The Express. — London, England, 1846-10-05 00:00:00

MITE MUSIC BOOK, New Weekly Periodical of O r iginal Musk. No. I. tkis day, New Bond by atING, MAIDEN, SING." Prue ed. PrVated nom Itegr a. : L a•Z Plates, as Paper the usual Made $ mi. No. U. "SIZE YALU FRIEND," MIMIC WAi.t.acs, Words by T. HOOO, as Saturday amt. Mee, 1, IR. Bride's-Arenee, rieet-rtree., where geospectuses may be bad ; and sold by all boeluellers and rinimeg. " S ING ' MAIDEN, BIND?,„ New Song by BALFE, Words by BAKST COIINWAL•, WWI 6d., being No. I. of THE MUSIC BOOK. Printed from Er.gravad Plates, on Paper the usual M N c size. by usi o. 11. 'TILE FALSE PELLE SI)," Music by Wau.coa, Werdo T. HOOD, on Saturday sent. Mee, I, St. Bde's-Arnie Fi s et_wreet, where Prospectuses be had ; a n d sold ri by all bootj&evii end may NEW SONG by BALIPE, "RING, MAIDEN, SING." Pelee IC: Ibis *ay, tali. t a THE rum BBOOK. BOOK. Printed heal eessed ream ea the UMW Musie size. No. 11. " THE PA' .IK IMIIIND," Musks WALLAra, Words by T. Iloou, on Saturn .y mai, Cade, 1, St. Bri e h'i.AvalliM YkeltAtred, loiters Prospectuses may be bad; and sold ay eil bsdmal,____2L______-------siotl newsmen. ------ WORK BT HOZ. 7 1113 day is PD . Misled (to be canpieted in Sti Monthly Pert; uniform with " Me Ain Chuzalewlt," ke.), pries Is., the First Number d • D EALINGS WITH THE FIRM OF DOMBEY. AND BON, Wholsesbalteteil, end for Exportation. BY CHARLES DICKENS. With Ellgratiolla by lIABLUT K. BROWNE. London: Bradbury and Evens, Whitetriars. MR. DICKENS'S NEW WORK. T . EALING S with the FIRM of DOMBEY and SON.—Coustry Booksellers may be supplied •with PROOBPEC. DOSES of the above Publication. by sPidYWe to Omit ceneecti'm I mralca Arent& Vibitefriars, September 12, 1646. FOR TRAVELLERS ON TILE CONTHWIT. Now ready, in kap. aro., price 6a., lICTURES from ITALY. By CHARLES DICKENS. Owen/rm.—Paris to Chalons—Lyom the Rhone, and the ii•ig11011A•4111011 to 000011—GeD00 and its Neighbourhood Hof Modena, and Bologna—Ferrara—Verona, Mantua, Milan, limplon—Rome, Naples, and Kumla?. London: Bradbury and Erma, lit'hltefriars. Now ready, in one handsome volume, svo, elegantly bound in cloth, price 1I Ch , OLIVER TWIST. By CHARLES DICKENS. With Illustrations by Oconee Civiesmexh, sad the Wad Corrector and Attentions of the Author. No. completing the Work, is now ready price One Shilling. - Bradbury and Evans, Whitenisr% and the This day is published No. XXII. of DOUGLAS JERROLD'S SHILLING MAGAZLNE, with continuation of ST . GILES and ST. JAMES, 4 - the Editor . London : Published at the " Punch " office, 33, Fleet-street. I=oo. • MAILS. The mails for Madeira, Brazils, Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c., will be made up ou the evening of the Mb October (this day). The mails for Comma, Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Iddla, and Gibraltar, will be mule up on tbe 7th October. The overland closed mails, via Marled/es, tO the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden. Oeylon, India, llong-Kong, &c., will be made up on the evening of the 7th October. The West India mails, excluding those for Mexico, Honduras, end Havana, will be made up on the morningof the 17th October. The malls for British North Americo, and the United States, will be made up on the evening of the 17th October. The overland mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Wanda, Aden, Ceylon, India, llong-Kong , and China, rio Southampton, VIM made up on the morning of the 20th October. The malls for New South Waal, Van Dieman's Land, will be ma.cle up on the 31st October. POIFF-071OCI NOTICL.—MAILS FOR LIPSON AND GAPS Or GOOD Hors—This morning the following notice was issued from the Ge neral Post-ollce.—The mails disembarked &cm her Ma y's at Bull Dog have been returned to London. The letters to the Cape of Good Hope will be forwarded by the Lady Flora, which is expected to sail for Portemouth on the 6th (to-morrow), and the letters for Lab= will be forwarded by the Pensular mall, on the 7th. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We cannot notice, in any way, any communication that is sent to no anonymously; but those who choose to address us in conitdenoe will And their conndenee respected. NEITHER CAN WE UNDERTAKE TO RETURN ANY IHANWICRIPT B WHATEVER. •.• Advertisements intended for The Erpress must be at the Office by Two o'clock on the day of publication. HIGH WATER AT pt To. DAY. Morning, 34 min. past I; Afternoon, 58 min. put 1. TO4lolllloW.—Morning, 18 min. pun 2; Afternoon, 12 min. poet 2. LONDON, MONDAY, OCT. 5: Tim Rev. SYDNEY GODOLPIIIN OSBORNE half ap proved himself, in the cause of the agricultural la bourer, a christian and apostolic man. He cannot say, with St. Paul, " I have fought with beasts at Ephesus ;" but he has faced Dorsetshire farmers at Ryme, which is not far short of the same thing, allowing for diff.rence of time and country. The one encounter, like the other, enas m u.o cuunrmattuu of truth; a very sad truth, in the present instance, as to the physical state of the toiling poor ; and not without some illustration of the forlornness of their moral condition. The relation of farmer and labourer is too often one of vulgar, rapacious tyranny, and of helpless, abject dependence. This seems especially the case in that Arcadian Dorsetshire, to which, before the facts were brought out, a high degree of rural felicity was ascribed by those philanthropists whose bowels yearn with com passion over the slaves of the mill 'and factory, but who have been very regardless of the bowels of their own peasantry. The obnoxious truck system, so vigoronaly combated in manufacturing towns, where publicity exists to check its excesses, prevails in full force amid the fields and farm-houses of these parts of Dorsetshire. From 21. to 41.45., seems the most, in money, that any labourer gets of his and his fami ly's miserable wages, all the year round. He must buy hard cheese of short weight, and refuse-corn, of his employer. You cannot say that he does not know on which side his bread is buttered; for the rancid smell tells that, if he venture to put it on bread at all. The poor creatures mix off the "strong" stuff in what they call a cake ; which is very like put ting the bad shilling between two coppers. Then they have meat sometimes. Not butchers' meat, but what may be called Dorset Farmers' meat ; sheep that die of themselves, and are stuck afterwards, no blood coming; " quarter-evil bullocks," whatever that disease • may be, and bullocks with " a very bad cancer in the shoulder," and " a great bunch of matter there ;" flesh which no butcher will degrade his lingers or peril his character by touching; and from which the very dogs turn away ; —beef and mutton such as this, at 2d. and 3d. a pound, does the labourer take in part payment of his wages, of Bs. or 9s. a-week. He takes it ; and eats it if he can ; though even his trained stomach will not always stand the dose. A thousand thanks to the man who has let in some light upon these