The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-23 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 23, 1847.

step in the right direction ; an additional acknow-
ledgment of a sound principle. To a certain extent
it blots an indefensible restriction from the statute-
book. Bat it might have blotted it entirely and with-
out entailir.g on the country a " drawback." Not
doing this, it belongs to the numerous class of acts
which arc pa,sed iu one session to be mended every
succeeding session, till they are entirely altered. It
mar be feared that in attempting to innovate just so
far.as to excite the minimum of opposition, the CHAN-
cELLoa of the EXCHEQUER will find that he has inno-
vated enough to rouse the resistance of the land-
owners ; not enough to gain the support of brewers,
distillers, West Indiana, and consumers.

TRULY is it said that coming events cast their sha-
dows before. Now, during the debate in the Lords
on Tuesday evening upon the address, there appeared
one of such shadows which indicates events of great
importance to the British community. We refer to the I
remark made by Lord II senteeroe as to the necessity
of some changes in our real property laws, and the com-
ments of Lords Se seem' and Buotertrem upon that
remark. And it is especially significant that such
observations occurred in that branch of the legislature
which may be emphatically designated the house of
landlords. Lord IiATIIERTON said, " I refer to ar-
rangements fur facilitating the transfer of real
property ; I hope a commission will be appoi: ted
for the purpose of forwarding that object, and
that the rumour is well founded which stated
that at the head of that commission will
appear the name of a noble and learned lard,
who is at the head of one of the courts of justice, and
who is eminently qualified to take a lead in the im-
portant change to which I refer. I sincerely hope
that the change will go on. Ido not me how you
are entitled to call upon the landlords largely to
incumber their estates without enabling them to sell
portions of their land for the relief of the remainder.
Setting aside the •ildfashioned notions about entails, I
do not see how you can do otherwise, and I confess I
shall be greatly disappointed if the commission be
not issued." And the noble lord went on to speak of
other alterations required in the law of real pro-
perty. These, as we shall presently show, involve
questions far more e xtensive, and of import much deeper,
than mere facility in the transfer of real property,
and such was obviously Lord STANLEY'S opinion,
who, in allusion to Lord liernewroe's remark, said
—" I hope her Majesty's government will consider
well how to benefit the people of Ireland: not by
venturing on any measures which may be calculated,
according to my noble friend's phrase, to brush away
the antiquated notions of old lawyers, with respect to
the law of entail My noble friend alluded, in
language which rather alarmed me, to that which I
believe to be a most innocent and useful measure, and
which was recommended by the committee which
sat last session on the burdens on land, with the
object of facilitating the transfer of property, by
lessening the enormous legal expenses attending
it. I hope that what my noble friend said,
with respect to facilitating the transfer of
property, had no relation to those antiquated
notions of old lawyers, that he spoke of with respect
to entails." It is plain that Lord STANLEY perceives
the issue to which this question must come. So,
Lord BROUGHAM, who has now become a steady
opponent of progress, said, " Although he admitted
that improvements in conveyancing were required,
yet he would by no means make such sweeping
changes as his noble friend the mover of the address
seemed to recommend. He had no objection to allow
life-tenants to possess a leasing power, an i in certain
peculiar cases he should be willing to allow such
tenants to burden the estates for their improve-
ment, but net so as to injure the parties who
had rights in remainder—those rights were as
much entitled to protection, as the rights of the
parties in possession." Here, also, wo find a
clear apprehension of the real question. That ques-
tion is, whether considerations of national policy do
not lead to the conclusion that the legal power of
entailing property ought to be more narrowly con-
fined than at present. For it must be remembered
that this involves no new principles; it is simply a
question of degree. On former occasions, when com-
