The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-01 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN SCOTLAND.

The offlei;icorrespo----tide;;;;laii;rtTthe destitu-
tion in Scotland has been embodied in a " Blue Book," for
the purpose of being presented to both houses of parliament.
We believe we shall be doing an aceeptible service to our
Scotch readers by presenting them with a sketch of its con-
tents.

That they are lees overwhelming and depressing than
those of the corresponding collections of official correspond-
ence relating to the destitution in Ireland is owing to one
circumstance alone. The destitution is as entire in the dis-
tressed districts of Scotland as in Ireland. The people in
the suffering districts of Scotland seem at hopelessly inca-
pable of seil.help as of Ireland. Society. is as imperfectly
organised for purposes of mutual aid in cases of great
emergency in the one country as in the other. But while
t • • • this applies to the whole of Ireland, it applies
only to a long narrow strip of Scotland, ettending from the
Mull of Cantyre in the south, to Shetland in the north.
This border of suffering is everywhere accessible from the
wealthier and mere civilized part of Scotland ; it has con-
stant communication with its lowland neighbours. The dis-
• •

Lensed districts in Scotland are only less hopeless than Ire-
land because they are of less extent and more accessible.
hopeful effort breaks down beneath the martnitude and ex-
tent of Irish distress. Scotch distrea. is appalling, but human
powers are evidently commensurate to its relief.

Prefixed to the correspondence is an interesting outline
by Mr. Henderson, Queen's Rernembrancer, of the territorial
divisions and Inc d officials of Scotland, which must mate-
rially have aided government in its efforts, and which
will throw light on the Scotch civil administration
to ordinary readers. Of this paper we only desire
to note that it explains bow Scotland has hitherto
been ah'e to get on with its shadow, or mockery of a poor-
law. In its counties, burghs, and other territorial divisions,
are numerous staffs of local officers, ft r administrative and
judicial purposes, who, in times of extreme necessity, have
always been made available in the dispensation of relief.
The established kirk likewise overepr ads the country with
a net-work of official characters, whose functions as distri-
buters of the voluntary charities of their communicants,
especially qualities them to assist in such a service. The
numerous and intelligent bodies who have from time to
time seceded from the church, have retained its organisa-
tion, and their office-bearers are quite as effective. Ameng
these ready-made committees the new Poevlaw fun*
tionaries, whose duties began nearly at the same time with
the present visitation, look rather inefficient; but they may
grow more useful as they grow older. And they will be
for everyday service.
In raising and supplying funds for this machinery, and in
searching out the localities most in need of them, and indi-
cating the best means of applying them, government
have found able and trustworthy auxiliaries in the country.
Those are well described in the following letter of Mr.
Trevelvan's :
Mr. tarvatras to Sir F. Cars.—Fes. 17, Isl7.—lt has been
decided that we are to depend upon the Edinburgh 13mantittee, and
the committees and individuals in connexion with it, for carrying out
the detail of relief in the numerous cases not provided for by thee:et-
nom of the proptietwa. The Edinburgh Committee is believed to re-
rment inn very &Jr dMeree the intelligence and Innen:deem of Soot-
/and, which cannot he spoken of ton highly. and this committee
certainly appears to poems the confidence of all parties. The Free
Church Committee hes been sheathed in it. The Lou-on Committee
band over their Made to the Edinburgh Committee, to be managed by
them without rest:rinks of any kind. The Olrisgow Committee has
bet mew alike= is then ; sad what weighs with us more than any-
thing else, they sea onantly command the services of those persons
in every pert of nuntry who are bes• able to alfonl mangoes* on
such as ennin, marl whom I mu, instance Mr. Fraser, the
sberiSteabedhsteet Peetwilliam, and Nu. Shaw, the sheriff-aub•tinCe
of Manainadire. ',heir plans ago apprar to have been well devised
and anyomedel Mee Abet. Ur saying whirl, I allude to the earlier pro.
ceedhep el dr lne KM; Committee, which now forme part of the
Edtaborphdennettee, as well as to the mom recent exertions of Mr.
Fraser. Ms anlentood that the Edinburgh Committee will imme-
diate! emel submit a plan for the detailed organisation of the
dies...mime for relief purposes, combning of the appointment
of • moderate =tuber of local committees, which will act in concert
with the peoperton,and with you and your officers, and will take
care that the relief given by them is confined to persons who have no
legal provision under the poor-law.
respect to Mr. Trevelyan's share in this correspondent*
we pause to observe that it has impressed us with a strong
sense of his efficiency as an administrator. His letters are
brief—evidently the curt communications of a man who
has no time to my one word beyond what is absolutely ne-
' Many. Yet they always indicate a comprehensive under-
goading of the whole subject, a minute acqusintance with
It. details, judgment in selecting a course of action, prompti-
r tude in following it out, and withal considerate regard for
the feelings of others. Among the letters of other officials,
we may mention those of Sir E. Coffin and Capt. Pole as
eminently distinguished for their fulness, distinctness, end
soundness of judgment.
In the letter wo have quoted, Mr. Trevelyan alludes to the
praiseworthy efforts of the Committee of the Free Kirk. A
very pleasing idea of the efforts of this body is convejed in a
letter from the Lord Advocate announcing its earliest
efforts :

