The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-16 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, AVOCRT 14.
The Temporary Relief Act ceases its operations to-
morrow, and the poor law takes up the maintenance
of pauperism, partly under favourable and partly
under unfavourable circumstances. The condition of
the harvest and the great reduction in prices apply to
the first, and the difficulty of collecting rates to the
second. Gradually, however, the system will move,
and before the Ist of November we expect the rate-
payers will grow reconciled to the stubborn necessity.
At a meeting of the South Dublin Union, yester-
day, a detailed statement was read showing the
amount of the estimates, the sums advanced by the
finance committee, and the number of destitute poor
relieved each fortnight respectively since the let of
lApril. The largest number relieved was 29,201, or
the fortnight ending July 4, at a cost of 2,8601., in
1 about 2001. per diem. On the Ist of August, 22,171
were relieved; bat from that up to the present day
numbers have been struck off, so that the numbers
amount only to 7,500 for the last fortnight, which,
perhaps, conies near the extreme misery of the union.
IThe Gross amount of estimates is 17,7191. for the ten
'fortnights ; and the total of rations distributed weal
2,178,400, at a coot of lid. per ration. The expense
of staff and contingencies averaged 23/. per week.
The great result has been that 23,000 persons were
relieved each day, at an amount to the ratepayers not
exceeding 10;c1. in the pound.
Mr. Leslie, one of the members for Monaghan, has
applied for the large sum of 17,0001., to be expended
in the permanent improvement of his property in that
county, and a further sum of 7,003/. for his estate in
Meath.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT SO-
CIETY OF IRELAND: - SHOW AT LONDON-
DERRY.
_

. .
The public breakfast having concluded on Wednesday, at
which were present the Duke of Leinster, the Earl of Clara-
earty, Lord George Hill, Sir R. Bateson, and • number of
gentlemen and clergy from various parts of the country,
the noble chairman, the Earl of Erne, called the attention
of the meeting to the advantages of tile draining, which he
stated net to be half so expensive as stone draining. Mr.
Hamilton, of St. Ernan's, followed. No general system
could be laid down for the cultivation of a country which
differed so much in soil and locality. Circumstances
must determine the proper treatment for each dis-
trict. To carry out extensive changes, unanimity of all
dames was absolutely necessary, which could only re-
sult from a fair undentanding between the land-
lord and tenant A mutual dependence should exist be-
tween them, for in the world there was not absolute inde-
pendence. If they looked to Scotland they would see how,
by a superior system of farming, they might themselves pro-
ceed. Much of the agricultural success of England and
Scotland was attributable to the size of their farms ; but he
could not carry out rigidly the same system in Ireland. The
landlord should so arrange aa to have the large farmer, the
small farmer, and the labourer with hie cottage and garden.
The small farmer, working a few acres with his own bands,
would be better able to keep a cow than the holder of fifteen
acres. As to spade agriculture, he had made experiments to
test its value with the use of the plough. He had laid out
a piece of ground of five acres under the care of a gardener,
and, compared with other land under • good farmer, found
the difference in produce and profits very conaiderable.
Another subject of importance was the wages of labour,
which must be sufficient to support the family of the la-
bourer, or they are thrown on the farmer. He had visited
Scotland to take the opinion of the large farmers, and see bow
they did business. In reply to his questions, they stated that
their money was expended on the land, not more for the
purpose of supporting the people than as a profitable
tavestment, :by which policy employment can alone be ren-
dered permanent and beneficial.—Mr. Goldin followed,
and argued the necessity of mutual co-operation to en-
sure the proper cultivation of the soil. He instanced • case
in the county of Monaghan, of a property which came under
his management about seven years ago, and,by taking shares
in the improvements of each farm, he had brought them into
the highest state of cultivation ; and he could have supplied
the entire country with atewerds at last, so rapidly had the
farmers increased in knowledge. In answer to a question
I by Lord Clancarty as to the best sized farm or tenement for •
labourer or farmer of the lowest class, Mr. Golding con-
sidered half an acre or so; for, if huger, they would
not be horticultural but agricultural labourers.
A discussion then ensued about bog reclamation.
Mr. Hamilton, who first addressed the meeting,
stated that the Board of Works had written to him prohibit-
ing the improvement of any bog under the agreement with
him. The Times pretended to show that money was thrown
away upon bogs, but the writers knew nothing more of their
bogs than of themselves—The experience of the Chairman
was different from Mr. Hamilton's. His experiments oa bog
reclamation were by no means satisfactory.—Lord Erne
thought the principle should be, first improve the upland,
and then the bog. The improvement of the upland would
treble the present produce, and that was more profitable
than wasting their exertions on mountains and bogs.
The annual dinner of this society took place on the 13th
inst., at Londonderry, in a splendid pavilion, erected for the
occasion at a cost of 4001. Upwards of 600 gentlemen sat
down to dinner. The Duke of Leinster, the president of
the society, took the chair, and was supported by the Mayor
of Derry, the Lord Bishop of Derry, Mr. Kerr, M.P., Sir
Hervey Bruce, Barr., Captain Bedews, M.P., Caritaiu Jones,
M.P.' Sir Robert Ferguson, H.P., Sir Robert Bateson. &c.
Lord Erne occupied the vice chair. and was supported by
Lord George Hill, the Earl of Strathmore, Sir James
Stewart, Captain Archdall, M.P., Colonel Cottony, M.P., &c.
After the usual loyal toasts were disposed of, the Bishop
of Derry proposed " Prosperity to the Royal Agricultural
Improvement Society of Ireland," which was acknowledged
by the chairman.—The Mayor of Derry proposed "The
health of the Duke of Leinster."—His grace having returned
thanks, gave "The Vioe.Presidents," which was suitably
acknowledged by Lord Erne. The " Memory of the late
Mr. Peter Purcell" having been drunk, the secretary read
the list of prizes, which appeared in the Express of Saturday.
—Mr. Lyle gave "The Scotch and English Judges, the
Stewards, and the Committee," for which Mr. Stephenson
returned thanks.—Capt. Bateson, gave" The Council,"
which Lord Clancarty acknowledged in a very excellent
speech.—Sir H. Bruce gave " The Agricultural Seminary
at Templemoyle," for which Sir R. Ferguson, M.P., re-
turned thanks, after which the party separated.
Intent POOR-Law APPOINTMENT.—Mr. Twieleton, who
has been for some time pest the assistant eommisioner for
administering the poor law in Ireland, is appointed to the
head of the :Irish board, in conjunction with the Secretary
for Ireland, in pursuance of the amended act of but session
for the Administration of the Laws for the Relief of the

Poor in Ireland.