The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-10 00:00:00

LORD MORPETH ON EDUCATION.

YORK, THURSDAY EVENISG.—This day Lord MOR-
PETS presided at the annual meeting of the patrons of the
Yorkshire Yeoman School, for the education of the children of
the:middle classes:at which a very gratifying report was read
as to the state of its affairs.

Hte LORDSHIP having made some observations on the
prosperity of the institution, proceeded to speak as
follows:—With respect to the subject of education, on
a yet wider scale, considering the definite proposals
which have been put forward by her Majesty's government
—considering the degree of excitement, and, I am sorry to say,
of difference which they have produced, it will hardly be
considered out of time and place if I trouble this meeting
with a few observations. I admit that the matter does not
strictly pertain to our proper business. Ours is a purely
voluntary undertaking. It has proceeded thus far by volun-
tary contributions and voluntary efforts, and I certainly do
not see how, in the nature of things, it can ever expect to be
supported or extended otherwise. lam in Dopes that on that
account, we, the founders and friends of the York Yeoman
school, do not grudge any assistance which the national libe-
rality may furnish to then' portions of the community whose
destitution of the means of education is more hopeless and
more unfriended. I do not pretind that the scheme
in question is perfect, either in its principle or in
its details. If I had myself the power, which some
seem almost disposed to attribute to the Privy Council, of
issuing an arbitrary edict, without reference either to par-
liament or people, I believe I should prefer a scheme which
both did more and did less,—which, on the one hand, would
have carried education more extensively into all our towns
and villages, and, on the other hand, would have abstained
more completely from any religions interference. I think
it is not a time to shrink Dem possible miscorreption in the
plain avowal of opinion ; but I confess that increasing tape•
rience induces me to think that the state had better do more
for secular and less for religious education. In the one, I
think it clearly in its element ; in the other, it risks getting
out of it. This, however, is a matter of strictly individual
opinion. But are not individuals bound to act upon their
individual opinions? Certainly, if they can give effect to
them. If not, the dictate of common sense is to do the next
best thing. I doubt whether the proposal that the state
should give its attention exclusively to secular, without any rr
gad to rel igiou ',education would have found acceptance in this
room. I am sure it would not with the country at large. (Loud
applause.) Indeed, it is easy to imagine a few of the soft
things which would have been said about us, if we had pea
duced such a elan. We have, then, proposed a scheme,
which, if it is distinguished by anything, it a by an asiliour,
scrupulous, I think almost an exaggerated deference for tlle
religious convictions and susceptibilities of all the WWI
with whom it ran be brought into contact. It respects the
liberty of religious conscience with a strictness which is sat
even to be found in the educational systems of the United
States. It takes what it finds. It invents no regulationlf
imposes no cheek of its own, though I may myself regret
that it deem not prevent others from doing so. But, Mr,
we hear that though there is no professed, and even no in-
tended favouritism, yet, virtually and practically, there will
be a good deal. Now, I have a very sincere respect, and more,
I have a real affection for many of the objectors. They
have, in their day, done very much for education, and no
one would regret more sincerely than I should if any
single means of usefulness in their hands should be ,tamed
or crippled. I own I have little fear of it. Where I
differ with them mainly is, in being satisfied with
the education we have amongst us—with its quantity or its
quality. (Applause.) I believe, differing from them, that
its quantity is miserably deficient —perhaps not in their own
neighbourhoods--perhaps not comparatively over our own
broad Yorkshire, but over the width of England—and that a
great part of its quality is insufferably bad. (Loud applause.)
I believe this to be the impression of all enlightened .
impartial travellers who have passed through the couistrli
and examined this subject with an intelligent and inquiring
eye. Can any one read a book like thatof Mr. Horace Mann s
" Educational Tour through Europe," without a humiliate!'
saws of shame ? What is there in our England which /loam
make us so inferior in this respect to the United Statet—to
Barony—to Holland—to Scotland ? I hove come here with-
out statistics. They may compute the numbers renting'
education, though I believe that would net make out their
came. But lam content with the evidence of what I see and
hear,—l am content with what passes at every plot?
sessions, where the far greater part of the fine grown-
up young men and women can none of them wnte
their own names,—l am content with the details made oat
by chaplains and governors of prisons, and I cannot must
the conviction that the education of the mass of our working
men and women, and of that fearful multitude who Fe by
the name of the poor, is glaringly, scandalously deficient.