The Lard Advocate to Sir G. Grey.—Edinburgh, December 10,
ISHI.—I have just had a very intercom, interview with a deputation
of the Free Kirk, entrusted with the manarement of a °Amities made
bat Stmday for the relief of the poor in the Western Highlands and •
Islands. It will amount, I believe, to upwards of 'Suet/. There has
been nothing like it before, and, in some of the congregation. here, It
has exceeded what the same preachers were able to command when
they belonged to the Establishment. tad in the height of their in-
fluence. Nothing has occurred to the history of this movement that
has impressed me more with the deep hold it has taken of the test
affections of the people, and the eatraordinary tower of Its leatkos for
purples% in this 'colonise at least, of great benevolence. To their
great honour, they do not propane, in the distribution of thin fund, to
consider those only of their own party, but look solely to the sufferings
of their own countrymen to whatever persuasion helonging, with no
other anxiety than thaothe means of food tuns put into their hands
should be employed in the best direction with the strident economy,
and above all, with the lead danger of permanent evil—a danger of
which they are not U32.3olol.—Tney wok to be pot into some comma-
nicaticio with the orators to whom you have entrusted, In the matter
of relief. the superintendence of their districts, not with a view to my
joint action, which would lead only to embarrassment—but in order,
beet, that they may not counteract in anything your operations, and,
secondly that they may have some guidance for their own conduct,
entertaining a conocientious distrust of their ability of a Imimistration.
One thing they were desirous to ascertain immediately whether
merriment woold assist them in transporting from the Western
highlands and Islands ta the low Country, as they call it, individuals
who are wilbog to come down for ordinary labour. Tney have been
' very active, and have already made arrangements with some at the
railway companies for the employment of about 3,000 labourers, and
their clergy alone—the clergy of the Free Kirk—have influence to
move them from home. I should think it of the lad importance to
give all ,de encouragement and assistance to emigration fi ono thous
thatrwts to the labour market, and it don not appear to me that it
would be of bad eon equence to provide, for a low weeks, by govern-
ment reereb% the means of transport. The nelson of the year itself
gives apology fur this interference, and prevents the abuses that might
reasonably be apprehended from furnishing gratuitously passages
in ordinary dates of weather. The other point on which they are
immediately solicitous in of more didiculty. They wish to know the
position of the governmact &tido, and waetber oorentment will sell
to them (I moan the Subscription Committee) at the same prices at
which Meal proprietces or the people tbemeelves would be allowed to
purchase; and in the event of the being thought objectionable,
whether government will enable them to 'testate their means
by providing transport for the provisions they may buy in Clyde or
• other convenient ports, and transmit to depids of their own selection.
I have nothing to suggest on these points for your consideration. You
are infinitely better able to judge than I MU; and at this distance, and
with little information as to the detain of your arrangements, I am
unable to be of any use. The matter, however, requires immediate
• attention, and it is well deservesl by the spirit in which thew men ap.
l• pooch you. I advised them to put thermelres in commonication
with Sir John M'Nelil. They wish also to be put in communication
• with Sir E. Cain, or any other officer employed by the government in
these districts. Is not this right! They will keep me well informed
of what they are doing, so that I shah have it in my power to inform
you, and make any ouggestion that moms.
In justice, however, to the rest of the community of Scot-
' land, we must give as a pendant to the Lord Advocate's
generously enthusiastic statement, the shrewd comments of
Sir John M'Neill
think you add that the Free Crumb committee proposed to ex-
tend the relief afforded from the funds at their darnel, to the demi.
tute of all wets and denominations of Chetah.. without distine.
lion. This part of your plan appears to me to be conceived in the
true spirit of benevolence, and to be as wise an it is liberal. Not
Oily the legal provision for the par, and the :memos adopted
by the vovernment at the coat of the nation, but also the eff meta of the
proprietors to maintain the people on their scoperties, are directed to
the relief of all, without distinction of religious opinions • and I can-
not help thinking Mat a very unenviable responsibility would red on
any large and influential body, which In a season of stomal deettn-
Oast, should set the example of an exclusive system of benevolence
founded on Minium distinction. You stated that you intended, as •
general rule, to avoid the gratuitous distribution of relief, and to
require wlesie relief was afforded, that It should be paid for Miter in
money or by labour. That it was oho your intentiou to refuse relief
to all, who being in a condition to avail themselves of the offer you
would make to provide them with employment, should refuse to take
advantage of it. This part of your plan ai founded, 11a I believe, on
the only principle on which relief to a destitute population eta be
made conducive to their weitov, or to the accompbahment of the
object. proposed. You informed me that you had entered into an
arrangement with Mr. Stevenson, by which employment hall been
secured for above 2,000 labourers to be brought from the &mewed
districta in the Highlands. That they were to be stationed In one
body on a continuous portion of a railway One set apart for them.
That they were to be pul at Own, while inexper kneed rind untrained,
a low rate of wages proportioned to the work they might be able to
perform. That the rate of serest 033 to ricer they became emahle
of doing more work, until at length Ulm who might be found tom.
Me of doing full work, should receive the maxlmtun rate of wages.
And that arrangements had been made to have enlimiemarim placed
amongst them, to afford them religious and moral isuitruetion and
gui,laiwe. It ban, I krow, teen objected to this waif your plan,
that employment on rallwnys would expose the moralise a simple
people to great danger of sorrophon. The may be trek bat I armies
it appears to me that the dangers Of 000MMOS MI greater
than those of railwm Your. FM peered te =spry brie seeter
of people, united by diem rmeerft armrests" rase, me ry stork
that keep them is aster& emoogitrii=es,
Me leers to tome rea.
soluble objections; awl If it were fr th om e destitute
Ilighlandess to seek emsh foe biome is the err= market the
of his labour, it would. le my opinion, be preludes. But If this can-
. nut be done to ear se extent r to alba say user it relief in the
present den ea, thee. I think the lima Worth trying,
whether, with the of proper isd et relistoto and
moral bressema ad eiddisee, ism met la • iptest issesure he
protected hem re satemerdes et re. sod Sum the seller which '
the mode of Mb ise bred by Melt eirsomerser to oder, is
believed to tEiders, spewed • hspe rid the fade rd.
, matey to be et lie Meisel of ree ohmmeter, would mosont •
1 to about drab sourly e,MM lir rowdy been estestred.
Too asset Yon m waft relief into the drafted direr, you
ore draft se to essehiet Your proccnthigia that they W& not
orstenet t
ee
Wren Irk the 0101300. adopted far a eitailer pm-
! yen by the gewararsi, by theynerron, et byettier p •rties. h
Maryher to dr iron re tar reedy lord by • prima the
efturoity fee Ode berersmt Garet le es aseldeniblo, and le hie
these and the °lbw him& writ ray be applied r a like purism ems.
tribute m largely as be the relief of ibis", far whom they are
destined, it is dmksble that each of SW various parties
who take a Mare &this pod work, should so Gonad their proceed-
Mon that they may set ametemet or interfere with each other. The
field is unhappily wilt 'mush to eye ample room for the exertions
of aO
Be it kept in mind that to the bodies enumerated in Mr.
Trevelyan's letter—to a few of the large Highland proprio
tors, and to the gentlemen on the Highland borders—not to
the Highland proprietor' as a body, are the efficient exertions
made in Scotland awing. Sir E. Coffin ban too often had just
cause to complain of the apathy and inertness of the High-
land proprietors. The following letter to one of them—whose
name in mercy to himself we suppreu—shows that the tone
adopted to them by Bir E. and his employee has been ex-
actly what justice required:
'Sc F. Codin to Ohm, January 23, la IL—Since my letter
of the 20th honant was addressed to you, I have received Captain
Elaynton's and also an account of Captain Bow's conversation
with you at Tbkrnnoey. The former fully confirm my worst Goes
nopecting yondition of the people on your property, and would.
in the event of your continued "Men. and disregard of their wants,

