RLDS Church History Search

Chapter Context

RLDS History Context Results


Source: Times and Seasons Vol. 6 Chapter 18 Page: 1051

Read Previous Page / Next Page
1051 blood and villany [villainy], to hesitate about adding one more murder to those which they have already committed, to subserve their selfish and ambitious purposes.-Liverpool Chronicle, Nov. 1.

FAMINE EXPECTED IN ENGLAND.

Hitherto the cycle of the seasons has befriended Sir Robert Peel. Four good harvests in succession have filled his exchequer-filled the stomachs of the lieges-made the nation prosperous, the people contented. Alas! the scene is changed-the evil day has come upon him, and has found him unprepared to face it. Famine-gaunt, horrible, destroying famine-seems impending. Fears have seized the public mind. In Ireland matters look appalling-in England gloomy. The granaries of the continent are exhausted. The corn fields of the Vistula, the Danube, and the Elbe, are barely sufficient for the local wants of the inhabitants. The nation is in commotion; and the cry of "Open the ports and let in corn duty free," is heard on all sides, reverberated from every part of the empire.-The "pressure from without" has made itself heard in Downing street; and faith in the sliding-scale-Peel's sliding-scale, is gone forever. A third of the potato crop in Ireland is destroyed. The government has sent scientific professors to the scene of the mischief; and the awful truth is out, that this large portion of the people's food-the esculent that Cobbett abhorred-is unfit for use. What is to be done, in the terrible, this unlooked for emergency? "Open the ports!" is the exclamation; and there stands the shivering Premier, like a reed in the wind, paralyzed between affection for his sliding-scale, and the horrors of public famine.

IRELAND

The accounts from the sister island, for some days past, as regards the potato crop, are of a very serious and alarming character. The failure is dreadful in the extreme, and the prospects before the great majority of the lower classes truly horrifying. The authorities at Dublin Castle seem to have directed their attention to the matter. Commissioners have been employed to visit the different provinces, and to report to his excellency the result of their examination. Up to the present time, these reports are of the most discouraging character. With a people so steeped in poverty as the Irish are, and discontented with "the powers that be," it is frightful to coutemplate [contemplate] the consequence of scarcity. The numerous railways likely to be in progress of formation next summer, and during the course of the present winter, will no doubt, materially assist to alleviate much of the suffering that would otherwise ensue.

THE POTATO, THE FAMINE, AND THE RENT.

A correspondent of the Dublin Mail, calculating that one-third of the potato crop has been destroyed; that six millions of the Irish papulation [population] are dependent for their existence on the esculent; that the smallest average quantity of oatmeal, the next cheapest food that can be allowed to sustain human life for a day, is one pound avoirdupois-comes to the legitimate conclusion that, supposing oatmeal now selling from 16s. to 17.6d. per cwt., should during the dearth, rise no higher than 20s., it would take no less a sum than L17,940 a day, or L3,255,000 for the half year, to sustain the lives of two millions (one-third of the six millions) of the Irish people. As our contemporary well observes, this is a faithful estimate, and the great agitator has turned the matter in his capacious mind, and has just issued his appeal for-what does the reader think? Why, for nothing less than the annual O'Connell tribute. This would be incredible if told in a romance; but simple truth beats the most elaborate fiction. The "faithful" are to contribute on Sunday, Nov. 16.

THE MORMONS.

The last New York Sun has an editorial article, as well as a letter from Nauvoo of the 27th October, concerning this extraordinary people. The letter is from Mr. James Arlington Bennett, and professes to sketch their future designs as follows:

The present organization of the church, with the twelve apostles at its head, with a president who holds the keys of the kingdom, is the one that must stand; and when these shall have gone to California, Mormonism will be no more in the United Sates. But there will be a mighty gathering from all nations of the earth to the Mormon empire now about to be established on the Pacific ocean! One thing you may rely on-and that is, this people will never annex themselves to any government on earth; nor is it desirable they should, as they are determined to be governed by their own laws. The Mormons consider Governor Ford as an old woman in breeches. They say that, instead of permitting them to defend themselves against the mobs, he legalizes the mobs by throwing into their aid some of the State forces. This is what is called their abuse of the governor that we see in the papers.

There are already organized twenty-five companies of one hundred families each, to be filled up during the winter, for the march to California. Each family of ten persons will have a wagon drawn by four oxen, and supplied with everything necessary for the journey.

A troop of horse will be organized as an advance guard.

(page 1051)

Read Previous Page / Next Page