CHAP. VII.] POTATOES. 287 



273. That period of wisdom was also the 

 period of the potatoe-mania. Sulk was the 

 only thing sought after; and, it is a real fact, 

 that Pitt did suggest the making of beer out of 

 straw. Bulk was all that was looked after. If 

 the scarcity had continued a year longer, I 

 should not have been at all surprized, if it had 

 been proposed to feed the people at rack and 

 manger. But, the Potatoe! Oh! What a 

 blessing to man ! LORD GRENVILLE, at a birth 

 day dinner given to the foreign ambassadors, 

 used not a morsel of bread, but, instead of it, 

 little potatoe cakes, though he had, I dare say, 

 a plenty of lamb, poultry, pig, &c. All of 

 which had been fatted upon corn or meal, in 

 whole or in part. Yes y Sir, potatoes will do 

 very well along with plenty of animal food, 

 which has been fatted on something letter than 

 potatoes. But, when you and I talk of the use 

 of them, we must consider them in a very dif 

 ferent light. 



274. The notion is, that potatoes are cheaper 

 than wheat^owr. This word cheap is not quite 

 expressive enough, but it will do for our pre? 

 sent purpose. I shall consider the cost of 

 potatoes, in a family, compared with that of 

 flour. It will be best to take the simple case 

 of the labouring man. 



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