menting on controversial letters published by some
conveyancers, we took occasion to say that all attempts
to facilitate the conveyance of real property must be
perfectly illusory until the law of real property itself
shall have undergone considerable change. And the
important part of that change must be abrogation of
the power to Entail property. So long as property
may be subject to all the intricate limitations of
settlements and entails now common, it must be in-
quired on every transfer of all property, that no such .
fetters exist. This is the source of the expense so
often complained of. This is the evil to be
removed. That in fact, tenants for lire in
possession shell have all the powers and be subject
to all the liabilities which at present belong to tenants
in tail. The effect would be, that life-tenants would
have the power to sell or mortgage their estates, and
be liable to have them taken by creditors under corn-
pulsory processes for enforcing payment of their
debts. 'the immediate consequence of such a change
upon existing owners of land would be, that they
must pay offtheir incumbrances, and to do so, must
generally sell portions, of the estates of which they are
now the nominal and apparent owners. This might
possibly curtail the extent of many estates, but it would
add to the respectability, and increase the real wealth
of the proprietors. The reduced estates would be
their own. They would not be, as too often they are
at present, mire receivers without salaries!, paying
most dearly fur the poor pride of apparent ownership.
But, it may be asked, why not leave these matters,
in which the landowners are so deeply interested, to be
dealt with by themselves according to the promptings
of their own will ? If they prefer possessions appa-
rently large to real wealth, and pride to independence,
why not leave them to their own devices ? The
answer is short and simple ; the prevalence of such
nominal ownership is seriously injurious to the com-
munity. Such a system is an abuse of the right of
property, to the detriment of the public weal. The land
thus owned is virtually kept out of cultivation, or in a
state which can varcely be called half cultivation.
For some purposes, and those not the most useful, such
nominal owners possess the powers of real owners of
landed property. They have much of the political
influence write)) the power of displacing and selecting
tenants gives ; they can reserve and preserve game ;
and having comparatively small beneficial end pecu-
niary interest in their estates, they invariably attach
great importance to what may be termed the illegi-
timate influences of property. A dependent yearly
tenantry, always a poor tenantry, and a rigid pre-
servation of game, arc almost universally found to
exist on deeelv;mortgaged estates. And it is these
illegitimate influences alone which would be lost to
landowners by such an alteration of the law of real
property as would reduce their estates to their true
dimensions. Another effect of entails is, that the life-
tenant, being. in the apparent ownership, has
the opportunity of borrowing money and in-
curring debts which he has no means of paying,
and upon his death the settled estate passes into the
hands of the next heir, leaving the creditors nothing
to look to except the personal estate of the lifelenant,
in general totally inadequate to the payment of his
debts. The late Duke of BUCKINGHAM and the lute
Duke of Menerioaotem, who enjoyed the appa-
rent ownership of enormous estates, may be men-
tioned as striking instances of this state of things.
Persons who are acquainted with the actual condi-
tion of mw teeged estates will readily assent to these
views. That the daily growing demands of our in-
creasing population for constantly increased supplies
of feed render it imperative upon the legislature to
remove all artiti'ial restraints on the means of obtain-
ing such supplies will not be denied. The recent repeal
of the corn-laws is a compliance with such demand in
one direction which has fast been enforced epee our
landed legislators. And the people have quite as com-
plete a right to demand the abrogation of laws which I
artificially Ernst the production of human food in this
"Wry, as tie v had to require the removal of reetric-
iiens on t' , importation of food from abroad. And
it will be f urd ,lint the scarcity or abundance of food,
Yost by yciee is far more dependent upon home than
upon foreign produce. Importation may, and will,
limit the extent of fluctuations in the cost of food,