(Applause.) Then, when in such a state of things, the
leaders and ornaments of denominations sod communities
come forward and say, " You are interfering with oar
Labours, you are interrupting our progress, you are weakening
our influence, you are subtracting from our numbers,

otrcy as I should be incredulous as I am, yet, when such I
thiteP are put forth as argument, I am forced to say, I
muly cannot much care. (Loud applause.) We are church-
men here. It is thought that church schools will gain
by the new arrangement. If so, it will be because they mat
, .
it
with aruwenng efforts. (Renewed applause.) But I
disclaim any such grounds for our proceedings. It is because
I know that out of the pale of the church—beyond the
imam of the denominations—there is • vast dee-
tinge, neglected mass, festering in our struts and
fey, with every sight and sound of contamination, choking
the srcesaes to every sense, without any sense of duty to
soh or to heaven, upon whom no word of instruction ever
ant, len whom no breath of love ever settles ; these, itr,.
cum, by Lambeth, unknown to Geneva, unconverted, by
gnme I would invite, I almost wish I could core,,,el, to
woe in. (Hear, hear,) Ido not so much care to which
fold, so that there was a hope of teaching them that man is
their brother, and that " God is love." (Renewed cheers.)
Then there is another class I would for a :non:tent allude to,
u specially connected with this propeomi. those
who are to be taught, there are ttv.ee who teach. Both
rum to me occasionally rather ovetlooked in the heat of the
which is carried on between the rapporters of
competition
oppoonz systems. Now, I feel tempted sometimes to wish
that I could gather together the teachers themselves—the
actual schoolmasters of some of the most successful and vaunted
schools of the different denominations; for it is, after
ell, upon them—and not upon the worthy patron, or the re-
rpectable minister—that the main part of the burthcn and
of the glary of the successful teaching must rest—(hear)
sad having them together, in a place apart, I should like to
pat it to them whether they were so satisfied with the
amount of remuneration they at present receive—with the
place they hold in society—with the superiority of the ad-
'wars it confers—to what they might obtain as a clerk in
ease opulent warehouse, or as a superintendent at some
',Away station, that they. think the managers of the schools
tee altogether right in rejecting the offer of a lditional remu-
neration, additional help, additional distinction, which the
state is s.licitous to offer them. The wants and delicacies
at which I have now imperfectly hinted, are those which I
conceive the scheme of the government would go a great
way, as far as it can gee at present, to supply and re-
medy. I have not been able to refer to • speech
which I made in this city, on one of these occa-
sions • year and a half ago ; but I remember that I. men-
honk deserving the immediate attention of the country,
otose specific points, the insufficient number of schools, the
inadequate Wanes of schoolmasters, and the propriety of
fishier themsome retiring pension in their advanced age.
This was when I was neither a member of the government
nor of the legislature; and, as they are the precise points em-
braced in the recent minutes, I have the satisfaction of
thinking that I have only become a party, in company with
my colleagues, to provisions for which I had been anxious
in an unofficial and private capacity. I will just add thus
much. I have more than once referred to the manner in
which those measures bear upon the Church of England.
Now, it has nut always been my happiness to concur in the
course which the Church thought it right to adopt with re-
ketriee to education. At times I have thought it too !X-
-claire, at times too timorous. I rejoice to witness the atti-
tude she has assumed during the recent discussions. I pre-
emie not to sound all the motives in which it may originate,
nor to divine all the results it may aim at; but I see
that she is patting forward no exclusive preten-
tious—that she is not seeking to keep back from
others what she is willing to compete for with them. And
let the best friends and most faithful children of the church
feel well assured that she will not derive half the credit from
her long prescription—her wide poseesions—her august
architecture—no. not even from those solemn and beautiful
towers that rise immediately above as, as she will do from
her willingness to descend into the equal arena of a gene-
rous competition—to discard all mean jealousies and abets-
him msnopolies—to reserve her antagonism, not mainly for
diluent, but for infidelity—to wage her warfare, not so much
against errors of opinion as against viciousness of life--and to
accept the part which falls to her in enlightening, elevating,
evangelising mankind. (Applause.) I believe that such is the
spirit and such the career which will make the Church of
England strong and beloved, and perhaps immortal—for
her support will coals from • people whom she has shown
no disposition to distrust, but whom she has strained every
nerve to educate and to improve. I have now only further to
remind you that all real liberality and all real charity
begins, though it does not end, at home; and though you
have borne patiently with me while I have entered into this
rather long digression into general matters, remember that
we are met here, and that it is -or special business to for-
ward the utility, and to increase the credit of the York
Yeoman School.
