The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-14 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, OCT. 12.
The Drainage Commissioners have published the
declaration and schedules relative to the districts of
Loughs Corrib, Mask, and Cana. The lands to be
drained or improved in the counties of Galway and
Mayo are 21,261 acres, of which only 606 are in the
latter county. The average present value of the whole
is 7,9371., and the increase is estimated at 5,677/. The
cost of works of navigation is stated to be 41,562/. ;
and 31 mills and factories will derive benefit from the
improvements. Galway, with this immense addition
to its productive capacity, will, in progress of time,
put on a new and more prosperous face.
The ladies of Belfast, whose activity in the late ca-
lamity has been most conspicuous, where all was
rivalry in charitable exertion, propose a singular
"thank offering" for their escape from the fate which
laid low so much of generosity and philanthropy.
The ladies of Belfast, aided by the most influential of
their sex in the chief towns of Ulster, undertake to
raise one thousand pounds and present it to the Ulster
Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind. The
motive and the object are alike laudable. The money
will be realised by means of a bazaar, to take place at
the close of the year, which no doubt will be variously
and most liberally supplied from the fair hands of the
north.

Spike Island, in the Cove of Cork, will soon be a
model of silent though active labour. The convicts
from all quarters, whose terms of punishment exceed
seven years' transportation, arc being ordered south.
Dublin has supplied a large quota, and Ennis is
preparing a reasonable draft for the same destination.
Skibbereen again raises the cry of doleful com-
plaint. The Rev. Mr. Townsend, who has outlived
one year of horrors, anticipates a second. He de-
scribes with a melancholy severity the neglect or
apathy of the higher classes, and in a gentler vein
the supplications of the lower for work or bread.
Just study this painful picture—be is not a man of
I falsehoods :
At present just consider our position. A people put off of strong
dirt. supplied et the public expense, to go cater for theravelme, kept
in the sowing season from the work which would now help to feed
them, consequently without anything to mad off starvation' driven
from post to pillar! from the workhouse, they are told there is no
room, to the relieving officer's office, who tel.'s them he has nothing
to give ! They come to me—l have nothing ! They go to any indi-
vidual front whom they have any hope, they are mill met with the
same reply: They want employment, there is none! The ay with
which they are met is, go get work. Where is it to be had lam
daily imptirtuse.l for it by hundreds! For • few, I grant you, there
may be some at prevent. But, speaking of our position an • COMMA!.
nay, there is one beyond a few days for those few. The landlords
will not concentrate their strength in bodies, committees of them-
selves, to communicate with government. The government, in con-
sequence, eye them with suspicion, or contempt, or indignation, or
some feeling between throe, and mode op of all those. An applies-
boa for some trifling loan crowns end embodies the whole of their
efforts, and not this can generally! The government reply with pro-
mises, but nothing is done. The Imullords, NA a hod', 1.111 content,
and to rest on their rte, while their common bark is driving on the
rocks or quicksands'

THE IRISH COUNCIL.
The ordinary meeting of this body was held to-day, John
Bolton /deny, Esq., in the chair. The Secretary (Mr. S.
Ferguson) announced the first business to be to bring up a I
petition agreed on the last day to be referred to a committee. I
As respected the meeting of peers and members of parlia-
meet to be convened by the council, he had to state that '
it having been decided by other requisitionists to convene a
meeting of Irish representatives and representative peen
on the 2nd of November, the council could not name an
earlier day for theirs, and an they did not like to obstruct
the meeting already called, they had decided to name Nov.
4 as the day for their meeting, and those gentlemen who
should mceton the 2nd would be able to state on tine 4th
what had occurred during their previous deliberations.
Dr. hlst:NsEm. proposed the adoption of the petition,
the effect of which is contained in the following paragraph:
That her Majesty's said subject are neceentirily obliged to import
great quantities of timber, and cormiderable quantities of glass, earthen-
ware, hardware, and haberdashery; and that sold acreralcommoditica
cannot be procured from other coontrice than Great Britain or British
colonies, without the payment of import duties, varying hoot 10 to 30
per cent. and upwards on the value thereof. Toot your petiticeers
are advised that mid commodities could be supplied from other parts
of the world on cheaper terms than from Great Britain or British
colonies, if mild duties were abolished ; and submit that by the intro-
duction thereof .e cheaper terms, her Majesty's Irish suMmta would
he greatly relieved in their necessary expenditure, and their Wintry
and means of supporting theinselvos would be much increased.