Rod correct inequalities of supply, hut the measure
of permanent abundance in this country will mainly
depend al on the state of culture which the law of real
Property ad :he customs of landed proprietors may
permit. At min moment the art of husbandry in Eng-
head is impeded by the law of the landlords, as culti-
ration is limited by the despotism of Turkey or Egypt.
Ilea' Property, then, must be unfettered. 'the existing
principles of nue law must be carried out to the ex-
tent of abraoating the power of entailing property.
must be the rule by which the power of future

disposition shall be limited. For it must be reniem- '
tiered that "future disposition," a destination of pro-
perty to endure after the death of persons now living,
beneficial interests given to persons not now in being,
are implied in the term entail. To materially lessen
the cost of conveyancing without limiting the period
during which properly may be rendered inalienable is
impossible, for it is the possibility of every real estate
tieing the object of settlement which creates the
expense of conveyancing. Nor is there anything new
in the principle of restricting the power of future
limitation of property. The law already declares
that property shall not be settled for a longer period
than during the lives of persons in existence and
twenty-one years afterwards; that an estate may be
settled on the unborn child of a designated person,
which child can, of course, do no act to dispose
of its interest, which must be an absolute one,
until twenty-one years of age. Originally there
was no limit to the power of entailing land ; it might
have been made to descend from generation to
generation, each successive taker having no power
to dispose of more than his own life in-
terest. This was consistent with the policv of
the feudal law, which had the object of upholding
a dominant class of landed proprietors. The
power of enjoyment of land by an individual proprie-
tor was made subservient to the maintenance of the
class. And the same sentiment instigates such politi-
cians as Lords STANLEY and BROUGHAM at this day.
At a very early period of our history, the judges,
alive to the interests of the community, so interpreted
the law—often in direct contradiction to the intended
objects of acts of parliament —as to enable tenants in
tail to dispose of their lands absolutely. And in the
reign of ELIZABETH a rule of law was laid down,
still known as the rule in Su el.f.r.x's case, which went
far to abrogate entails in the form then usually adopted.
That rule was this, that where an estate is limited
to one for life, with remainder either immediately,
or atter any number of intermediate limitations, to his
heirs, or the heirs of his body, the ancestor—the life-
tenant—will take an absolute estate, either in fee,
where the remainder is to his heirs, or in tail where the
remainder is to the heirs of his b-dy. As a tenant
in tail can immediately convert his estate into a fee
simple, the person intended by the settlement to be
only tenant for life, became, by this juilitisl rule,
absolute owner. This completely abolished entails in
their then usual forms. The modern form of settle-
ment escapes this rule by limiting the remainder, not
to the " heirs," but to the " children"' of the tenant for
life, who take as persons designated.
Now, a simple application of the rule in SHELLEY'S
case, would effect that which it has always been the
policy of our law to effect—namely, to put an end to
entails. For instance, let it be declared that when
ever an estate has been limited to any person for life,
with remainder, whether metliately or immediately,
to his unborn children, the tenant for life shall be I
deemed absolute owner. This would at once set free
the great mass of landed property. Prudent and un-
incumbered tenants for life could, of course, transmit
their estates to their children, while the owners of
ineumbered estates would be compelled to square
accounts with their ineumbrencers and creditors, and
with the surplus of their property might become more
substantial, if less showy, members of society. It
is impossible for any one not infected with the
peculiar prejudices of our landed aristocracy,
to doubt that such a change would be in every way I
beneficial to the community. Much land would come
into the market, and form the object of large invest-
ments of capital ; the new owners being free front
antiquated prejudices, would either cultivate it them-
selves, or permit others to cultivate, in a manner con-
sistent
with the best plans of modern husbandry. So
long as the land remained in the hands of the mort-
gaged owners, that was out of the question.
And here it is worthy of remark, that Lord
HATuenTox, who indicated such rational views in
relation to the law of real property, is himself a first-
rate practical farmer and improver of land.

GERMANY.—Bent.tx, Lug. 17.—0 n the hith
inst., the &rectors of the new Prussian Bank hcl 1 their first
conference t is year, under the direction of Herr R gher, a
member of the government. It was decided that the bank
ehould for the future advanee money to a much greater ex-
tent than heretofore on shares of Prussian radways, whether
the interest on those char.• be guaranteed by the govern-
meet ur nut —Cologne Gazette, Jan. 21.

snatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial-oface,
for the Governor of the Mauritius,
The Right Hon. the Speaker of the Howie of Com-
mons commences his parliamentary entertainments on
Saturday next.
His Excellency, M. Lomonosoff, the Russian
Minister at the Brant", is on the eve of resigning his diplo-
matic functions, and may he expected to arrive here in
March from Rio Jaaciro. en mule to St. Petershurgh. We
learn that M. Lrimonosoff is destined to fill a higher diplo-
matic appointment.

(From loot Gwyn...)

FOREIGN OFFICE, JAN. 21.—The Queen has
approved of Mr. W. W. Alexander, u Consul for Bristol,
Cardiff, and Newport, fur the Republic of Chili.
DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 22.—The Queen has
appointed 11. Landor, Esq., to be Col.-Surs. fur her Dia-
jest)'s forts and settlements on the Gold Coast.
WAR-OFFICE he. 22.