His lordship sat down amidst loud cheering, which was
prolonged for some time.

ABSTRACTS OF THE LORD ADVOCATE'S
REGISTRATION AND MARRIAGE BILLS FOR
SCOTLAND.
BILL FOR REGISTERING BIRTHS, DEATIfe, AND
MARRIAGES IN SCOTLAND.—OFFICES AND OFFICIALS.
Clause 1. Tho Crown nay, from and after the passing of
this act, provide an office in Edinburgh for keeping a register
of births, deaths, end marriages, and appoint a registrar-
general. 2. The registrar-general may appoint an assistant
to act in the event of his illness, subject to all provisions and
penalties contained in the act, and having all the powers and
duties conferred by it, except for making regulations or dis-
missing officials. 3. The commissioners of the treasury or
the registrar general may appoint and remove clerks,
officers, and servant'; the commissioners to fix the regis-
trar-general's salary (not to exceed 8001. per annum), and
regulate the allowances of superintendent registrar', &c.
4. The expellees of the offices, &c., not otherwise provided
for in the net, to be paid out of the consolidated fund. 5. A
principal secretary of state or the registrar-general may
make regulations for the office and officials; a copy of all
such regulations to be laid before parliament, if sitting,
within six weeks after they are made; if not, within a
month after the commencement of next session. 6. The
registrar-general is to transmit once a year to a principal
secretary of state an abstract of the numbers of births,
deaths, and marriages during the foregoing year, to be laid
before parliament, if sitting, within six weeks, if not, within
a month after the commmemeement of next evasion. 7. Every
county in Scotland, and the towns of Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Aberdeen, Dundee, Paisley, Leith, Greenock, Perth, and
Dumfries severally, shall form a district, and be under the
superintendence of a superintendent registrar: the bounda-
ries of the parliamentary burgh to be the bounder, of each
town for the purposes of this act. 8. The sheriff clerks of
the counties anti the town clerks of the towns, to be superin-
tendent registrars. 9. Each superintendent registrar may
name a deputy, subject to the approval of the registrar-
general ; the deputy, in the event of his principal's death, to
act till another is appointed ; the principal to be liable for
the acts or omissions of his deputy. 10. The parishes within
each district shall constitute sub-districts ; whets it is expe-
dient to subdivide a parish into more than one district, it
shall be dour by the parochial board administering the poor-
laws, subject to the approval of the registrar-genes at, or fail-
ing the parochial board by the registrar-general ; each of these
sub-districts shall be a registrar's district, and distinguished
by a name or number, and the parochial board subject to
the approval of the registrar-general, or the registrar general
shall appoint a registrar to each ; where a parish extends I
into two or more districts, the sub•districts shall be so
made as to include within each superintendent regis
trar's district all the part of the parish within it.
11. Envy registrar, subject to regulations b the registrar-
general, may appoint a deputy, who shall hold office till the
appointment of another registrar. 12. No parish school-
master shall be appointed registrar sr deputy registrar under
this act. 13. Every superintendent registrar, registrar, or
deputy registrar, shall hold his office during the pleasure of
the regist.ar•genertl : removals must be advertised in some
newspaper circulated in the district no superintendent regis.
tear to be removed without the approbation of a principal
secretary of state. 14. Appointments of superintendent re-
gistrars, Ac., and certified copies of registers and certificates
under this act to be exempt from stamp-duty. 1.5. The
offices of the sheriff clerks and town clerks respectively shall
be the register offices of the superintendent registrars under
this act, and the superintendent registrars shall have the cus-
tody and management of the registers therein deposited.
