Considerable scarcity. prices. Famine and mortality. "Wheat sold in London for 20s. a quarter." Severe famine. (19 Hen. VIII.). "Such scarcitie of bread was at London and throughout England that many dyed for want thereof. The King sent to the Citie, of his owne provision, 600 quarters: the bread carts then coming from Stratford (where nearly all the bakings were, probably on account of proximity to Epping Forest) towards London, were met at the Mile End by a great number of citizens, so that the maior and sheriffes were forced to goe and rescue the same, and see them brought to the markets appointed, wheat being then at 15s. the quarter. But shortly after the merchants of the Stiliard (Steelyard) brought from Danske (Danzic) such store of wheat and rye, that it was better cheape at London than in any other part of the Realme."— Penkethman. A wonderful dearth and extreme prices. Famine from neglect of agri culture. Famine from great rains, bad and inconstant seasons; heat and long south winds.-Short. A.D. 1563 1565 1586 1594 1595 London. Famine and pestilence, said to have carried off 20,000 people. British Isles. Extended famine. £2,000,000 said to have been expended in importation of grain. England. "In the 29th yeare of Queen Elizabeth, about January, Her Majesty observing the general Dearthe of Corne, and other Victual, growne partly through the unseasonablenesse of the year then passed, and partly through the uncharitable greediness of the Corne-masters, but especially through the unlawful and overmuch transporting of graine_in forreine parts; by the advice of Her most Hon. Privy Council, published a Proclamation, and a Booke of Orders, to be taken by the Justices for reliefe of the Poore [commencement of the poor law notwith standing all which the excessive prices of graine still encreased: so that Wheat in meale, was sold at London for 8s. the Bushel, and in some other parts of the Realme above that price."-Penkethman. Famine. During the siege of Paris by Henry IV. this year, owing to famine, bread which had been sold, while any remained, for a crown a-pound, was at last made from the bones of the charnel-house of the Holy Innocents.-Hinault. (36 Elizabeth.) "By the late Transportations of graine into forreine parts, the same was here A.D. 1630 1649 1649 1694-99 1700 grown of an excessive price, as in some parts of this Realme, from 14s. to 4 markes the quarter, and more, as the Poore did feele; and all other things whatsoever were made to sustain man, were likewise raysed, without all conscience and reason. For remedie whereof our Merchants brought back from Danske (Danzic) much rye and wheat, but passing deere; though not of the best, yet serving the turn in such extremities. Some 'Prentices and other young people about the Citie of London, being pinched of their Victuals, more than they had beene accustomed, tooke Butter from the market folkes in Southwarke, paying but 3d. where the owners would not afford it under 5d. by the pound. For which disorder the said young men were punished on the 27th June, by whipping, setting on the Pillorie, and long imprisonment."-Penkethman. England. Dearth; bread made of turnips, &c. "From rains and wars"; also following year. Lancashire. Occasioned by the ravages of the armies; and the plague follows it. Salmon's Chronological Historian. Scotland and North of England. Scotland. Famine; England, great dearth, A.D. 1709 1740-41 1741 1748 1766 1795 1801 1812 Scotland. From rain and cold; also in England. "From frost, cold, exporting England. Extended famine. obtained from America; Committees United Kingdom. Great scarcity in England and Ireland. To this list of heart-rending desolation caused by famine, may be added many other cases which have occurred more recently, and among them the appalling famine in China-a kingdom well provided with granaries constructed by the ancient founder, Moses. From the account given by a traveller, who marvelled at such solitary hills standing in plains surrounded by fertile corn-fields, it may safely be inferred that these Pyramids or Storehouses still remain unopened, and, consequently, are stored with the produce of the fields that surround them. So that had the Emperors of China been aware of the existence of such treasure-houses in their extensive dominions, peopled by innumerable millions of human beings, they would never have had the sorrow of reading such a harrowing account of misery suffered by their subjects, arising from want of food, which was so near at hand! This severe famine visited China in A.D. 1877-78, and is thus chronicled by Walford : 6 "North China.-A telegram dated 26th January 1878, says Appalling famine raging throughout four provinces North China. Nine million people reported destitute. Children daily sold in markets for (raising means to procure) food. Foreign Relief Committee appeal to England and America for assistance.' Total population of districts affected, seventy millions. Mr. Fredk. H. Balfour, of Shanghai, said: 6 The people's faces are black with hunger; they are dying by thousands upon thousands. Women and girls and boys are openly offered for sale to any chance wayfarer. When I left the country, a respectable married woman could be easily bought for six dollars, and a little girl for two. In cases, however, where it was found impossible to dispose of their children, parents have been known to kill them sooner than witness their prolonged sufferings, in instances throwing themselves afterwards down wells, or committing suicide by arsenic.' many "Lord Derby received a report drawn up by Mr. Mayers, Chinese Secretary of the Legation at Pekin, upon the distress which the drought of the last two years has caused in the northern and central provinces of China. This famine, it seems, has been |