it, satisfied be dsregarded by other classes.
When the extent ofthe distress is known, to relieve
it will, mistake much be an object demand
ing the consideration Of American legislation.
"The British ministry, foreseeing the danger of
starvation, had, in November last, when the fear of
famine became alarming, directed purchase to be
made in the United States of quantity Of Indian
corn, or maize, for distribution to the people of Ire
land Our last letters (says the New York Albon)
from Dublin announced that these supplies had be-
gun to arrive and we also informed that the
pamphlets which sent to England by the steamer
Of the LIST of January, had been received. These