N'otes on the Duty of Government 



[April 



to dread, or are experiencing famine with all its fearful destruction of life 

 and property ; such as has been wilnessed in our provinces in 1807, in 

 1823-24, and recently in 1832. I need scarcely add, that it is further still 

 from my views, to [)ropose any measures for fixing, or regulating the price 

 of grain, or similar arbitrary interference with the freedom of the grain 

 merchant. Such measures, there can be no doubt must be injurious, by 

 impeding the traffic in grain generally ; but above all, by preventing that 

 frugal use of the stock in hand, witheut which it would be impossible 

 for the people, at periods even of partial scarcity, to escape all the hor- 

 rors of famine. 



In entering upon this investigation it is of great moment, that the real 

 practi.-al question for examination should be distinctly brought before us? 

 it appears to me that it may be fairly stated in these terms. Is 

 it the duty of the Government in periods of drought, to look on as at 

 present, almost passively, whilst thousands and tens of thousands of the 

 population are swept off in a few months : or, are there now safe, 

 and legitimate means of interference within its power, through which 

 it can secure much larger supplies of food for the people, than they 

 could otherwise obtain, and thereby lessen the mortality of famine? 

 It is only when the question is put in this form, and we keep 

 in view, the enormous waste of life and of national wealth in this 

 country in seasons of severe drought, that the subject is placed in its 

 true light. 



During the drought in Guntoor in 1832 there are grounds to 

 conclude, that more than one third of the inhabitants of the district, 

 or upwards of 200,000 persons perished, in a population of little 

 more than 500,000, within a short period. The returns of popula- 

 tion in the year prior to the famine, give 

 Population of Guntoor. 512,000, in the year subsequent, but one 



Fusly....l241 |J5 5}I half or 255,000, and four years later, but 



1244 2bV/14 267,000, and it is asserted that there was 



little or no emigration. Previous famines have also been estimated to 

 have destroyed one third of the inhabitants of those districts, in which 

 drought was general. And we might perhaps fairly assume this propor- 

 tion, as the ratio of mortality in famines in India, when they are left to 

 \iOxk out their natural effects unchecked. In examining therefore the 

 present system of non-interference, under w^hicli the people depend solely 

 on private enterj)r:ze for additions to their stock of food, the loss of life 

 throuo-hout the whole population must be caLulated at this rate; and 

 might probably also safely estimate the loss of the labourers of a 



