An Gorta Mór: Indian Corn

10 Nov 1845: Peel's Scientific Commission had first visited Dublin which to them seemed relatively unaffected by the blight or the disheartening news from more rural areas.  But when they ventured into the countryside, they were shocked by what they encountered - fields with partially or entirely destroyed crops, with remnants of rotten, stinking potatoes laying about. Anxiety levels were high among the bewildered tenants, not sure what was to become of them and their families. In the commission's estimation, at least half the 1845 crop was destroyed or soon would be. 

This news prompted Peel to secretly ordered £100,000 worth of Indian corn from America to be delivered to Cork. The order was to be filled by Baring Bros. & Co. a major international trading company based in London. This initial shipment would not arrive in Ireland until February of 1846 - all the while, perfectly good Irish grown grains and livestock continued to leave the island for Britain.