1G The registrar-general shall supply the superintendent
registrars and registrars with iron boxes to hold register
books the registrars' boxes shall have one lock and two
keys, of which one shall be kept by the registrar and the
other by the superintendent registrar ; the register books,
while in the custody of the registrar and not in use, to be
always locked in the box. 17. The books, documents, and
papers in possession of any superintendent registrar, &c.,
es ;superintendent registrar, (Pc., at hie death, or on
his ceasing to hold office, to be delivered up as
eon as conveniently may be to his successor : the
sheriff may hear complaint. of non-delivery sinn-
Tamely, and enforce delivery. 18. Registrars and deputy
registrars moist be resident ; must have their names and
offices conspicuously placed on their house or place of busi-
int ; and every superintendent-regixtrar shall mete a printed
list of the registrars and deputy-registrars in his district,
with their places of abode, to he affixed to the door of every
known place of worship in the district two consecutive
Sundays in November, 1847, and in July of every subse•
quest year. 19. The stationery office is to furnish to the
registrar-general all books, certificates, notices, and forms
necewary in the execution of this act. CTI ES oF
REGISTRAR:4.-20. Every registrar (subject to the registrar-
general's regulations) is to inform himself of every birth
and death that shall happen in his district from and after the
last day of December, 1847, and to register as aeon after the
meat as possible, without fee or reward (except in cases after
9otilied) the muticulara required to be registered as in the
forms in Schedules A and B, annexed to the act. REO INTRA-
'MN or 81ZT1121.-21. The parents of any child born, the oe.
copier of the tenement in which the birth takes place, the
medical attendant and midwife present at the birth, are to
rye notice of the birth to the registrar within eight days
after the event, from and after the last day of December,
1847 ; the parents under • penalty of 40e., the others
under a penalty of 20e. ; no penalty exigible if
other persons give notice. 22. Any person finding
1 new-born child exposed, to give notice forthwith
to the inspector of the poor • or a dead body of any child
exposed, to the procurator-foie], under a penalty of 40a.,
tits inspector under • penalty of 51.; and the procure-
tor-Sucal to give notice to the registrar; the inspector to sign
the register as informant. 23. After the last day of Dec.,
MI, the parents of any legitimate, or the mother of any il-
legitimate child, or in case of their inability from death, eic.,
the occupier of the tenement where the child was born, or
medical attendant or nurse present at the birth, on a written
"Personal intimation, to give information of all particulars
required, and sign the register within three months, under a
Penalty of 51. in the case of an illegitimate child, it shall
not be lawful for the registrar to enter any person's name as
fithm. 24. If any child of a Scottish parent shall be born at
!nee on board a British vessel, after the last day of D. c.,
'NI, the captain shall make a minute of the particulars
fte far as known, with the name of the vessel, sad Qa

arriving at any port in the United Kingdom, or by any
earlier opportunity, transmit the same to the registrar-
general, who shall cause it to be filed, and a copy, verified by
his own signature, to be entered in a book to be called the" Ma-
rine Register," and kept with the other registers. 25. After
the expiration of three months no registrar shall register
a birth mitres the parents or lawful
.guardians of
the child make declaration of the requisite particu-
eulers before the superintendent registrar within
six menthe after the birth, and the superintendent registrar
in Presence of the person informing, give authurity to the
registrar to enter the birth and sign the entry along with
him ; a fee of 2s. 64. in such cases to be due to the super-
intendent registrar, and one of 5s to the registrar, unless
the delay have been occasioned by his default. No register
of birth made after a longer interval than three months, to
be admissible in evidence, unlesa the entry is signed by the
superintendent registrar; and any person registering the
birth of a child after expiry of three months, except as pro-
vided in this clause, to forfeit 501. 26. No birth to be
registered after the expiry of six months, under pe-
nalty of 501. ; and no register of birth after six
months to be admissible as evidence ti prove the birth
of the child, except in the case of children born at
sea. 27. If any child receive a name or a different name
from that by which it was registered within six months
after registration, the registrar or superintendent registrar
in whose custody the register is, on production of a certificate
from the clergyman who performed the rite (as in schedule
D), may enter the name without any erasure ; the certificate
and a certified copy of the entry to be transmitted to the '
registrar-general ; a fee of le. to be paid to the superintend.
