ABSTRACT
Although it was becoming evident that the government intended to force Ireland to convert to a grain economy at any cost, alternative plans to alleviate the tragedy continued to surface. In June of 1847, Lord Monteagle, Thomas Spring-Rice, an Irish landlord, asked for a parliamentary select committee to consider funding a plan for assisted emigration, ‘with a view to relieve Ireland o f a portion o f its redundant population.’ In response Lord John Russell warned of
the danger that would arise from leading America and our North American colonies to suppose that we were anxious to get rid of the rubbish o f our population.... [I]t would raise extravagant expectations on this side o f the A tlantic, and extravagant apprehensions on the other side (Observer, 6 June 1847, 2a).
