for repealing the Corn Laws—­The extent of the Failure not exaggerated—­Sir James Graham and Sir R. Peel—­Appointment of Drs. Lindley and Playfair to investigate the Blight—­Sir R. Peel announces that he is a convert to the repeal of the Corn Laws—­States his views, but does not reason on them—­The Quarterly Review—­Special Commissioners—­Mr. Butler’s letter—­Sir James Graham and the Premier—­Proceeding by Proclamation instead of by Order in Council—­Sir James’s sharp reply—­Agitation to stop distillation—­County Meetings proposed by the Lord Lieutenant—­Cabinet Council—­The Premier puts his views before it in a memorandum—­The Corn Laws—­Some of the Cabinet displeased with his views—­On the 6th November he submits another memorandum to the Cabinet—­Lord Stanley dissents from the Premier’s views—­The Cabinet meet again next day and he concludes the memorandum—­On the 29th November he sends to each of his colleagues a more detailed exposition of his views—­Several reply—­Another Mem. brought before them on the 2nd December—­The Cabinet in permanent session—­On the 5th of December Sir Robert resigns—­Lord John Russell fails to form a Government—­The old Cabinet again in power—­Mr. Gladstone replaces Lord Stanley.

As stated in the last chapter, the deputation that waited on the Lord Lieutenant was superciliously bowed out, the moment his Excellency had finished the reading of his reply; so that the usual courtesy extended to such bodies, of having some conversation and friendly discussion on the subject of the address, was denied to the noblemen and gentlemen who presented themselves at the Viceregal Lodge on the 3rd of November.  Yet, more than a fortnight previously, Lord Heytesbury had written to the Premier, expressing great concern at the accounts daily received of the blight.  “The reports,” he writes, “continue to be of a very alarming nature, and leave no doubt upon the mind but that the potato crops have failed almost everywhere."[68] This admission he took care not to make to the deputation, although its truth had not only been verified but strengthened by the accounts which he continued to receive between the date of the letter and the 3rd of November.  In the Premier’s communication, to which Lord Heytesbury was replying, are, amongst others, the following queries:—­“At what period would the pressure be felt?  Would it be immediate, if the reports of the full extent of the evil are confirmed, or, is there a stock of old potatoes sufficient to last for a certain time?” The Viceroy replies, that he is assured, “there is no stock whatever of last year’s potatoes in the country.”  That is, in the middle of October, 1845, no stock of the potatoes grown in 1844 had remained!  Such was the knowledge which the Premier of England (once an Irish Secretary), and the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland possessed of the nature and constitution of the potato!