ent registrar or registrar. 25. In the case of persons not
recognising infant baptism when a name is given to the
child within six months, according to the usage of the sect,
may, on producing, a similar certificate, have au entry made
in the same way on payment of IA-REGISTESTION or
Drente.-2_9. The medical attendant, or other person
present at a death, or the occupier or the inmates
of the tenement where it takes place, after the last
day of December, 1847, to give notice to the registrar within
48 hours under penalty of 40s. 30. The same parties, on per-
sonal or written requisition, to give the registrar the requisite
information within 14 days, under penalty of 51. ; in the case
of a precognition the procurator-fiscal shall, with approba-
tion of the Lord Advocate, inform the registrar of the result,
who shall sign the entry, naming the procurator-fiscal as his
informant. 31. A marine register-book for deaths is to be
kept, as well as for births,and the particulars to be transmitted
and recorded in the same way. 32. Even registrar is to
deliver to the informant a certificate of any death registered
(according to a form in schedule E) for the person conducting
the funeral, who is to give itto the person having the manage-
ment of the burial place, and if any dead body is buried with-
out such certificate, the undertaker or church-yard keeper
shall give notice to the registrar, within 48 hours; the pro-
curator fiscal may order a body to be buried before registra-
tion, and his certificate of anthority shall be communicated
to the registrar; undertaker or church-yard keeper failing
to give notice within seven days incur a penalty of 101.-
How RBOISTERS ADMISSIBLE AS Evioneen-33. Except
when the procurator. fiscal is the informant, no
.register of
births or deaths admissible as evidence without sumature of
informant.-Remuegnartosr or Reoneriteas-34. Every
registrar to make out half-yearly accounts of the number
of births and deaths, to be verified and signed
by the superintendent-registrar ; and the parochial board
to pay the registrar 2s. 6d. for the first twenty entries, and
la. for every succeeding twenty, and such further sum as
they think fit.-ReoisraertoN or MAERIAOES. -35. Per-
sons contracting marriage in Scotland after the last day of
December, 1847, shall, at some time within two months of
the contract, sign, along with two witnesses, the entry of
the register-book, or they may require the attendance of the
registrar at the contraction, or within two months there-
after, to have the entry made. Parties attending to register
shall pay a fee of Si. within ten days after the marriage,
and of 10s. after ten days and within two months. Parties
requiring the registrar's attendance shall pay a fee of
one guinea, and sixpence of travelling expenses for every
mile he ,bas to travel within !ten days, of two guineas,
and sixpence per mile thereafter. Parties contracting
marriage, and neglecting to register before the expiry
of two months, meur a penalty of 501., and in default
of payment a month's imprisonment. 36. In the event
of one of the parties dying within the ten days or two
months, the survivor, and in the event of both dying, any
near relative of either may obtain registration, on attending
with two witnesses and paying the fens. The registrar to
enter the death of the party or parties, and the name of the
informant. 37. no registrar, with approbation of super-
intendent-registrar, may register a marriage after two
months, in such form as the registrar-general shall prescribe.
38. Every officiating clergyman, every secretary of env Jewish
Synagogue, every registering officer to the Society of Pricnds,
shell send notice by post to the registrar of the district, of
any marriage in which they were officially concerned,
within ten days, under a penalty of 40s. ; such notice to he
according to a form given in schedule 11.. and to be delivered
half-yearly by the registrar to the superintendent-registrar,
for preservation with the other registers. Gesteuee Pito-
VINIONS ItESPECTING RROISTERS.-39. Certified copies of
all entries of births, deaths, and marriages, are to be Pent
ball yearly by the registrar to the superintendent registrar,
the registrar to keep each of the register-books until it is
filed, and then deliver it to the superintendent-registrar, to
be kept in the records of his office: under penalty of 101. for
non-delivery, within a month after the book is demanded.
40. The superintendent registrar is to send the certified
copies of entries half-yeaily to the registrar-general, to be
kept in his office. SEAM:NEB.-41. Registrars and deputy-
registrars are to allow marches of any regieter-book in their
hands, to be made at all reasonable times ; searches extend-
ing over a year for Is., with 6d. for every additional year,
and 2s. 6d. for certified extract. 42. Superintendent-regis-
trars are to cause indexes to be made to facilitate searches;
for general searches of register-books with the superinten-
dent-registrars, a fee of ss. ; for any particular search, Is. •
and for certified extract, 2-s. 6d. 43. The registrar-general
to have indexes made to the books in his office •
the fee for a general search there, 205.; for a particular
search, la. ; and fur certified extract, 2s. 6d. 44. A seal to
be kept at the registrar-general's office, and certificates,
stamped therewith, to be admissible in evidence in all
courts within her Majesty's dominions. MISCELLANEOUS
Paovnitons.-45. The registrar-general is to account to the

commissioners of the Treasury for all moneys received under
this act. 46. False information respecting a birth, death, or
marriage, to obtain insertion of a fictitious entry, an indicta-
ble offence, punishable by transportation for not more than
seven, nor less than two years. 47. Any registrar refusing
to register, or carelessly losing a register book or certified
eopy thereo4 to be fined 601. 48. Destroying or falsifying
register books punishable with transportation for not more
than seven, nor less than two years. 49. Provision made
for correcting erroneous entries. 50. Corrections may be
made before signing. 51. Provision made for recovery of
penalties. .52. Summary prosecutions must be commenced
within three months. 53. The correspondence of the
register-general relative to this act to be free of postage.
