"--_Lord George Bentinck, a political Biography, 5th
Ed., pp. 360, 363_.
_There is reason to believe_, says Mr. D'Israeli; yes, there is the best
reason to believe, that tens of thousands died of starvation in Munster
and Connaught, because food depots were not introduced, or, at least,
because they were not opened for the sale of food to the public. The
word "development" which he uses, sufficiently refutes his whole theory.
There was no time for development; millions were starving who must die
or get food within a few days. What a time to begin to develop a trade
in articles of food among a people without capital, who never had such a
trade before! The effect of Government not interfering in the sale of
food is shown by the prices Lord George quotes a little further on.
[196] Mr. D'Israeli took good care not to quote this passage in his
Biography of Lord George Bentinck.
[197] It was more than hinted that he did not follow the advice of the
Irish Government in other important matters concerning the Famine.
[198] In the middle of November, Mr. Smith O'Brien commenced a series of
letters to the landed proprietors of Ireland. Whilst he was preparing
the first of these, which was introductory, and intended to awaken the
class he was addressing to a sense of their danger and their duty, the
Agricultural Society of Ireland published their objections to the system
of carrying out reproductive works laid down in the Chief Secretary's
letter; and it was in commenting on their views that he wrote the
passage quoted above by the Prime Minister.
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