filthy doings ! They arc not compelled to take the goods," say the farmers. It is all optional. True ; and what is the alternative ? They get no work ; and so, no wages at all ; and yet, as they have the offer of work, there is no relief for them from the parish. The wish is a command, in such circumstances. The labourer knows what is expected of him. He knows the penalty of non-compliance. Mr. BRAKE, the leading man among the farmers, asks very emphatically " Are you compelled to take goods ? " " We are not obliged," says the witness, "bat certainly we are ex pected to do it. .. . Mr. BRAKE expects us to take some in goods. In times past, I am sure I have given offence when I did not take some out in goods. And if I did not, there was nothing for me to do." Another witness says, " Mr. BASTON the farmer sent to me a year ago to do some thatching for him, but told me he should not pay me in money, for BRAKE did not pay his men in money, and he should not ; it made a d—d deal of difference, paying all in money, to what it was when taken out in goods."' Another witness was told by Mr. BRAKE that he was "a ready-money chap, which would not do for him." Still there is no compulsion. The men are not tied to a tree and flogged till they buy and bolt the diseased meat. They only understand that it is that or nothing. They can starve, rot, and die in a ditch, if they prefer it. They are quite at liberty; free-born Britons; " a bold peasantry, our country's pride ;" and need do nothing upon com pulsion. For years, such dealings as these have been quietly endured. No Rev. S. G. OSBORNE was at hand. No Times Commissioner had scoured the country. No League had sent its missionaries. Lord ASHLEY was amending the moralities of Manchester mill-owners. The world was otherways engaged. There was none to help ; and the poor people's hearts died within them. They became spirit-broken. Ricks and cuffs were taken quietly. The wonder is, that any complaint at all has been made audible. Probably it never would, but for the beneficent cler gyman, whose visitations occasioned this inquiry. And in what spirit has it been conducted ? The very first thing for eliciting truth would have been to make the witnesses feel perfectly secure, and at liberty to tell out their whole story frankly, without fear of con sequences. Instead of that, there were their masters in full array before them. A lawyer was brought from Yeovil to cross-examine the witnesses. We all know what bullying, browbeating, and confounding, are practised under the name of cross-examination. Mr. OSBORNE stood alone; opposing only a gent i .emanly demeanour, a strong sympathy, and a straig'etforward aim at truth, against the spirit of the whole proceeding. And whatever the farmers might think ‘..if themselves and their meeting ; however heroical:ly they might agree, "We wun't be beat r whatever the energy of their final declaration, that "there is no truth in newspapers;"—the plain fact is, that Mr. OSBORNE proved his letter to the very letter, and amply sub stantiated every allegation. RoheThere is no peculiar and local depra vit y in this case. faignlabourer is always more helpless, and more likely to be oppressed, in districts which are scant of towns, and remote from the seats of trade and manu factures. More communication ; more trade, and thereby more employment ; more facilities of loco motion ; more publicity ; and more of all the varied results that a wiser policy and the natural course of improvement will bring ;—these are the real remedy of the general evil. It is well, meanwhile, by such means as Mr. OSBORNE adopts, to abate those local enormities which are an aggravated form of the common mischief. The tendency to a better state of things is helped onward. A wholesome direction is given to public sympathy. And the national intelli gence learns to co-operate with, instead of counter acting, that law of progress which fails not to provide the remuneration of labour, as well as of capital, when not impeded by partial, unwise, and unjust legislation. Surmounting the immediate difficulty, and enjoy ing a few years of cheap food, cheap movement, and cheap knowledge, we anticipate the disappearance of all such dark spots as this in Dorset from the moral map of our country. Not only will labourers be better fed, but they and their employers will cease to "ge to hat " together, for the pre ternatural decision of a difficulty. This odd superstition, which consists in holding a hat before the face, and wishing that the eyes may drop into it if the party be guilty of the offence imputed, really appears in the evidence as matter of serious belief. The faith has been confirmed by a recent instance (this Mr. BRAKE being one of the parties in the cere mony), although the eye took an unorthodox time to accomplish the transit. Still it is certain that GEORGE HALLETT, who went to hat with Mr. BRAKE about the seduction of a young,woman, "a little while afterwards lost one of his eyes." Mr. OSBORNE is lucky to escape being challenged to " go to hat " on the condition of the labourers. When the physical state of these poor creatures is improved, the Church will have better chance of abating their superstitions. And some help may be rendered by cheap newspapers. No blame can be laid upon the local authorities or the soldiery for the melancholy collision with the popu lace at Dungarvan. Every care appears to have been taken to avoid such a result. The firing was obviously an act of self-defence, the last resort of men who had shown rare forbearance. Thus much is due to the innocent causes of an event which will materially augment the difficulty of dealing with Ireland during the winter. Panic and rude turbulence are contagious. When blood has once been shed among a people of such temper as the Irish peasantry, it is not easy to calculate the consequences. The extent of fatal casualties occasioned by the firing may possibly never be known. On such occasions the precautions of the peasantry to conceal those who have been killed or --onnana On order to evade inquiries after the offenders), and the success which attenda them, can scarcely be conceived by those who have not had opportunities of personal observation. There are no means of ascertaining how widely the blow struck at 11ungarvan is felt. The occurrence will circulate with the rapidity of lightning through Ireland. It will be talked of at every peasant's hearth. Exaggerated versions of it will gain uni versal currency. There is but one remedy : prompt and efficient action to assure the peasantry that the famine which seems, impending over them will be warded off. The moral is for the instruction of government on the one hand, and of a large portion of the landlords and the press of Ireland on the other. As far as Government is concerned, we have re peatedly said that its plan seems, on the whole, to be the best that could be adopted. If resolutely followed out, if adopted on a scale sufficiently large and liberal, there