measures to be adopted, would be premature; particularly as there is reason to hope that, though the evil exists to a very great extent in some localities, in others it has but partially manifested itself.

“There is no immediate pressure in the market.  I will, however, lose no time in submitting your suggestions to the consideration of the Cabinet.  The greater part of them can only be enforced by legislative enactment, and all require to be maturely weighed before they can be adopted.  It must be clear to you, that in a case of such great national importance, no decision can be taken without a previous reference to the responsible advisers of the Crown.”

When the Lord Lieutenant had concluded reading the above answer, he immediately commenced bowing the deputation out.  As they were about to withdraw, O’Connell made an observation about distilleries.  Lord Heytesbury, not condescending to mention him by name, said, that the observation of the gentleman who had spoken was one deserving of much consideration, and one which had not been overlooked by the Government, when it had the matter under discussion; and again began bowing them out, “which,” writes one of those present, “was distinctly understood, and the deputation forthwith retired.”

Although there is clear evidence in Sir Robert Peel’s memoirs of himself, that Lord Heytesbury immediately submitted the views of the deputation to the Cabinet, His Excellency’s letter, which no doubt accompanied them, is not given, neither is the address itself; nor does the Premier or Home Secretary discuss these views, or in any way allude to them in subsequent communications.  The evidence we have, that they were in the hands of the Cabinet without delay, is contained in a letter of Lord Heytesbury himself, dated 8th of November, given in the Peel Memoirs, the name of its recipient, contrary to his usual practice, being suppressed by Sir Robert Peel.  The Lord Lieutenant’s address to the deputation was evidently found fault with, at least in one particular, at head quarters—­and he is on his defence in this letter.  “It is perfectly true” writes His Excellency, “that I did, in my answer to the Lord Mayor, say there was no immediate pressure on the market; but you must not give too wide a meaning to that observation, which had reference merely to his demand that the exportation of grain should be prohibited and the ports immediately thrown open.  My meaning was that there was nothing so pressing as to require us to act without waiting for the decision of the responsible advisers of the Crown.  But the danger may be upon us before we are aware of its being near; for, as I said in a former letter, the sudden decay of potatoes dug up in an apparently sound state sets all calculation at defiance.  Some precautionary measures must be adopted, and adopted promptly, for there is danger in delay.”

It is worthy of remark, that the only part of the Viceroy’s answer to the deputation, that could weaken the arguments in favour of Free Trade, was his saying, “there was no immediate pressure on the market;” and this was the only part found fault with by the un-named minister to whom the above defence was addressed.