64. Nothing in this act contained to interfere with
registrations of baptismst Nurials, or marriages in
right of Kirk Session'. 50. The registrar-general is to
furnish the superinteadent-registrars, within five months of
his appointment, with notices of acts to be done under this
statute to be affixed on church-doors. 56. Notices required
under this act may be given by post. 67. This clause con-
tains the interpretation of some words used in the act is a
restricted sense. 68. The act only extends to Scotland, and
not to marriages of the royal family. 69. The act may be
amended or repealed during the present session.
BILL TO AMEND TILE LAW OF SCOTLAND AFFECT-
ING THE CONSTITUTION OP MARRIAGIL—CIAWIe 1. No
marriages contracted in Scotland after the last day of March,
1848, shall be valid or effectual unless registered in terms
of the preceding hill. 2. Marriages solemnised by a clergy.
I man not to be affected by this act. 3. The word " clergy-
man" shall include all clergymen or ministers of religion
authorised to solemnise marriages, whether belonging to the
Established Church or any other sect or denomination. 4.
This act may be altered or repealed during the present
session.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Aram 8.
One would imagine that the terrible crisis under
which the country staggers would leave no ream far
acts of blood and murder. During the last six months
there have been cases of individual atrocity : but never
before in Ireland, and nowhere except among say.
has a more revolting murder been committed than
that which took place in Croom (Limerick), and the
horrible particulars of which will be found below.
It is rarely that such acts of unmitigated savagery
are anywhere recorded—not even in Tipperary. But
there is very little difference between the clistrica of
both counties, which abut on each other. The same
sanguinary spirit is as rife in one as the other.
Croom, however, is not a border district, and it is
probable the murderers came from the land of blood
and turbulence. _ ' • '

---
The renewal of complaints through the provincial
press is no. doubt well founded, by the distress in
which many of the reduced labourers have been
involved ; but the pressure also, in some measure, is
traceable to an anxiety on the part of the clergy. to
get the Relief Act into operation, which finds reinst-
anoe—pusive but effective—in the shameful con-
duct of many of the gentry. So far from seconding
the government, they obstruct; and the longer relief
is deferred, the lighter, it is reasoned, will be
the rate. The representatives of the govern-
ment, however, are taking vigorous steps to
complete the committees which these gentlemen have
left imperfect by refusing to act, or inoperative by
staying away. Orders have been forwarded to the
inspectors, which may conquer the obstinacy of these
gentlemen. The relief commissioners afford every
facility, and even exceed duty in their solicitude to
execute the law ; but if they be obstructed, what can
be done, and who are to blame ? In Dublin the act
came into real operation yesterday in the south union :
soup will be issued for two days and the more sub-
stantial rations according to the taste of the applicant
during the remaining five days. The north union
will be in working order on Monday.
The progress of cultivation, under present cir-
cumstances, is exceedingly consoling. In one large
district in Wexford the spring business will have
been completed by Saturday next. In Carlow there
never wu so large a breadth of land in cultivation ;
and even is Oalway ouch is the progress made, that

the Galway Vindicator states the cultivation of the
land is much farther advanced in the country than
near the towns.

STATR OF TILE COUNTRY.

The Limerick Chronicle states that on Monday m .rning
last, about eight o'clock, immediately after three poleernen
had left the house of P. Hourigan, for their station at ('room,
three armed men entered his habitation in search of Hou-
rigan, who was out, having gone a little before that to the
house of a brother. The intruders turned upon his wife, as
she sat by the fire to prepare breakfast, and deliberately
fired at her, inflicting a mortal wound in her breset. Not
content with this barbarous deed, they struck the dying
woman on the head with their guns, until she lay apparently
dead upon the floor. They next turned into a room where
the son of the unhappy couple lay one sick bed, and dragged
the lad, about 18 years of age, about the house, ar d then
commanding bins to stand against the bed past, another shot
was levelled at him, which entered his head, and he fell
at once a victim before his murderers. Having glutted their
vengeance, by the immolation of mother and eon. these
ferocious miscreants departed, regretting they had not got
the husband and father, to complete the tragic spectacle.
