1839] 



in periods of Famine, 



200 



province, inclurling men and women, at a hisiber average, for it is upon 

 this c'ass, that famine presses with such peculiar severity. 



If this ratio, either of loss of life or of labour be considered too high, 

 one much lower may be assumed, and the magnitude of 

 the evil will still be readily admitted; and it will also I believe 

 be admitted, that if the Government could afford relief without se- 

 rious detriment to any c1as^ of society, and without involving its 

 finan -es in inextricable difficulties, it would be both its duty, and its 

 interest to give this relief. 



This brings us immediate!}^ to the consideration of the arguments of 

 Dr. Smith, and other great authorities, which go to shew, that a Govern- 

 ment has no power to afford relief in such emergencies, — that its inter- 

 ference must do h ^rm, and further, — that its interposition is uncalled 

 for, as all avail ible aid wiU best be rendered by the op'^ration of self- 

 interest, inducing the private trader to throw in additional supplies of 

 food for his own profit : — and that non-interference is consequently the 

 on]y sound policy of a state. 



The validity of this doctrine in the circumstances of Europe, mav be 

 readily granted. Nor do I see, that Dr. Smith's arguments can be shaken 

 on a single point, when applied to countries like Great Britain in an ad- 

 vanced stage of society, and situated wiihin the temperate zones: which 

 are never visited by absolute famine, as the effect of the season alone, but 

 onlvbv scarcitv. But I hesitate, without further and more full investiga- 

 tion, to acknowledge its truth in respect to Sontb India; for much of the 

 reasoning of Smith appears to me inaj)plicab'e lo this, or to any tropical 

 country in an early stage of civilization. Where, the people are depen- 

 dent for their food, almost wholly on the periodical rains, and where, as 

 our experience has demonstrated, it is not merely scarcity with whi 'h we 

 have to deal, but absolute famine extending at the same moment over 

 immense tracts ; and where w^e must add also,— the resourc^is of the 

 inhabitants are almost as nothing, compared with the resources and 

 means of the inhabitants of Great Britain, or highly civilized European 

 states. 



But to proceed to the examination of Dr. Smith's views in detail. On 

 analyzing them, his doctrine of total non-interference with the provisi- 

 oning of the people, appears to be based chiefly on these grounds. 

 First, that a famine is never the elfect of a bad season alone, for that 

 occasions only scarcity. Secondly, that it cannot be caused by unjust 

 combinations on the part of the dealers in grain, for their interest is the 

 same with the people. And thirdly, that there are, from ficility of inter- 

 communication and other circumstances, resources in Europe available 