and Llte Oda—). G. C. Hamilton, to be ow. and subaieuL, by pnr,
vine sir ht. It. S. inewart, Bart-, who ret.
Ilth L. Diagn—loop Serj.-Major W. Battle to be adjt. (o.th the
rank of me.), met Sutton, app. to Royal Bee. H. Gda.
Mots Pm:ller Gds.—Brer. Col. R. P. M. Browne, from h -p. matt.,
to be eartt and lieut.-col., rice lion. C. IL Priipp..., who each. ; Bree.
-Major, Lieut. and Quit e% Itmoilly to be capt. and lieut.-oot., by pur.,
Mee Browne, who mt. ; Ens. and Lieut. lino. 11. 11. 11. Duncan to be
Brut. 61 eapt- by pur. ; tine. W. Marbled to berm. and lieut , by pur.
24th F.—Lieut. B. Thornhill, from 79th F„ to be Lieut., rim Payne,
whoexch.; Lieut. F. Clark, from filet F., to be lieut., rice Ilandoock,
who each.
Seth le —Lieut.). 11. Archer, from Seth F., lobe lieut., vice W
who exch.
.

• --
33rd V.—C. C. Barrett to be no., by put, vice Bottom, prow. to
36th F.

—;:titE.—Ene. J. Rotton, 13rd F., to be lieut, by pur., eke
Poetun. who ret.

1711;F.721,Wul 11. It. White, from 29th F., to be lieuL, vice Archer,
who exch. ; Lieut. J. S. Puree, from 24th F., to he lieut., vice Thorn-
hill, who each.
4lst Y.—Ueot. lion. R. Handcock, from 24th F., to be lieut., vice
Clark. who exch.
43th F.—Lieut. S. B. Gordon, to be all., vice Smith, prom. ; Lieut.
J. ll.Crea to be adjt.
47th Y.—Major.livo. Sir 11. G. W. Smith, Bart., G.C.8., to he col.,
vice Gen. Sir W. Alive, IGet., E.C.8., dee.
320 d F.—A. StancrAl to be ens., without par., vice Brooke, dec.
Stith F.--(ape P. A. Iremonger, from 3rd West India Reg., to be
MO., sire Waddell. who exch.
37th F.—Psymaster M. Matthews, from lot West India neg.; to be
p. ter, vice Potter, dm.
67th F.—Lieut. J. Graham to he adjt., Moe Banbury, prom.
Slot F.—Ens. C. E. Goodwin to be neut., with.ot par., vice F. E.
Sorrell, app. adjt. ; Ens. 11. Austen to be neut., by par., vice Goodwin,
whose prom., by pitr., has been annoelksl; Serp.-Major T. Miguel) to be
ens., without par. ; Lieut. F. Si. Sorrell to be adjt., rice H. E. Sorrell,
prom.
nth F.—J. C. Vaughan to be ens., without par., vice Butler, prom.
In Ceylon Ride }leg.
Blot F.—thurt.onas. J. Cordon to be adjt., with the rank Mom.
3rd West India Reg.- -Capt. J. Waddell, from 39th P., to be capt.,
vim ',mounter, who exch.
Cupe Mounted —Dm. J. F. Boyce to be lieut., without par.,
vice Ilsrvey, app. Op. To be Ensigns, without par.: E. L. Green,
vice Boyce, prom. • G. S. Whitmore, vice Armstratg, whose app. has
been towelled. pram.;
he Adjutant Lieut. W. Harvey, vice Somerset,
Mrsioassont.—TheChristiin tomes of Staff.Audst.-Surg.Tweddell
arc Fenwick Martin, not Vtainiek Martin, as Previously stated.

DISTRESS IN IRELAND.—A meeting of ratepayers
was held on Thursday evening, at the parish church of St.
Luke's, to take in'o consideration the distress now prevail.
ing in Ireland and the highlands of Scotland, and to carry
out a subscription through the parish towards its relit f.
Forty-five guineas ware handed in as a commencement of
the subscription, which is to be made from house to house
throughout the parish.
THE LONDON COFFEE-HOUSE AND EATING-HOUSE
K REFERS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.—The twentieth
half.yearly general meeting of the London Coffee-house
keepers' Benevolent Associatron was held yesterday, at An-
dertun's Hotel, Fleet-street, for the purpose of receiving the
report of the committee, and the statement of the accounts
for the past half-year. The choir wets taken by the presi.
dent, Mr. Connybeer, who opened the business of the meet-
ing by congratulating the members present on the steady
progress which the association had made, and the success
which had attended its operations. The funded property at
present amounted to 1,7921. its. 9d., and the balance in
hand to 491. Ile, 111. The income fur the year ending
July, 1646, amounted to 2751. 7s. Rd., and the disburse-
ments to 2621. do. 64., leaving a balance upon the year of
131. 2a. 2d. _ _