appears as yet no room for misgiving regarding it. But the work must not be done after the Somer set-house fashion. Plausible, well-reasoned reports on abstract subjects, must not be substituted for a suffi cient staff, an adequate expenditure, and an effective supervision. The three means of relief are: the undertakings carried on by the Board of Works ; the sustenance distributed when necessary from local relief funds; and the depots established throughout the coun try to supply provisions at prime cost (including car riage). With regard to works, there is an ample amount of them that may be fairly included in the Government category, as strictly public. There is no necessity for confining them to roads. Improving or creating a system of sewerage in every village, however small ; inclosing, and rendering neat, greens and other spaces reserved for the recreation of the villagers ; incloaing, and ren dering neat, cemeteries and the ground about all places of public worship ; completing public buildings of any kind; deepening and clearing out harbours ;—it is easy to suggest works suited to every locality. The works immediately wanted in Ireland are such as may keep the peasantry from eating charitable doles in idleness, yet not interfere with that permanent em ployment by private individuals, to which, in future years, they must look forward. The kind of works we have enumerated are those which in ordinary circum stances would not be undertaken in Ireland for many years to come. Most of them are there regarded, not as indispensable, but as matters of luxury. Yet the health of the population will be materially improved by a universal system of sewerage, removing damp and dirt from their villages; and the neatness of ceme teries, places of worship, and public greens, would be a lesson not without effect. As to the wages, the two pence lower than the ordinary wages of the district was a somewhat pedantic notion : the phrase which ' appears now to be substituted, "a fair day's wage for a fair day's work," is much better. Let the amount of work a man can accomplish in a day be fairly estimated; let the cost of provisions, raiment, and lodging, be ascer tained; andlet task-work employment be given at such rates, that an honest workman may so be able to earn food for his family. It is for the commissariat cora ' mittee of relief and the board of works to see that no time is lost in setting such works afoot on such terms in all the destitute districts. It is for the commissariat committee of relief to see that an adequate number of food depOts are estab lished in every district where there is scarcity, and that they are sufficiently stored. Lastly, as to the local relief funds, since the task of dividing baronies into relief-committee districts has been devolved upon the Lieutenants of Counties, it is for the Lord Lieuten ant to insist that every one of these functionaries do forthwith repair in person to his county, and by results show that he is discharging this duty. The activity which prevails in the naval mills and bakeries, in furnishing surplus supplies for Ireland, and the in creased force of steamers and hulks placed at the disposal of the commissariat committee of relief, are evidence in favour of Government's prompt and effi cient action. It is to be hoped that all departments of this charitable service may be carried on in the same large and energetic spirit. The lesson which the prospect of possible The reb one of vu abject de case in before tl degree o philanthrc passion c but who h their own vigorously publicity i force ami , of Dorsett in money, ly's misers buy hard his emplo y on which smell tell; at all. 'I stuff in wl ting the b have meat may be en of themse coming; may be, c the should flesh whic' peril his cl very dogs at 2d. and payment o it ; and ea stomach w thanks to these filth: iiey the farmer the altern wages at I there is nc is a comm knows wh penalty of Man MOE you cost/ obliged," pected to some in g( offence wl if I did no witness ss year ago t he shoal; pay his I made a money, I ms s ,„ BRAKE thi not do for men are 1' and bolt that it is die in a liberty ; f country's pulsion. For yet endured. Times Cc league h amending The wor none to died witl Kicks and that any Probably glum'', 1 THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVitt4lNG, OCTOBER 6, 1846. tumults ought to read the landlords of Ireland, is to' take advantage a the time gained by the institution of these pobP,e works, to commence, on all bands, imProverneeta on their estates,which may provide per manent ew.ployment for the peasantry. There is much in the ohjections urged against public works. It is to the employment afforded by private individuals that we ought to look forward for the permanent support of the Irish peasantry. Public works for the relief of the destitute are only defensible on the ground that such an immense increase of private employ ment as is required cannot be set on foot at once, and that the destitution is urgent. The landlords of Ireland ought to take advantage of the time gained by the employment afforded on the extraordinary presentments, to avail them selves of the Drainage Act. By degrees, as their enterprises under that statute come into operation, one after another the presentment under takings may be wound up. In ordinary seasons, and in normal states of society, we are little inclined to pay attention to the outcry against absentees. We are not inclined to punish a man for being born heir to acres, by compelling him to reside where he has no mind to live; and probably, taking one with another, we might not find the estates of absentee proprietors on the whole worse, or less hamanely managed, than the estates of residents. At a crisis like the present, how ever, it does seem to be incumbent on every Irish landlord to repair to his estate. There, at this moment, is his post of duty. One lesson a portion of the landlords and the press of Ireland may divide between them, and that is, to weigh well their words before they utter them at a time like the present. At present ment sessions, and meetings of Relief Committees, we hear mss-payers denouncing in no measured terms the niggardliness of Government for not giving higher wages. The very men who have systematically screwed down the Irish labourer to a rate of wages that scarcely supports life, would court popularity by being liberal, nay, profuse, of public money. A Galway newspaper, in the very columns which chro nicle the arrival of a Government steamer with a large amount of silver coin for the payment of persons employed on public works, speaks of "the wonted heartlessness of British governments relative to the welfare of the Irish people," and asserts, that the " English government " is " making no real efforts to co-operate with the gentry and middle-class" for the relief of the present distress. Yet nothing is more common than to hear the fair gains of the retail, dealer denounced as usurious " forestalling." It