A few days after the Packet had published the above sentiment, the Evening Mail said, “there was a sufficiency—­an abundance of sound potatoes in the country for the wants of the people.”  And it goes on to stimulate farmers to sell their corn, by threats of being forestalled by Dutch and Hanoverian merchants.  In the beginning of December, a Tory provincial print, not probably so high as its metropolitan brethren in the confidence of its party, writes:  “It may be fairly presumed the losses have been enormous....  We repeat it, and we care not whom it displeases, that there are not now half as many sound potatoes in the country as there were last December.”  The Editor seemed to feel he was doing a perilous thing in stating a fact which he knew would be displeasing to many of his readers.

FOOTNOTES: 

[57] Morning Post, 11th September.

[58] Ipswich Gazette, 9th September.

[59] Cambridge Chronicle for September.

[60] But the disease was not so rapid as this in all cases.

[61] Freeman’s Journal, Nov. 4.

[62] The letter is dated Cork, 22nd Nov., 1845

[63] All the italics in the above quotations are Mr. Foster’s own.

[64] The last short sentence about the “low estimate” was not quoted by Sir Robert, although it immediately follows the previous one in the portion of the communication given in the Memoirs.  Part 3, page 171.

[65] Memoirs, part 3, page 143.

[66] The remedies which Dean Hoare said the people were “slow” to adopt, were proved to be worthless, and in some instances even pernicious.  The steward on Mr. Leslie’s estate in Monaghan writes that, “The potatoes dug and arranged according to the advice of the Government Commissioners had become diseased and useless.”  On the very day the Dean’s letter was written, there was a meeting of the landlords of Cavan held; and in a Report emanating from that meeting, signed by Lord Farnham, the following passage occurs:  “With reference to the potatoes stored with solid substance, or packing stuff, intervening in any form, in pit, on floors, or lofts, the use of packing stuff appears to be highly prejudicial.  In the words of an extensive contractor the heap becomes ’a mass of mortar.’” The report adds:  “This description includes the plan of pitting recommended by her Majesty’s Commissioners, which we strongly deprecate.”

[67] Memoirs, part 3, page 123.

CHAPTER III.

Lord Heytesbury and Sir Robert Peel—­The Potatoes of last year!—­Is there a stock of them?—­Sir R. Peel and Free Trade—­Strength of his Cabinet—­Mr. Cobden proposes a Committee of Inquiry—­His speech—­Its effect—­Committee refused—­D’Israeli’s attack on Sir R. Peel (note.)—­Sir Robert puts forward the Potato Blight as the cause