ADMISSION OF MISSIONARIES INTO THE RE-
FRAcToity WARDS OF WoHlLHOren.—Mr. Peter Laurie,
at the meeting of the directors and guardians of St. Marylc-
bone, yesterday. brought forward a motion, of which he had
given natice on the previous Friday, " That the misoionaries
of the London City Mission be permittei to visit the retr
tc-
tory wards of the !louse and Nightly Asylums, for the pur-
pose of affording instruction and exhortation to the inmates,
under regulations to be made by the board." Mr. Laurie
cited the opinion of Mr. Lee, the master of St.Pancras work-
house, as to the beneficial effects resulting from the introduc-
tion of miraionariee into the refractory wards of that estab-
lishment. The motion having been seconded, Mr. Walpole
Eyre opposed it, on the ground that the proceeding would
interfere with the &vies of the chaplain ; and, after a very
warm discussion, a division took place. Majority for the
motion, 3.
" THE DAILY News."—We feel it a duty to the
proprict:rs of this journal and to Mr. Wheeler, the enter-
prising news agent of Manchester, to scknow.selge thankfully
the courtesy exhibited, no Wednesday. by the dropping of
a copy of the Daily News for us, at the railway station,
whereby we were put into possession of tile whole debate on
the Addrm, in reply to the Queen's Speech, as early ae half.
pant ten o'clock in the forenoon, which was "expressed" by
Mr. Wheeler, at en enormous expense, for the gratification
of the public. - Sew-epee( Adrereiser. (Protectioniq paper. )
SOUTH-WESTERN TELEGRAPH.—The extension of
the electric telegraph from the Nine Elm terminus, Vaux-
hall, to the telegraph offices in the Strand, is now nearly
completed, the prrtion over Waterloo-bridge being almost
finished yesterday, so that nothing remain, to be done except
in Welliugton.strcet, and across the Strand, to the office,
where the requisPe apparatus is already. fitted up.
Sr itING AssizEs, 1817.—The judges of the dif-
ferent courts met in the Exchequer Chamber on Thursday
morning, and chose their reepective circuits at the ensuing
Spring Assizes. The following is the arrangement :—llome
Circuit.—Lord Chief Justice Denman end Lord Chief Jus-
tice Wilde. Norfolk..—Chief Baron Pollock and Mr. Justice
Coleridge. Midland.—Mr. Baron l'arke mid Mr. Justice
Patterson. Western.—Mr. Justice Creasnell and Mr. Jus-
tice Williams. Oxford.—Mr. Justice Mettle and Mr. Baron
Platt. Northern.—Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Baron
Rolfe. North Wales.—Mr. Justice Coltman. South Wales.
—Mr. Justice Wightman. Mr. Justice Eric will remain in
town, and attend business at chambers.
I)ESECRATION OF THE CHURCHYARD OF Sr. ANN'S,
WicaTMINSTER.—In September last, much excitement was
crcatid in the parish of St. Ann's, Soho, in conse-
quence of tke continued acts of desecration of the graves,
and revolting scenes of di-turbing the remains of the
dead in the churchyard of that parish, arising from
the crowded state of the ground. A public meeting
was held and • committee appointed to report on the
subject : that report has just been made and ordered to be
printed. Itstates, that the complaints of the inhabitants of
houses adjacent to the ground, with regaril to injury to
health, and the respect due to the dead, is borne out by am-
ple evidence ; that in future no coffin he allowed to approach
nearer the surface than five feet ; that no interment shall
be made except at the lowest depth in each grave, and the
depth of every interment be correctly enteYed in a book kept
for the purpose. A standing committee has been appointed
to inspect and carry into effect these resolutions.
THE WELLINGTON STATUE.—NOW that parliament
have met, it is to be hoped that the western entrance to Lon-
don will no longer be disfigured, but that the statue will be
immediately taken away, and that the architect of the arch
will be commissioned to make that structure complete, in ac-
cordance with the original design.—The Builder.
THE BoND TIMBER QUESTION. —A statement
' having been circulated to the effect that an accident had
occurred to the walls of Covent Garden Theatre, and that
another architect had been called in to examine the extent of
in'schief and remedy it—a confirmation or denial of the as-
sertion was asked for from us by correspondents, and we were
led to inquire into the circumstances and look through the
building. The result of this is, that we can canfident'y pro-
nounee the report • fabrication without the least foundation.
—The Budder.
SUICIDE.—On Thursday evening, in the neighbour-
hood of Tarling-street, Commercial-road East, a Mrs.
Howard, of No. 34, in the obese-named-street, committed
suicide by poison, as was supposed, in a fit of jealousy.
CONVERTING A PRISON INTO A RAILWAY Tea-
m:qrs.—By the proposed extension of the Eastern Counties
Railway to Guildford-street, Gray's-inn-road from Totten-
ham, the Middlesex House of Correction will be converted
into • railway terminus.
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SOCIETY..—At a
meeting held in Nottingham, this bodydetermince to open a
subscription in aid of the funds now raising throughout the
country for the mitigation of the sufferings of the destitute
populations of Ireland and the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland.
MONSTER reeve, CHEAP NEWSPAPER.—There is at
present a rage, extending ever the whole circle of the pro-
vincial preen, fur an enlargement of space, sad the walls are
being " (righted from their propriety" b huge placard., an-
nouncing, e ith ecleeninplacency resembling that of Frederic
of Prussia in speaking of his tall guards, the number of
columns, which too often form an additional tax upon the
reader's patience. Still, with all the puffing about the lati-
tude and longitude of newspapers, the public are rarely, if
ever, deceived. The largest newspapers are not necessarily,
or even commonly, the best, any more than the garrulity of
an old woman is more entertaining than the pithiness of a
shrewd and observant companiou. It is by their contents
that newspapers will be known and tried.—Cheltenhans
IJournal.
DitAINAOX Act.—Applications for Loans under thin Act,
which appear lathe London Gn.:etle of last evening