would be in vain to ask speakers and writers capable of such gross and wanton misrepresentations, or so igno rant of economical principles, to abstain from making " political capital" of the sufferings of the peasantry. But a regard for their own personal safety ought to teach them to abstain from addressing such fictions to ignorant and hungry crowds, so apt to believe and to act upon their belief in them. It is not the deluded peasantry, but the men who, regardless of truth, per suade them that nothing is doing for them ; that they are not to be adequately paid for their work; that jobbers and speculators are preying on them ; who are morally responsible for every outrage perpetrated in food riots. The military and armed police of Ireland are numerous enough, and, what is more, so ad mirably posted through the country with a view to support each other, that no permanent effect upon public tranquillity is to be feared; bat rash speakers incur a fearful responsibility by goading ill-informed men to rush madly and hopelessly on an immeasurably superior force. History is full of proofs that an angry mob has ere now turned round upon its instigators, before the public authorities could interfere for their tection. THE second act of the great drama in the Punjaub is about to open. It had become obvious to us, before the present arrival, that the native governments esta hliehni by the British after the victories on the Sutlej were already tottering. The Khalsees and other fanatics, it would now seem to be perfectly un derstood, only await the withdrawal of the British troops to dethrone the Queen Mother and the Wuzeer LALL SINGH. The insubordination of the chiefs bought over to his interests by GHOLAB Smolt, and his own intrigues, prevent him from fulfilling the arti cles of his treaty. Lords HARDINGE and GOUGH are at Simla. Regiments are forming at Ferozepore and Umbella, into which the best of the Sikh sol diers are encouraged to enter. The policy con templated by the Anglo-Indian government seems pretty obvious. It will withdraw its troops at the appointed time, and leave the Sikh leaders to deal with each other. It will protect the British frontier, if possible, without interfering in the internal affairs of the Sikhs; but for the effectual prevention of pre datory inroads, will be driven to extend the away of Britain over the whole of the Punjaub. Few who have attentively watched the progress of events in that quarter can doubt of the ultimate result. Sooner or later the frontier of the Anglo-Indian territory will be advanced to Attock. THE formidable danger which menaces the king dom in consequence of the loss sustained in the potato crop, and the difficulty that must be experienced in replacing it, have induced us to insert communica tions upon the subject, whenever they have proceeded from correspondents of intelligence. But we feel it necessary to state explicitly that we do not by any means identify ourselves with the recommendations which may be thus offered to the public. Least of all do we join in the opinions expressed by Dr. ANTHONY TODD 'THOMSON in our paper of Friday last. This gentleman assumes that the cause of the potato disease is the custom of multiplying it year after year by division; and he recommends that in future it should be raised from seed, by which means he thinks that disease may be averted. Now, we are bound to state that this doctrine, which has been propounded and examined over and over again, is entirely opposed to facts. It is certain that raising potatoes from seed has proved no guarantee against the prevalent malady. Newspapers which occupy themselves specially with agricultural affairs abound in proofs of this. Nor is there any pretence for say ing that the seedlings that became diseased had been raised from unhealthy parents. The reverse is the reality. It is not, however, necessary to go into any de tailed examination of this evidence ; for the theory of exhausted vitality is overset by the fact that plants annually renewed from seeds, and which cannot be propagated in any other way, are affected exactly like the potato itself. The tomato, the egg plant, and the cut-leaved solanum of New Holland, are in a diseased condition. Nor are our hardy, wild, uncul tivated plants exempt; for, in the garden of the Vice regal Lodge at Dublin, the common bitter-sweet is attacked like the potato. These facts, about which there is no cavilling, not only strike the ground from under those naturalists whose opinions Dr. Trtosison has adopted, but seem to point to the conclusion that some unknown atmospheric influence has led to the present state of the potatoes. We have, however, no intention to engage in a con troversy concerning this matter, which is better suited to the agricultural journals; and we only advert to it thus, from the apprehension that our cor respondent's letter may, in the absence of such a dis claimer, assist in leading the public astray from the only course which appears likely to ward off a renewal of the malady in a future year. That course is deep autumn planting, immediately after the crop now in the ground has been dug up. THE language held, and the resolutions adopted, by the general - meeting of the county of Argyle, at In verary, on Wednesday last, are most honourable to them. In his opening address, the Marquis of Bread albene exhorted his fellow-landlords "first to do what they could themselves in the circumstances ; " " to carry on improvements, and to give employment to the poop iit t " before they went to solicit aid at the hanas of °Ovum:tient. In a similar spirit, the Marquis of Urn and others appointed to digest resolution:, pro posed that a committee be appointed "to co:respond with the several districts, and impress on all classes the necessity of the greatest economy ;" "to press on the districts the expediency of executing this year any new works they may contemplate ;" to suggest that they may raise funds on the security of the assessment ander the Road Act ; to circulate copies of the Drain age Act passed last session, and urge individual pro pnetors to take advantage of it; to circulate information as to the best means of obtaining employment in the low country ; and facilitate the transport of those who are willing to go there. It was further proposed, that as the population is, in many districts, redundant and far from markets, " government be requested to establish stores of food in such localities (as, for example, Oban and Tobermory), so as to be accessible to the proprietors, to be purchased by them." The attention of government is also to be drawn to the encouragement of the white-fishings on the coast ; to emigration as a permanent means of relief; to an amendment of the Drainage Act; and to the expe diency of granting aid to public works within the country. The resolutions were unanimously approved of, and the committee appointed. We have taken some pains to arrive at a correct knowledge of the actual state of the potato crop