81

CHAPTER V.

"Train up thy children, England,
In the ways of righteousness, and feed them
With the bread of wholesome doctrine.

Where hast thou thy mines-but in their industry?
Thy bulwarks where-but in their breasts? thy might
But in their arms?

Shall not their Numbers,* therefore be thy Wealth,
Thy Strength,-thy Power,-thy Safety,-and thy Pride?
O grief then-grief and shame,

If in this flourishing land there should be dwellings,
Where the new-born babe doth bring unto its parent's soul
No joy! where squalid Poverty receives it at the birth,
And, on her wither'd knees,

Gives it the scanty bread of discontent."-Southey.

DOUGLAS took from the library a folio volume, observing, that a committee of examination had been appointed in consequence of a dreadful famine in Ireland,† which had destroyed many thousands

"When the parent was unable to maintain his child, the state took the charge upon itself, and the infant was educated at the expense of the public: and this law Constantine directed to be engraved on marble, that he might perpetuate it through all successive ages."—Belisarius.

The miseries of Ireland are not merely of a modern date; as far back as the year 1729, Dean Swift, in one of his ironical projects for relieving society of the burden of the poor, introduces the following remarks: "Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed: and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter; because it is very well known, that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And, as to the younger labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition! they cannot get work, and consequently pine away for want of nourishment, to a degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour,

G

of its inhabitants. A few of the particulars are related in some letters addressed to persons in England; from eye-witnesses of the scene; and one, still preserved, from the Archbishop of Tuam, after giving a statement of the hideous scenes he had witnessed, adds, "If thousands (of pounds) are not sent to Mayo and Galway, whole populations must die. On my way to Castlebar I passed a multitude of half-starved men, women, and children, seeking a share of a handful of meal, which could only keep them alive and no more.' But here are extracts from some of the Irish letters put by with the volume:

"From Bantry.-In a population of 16,250, there are 7,000 totally dependent on a fund of 5531. This is a fearful number of famishing paupers. It being impossible to minister to the wants of all, scenes of the most agonizing distress are every day taking place.

"The pride of the people adds to the calamity. One woman, ashamed to make her case known, died with her three children of actual starvation. Many are seen to faint through exhaustion during the necessary delay that occurs in administering food; and it is the opinion of many that, were it not for the benevolent aid of the British public, the local subscriptions would be hardly sufficient to purchase coffins for those who would die of mere want. The Typhus Fever and Dysentery are also prevailing rapidly.

"From Rathkeale.-Of 1,382 persons, 883 were destitute of any means of providing food. Many for a long time had but one meal; some had been eating remnants of seed potatoes left in the ground since last year; many had not a morsel to eat.

"From Roscommon.-The sum of 501. remitted for the relief of the two parishes of D. and K. is very nearly expended. In a few days nearly 3,000 inhabitants will again be reduced to a state of starvation.

they have not strength to perform it; and thus the country and themselves are in a fair way of being soon delivered from the evils to come."-See A Modest Proposal, by Dean Swift.

"From Clifden.-As to the employment of the poor, a few days more will unfit them for any work. One poor man was employed last week on the roads, was at work on Saturday evening, got up on Monday to work, said he felt languid and sleepy, and lay down again on the ground and died. Four died in Boffin: and if swelled limbs, pale looks, sunken cheeks, and hollow eyes, are the harbingers of death, the work of death will soon be very rapid here.'

"There are also extracts of letters from Cork, Tarbut, Killarney, Listowel, and several other places; all of a similar tenour."

Saadi." If I recollect that portion of the English history correctly, you were at the very period in question sending immense quantities of your manufactures to Persia, and to the more eastern nations. As there was a scarcity of food, could you not have obtained a supply from other countries in exchange for manufactured articles?"

