Reading a lone sympathetic to your own outlook historian who has to rubbish history in order to get their moment of fame...

Not for the first time eh Keith?

A bit like going to a church and coming out smug and sanctimonious because someone who is paid to "forgive" absolves you of your less tasteful traits.

On the subject of the Irish famine, this was also the time when economics was being seen as a science in a way not seen before. Whilst Trevallian and his cohorts had political reasons for their callous attitude, they also were of the mind that Adam Smith was right and to interfere in trade was ultimately folly.

I would say that in the past, people oppressed others for their own ends. The snag is, the past is ever present, as gays, ethnic minorities, religions and lack of religions find out each and every day.