food. The Sultan
of Turkey sent a generous contribution to the common stock of relief.
From the United States of America supplies also came. The world might
be represented as laid under contribution to relieve the miseries of
Ireland. The government also made great exertions. Sir Robert Peel's
administration made secret and extensive purchases of Indian corn, which
were sold, or distributed gratuitously, according to circumstances. By
donations for public works, and "general presentments," Sir Robert Peel
also prepared for the coming disaster. He had expended in this way more
than eight hundred thousand pounds, a little more than the half of which
had been repaid by rates levied in Ireland under the powers intrusted
to the grand juries. Lord John Russell, soon after he passed his
sugar duties bill, made proposals to parliament calculated to meet
the distress as it then existed, and in some measure to anticipate the
relief which he foresaw would be required. He proposed to empower the
lord-lieutenant to summon sessions of counties and of baronies, to
consider the propriety of making public works for the relief of the
poor, and to give to those sessions, under certain circumstances,
authority to determine upon what works were desirable or necessary,
which the board ot works would upon such decision execute. The imperial
treasury was to make advances for carrying on these works, to be repaid
in ten years at three and a half per cent, interest. Grants of L50,000
each would be made to certain poor districts which would be unable
to repay advances. His lordship moved resolutions embodying these
proposals, which were carried, and a bill founded upon them passed
through both houses with the utmost rapidity. The introduction of these
measures seemed to produce a good effect on Ireland, for crime and
outrage abated. The ministers took advantage of this circumstance to
claim great merit for their administration, and, on the 28th of August,
when parliament was prorogued by commission, the speech delivered
ascribed to her majesty great satisfaction in the relief so cordially
provided by parliament for the Irish poor, and the beneficial effects
produced. These tokens of returning peace were as the morning dew, which
soon passes away, and the measures of parliament, notwithstanding their
magnitude, were soon proved to be inadequate. The government acted,
however, with generosity and courage, although their wisdom and
administrative apt