The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-22 00:00:00

IRELAND,

DUBLIN, J mei 20.
The accounts received yesterday spoke with much
confidence of the healthy state of the potato crop, and
naturally inspired very sanguine expectations that
the country would be in a great degree spared the
dreadful visitation of the past year. But it is impos-
sible to say what a day may bring. forth ; and if the
statements now before us are to be depended upon,
there is unequivocal evidence of the existence of disease
in localities which were supposed to be exempt from
the visitation. In parts of the counties of Dublin,
Antrim, Galway, Tipperary , Clare, Limerick, and
Westmeath, the blight is said to have developed itself
in crops which a few hours previous exhibited no
symptoms of decay. Still, front other portions of
the very same districts the reports are highly satisfac-
tory. On the whole, then, there iu room for appre-
hension, though it is insufficient to justify the alarm
which prevails. Mr. D. Hackney, a gentleman of
agricultural experience, has addressed the following
letter to the Limerick E.raminer :

Sir,—As I was the first, through your paper, last year. to
give information of the potato crops round Limerick being
infected with the disease, and as the papers publish various
accounts of it—tome asserting there is, in their opinion,
disease this year—others, that there is none, and that the
crops of potatoes never looked more promising—and as ma ay
of your readers are anxious to hear my opinion of the matter,
I, therefore, warn all those who have been so foolish as to
plant potatoes, to lose no time in replanting the lend with
something else, a. there is not the least shadow of a doubt but
that almost in every instance the potatoes are very much
diseased. I have been watching it since last January, and
it is making rapid progress. Do aot be deceived by the
appearance of the tops until it will be too late to sow turnips,
fur be assured it will convince 'donee or later that it has
done its work. I examined a garden yesterday belonging to
a gentleman in this neighbourhood, planted with seed that
he brought direct from the south of Spain, and they are
showlng symptoms of disease as much as any I have
examined. You may make any use you like of the above.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, DAVID DACYNEY.—
Hermitage, Castle Council, June 18.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
The Limerick papers today contain the usual amount of
outrages; none of them, however, have been attended with
death, and scarcely any were characterised by violence. In
one instance a house was broken open, and every available
article of household and bed furniture carried off. This,
with the slaughter of sheep and cattle, make up the total for
the we, k. Armed parties still traverse the country at bight,
and the public journals in the interest of the landlords again
call for an act to disarm the people, as if outrages had been
unknown while it was illegal for a peasant to carry arms.
Meanwhile the gentry call for augmented police force,
and get them ; they' tender their residences for
barracks, sit down within their halls, and do nothing. Indian
meal now sells in Limerick at 151. per ton ; whole meal has
fallen U., and oatmeal 21. per ton, since Wednesday last.
There were 1296 civil bills for hearing at the Tuam Quarter
Sessions just concluded. Moat of them were for rent or
arrears, and decrees were had in almost all cases. In one
instance—a replevin issued against a landlord's distress—it
was proved that the stock was seized on May 1 for rent due
on that day, and seized without notice. Yet the local paper
states that in this ease the barrister gave the tenant Is.
damages only. 101 bills of indictment were tried, most of
the offences being (or cattle and sheep stealing. Several of
the accused were sentenced to transportation. There are 120
bills of indictment for trial at two of the district sessions of
Limerick next week.