The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-09 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Dec. 7.
At the last meeting of the committee of the Labour
Rale Act, in Clare, a letter from Lord I. Russell to
Mr. J. O'Brien, M.P., was read, on the subject
of unfinished public works. His lordship states
that the primary object of advances under the Labour
Rate Act was to save the people from starving, and
the employment on the roads quite a secondary con-
sideration ; the latter having been sacrificed to the
former and more important object, a system was esta-
blished whereby three millions were fed by treasury
advances and subscriptions. If the public works
have been abused, improvidence encouraged, idleness
fostered, by the course which the government have
pursued, the justification of the government lies in the
extraordinary nature and wide extent of the evil.
But, whatever fault may be found with the past, his
lordship tells the Clare landlords to consult for the
future. The owners and occupiers of property are
henceforth responsible for the improvement of Ireland.
His lordship's letter appears not to have found much
favour with the committee.

In relieving boards of guardians from duties which
they were either unable or unwilling to fulfil, the
poor law commissioners have hitherto been content
with the simple act of dismissal, acoompanied with
board,
ve brief explanation. la the case of the Cavan
they have gone into a more detailed enumera-
tion of reasons, and, for the first time, a sort of pro-
clamation, signed "13. S. N. Twisleton and N. Re-
dington," follows the letters dimissory of Mr. Stan-
ley- a formidable and terror-inspiring document it
is in its qrave formality. The commissioners run up
a heavy indictment against the Cavan board : First,
that deaths by destitution, authenticated by the
verdicts of coroners' juries, had taken place
within the union without proper steps on the
part of the board to avert them. Secondly,
the contraction of heavy debts and uncollected rates.
Thirdly, the appointment of relieving officers two
months past, and little or nothing since done to en-
able them to enter on their duties—no depOts esta-
blished and no houses taken for the administration
of relief by the officers. For all which and sundry
other grave considerations thereunto moving Messrs.
Twisleton and Redington, the Cavan board stands
discharged. The administration of the law works
gradually towards a stipendiary body, a result which
the owners of property will yet have deeply to
lament.

Amid all the destitution and suffering of Mayo,
murder has not been among its crimes. The peasantry
are now passing through the tortures of clearance'
and hunger, but, mach to their credit, the trial is
patiently borne. One solitary instance of assaasina-
tion, in the person of Lord Lucan'a bailiff; was among
the " current rumours," but it turns out entree. A
sort of local tribune, Mr. Corry, passed into the sone
of the alleged murder, and " found that statement to
be a gross fabrication." He adds that "at no period
within recollection has the process of wholesale ejse-
tion of tenantry been carried on with more ruthless
avidity," and that on every side the eye is attracted
by the blackened walls of roofless cottages, from
which the wretched inhabitants are cast out even in
this inclement season." He withholds names, lest he
should be accused of pointing " public execration " to
the moral destroyers.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Hibernian Bank-
ing Company, yesterday, the nett profit of the year
ending the lst of November was reported to be
19,6101. A dividend of 5 per cent. wee declared.
The loaves on the year amount to between 5,0001.
and 6,000/.

The stoppage of payments by the Messrs. Winans
and Co. is only to be temporary. There are ample
funds to meet all the liabilities of the firm.
There is to be a county meeting of Longford to-
morrow, to consider on the resolve of the govern-
ment to provide no food ; and what is of more
practical consequence, to take steps for the immediate
relief of the "actually starving." Work first—
speeches and resolutions after.

TER IRISH LORD
is such better._

Chancellor Brady

13;oitW.--There was • severe gale from W.N.W. yes-
terday, which became very violent about half-past twelve
p.m. Considerable apprehension prevailed for the safely of
some Kingstown fishing boats, which were, however,
brought in safe, chiefly through the exertions of the pilot
boats and a trawler, manned by volunteers from Kiagetown.
Last night there was a renewal of the atom, which came on
with tremendous form tower& midnight. The London
mail, rid Birkenhead, due at five yesterday afternoon, did not
arrive until twelve o'clock to-day. The Liverpool mail due
this morning, has not yet arrived. The weather has become
calm but intensely cold, and sleet has fallen.