in Scotland, and of the prospects of the poorer classes during the impending winter. The failure of the potatoes, so far as we have yet ascertained, appears to be universal throughout Scotland ; but it is only in the Highlands, a n more especially in the Highlands of the western mainland and the Hebrides, that any thing like famine seems to be apprehended. The relative prospects of these western districts, of the east and of the south-west of Scotland, will best be shown by extracts from the letters of some of our cor respondents. The following communication is from Galloway, which is pretty similarly circumstanced to Dumfries-shire, and the rural districts of Ayrshire : "It Ls no exaggeration to call the potato crop a total failure through out the whole south-west of Scotland. Prom personal observation I can vouch that little if at all above the seed will be raised sound and free from disease -- probably between two and three times that bulk in a diseased state. These last are, while they keep, good enough food for man, but being un pleasant to the palate, and it being supposed t from the experience of last fear, that they will not keep, every one is using theta as fast as paeuple in feeding pigs, poultry, ere. The result is, that potatoes ore kanrllyy ntoow in wn, the market, not r an e l: . mina:tick fo pew sn L y the who sumrt of the poor do or who have portions planted by neighbouring farmers, are using up their little crops for the reason I mentioned, sad in a month the, win have finished them. As regards other crops, our produce is an aver age w . l i tich mu i t ri be l i c o ncw our distri ; eats ct grows little) above the but above on inferior lands. Owing to the potato failure, how ever, the farmer and his labourers having to eutaist on hi s grain crops, very much lees of them than usual will be available as market produce. No potatoes, and only about half the wonted quantity of grain, will be sent from this district into the general market. As regards the labouring man, there is little reason to fear. The cos struction of railways not only altar& work for every one who cheeses to avail himself of it, but has raised wages everywhere to a fake swot. 14°yr-us:since we paid Is. a-day to a labourer here ; now we pig b„ Our old dare measure of a fair wage was, that it should buy limo (141b5.) of meal. Thanks to foreign supplies of the people's Oink a day's wages still procure this amount. In this part of Scotland for tunately we have no unmanageable weight of poor ; an increased allowance is of course called for, and must be made." Respecting Midlothian, and generally the east of Scotland, our accounts are as follow : " Throughout the country the crop of potatoes is nearly gone. It is difficult to learn what ratio the loss will bear with the supply of human food. An extensive and intelligent farmer in Berwickshire informs me that those who have planted potatoes have lost them all : he could mention instances where the farmer has lust several thousand pounds. A manufacturer in East Lothian, who is also an agriculturist, inform. me that he lute lost all his potatoes. Neither of those informants, however apprehend disastrous coesequence. Thesesdistricts are partly maniducturuig, pertly agricultural, and they kook to the revival of trade as auttlaent to onnpezurate the work ing claws for any rise in the price of provisions. A few weeks ago there was not a potato to be bought In Edinburgh. They are now to be had free of disease, but not good, at 9d. per peck. American beans arc becoming popular a/ a substitute there, and in some families are used exclusively. In the Highlands I auspixt there must be great misery. I hope the Board of Supervision will lay on the new Poor-law powerfully at all events. Whether it may be sufficient to meet the exigency without contrion tioas from those districts where the pressure will be less felt, I cannot my." Of the Western Highlands and the Hebrides our correspondents write in a very different tone : " In these districts the crop hes failed in some parts almost entirely, in others from a fourth to three-tourths. In the islands and on the adores of the lochs where there is a dense population the labouring closes raise from one-half to two-third s of the food they maniple on their crofts; upon them, therefore, the failure of the potato must press heavily. In Tiree, lons, and other pixies they are helpless and destitute to a degree I cannot find wands to describe. The feet is, that the whole system of managing these estates is bad—ruinous to the landlord as well as to the tenant. A request was made about a month ago, by three red dent proprietors (one in Skye, one in Tiree, and a third In Coil), to the Clasgow Committee for managing the Highland Relief num, to take tlicir ease into consideration. The Committee resolved to watch, but not to interfere for the preileut. since that, Government, as yon are aware, has sent a COMIIIiMiOOK. The suggestions of the Board Of Supervision, though entirely timid' place in the Kirkgate of Leith and Inc Saltmarket of Glasgow, are judicious If applied to our remote regions, where e there is every came for alarm, and where inhabitants have no O'Connell to proclaim their sufferings and secure assistance for them. Here, unites immediate and energetic measures are adopted, great and lamentable suffering it at hand." The spinners and manufacturers in the cotton dis tricts arc at present in a rather uncomfortable predi cament. Ordinary middling cotton which, at the end of November, in 1844, cost 34d. to 4d. per lb; and at the end of November, in 1845, 3411. to 4d. per lb., cost at the end of September in the present year, 4d. to sd. per lb. The price of " fair " cotton in these years, respectively, has been 41d., 44d., sd. per lb. Yet, while cotton has risen, the price of goods has fallen. Shirtings which, in 1844, sold for 10s. 1 id., fell, in 1843, to between 9s. 44d. and 98. 6d., and have this year fallen still further, to 9s. 3d. Not only has the price of the raw material increased ; wages, flour, coal, and all other items of the manufacturer's expenditure have risen also. The manufacturers find it impossible to raise their prices in proportion to the augmentation in the price of the raw material, because buyers regard the increase in the price of cotton as caused by specu lation, based on wilfully false reports of the American crops, as in 1844. Parties, however, who have been long extensively engaged in the trade, and have nothing to gain by such speculation, are inclined to believe that the rise in the price of cotton will be maintained. The last accounts from America arc so conflicting that no confidence can be reposed in them, but the low prices of cotton in Europe have held out so little inducement to the planter of late years, that from that cause alone a diminished supply is looked for. As yet the spinners and manufacturers alone have suffered; but, if this state of affairs continue, the labourers, who up to this time are in