The Express.
London, England, 1848-11-23 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Dimwit. Nov. 22.
Yesterday, the argument on the writ of error sued
out by Mr. B. O'Brien was commenced in the Queen's
Bench, in presence of the prisoner and a crowded
mart. The case was very ably argued by Mr. Fitz-
gerald for the prisoner, and Mr. Lynch for the crown,
who are to be followed to-day by Mr. Whiteside and
the Attorney-General. Mr. O'Brien looked very ill.
It is said that he is suffering from lumbago, and
another affection, consequent upon close confinement
and anxiety of mind. The argument will, in all pro-
bability, be brought to a close this evening; but the
judgment of the court is not expected for two or
three days.
Of what use are commissions of inquiry ?" has
often been asked. Of what use, indeed, since no-
thing comes of them. We have an instance in the
case of our county treasurers. The duty is now
almost all performed by the office of civil services, and
the commission of inquiry reported that the office
should be abolished and the expense saved; yet, as
treasurership' become vacant, they are filled up.
, Witness at Fermanagh, the other day. The same
' will doubtless now occur in Queen's County, where
there is also a vacancy. Thus the affair will go on,
and we shall have for another 50 years some 34 use-
' less officers, at salaries of 4001. each. Of what use,
we may repeat, are commissions of inquiry?
The Lords Justices have presented Col. Penne-
father, commanding Cisnmel garrison, with a sword,
value 501., for his conduct in the late affairs in the
south

There seems an utter absence of political specula-
tion to-day. But the social 'spent of the country was
evinced on Monday in a manner at once deplorable
and undeniable. The remaining estates of the Earl
of Blessington were put up for stile, and were in
every instance withdrawn, because purchasers were
unwilling to npproach the values set upon them
by the receiver. If the whole had been
put up in one lot this would not excite
so much surprise., hut it was not so. The eltntes
were divided into several portions of about
600 to 800 acres. The lettings of the land are all
under the ordnance valuation. They are situate in
the best and most improving part of Tyrone, a peace-
ful northern county, yet in no instance could the small
capitalists of those improved districts be induced to
offer more than 20 to 21 Tears' purchase on the pre-
sent rental. This is an evioence of the condition of the
country which cannot be misapprehended.

SCOTLAND.
spiNaraolg, Nov. 21.
Complaints are again being preferred in the west
against the excessive immigration of the Irish. It is
stated that the number that has arrived at Greenock
during the last three months amounts to 25,699. It
is possible, however, that this may include many who
have come over to assist at harvest operations.
The Sonatas of King's College Aberdeen, have
unanimously re-elected the Earl of Ellesmere as Lord-
Rector of the University.
The John o'Groat Journal objects to the mode of
inquiry instituted at Edinburgh by Mr. Lefevre, rela-
tive to the efficiency of the fishery board. It says
that:

The seat of this inquiry has been at a most unsuitable
place for the purpose, mad the witnesses examined, although
all of them uptight and honourable men, cannot be regarded
as exponents of the sentiments of the great body of Scottish
fish-curers. As to the place, few will venture to maintain
that Edinburgh was a suitable spot. With regard to the
witnemes, they were honest, straightforward, and withal
intelligent men ; but there are various circumstances which
tend greatly to neutralise their evidence. First : They were
selected by the officers of that board into whose opera-
tions the Inquiry is being mate, and who, doubtless, paid
their expenses; if not, we hold that a gores mistake has
been committed. &mond If their evidence was intended
as representing the opinions of the fish-curers at their re-
spttive stations, they were rot in a position to give it ; fur
they were never °thanked, nor their opinions asked ; in
fact, the witnesses were smuggled off, and on their way to
Edinburgh ere many of the fieh-curers knew of the matter.
Thirdly : The extent of the business carried on by the wit-
nesses is not of such an important character es to warrant
them giving testimony on a subject in which tee fishing in-
terest of Scotland is involved. We believe that the five gen-
tlemen referred to do not cure the fish of fifty boats, although
they are called upon to represent the opinions of the fish-
curers of at least 1,400 boats.
With reference to the fishing, it may be mentioned,
that a life-boat has been procured at Wick, and a
lighthouse, buoys, ladders, 3c., placed at the harbour.
The fishermen, to the number of 1,048, have peti-
tioned tor the erection of a harbour of i efuge, and also
against the management of Pultefteytown harbour.
A great deal of irrelevant matter has of late been
written about the working of the education scheme in
Scotland. Without meddling with controversial
points, it is of importance that the actual state of
matters should be understood before argument begins.
There are two grand classes of educationists—those
who would and those who would not have religion
taught. The state interferes with neither, but is
willing to help both, if they will only take the initia-
tive themselves, and show their worthiness of state
support by raising funds to a certain extent from
their own resources, and then going to government
for supplementary aid. The general school elesshave in
this respect done nothing; the religious class have done
something, and have been helped, and hence complaint
the first. Complaint the second is that the free
church has got more than the established church,
which is just as absurd as the objection once made
that Scotland received more of the drainage grants
than England—the truth in both cases being that
religion, politics, or nationality, had nothing to do
with one or the other, the rule being to help those
only who apply after a given fashion, and who help
themselves, elements in which helping are that the
parties elevate their standard of education, and put
their hands into their own pockets. If therefore reli-
gious schools get privy council grants it is because
their managers have been liberal and active ; and if
the free church has been before its rival it is
from these causes, and not from favouritism, as the
minutes will assert. But it is said—put down
sectarian schools. How ? It the state endow non-1
Ireligious schools, the sectaries will start rival instil n-
I dons, and, probably, carry their majorities in schools
las they already do in churches. The present system
has its defects, but its opponents want discrimination
and knowledge in issuing their censures, and be
bigotry in Scotland ever so rampant, it is surely better
to have bigots who can read, write, and cipher, than
those who cannot. The bigots, as they are called, are
working, while the philosophers are only grumbling;
let the latter borrow a leaf from their oppduenta, and
start schools on their own plan.