72 



Notes 071 Ryotwar, or 



[Jan. 



work (Book iv. cb. 5. Digression on the Corn Trade and Corn Laws), but 

 rather I must think from the letter, tlian from the spirit of that enlight- 

 ened work. Tlie circular orders of Government* which embody Dr* 

 Smith's arguments, overlook apparently the important consideration, 

 that his views are mainly, if not wholly grounded upon the circum- 

 stances of agriculture, and society in Europe alone, and even in Great 

 Britain ; and that in the very few remarks he makes in reference to 

 famine in India, his premises are incorrect, and his conclusions neces- 

 sarily therefore of little weight. 



Dr. Smith first states as an historical fact, that, in Europe, owing to 

 the variety of soil, and the nature of the climate, " the grain lost in 

 " one part of the country is in some measure compensated by what is 



gained in another, and that a famine has never arisen from the fault 

 " of the season, nor from any other cause than the violence of the 

 " Government attempting by improper means to remedy the inco7ivenience 

 *' of J earth. In this statement, so- far as Europe is concerned, we 

 may fully concur. But when he goes on to assume, that " even in rice 

 " countries, the drought is perhaps never so universal as necessarily to 

 ** occasion (of itself) a famine," and that famine has always been in- 

 duced in India, by the acts of the Governjnefit we must, with our more 

 enlarged experience of the nature of tropical droughts, withhold our 

 assent. For we well know from bitter experience, that although the 

 Government of India for years past, has most rigidly abstained in 

 seasons of scarcity from all interference, — the most intense and deso- 



Chcular Orders, ZQfh January 1833. " The Eight Honorable the Governor in Coun- 

 cil requests, that you will take every suitable opportunity of explaining to the Judicial 

 Officers, with the desire that they will inculcate the same upon the native servants, that 

 in a time of scarcity, high prices must obviouslj- constitute the best securitj- against 

 the calamities of famine. When there is a deficiency of the necessaries of life in 

 any country, the only method of counteracting the evils resulting from it, is to 

 diminish, as much as possible, their consumption. This is effected hj high prices 

 better than anj^ other measure, for as every poor man is compelled to contract his 

 wants to the smallest quantity of food that can support him, it is plain that a larger 

 nnmber of families are thus enabled to subsist upon a diminished supply whereas the 

 interference of Government in such emergencies either by fixing a maximum of price, 

 or hy iliroicin-j a quanlily of grain into places wJiich -would not receive it in ordi^ 

 nary cotirse of raercardHc speculation, disturbs the natural current, by which, where 

 trade is free, the demand of any commodity is sure to meet, as far as circumstances 

 ■vvill allow, with a corresponding supply, and has a tendency (which it is to be feared 

 has too often been realized amongst the native states) to convert a season of scarcity 

 into one of absolute famine. 



The Higlit Honorable the Governor in Council considers it highly desirable that the 

 na>ives in the provinces should be made acquainted with- the sentiments of Government 

 on this important subject, and be apprized oi the calamitous results which would inevita- 

 bly follow any other line of policy." 