full employment and the receipt of good wages, will feel the pressure also. Several orders for machinery have been coun termanded lately, and working short time has been talked of. Spinners and manufacturers are trying to stave off the evil day by economising the cotton used in their fabrics—producing thinner and lighter goods, and by using more Surat cotton in proportion to the American. Every encouragement ought to be given to the growth of cotton ; for on an abundant supply of this commodity, next to food, depends the existence of large and important sections of our population. Yet a heavy land tax is allowed in India to check the culture of cotton. The consequence is that the exports of cotton from Bombay to this country which, in 1843, amounted to 133,000, and in 1844 to 178,000 bales, have dwindled down, in 1843, to about 48,000, and in 1846 to less than 29,000. The influential par ties who are agitating for the abolition of the East India Company's salt monopoly, would do well to embrace this grievance also in the range of their operations. The Paris journals of Friday have reached us by express, together with oar correspondence. On Thursday an attempt was made to renew the riots of the previous evening, in the Faubourg St. Antoine. A large body of workmen assembled, who raised loud cries and broke the windows of several shops. The crowd was, however, immediately dis persed by troops of cavalry and infantry, who had been held in readiness for the purpose from an early hour. The Rue de Charenton was the scene of the next operations. There also windows were broken, as also the public lamps, and an attempt was made to stop vehicles and construct barricades, but the troops arrived in time, and put the multitude to flight, with out difficulty, and happily without bloodshed. The Debate speaks slightingly of these nocturnal disturb ances, and states that the parties arrested were young workmen and apprentices. The subject of the Spanish marriage does not appear to excite so much warm feeling as usual. The latest article of the Debats is more temperate, and ridicules the journals who speak of " wars of succession," " invasions of Spain,' and " ambitions projects on a crown" which, it says, "will always ' remain separate from that of France." The other journals have found an object of remark in the fact (stated in the Heraldo), that the English fleet, under Admiral Parker, had been ordered back to Cadiz. The Constitutinnel, after speculating on the proba bility of that fleet being reinforced front England, has the following remarks : " This order given to the English fleet to maintain its post of observation on the coasts of Spain is certainly a grave event; but, notwithstanding the menacing character given to it in Madrid and Paris, we are anxious that the importance of it should not be exaggerated. We hope that war will not arise out of the faults committed by our government; but see to what they have already brought us ? Not only does the entente mediate no longer exist, but from coolness the affair has proceeded to hostile demonstrations. Whose fault is this? That of the ministers, who have attempted to carry off an Infanta, with the same foresight, the same wisdom, the same skill, as they displayed in the conquest of the Marquess. The state of things, however, is more grave than it was at the time of the negotiation relative to Mr. Pritchard. The two governments are more seriously involved, the rupture is more profound." Numerous cargoes of corn continue to arrive daily at Marseilles, and large quantities are sent by the Rhone to the interior. The average price of corn in France on the 30th ult. was 23 francs per hectolitre. Some unfortunate demonstrations among the mili tary at Saint Omer have been made, in consequence of the ministerial order that the national guards of the town and environs should come without arms to the ceremony of the inauguration of the statue of the Duke of Orleans, although the interdiction is in strict conformity with the law. At a meeting held on Wed nesday, the grenadiers and voltigeurs, the artillery and cavalry of the national guard of Lille decided that they should not go to St. Omer, as they were not allowed to carry arms. The artillerymen of St. Omer even have refused to appear at the Pte. An altercation of much warmth is said to have taken place on the subject between the mayor and sub prefect of the town. The mayor declared that the whole of the notional guard of St. Omer would refuse to attend, and that the town would not grant the necessary funds for the expenses of the day. In consequence of this deplorable discussion the mayor and his deputies, and the committee appointed to regulate the preparations for the fete, have resigned their functions. The arrests of Spanish refugees continue. Two Carlist generals, Guibelalde and Zavala, have been taken to the fortress of Blaye, which already contains several of their brother officers. M. Cortina, who is now considered the chief of the Progressista party in Spain, has left Paris, to join his family at Bayonne. We have news from Algiers to the 25th ult. The latest accounts from Tlemcen state that General Cavaignac ought to have arrived at Lalla-Maghrina on the 17th ult., with the troops under his orders, to protect the frontier, said to be threatened by Bou- Masa. There was a report that that daring chief was endeavouring to gain over the Beni-Snasscn to put himself at their head, and to fall upon the tribes which had submitted to the French, whilst Abd-el- Kader was to make an inroad in the South-east. Ge neral Arbouville, in consequence, left Oran, on the 19th, with a detachment, for AM-Temouchen, a cen tral position, from which he could cover the east and south-east flank of the Tlemcen division. Every thing is tranquil in the other quarters. The Debats of Saturday, quoting an article from one of the London press, takes opportunity to make remarks tending to prove that the English government had lowered its tone on the subject of the mar riages ; and that it means to limit itself to a dignified protest. n That, continues this journal, is far from the held lately by the English press : and it is evire l ;i l i g lat the firm conduct of the French govern ment has had its due effect in this matter. Meaning, of course, that the English government had been frightened by the attitude of France, and dare not go further in its disapprobation than a protest. The Debate goes on to say, that it is with feelings of an noyance that the London papers renounce the hopes theey had entertained relative to popular manifestations in Spain ; and it is sorry, for their sake, that there is not at least some little bit of insurrection to keep them in countenance they so much deserve it. Such is the language of the Paris ministerial journal. A telegraphic despatch reached Paris dated the 3rd instant, stating that the French princes had been re ceived with the greatest enthusiasm along the route; and at Tolosa, where a magnificent fete was given in their honour, the number of persons assembled was immense. _ _ _ Their Royal Highnesses were to leave on the 3rd for Vittoria, where a similar fete awaits them. Great precautions were taken in Paris on Friday, to prevent the rioters from reassembling in the Fau bourg St. Antoine. The main street was occupied by a regiment; however many workmen were collected in the streets of the neighbourhood, and the windows of an omnibus were broken, but no serious disturbance took place, and no one was hurt. Some corn riots have taken place also in the depart ment of the Saone and Loire. M. Übago, a Carlist Spanish brigadier, has been arrested at La Reole. The orders of the French go veniment to their agents in the departments appear to be, to keep a strict watch over the Spanish Progress ists, and to put the Carlists under arrest. The fortress of Blaye contains now fifteen prisoners. The Queen of the Belgians arrived on Thursday evening with the royal children at the palace of St. Cloud. —.