Douglas.-"So far from there being any scarcity, the report of the committee states:

"The nature of the late distress in Ireland was peculiar. In the districts to which your Committee have already adverted, the potatoe crop, which furnishes the general food of the peasantry, had failed; but there was no want of food of another description for the support of human life. On the contrary, the crops of grain had been far from deficient, and the prices of corn and oatmeal were very moderate. The export of grain from ports within the distressed districts of Ireland was considerable, during the entire period from May to August, infinitely exceeding the imports during that period; and those districts in the south and west presented the remarkable example of possessing a surplus of food, whilst the inhabitants were suffering from actual want.""

Saadi." It seems unaccountable that they could not discover a remedy for such an extraordinary state of their affairs. Of whom was the committee composed?"

Douglas." It was formed of individuals who it was presumed were the most competent to investigate the subject, and the most interested in applying effectual relief. The Commons House of Parliament was composed of delegates elected by the people, to protect their rights and liberties in the enactment of laws, and to redress their grievances. These representatives were chosen, as best qualified by their ability and love of justice to discharge faithfully the trust reposed in them. The committee was selected out of this body, and consisted of those most distinguished by their zeal and talent.* One of the remedies proposed for their consideration, was the adoption in Ireland of Communities of Mutual Assistance; and this document is rendered highly curious to us, as affording a proof of the incompetency of the most able minds, formed upon the old system, to decide upon the practicability of principles the most simple and obvious. I will read an

extract or two.

Among the various suggestions which have been laid before your Committee, one from Mr. Robert Owen, of

"It is very remarkable, that the term sapientes, as may be seen in Du Cange, in his explanation of it, expressed, in Italy, in ancient times, those who governed the affairs of cities and communities. When men, therefore, of this sort are uniformly mentioned as a part of the Anglo-Saxon Wittenagemots, it is impossible, but to prejudice, not to see that they must have acted as the representatives of the people, and must have procured this distinction from the opinion entertained of their wisdom or experience.

"By a curious testimony, it is even obvious that the word sapientes must have meant the Commons."-Stewart's View of Society, p. 273.

These committees being composed of the wisest of the wise, had they been formed in the times of the Anglo-Saxons, might have been denominated sapientissimi.

Lanark, has attracted so much of public attention as to
require particular notice. It has been so much canvassed
in public, and has excited so much interest in Ireland,
that your Committee have felt it their duty to inquire
minutely into its details, and consider the tendency of the
principles on which it is founded. During the last year,
Mr. Owen visited a very considerable part of Ireland; and
at various places explained his plan, both by publication,
and at meetings of the most respectable description; and
during the present session, a petition signed by many in-
dividuals of rank and consideration, has been presented to
Parliament, praying that an experiment might be tried,
on an enlarged scale, to ascertain how far the suggestions
of Mr. Owen were applicable to the condition of the Irish
people. The public spirit and benevolence of that gen-
tleman, in thus devoting his time and intelligence to the
amelioration of the people in a country with which he had
no personal connection, is deserving of every praise; but
his plan must be discussed with a view to the necessary
consequences resulting from its adoption, and not from
any consideration of his motives in laying it before the
public. The principles of the plan are so well known,
that it is unnecessary to do more than to refer to them in
general terms; the details will be found in the evidence
subjoined to this Report. But when it is considered, that
Mr. Owen's plan is founded upon a principle that a state
of perfect equality can be produced, and can lead to bene-
ficial consequences, your Committee consider this position
so irreconcileable with the nature and interests of man-
kind, and the experience of all ages, that it is impossible
to treat this scheme as being practicable. Your Commit-
tee concur in the opinion "that a state in which an ine-
quality of conditions offers the natural rewards of good
conduct, and inspires widely and generally the hopes of
rising and the fear of falling in society, is unquestionably
the best calculated to develope the energies and faculties
of man, and is the best suited to the exercise and improve-
ment of human virtue. If Mr. Owen's establishments
could be conducted according to his intentions, the idle
and profligate would be placed in a situation equal to that
which would be a reward to the industrious and virtu-
ous."*
True it is, that Mr. Owen suggests that under

*We were for some time at a loss to discover from whence this notable passage was extracted, until it was detected in the