In replying to Mr. Scrope, Sir James Graham called this “a forced purchase of oats which would be most injurious, by increasing the demand for the article.”  Mr. Wakley addressing himself to that observation, said “he would ask, was not England open to the same or similar effects?  Did not the guardians of the poor in this country make purchases upon the spot?  Surely, meat, flour, and other provisions for the workhouses were purchased in the immediate neighbourhood of such workhouses—­in short, was not everything given in the workhouses obtained in the immediate vicinity of them?”—­Hansard, vol. 150.  Columns 1168 and 1191.

[118] “Gentlemen, when I reflect that as much as L30,000,000 of money have been expended in one year in contending with foreign countries for objects of infinitely less importance to us.”

Sir H.W.  Barren (interrupting) “L30,000,000 per annum.”

Lord Stuart—­I stated so—­infinitely of less importance than assisting to relieve an immensity of our fellow-countrymen from starvation.  I have not, nor can I feel any distrust in those to whom her Majesty has entrusted the government of the country so as to believe they could hesitate ... in granting a sixth of that sum for rendering Ireland prosperous and contented.”—­Speech of Lord Stuart de Decies at Dungarvan, recommending the Government to reclaim the waste lands, November 13, 1846.

[119] Hansard, vol. 154, p. 776.

[120] “I have visited the wasted remnants of the once noble Red Man, on his reservation grounds in North America, and explored the “negro quarter” of the degraded and enslaved African, but never have I seen misery so intense, or physical degradation so complete, as among the dwellers in the bog-holes of Erris.”—­Visit to Connaught in the Autumn of 1847, by James H. Tuke, of York.

[121] Ante, p. 158.

CHAPTER VI.

The Labour-rate Act passed without opposition:  entitled, An Act to Facilitate the Employment of the Labouring Poor—­Its provisions—­Government Minute explaining them—­Heads of Minute—­Rate of wages—­Dissatisfaction with it—­Commissary-General Hewetson’s letter—­Exorbitant prices—­Opinion expressed on this head by an American Captain—­The Government will not order food as Sir B. Peel did—­Partial and unjust taxation—­Opposition to the Labour-rate Act—­Reproductive employment called for—­Lord Devon’s opinion—­Former works not to be completed under the Act—­Minute of 31st of August—­Modified by Mr. Labouchere’s letter of 5th of September—­People taxed who paid a rent of L4 a year—­In many cases a hardship—­Barren works the great blot of the Labour-rate Act—­Arguments against the Act—­Resources of the country should have been developed—­Panic among landowners—­Rev. Mr. Moore’s letters—­Level roads a good thing—­Food better—­A cry of excessive population raised—­Ireland not overpeopled—­Employ the people on tilling