--- There are arrivals from Algiers to the 27th ult„ but they do not bring any additional information. We have letters and papers from Madrid of the 27th. The assertions by the Herald() that Mr. Bulwer wished to withdraw his note is met by the Timm, which says : "Tat assuming for true (which it is not) the fact that the English minister wished to withdraw his note, that would prove a complete or tardive adhesion of England to the marriage of the Infanta. On the contrary, if Mr. Bulwer, authorised by his government, wished to withdraw the protest on condition of obtaining a further delay of the celebration of the marriage, as Ei Herald() asserts, it is clear that he has still the hope that the marriage will not take place, and that he will not abandon the use of such means as may thwart it." Great preparations are making for splendid fi , tes in honour of the double marriage. The vote of the law on recruiting completed, yesterday, the labours of the Chamber of Deputies, who wil l next be sum moned at their own residences. • Fco del Comercso, of the 27th ult., states that on the previous day " the French Ambassador gave a grand dinner to the Ministers, to General Narvacz, and other friends, his defenders of a foreign marriage. We have always thought," adds El Eco, " that he who applauds should eat, and he who eats is ungrateful if he do not applaud." The provinces were reported tranquil. A letter from Madaid, dated September 27th states : " Public curiosity was greatly excited by the conference which took place the day before yesterday between the Pre sident of the Council and Mr. Bulwer. Many versions have been given of what passed. We quote the following:— ' Mr. Bulwer is said tohave endeavoured to justify the publi cation of • diplomatic document in a public journal on the strength of English customs (his letter to General Serrano). M. Isturitz is said not to have been satisfied with such an explanation; and although the conversation that easued were in the most parliamentary and courteous tone, M. Isturitz is said to have concluded by saying, that be regretted to find himself under the necessity of not replying to any furt'ser communications, as the Cortes had formally pro nounced on a question which might be, therefore, regarded as finally settled. It is needless to add that these details do not bear an official character, as there was not a third person present at the conference, and Mr. Bulwer has not thought it tit to act again according to English customs by publishing the conference in the Clamor Public°, or Gaceta de Madrid.'" El He, aldo of the 29th ult. aaserts that " the double marriage will take place on the 4th inst., and that the Queen and her sister, with their illustrious husbands, will go to Aranjuez, where they will remain until the 10th instant, when the public files are to commence in Madrid, for which the preparations are being much hastened." El Espanol of the same date says, "We are assured that the betrothals will take place on the 4th of October ; on the following day the august pairs will set out for Aranjuez, where they will remain until the 9th, and on the 10th, her Majesty's birthday, they will be married in the public chapel." The news from Lisbon is to the 23rd, and wholly unimportant FRANCE.—BANK op FRANCE.—The Moniteur publishes the transactions of the Bank of France for the third quarter of 1846. The general movement of the caisses during the quarter was 3,320,000,000 francs. The amount of bills, discounted at Paris, was 276,000,000, that of the branch banks nearly 105,000,000. Advances on bars and specie 18,000,000, on public securities 9,000,000. - Accounts current and items 2,762,000,000, about one-half actif, the other parr. The movement of the account current of the treasury was 216,000,000, of which 92,000,000 actif, and 12.3,000,000 passif ; the average of this account current during the quarter was about 120,000,000; on the 2.5 th of Sept. last, it had sunk to 97,000,000. The average amount of coin in the coffers of the ank, during the quarter, was 189,000,000, and the average amount of notes in circulation, 2.58,000,000. On the 25th Sept. last, the amount of coin in the coffers of the bank was 174,000,0 00 fr., and the amount of notes to order 266 millions. FRENCH NATT.—LORIENT, SEPT. 28.—The minis ter of the marine intends leaving fur li:est on the Passe partout. ST. MALO, SEPT. 29.—The government steamer Le Galibi, has been placed at the disposition of Ouneral Bertbois, to survey the French coast. ''lt is cm Vigie," that important fortificationsare to be e the coast of the channel, but it will take so t they can be completed, whilst the British with guns, and surely if the British governm could blow all our ports on the channel to hours." _ _ ----- ANTI-FREE-TRADE MEETING AT Wednesday evening last a meeting of man keld at Rouen, M. Barbet in the chair; M Keitbujer presided in the bureau. Me m Dieusy addressed the meeting. They said th of free-made were numbering strong, and tha ing urgent to take measures to oppose the spoke at some length on the hostile position French government in sanctioning associatio in its power to prohibit; he called upon all national labour to oppose free-trade principles the commercial treaties in favour of Bordea glum, Holland, and Sardinia, M. Barbet Mil a mistake, as the exportation of wine had not foreign importations were on a much to formerly. M. Viainet declared himse of free-trade, but that ho wished to Balled by degrees.—M. Barbet then said th the meeting was to invite them to sanction taken by the commission in Paris to maintail due to national labour, and to subscribe th thousand francs for defraying the expenses measures. The meeting then broke up; nu present having subscribed their names for dil GERMANY.