Hourigan's little daughter would os,uredly have teen the
third victim, as they were determined to spare no human
being in the house to tell the catastrophe, only that she, pro.
videntially, was in the out-offices milking the cow for her
poor mother. This little girl came in as the murderers de-
parted, and saw them going oil, but unperceived by them,
and suspecting no harm, the first objects she beheld in-
side the door were her mother iu the agonies of death,
and her brother a naked corpse. The affrighted child
gave the alarm, but before any friend or neigh-
bour came in, Hourigan's wife breathed her last.
The afflicted man, Philip If ourigan, at last as-
sizes, brought to conviction four persons for having,
in November, 1846, attacked his dwelling by night, and
assaulted him barbarously in the presence of his w ife end
children. They broke his skull. These fellows were en
tenced to seven transportation, the judge having first
designed to double that penalty, so gross did the outrage
appear to him. Hourigan's life was threatened since this
prosecution ; and the magistrate found it requisite to have
police in the house at night for his protection. But the un-
fortunate man was doomed by those who regard not law or
mercy, and, watching the departure of the police on the
above morning, the murderers accomplished their infernal
purpose • and as they could not sacrifice Hourigan, they
butchered in cold blood those roost dear to him, the un-
offending mother and son. On Wednesday, in the vicinity of
Limerick, not four miles from that city on the Clue side ofthe
Shannon, an attempt was mule to acuminate Mr. Joseph
Wallplate, a magistrate nel resident country gentleman.
The Marchionem of Waterford is supplying the smaller
tenantry of her husband with seeds for corn and other crops
oat of her own private purse. May her example be imitated
by hundreds ! Amongst those landlords whose benevolence
is recorded in the provincial journals to-day, I find Mr. J. E.
Redmond, of Wexford; Mr. G. O'Reilly, of Kildare ; Mr.
Usher and Mr. Down, of Waterford : the Marquis of Lana-
, downe ; Mrs. Mahony, Castlequin, and Mr. L. B. llsrtop,
of Leicester, proprietors in iefry. It is said the
latter gentleman has not had a single sixpence of rent
from his Kerry property this year. Colonel Palliser,
Tipperary, has despatched his son to New Orleans to pur-
chase Indian csrn for his tenantry. Mr. 0. Moore, of Mayo,
not only supplies his tenantry with seeds but has bestowed a
mileh cow to such of them as are without one. Mr. Rut-
ledge, Togher, in the same county, is also supplying seeds to
his tenantry. The Earl of Lucia has sent lit to the poor of
Kilmeena, Mayo, in which parish he is a principal prupnetor.
A few days since I noticed, on the authority of the Roman
Catholic clergyman, that his lordship had not replied to an
application for a donation. Since then this SLIM has been
forwarded, and contains 101., his lordship's subscription, and
61. from Earl Spencer.

SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, APRIL 8.

- •
Letters from Scotland received te-day advise of a
moat extraordinary event. The lord lieutenant of a
Scottish county, and a member of the Scotch peerage,
has suddenly absconded, leaving behind him a mass
of bills and securities bearing the forged names of
his own son and other relatives. The signatures
have been repudiated by the respective parties. It
is reported that large amounts of charity funds are
involved in this wreck of the party in question.
At a meeting of the Free Church Presbytery of
Edinburgh, held yesterday, Dr. Candlish introduced
the subject of the government scheme of education,
and, after a long speech, moved the appointment of a
committee to consider and report by the 16th inst.
on the minutes of the Privy Council, the objections
of the voluntary dissenters, and the answers or expla-
nations of the council thereto. In the course of his
observations the rev. doctor objected to the mode in
which the proposition came before parliament, which
afterwards elicited from another member of presby-
tery the remark that although this might be a dis-
advantage at the outset, it was compensated for by
the subject being kept open every year when the
supplies were voted. Dr. Candlish clearly incul-
cated the right of the state to educate, and the duty
of the church to accept assistance in the work. He
admitted the difficulties which the government had
to encounter in legislating, so as to satisfy the differ-
ent sects throughout the country; and he and
the seconder of his motion deprecated the
idea of the Free Church acting as " obstractives.
even if they could not approve of the measure."
