ns 1168 and
1191._

[118] "Gentlemen, when I reflect that as much as L30,000,000 of money
have been expended in one year in contending with foreign countries for
objects of infinitely less importance to us."

Sir H.W. Barren (interrupting) "L30,000,000 per annum."

Lord Stuart--I stated so--infinitely of less importance than assisting
to relieve an immensity of our fellow-countrymen from starvation. I have
not, nor can I feel any distrust in those to whom her Majesty has
entrusted the government of the country so as to believe they could
hesitate ... in granting a sixth of that sum for rendering Ireland
prosperous and contented."--_Speech of Lord Stuart de Decies_ at
Dungarvan, recommending the Government to reclaim the waste lands,
November 13, 1846.

[119] Hansard, vol. 154, p. 776.

[120] "I have visited the wasted remnants of the once noble Red Man, on
his reservation grounds in North America, and explored the "negro
quarter" of the degraded and enslaved African, but never have I seen
misery so intense, or _physical_ degradation so complete, as among the
dwellers in the bog-holes of Erris."--_Visit to Connaught in the Autumn
of 1847, by James H. Tuke, of York_.

[121] Ante, p. 158.

CHAPTER VI.

The Labour-rate Act passed without opposition: entitled, An Act to
Facilitate the Employment of the Labouring Poor--Its
provisions--Government _Minute_ explaining them--Heads of
Minute--Rate of wages--Dissatisfaction with it--Commissary-General
Hewetson's letter--Exorbitant prices--Opinion expressed on this head
by an American Captain--The Government will not order food as Sir B.
Peel did--Partial and unjust taxation--Opposition to the Labour-rate
Act--Reproductive employment called for--Lord Devon's
opinion--Former works not to be completed under the Act--Minute of
31st of August--Modified by Mr. Labouchere's letter of 5th of
September--People taxed who paid a rent of L4 a year--In many cases
a hardship--Barren works the great blot of the Labour-rate
Act--Arguments against the Act--Resources of the country should have
been developed--Panic among landowners--Rev. Mr. Moore's
letters--Level roads a good thing--Food better--A cry of excessive
population raised--Ireland not overpeopled--Employ the people on
tilling the soil--Sir R. Routh takes the same view--Belief Committee
of Kells and Fore--Reproductive employment--Plan suggested--Addres