nything but agreeable to the great _artiste_ of the
Reform Club, who seems to have had very exalted ideas of the importance
of the mission on which he was sent to Ireland.

Thus wrote the _Lancet_ on the subject: "The mass of the poor population
of Ireland is in a state of starvation. Gaunt famine, with raging fever
at her heels, are marching through the length and breadth of the sister
island, and they threaten to extend their fury to this Country. The
British public, under the form of clubs, committees, and relief
associations, are actively engaged in sending food to the famine
districts. All this is done without boasting or ostentation. But
parliament and the executive, in the midst of the best intentions, seems
to be agitated by a spasmodic feeling of benevolence; at one time
adopting public works, at another preaching a poorlaw--now considering
the propriety of granting sixteen millions for railways, and then
descending to M. Soyer, the chief cook of the Reform Club, with his
ubiquitous kitchens and soups, at some three farthings the quart, which
is to feed all hungry Ireland.

"As this soup quackery (for it is no less) seems to be taken by the rich
as a salve for their consciences, and with a belief that famine and
fever may be kept at bay by M. Soyer and his kettles, it is right to
look at the constitution of this soup of pretence, and the estimate
formed of it by the talented but eccentric self-deceived originator.

"M. Soyer proposes to make soup of the following proportions:--Leg of
beef, four ounces; dripping fat, two ounces; flour, eight ounces; brown
sugar, half an ounce; water, _two gallons_.

"These items are exclusive of the onions, a few turnip parings,
celery-tops, and a little salt, which can hardly be considered under the
head of food. The above proportions give less than three ounces of solid
nutriment to each quart of soup a la Soyer. Of this its inventor is
reported to have said to the Government 'that a bellyful once a day,
with a biscuit, (we quote from the _Observer_,) will be more than
sufficient to maintain the strength of a strong healthy man.'

"To bring this to the test. Organic chemistry proves to us that the
excretae from the body of a healthy subject by the eliminatory organs
must at least amount to twelve or fourteen ounces; and organic chemistry
will not, we fear, bend to the most inspired receipts of the most
miraculous cookery book, to supply the number of ounces without which