—FRANKFORT, SEPT. sembly of Germanists, that is, writers and lii are occupied with the history of the Germ& laws, held their first sitting on the 24th ul Lubeck has been chosen u the place of the next year. A letter from Manheim, of the 23th says : " Yesterday evening one of the steam: to the Frankfurt Steam Compaay, arrived board the trousseau of her Imperial Highn Royal of Wurtemberg. It is composed of carriages, weighing altogether 691 cwt. MI contain silver plate; they will be landed house in this city, and sent without being custom-house at Stuttgard, with the bill morrow they will be placed in ten or twely, will be conveyed to Stuttgard, escorted by custom-house officers. AUSTRIA.—VIENNA.—The state of Archduchess Mary, daughter of the Grand bus caused some anxiety. Her Imperial I cold whilst at Ischl. Prinee Michael of Ser permission to visit his estates in Walachia. 1 the suspicions of the Servian government, th land, instead of by the Danube. M. de through Vienna on his way to Rome, as A the Czar. He had two Interviews with Pri The archduke Palatine of Hungary is said indisposed. BAVARIA.—Prince lirstllerstein left 26th ult., to occupy his post as ambassador Court. DENMARK.—The German journals with comments on the late resolution of t 1 in the affsir of the letter patent, but throw the subject. A new letter-patent was public ult., concerning the administration in the di wig and Holstein, according to which the regency is invested with full powers, so the , sonal responsibility he may take any politic may deem necessary, and which formerly r ordonnance. Count Reventlow, the Danish e sent in his resignation on the publican 311 of I of the Bth July, has received the order of first-class, from the King of Prussia, aocomp taring letter on his patriotic and German a assembly of the States of Roeskilde closed the 21st ult. HOLLAND.—Tres HAGUE, OCT. days past the provincial tribunal of South engaged in hearing the witnesses and the affair of the seventeen persona accused of has taken part in the disorders which took plan and at Delft, in September, 184.5. Yesterda general required that the court should sent the offenders to stand in the pillory (2) four of them to be deprived rights ; (3) three of the first eight, to fifteen ment ; and the maximum of the fine 2,500 t 1 of those under one and two, to imprisonu terms, varying from five to fifteen years, am to 2,500 florins; (and 5) one t s twenty mono in the House of Correction. The Attorne3 same time proposed the acquittal of three it is not proved that they had taken part in that one should be discharged on the grout for bringing the indictment is expired, acco of 16th May, 1829. Ocr. 2.—The minister of the colonii notice to the merchants, that orders hay the Governor-General of our East India pc tinue to encourage the exportation of rice, bound to the mother country, granting ti which are contained in the ministerial resolu of November, 181.3, the regulations of whit : cable during the year 1847. TURKEY.—SALONICA.—A letter f of the 10th inst., says: "Our town was du surprise a few days since, by the arrival fleet, commanded by Mehemet Ali Pacha, the Sultan. The admiral received the g Pacha, and the different high functionaries body was also admitted, and the Archbis with whom his Highness had a lengther concerning the welfare and prosperity of tt He presented the archbishop, on parting, v Cashmere shawl, and ordered a salute of fired in his honour; this is the first time tha ment has been paid to the prelate of the tows Int out. - WINDSOR, SUNDAY.—H.It.II. Prince Castle at a quarter before nine o'clock yeater London, where he transacted business at Duchy of Cornwall, and returned to the Cal before three o'clock, travelling by the Railway. Viscount and Viscountess Falkland, ning, and Lord and Lady Bloomfield, arriv yesterday on a visit to her Majesty. The Royal dinner party at the ('t. included H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent, I Speth, Viscount and Viscountess Falkland fling, and Lord and Lady Bloomfield. The Life Guards attended during dinner. Her I band afterwards attended in the Castle. This morning the Queen and Frio their usual early walk. The Princess of Hesse embarked Eagle at Rotterdam at two o'clock on Salt attended by her suite and Mr. Bedford (G to the Queen Dowager). The Princess afternoon, and arrived at Marlborough Ile two o'clock. The Princess afterwards weal Western Railway to Cashiobury-park, lier her Majesty the Queen Dowager. Count de Jarnae, French Charge an interview with Lord John Russell on official residence in Downing-street. The Earl of Clarendon arrived in tow The Chancellor of the Exchequer Saturday evening. Dispatches for the Governor of Cal off on Saturday evening from the Colonial DEATH OF THE BARON Dl The Baron do Bode, whose claims government to a sum of money, amounting have so long been before the public, died on at ten minutes past nine o'clock, at his resit end-road, St. John's Wood. The death of quite sudden. After taking a glass of water to look pale and be tremulous, and in a fell fell down and icstantly expired. He had b of illness for nine or ten days previously, br supposed, by his family, by mental anxie with the further hearing of his case, which next month ; but the illness was not at a such as to cause any anxiety, and he had so the day previous to his death that his mad rated to him the propriety of taking an ail nags. He was in his seventieth year, an sons, the eldest of whom has been abroai but is on his way home. Their ages vary thirty. The eldest son served with distincuo service, and was employed in Persia. Sic Europe he has contributed materially to ext our knowledge of the geography of that by his excellent contributions to the " Jour Geographical Society." It was only on Tuesday last that a long i letter from the late baron's pen appeared in tl a lucid account of his claims, and the resat and legal quibbling, which have been put List thirty years to postpone their settlers Baron's case is interesting:—His father was man, possessing, in the district of Alsace, a fertile estate called Soultz-sous-Foret. At tl was under the French dominion : the ter passed, by virtue of treaties, under the sway Emperor. The Baron died leaving the is nobleman, who was born in England, and c titled to the rights of a British subject. Thr tion annihilated feudalandseignorial privileE all English holders of property of their Fri Amongst those persons was the Baron de denly found himself deprived of the estate had left him in Alsace. When Louis XVI] to the Throne in 1814, on the abdication 1 Napoleon, the French Government dispatcl in virtue of a particular compact, sterling for the purpose of indemnify' tish subjects and citizens who had 1 party in France in the manner just mantic sioners were appointed by the English gore' tigate the claims and settle the amounts due individuals to be indemnified. The Baron d a compensation of 500,0001. This claim rejected by the commissioners, on the ground had not fully proved his right to be consic subject. Matters remained almost in abeyai to this nobleman's case, until the year addressed a memorial to the Privy Council tedious delays and numerous hearings, mire! 1 1 ,:,,,