Whisky and misery, whichever be cause, whichever be effect, always go
together. There has been, as is well known, a failure of the
potato-crop, and consequently a famine, in the West Highlands and
Hebrides. In the island of Mull, about L.3000 of money raised in charity
was spent in the year ending October 10, 1848, for the eleemosynary
support of the people. In the same space of time, the expenditure of the
people on whisky was L.6009! We do not know how much had previously been
spent on whisky in that island; but we may judge from the fact
ascertained regarding Skye. In the year ending October 10, 1850, the sum
paid in the latter island for whisky was L.10,855--considerably more
than _double the amount expended in relief by the Destitution Fund_, and
_more than double the consumption of the same district in 1845_, the
year before the distress commenced! 'That is,' says the _Quarterly
Review_, which quotes the facts from excellent authority, 'the increased
consumption of whisky exactly tallies with the extraneous aid received;
in other words, the whole amount of charitable assistance _went in
whisky_!'
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