He says he had made a
trial of this plan, by steeping the grain at night, and boiling it next
morning; in this manner it made what he terms "a very nice podge," like
pease-pudding, and, to his taste, preferable to stirabout. The Treasury
called Sir R. Routh's attention to this suggestion, deeming it important
to be able to turn Indian corn into a palatable food, without being
either ground or bruised. Commissary-General Hewitson prepared a
memorandum on the subject, and put it in circulation, especially amongst
the Relief Committees. How far the recommendation was acted on does not
appear.[173]
FOOTNOTES:
[159] A deputation from the island of Achill had an interview with Sir
R. Routh, at his office, on Saturday night, October the 10th. The
deputation stated the peculiar circumstances of Achill--the total
destruction of the potato crop there, and the absence of grain crops in
any quantity, owing to the exposed position of the island. The principal
object of the deputation was to procure a supply of food from the
Government Stores, for which the inhabitants were ready to pay. Sir R.
Routh replied, that no supply of food of any consequence could be
expected before the latter end of November, and that even then it was
not his intention to recommend to the Government to sell the food at a
price lower than that demanded by the merchants, as it was essential to
the success of commerce that the mercantile interests should not be
interfered with.
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