In the course of the discussion the parish schools were
referred to, a matter which, if agitated, will turn out
an apple of discord. At present there are about 1,050
of these seminaries, and the whole of the teachers are
members of the Established Church. The severance
of the connexion would be resisted to the utmost by
the church ; and, possibly, the eligibility of dissenters
to hold the office of parish schoolmaster may as rigidly
be insisted on by the Free Church, as the condition
of their adherence to the government scheme.
Public opinion is setting in in favour of the Marriage
and Registration Bills. To-day the Edinhurgli Cou-
rant, which has long borne the distinction of exhibit-
ing the quintessence of caution in all matters of disa-
greement, pronounces the opposition to be founded on
'• misconception ; " and Dr. Candlish, who is rarely on
the same aide with that venerable print, declares the
" misconception " to be " monstrous ;" and, as in the
case of the education scheme, the doctor moved for
the appointment of a committee to consider the mea-
sures, and to confer with the Lord Advocate, or some
other legal authority, as to the real interpretation of
the disputed clauses.
With the view of calling public attention to the
state of lodging-houses in Glasgow, the following
statistics have been published :—ln one contiguous
locality 268 houses of this description were found, in
which the number of apartments was 647, and the
beds, such as they were, 960. The acknowledged
lodgers were stated at 1,096, or about 1 1-10th lodger
to each bed. The return, however, shows that in one
house 17 lodgers were proved to occupy four beds, so
that the above proportion would, on rigid examina-
tion, probably be found to be much understated.
Another tenement mentioned by the Constitutional,
and apparently overlooked by the officials employed
to collet information, is fitted up in steam-boat
fashion with tiers of beds, amounting in all to 60, each
wide enough to hold three persons, and so, in the
aggregate, capable of accommodating 180 bodies.
The returns in question do not include houses of a
disreputable character, their dark statistics being re-
served for separate detail.
During the year terminating March, 1817, the ad-
minions to the male classes of the Glasgow govern-
ment school of design have been 697 ; to the female,
111 ; being a gross increase of 232 pupils over the
preceding year, and showing, according to Mr.
Sheriff Bell, that this is the best attended school of
design in Britain. The banks in Glasgow have con-
tributed 5501. in support of the institution.
Mr. Fox Matile's constituents in Perth wished to
give him a public dinner when visiting that quarter
during the Easter recess ; bat the hon. member was
obliged to decline the honour for want of time ; and he
accordingly left for London oa Tuesday evening.

PERTHSHIRE AORICULTURAL REPORT.—Spring seeds
throughout the county have hitherto been got in under very
favourable circumstances. The dry weather throughout
February has been followed with weather equally dry in the
month of March, in which month the fall of rain only mea-
sures la inch. Nightly frosts have been frequent, with keen
north or easterly winds and clear sunshine throughout the
day. The soil as, in consequence, sufficiently dry for receiv-
ing the spring seed/ ; end from the protracted frosts since the
ground was ploughed a tine mould has been easily obtained
on the most stubborn lands, and a fair braird may be ex-
Ti. In the early districts sowing of beans commenced
the end of February. That operation was generally
concluded by the middle of March, and oats are now
all sown, and sowing of barley has commenced. On
gravelly lands early sowing is generally followed by a short
crop, and on such soils few oats are so yet sown. The soil
is in general in a very favourable plight for being cleansed
of root-weeds, and cross-ploughing on barley and turnip
ground' is going forward. Potatoes will occupy little time
an planting this sewn ; but Swedish turnips will, in many
instances, be more extensively sown than usual. It is
pleasant to observe, that some benevolent proprietors are
offering prizes, and giving seeds and instructions for raising
red and sugar beets, parsnips, Belgian and other carrots, red
and green kohl rabie or turnip-rooted cabbage, as substitute+
for potatoes, of which tubers for planting cannot be obtained
under from 31. to 51. We hope such well timed benevolence
will become general amongst our landed proprietors. Young
wheat is suffering a little front the severe frost that has
prevailed since the 24th of March ,• but from the dry state
of the soil, and the powdery state of its surface, the tender
roots will not be exposed nor the plants thrown out. Fallow
wheats, which were over luxuriant, are receiving a salutary
cheek. The frosts are very bard upon the early blowout of
stone-fruit on garden 'Falb, and the clear sunshine is for.