ctures by shameful
prohibitions; when England had become supreme as a manufacturing nation,
and when she wanted cheap bread for her artizans and markets for her
wares, then arose the anti-Cornlaw League; then, but not till then, did
Free Trade become the only saving gospel with enlightened English
politicians.

Lord John speaks of the corn in the haggards of Ireland. There was, I
believe, much corn in some of them, at the time he addressed his letter
to the Duke of Leinster. Why did not the Government buy it, instead of
sending to America and Malta for Indian corn and bad wheat? Had his
lordship ascertained, before he wrote, how many of the stacks in Irish
haggards _had the landlord's cross upon them for the rent_, like poor
Mary Driscoll's little stack of barley at Skibbereen? _It stood in her
haggard_ while her father, who resided with her, died of starvation in a
neighbouring ditch![178]

About the middle of November, the Royal Agricultural Society again
approached the Queen's representative in Ireland by memorial. It was not
this time for leave to commence reproductive works,--that had been
already granted; they came now to prove that reproductive works could
_not_ be undertaken under the provisions of Mr. Secretary Labouchere's
letter. They assure his Excellency that the letter gave them much
satisfaction; that, on its appearance, they directed their immediate
attention to the introduction of reproductive works in their respective
districts; but on account of one or more of the reasons they were about
to lay before him, their opinion was, that, in the majority of cases, it
was "impossible" to carry out his Excellency's views in the manner
required by the Letter: 1. Because it was scarcely possible to find
works in any electoral division of such universal benefit as would
render them profitable or reproductive to all owners and occupiers in
such divisions.[179] 2. Because by the terms of the letter, _drainage
in connection with subsoiling_ appeared to be the only work of a private
character allowed as a substitute for public works, whereas, in many
districts, this class of work was not required, whilst others, such as
clearing, fencing, and making farm roads, were. 3. Because, in case of
works, the cost of which was to be made an exclusive charge on the lands
to be improved, as specified in the letter, it was necessary for the
just operation of the system, that each proprietor should undertake his
own portion of t