have made It my duty to ham interfered on your behalf As you ham
at length personally informed yourself of their destitute state, and
taken some steps towards relieving it, t hope that any interposition of
Ude kind wiU be rendered needle., by the further measures which
you hare expressed your Intention of adopting; but es 3ou seem, in
your conversation with Captain Ram, to have disowned in some
degree the mond obligation to pror:de for the aunts of the people
dwelling on your property. It is proper that I should state to you dies
finally, the vtrw taken of Wit obligation by the government, and the
course which I am instructed to pursue; the former tieing, that the
Obligation is complete ; and the tatter, that in any ease of omission, I
am to take the no:emery roe...sures topreeerre the people from starva-
tion, leaving to paritanieat to decide when the cam is brought before
• it, whether or not the proprietor in default, shall be merle legally as
well as morally, responsible for the consequimem or his failure. It ia,
of sour-e, not pretended that be is to maintain in idleness those who
' easy refiwe employment at a retainable rate of remuneration, nor Lit
• Intended to sancta', is • claim of right, on the pin of the people
themaelre., any' Ming beyond -rich employment, accompanied by :rearm
to proper supplies of fowl, purchasable by their Labour or by the wage.
of it ; but it is deemed that to this extent they ha, a Jost claim on
his aasidmice under their present calamity, and that it is incumbeut
on hi n to show, that when fairly offered, it has been neglected by
them, before he can be exonerated from such a duty. All prutimble
facilities ere afforded to him for the fulfilment of it, but from the ditty
null he cannot be absolves], without throwing the borthen nn others,
who are alreadr acting indiacharac or their own proper share of this
general
We will return to this subject.

SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, Fan. 26.
We understand that the drainage grants applicable
to Scotland are exhausted, but as many proprietors
have been disappointed in obtaining them it is said
that government contemplates a supplementary fund.
Food rioting is still breaking out at intervals in
Ross-shire. A detachment of soldiers has been sent to
Wick, where, as before-mentioned, disturbances were
apprehended.

THE BUNDLE. TRADE, OE WEE PAWNS.—Bundle shops
have now sprung up in Aberdeen and other provincial towns.
Every description of family articles is brought to these shops.
They are mostly kept by individuals who were formerly
Aanikera. No duplicate or ticket is given, and so the regular
Pawnbroker.' Act is evaded. The pledger's name and the
articles are entered in a book, and this is called buying it;
but a promi.c is made to the woman or man, that it will be
kept for her or him so many cloys—say eight. If she can
manage to come within the time she may buy back her gown,
pot, Bible, bellows, or blanket ; but if one day late, then she
is told it has been Fold. By this sort of trick, poor people
are soon stripped of their little property—poverty,
intem-
perance, and ruin soon follow.—Curresponsient of Aberdeen
' Journal.

THE PULPIT DlVlDED.—Theiblley-EllniTh or Paisley is
collf giate. In the forenoon one of the ministers preached in fa-
vour of Sunday trains on the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway,
and invited the congregation to go into the vestry and Iran au
address to that effect. In the afternoon the othor minister
lectured against the trains, and intimated that he also had
an address in the vestry. The Glazgoio l'ost says that the
pro petition received most signatures.
PAUPEItS. ALLOWANCES IN SCOTLAND.—An unpleasant
statute for Poor-law Boards has been invoked from the dust
of the sixteenth century. The act. 1579, chap. 74, directs
that " those who neccessablie mon be sustained be almes be
maid content, of their own consents, to accept daylie, to
live unbeggand, and to provide quhair then remaining shell
be, be themselves or in house with others quhair the midis
pure people may be Nat lodged and abyde." The parochial
board of Gorbals, Glasgow, when adjudicating on the
case of a widow and three infant children, placed them on
the roll of paupers at 21d. each per week.; but provided no
lodging or clothing for them, and refused to do to when ap-
plied to. A complaint as to the inadequacy of the allowance
was made to the board of supervision ; but as that board, in
its usual way, declined to interfere, the pursuer in the
action intimated that he had procured a lodging for them,
and would hold the board liable in the expenee, and in being
summoned before the sheriff the board gave in. It tarns
out that the excerpts from the old Szots acts, which we
lately quoted from the Glasgow Citizen, are really genuine
—it solid, therefore, be well to act on them also, if still
force.