The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-17 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, AUOVAT 16.
The continued prevalence of wet weather, and the
coldness of the atmosphere, have caused real alarm to
the executive of the country for the food prospects of,
the seasons '4B-49. The Poor-law Commissioners
have determined, therefore, to issue circulars to the
various unions in Ireland, alling upon tl e guardians
to transmit officially, through their clerks, detailed
accounts of the prospects of the harvest, which, in
other seasons, would be in great part gathered at
this time. The guardians are required to state
whether the potato disease has reappeared in their
several unions. If so, in what electoral divisions,
and to what extent; and where, if any place, it has
not been manifested ; how many months' consump-
tion the healthy portion of the crop would afford ;
and at the same time information is sought as to
the extent and safety.- of the other crops—corn
especially: This latter information is unhappily ren-
dered desirable because both the oat and wheat crops
have been injured, the latter particularly, in rich
heavy soils.
There is no doubt that the announcement made by
the Attorney-General yesterday, respecting an ap-
plication to postpone Mr. Duffy's trial, is caused, as I
announced several days since, by a determination on
the part of the authorities to try him on • charge of
high treason. In that event Mr. Homes will pro-
bably defend him ; and Mr. Whiteside is already en-
gaged for Mr. Smith O'Brien.
The camp at Turtulla Thurles was inspected on
Sunday, by Lord Hardinge, previous to his lordship's
departure for Limerick. The troops stationed there
are the 75th and 85th infantry regiments, some com-
panies of the 43rd, two troops Bth Hussars, anl a de-
tachment of the Sappers and Miners.
The news from the South this morning says not a
word of the Rathkeale affair. We may conclude,
therefore, that it is an invention.
Mr. M. F. Barry, brother of I'. J. Barry, has writ-
tea to the Freeman, to say that his brother is not in
the Castle, or in communication with the authorities,
but rather intimates that he is "on the run."
The Chief Baron will deliver the charge in Mr.
Martin's ease at the sitting of the court to-day.

(By the Electric Telegraph Company's Erpress.)
WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The trial of Mr. Martin
was resumed this morning, by the Solicitor-General
proceeding to address the jury in continuation of hie
speech of last night. Ho insisted that there could
be no doubt that the prisoner was responsible for the
publications which appeared in his paper, whether
written by him or not. The Chief Baron charged
the jury, which afterwards retired, and had not re-
turne t into court when our despatch left.

--- ---
WORK AND WAGES FOR PARLIAnENT.—Lord John
Russell, in spite of the lamentations of Col. Sibthorp at
loping his holiday, has induced the House of Commons to
resolve to sit on Wednesdays. We do not wish to interfere
with th,. business of Mr. Cantelo, hut we would suggest that
the cushions of the members should be stuffed with eggs, so
that something might be hatched with all this sitting. It
is clear that if there were I se standing and talking in the
house, there would not be so much sitting and doing
nothing. We are fast veering round to that point of the
charter which requires the payment of members of parlia-
ment only, to insure the work for the wages, we would
have them paid by the job nr the measure.—Pusird.