The Irish Famine | Victoria, Season 2

QUEEN VICTORIA: Sir Robert, have you read this letter from the rector of Schull? He writes that people in his parish are living off seaweed and nettles.

CHARLES TREVELYAN: As you will see in my memorandum of the 17th, ma'am, nettles contain more nourishment than you might imagine. I believe when gathered young, the leaves taste like spinach.

VICTORIA: Dr. Traill writes that people are too weak to bury their dead. And that corpses are left by the side of the road.

TREVELYAN: The Irish like to imbibe at funerals. Perhaps that is why they are incapable of digging a decent grave.

VICTORIA: Aren't you going to do anything, Prime Minister?

SIR ROBERT PEEL: (clears throat) I am afraid, it would not be... desirable for the government to intervene, ma'am.

TREVELYAN: The truth is, ma'am, the population of Ireland has grown beyond its natural limits. It would be immoral of us to interfere in what is an inevitable period of self-regulation.

VICTORIA: Self-regulation?

TREVELYAN: I don't know if you're familiar with the work of Malthus, ma'am, but this is exactly the sort of situation he predicted. Population growth always outstrips food production, with inevitable results.

(papers rustling)

VICTORIA: I think I should like to visit Ireland. I feel I need to see the situation for myself.

PEEL: Such a visit would be inadvisable, ma'am.

VICTORIA: Why not? Surely my presence will bring them some comfort.

PEEL: (clears throat) I am not sure how comforting your presence would be. I could not guarantee your safety.