App'lost. Lands in Pariah of (lonely of I Amnon.
lin. John Heishora Cagle ~o4rerby Cumberland I i 200 0
lin. John Jackson C."rottlin Do. 420 0
R. Irem.6a7s Broaticlid Devon 240 0
LA.' gum Woodehorch Chaster 250 0
Wiinsa written! Camber Land • ISO 0
Mary Wafts Lot hoar York L MOO 0

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Jam. 21.
The reproductive oommittee meet to-day to discuss
a matter of the most grave importance. The subject
of discussion laid before them, or rather " thrown
out" by Mr. O'Connell for their instant consideration
is whether the entire responsibility of providing for
the safety of the people should not be transferred to

the government—investing it with plenary and abso-
lute
power to adopt all or anv measures to accom-
plish this important object. This is to be done by a
very short bill, involving the principle of the ancient
dictatorship, that the executive power should look to
the preservation of the commonwealth, and their au-
thority be increased in proportion to the responsibility
of the office, and the fearful extent of the danger. 'fhis
would be a very serious duty. lam inclined to be-
lieve that Mr. O'Connell's extraordinary suggestion
will be adopted by the committee.
The members of the committee arc also preparing
information for the Irish representatives on the per-
manent measures for the improvement of the country.
Among these a well-conducted scheme of emigration
occupies a prominent place, for reasons which land-
lords best understand, including also Mr. l'oulett
Scrape. Mr. Foster, son of the late Baron Foster,
who has spent several years in the Australian colonies,
' has addressed a sensible letter to the committee, of
which he is a member, containing many suggestions
of ;Tactical value. His views as to the uses of emi-
gration are sound and clear :
It is important to remember that emigration should not
be ngardiol so much a* a means of presenting the increase
of the Irish population, which, if accompanied by a corrc-
*reeding increase of wealth in the body of the people, is a
benefit and not an evil, as to afford a local remedy for the mis-
chiefs (from whatever cause resulting) which press on any!
particular district beyond what a development of its resources I
may be able to accomplish. If we give to the Irish peasant
his options to become a prosperous colonist, this should este'.
bli-h also a standard of cointOrtable living among the penpu•
lation at home, below which, if any one might sink, he
would emigrate: and as to the cost, this would in part be
thrown on his landlord, who would be given a direct in-
terest in the well-being of the peasant. Thisis, perhaps, the
most important of all the considerations connected with
this subject.
He demonstrates that without subjecting the court-
try to any considerable taxation, and to the great
advantage of the colonies, a great field of enterprise
and industry might be opened up to our population.
Some of the colonies are seeking to borrow mosey on
the security of the fund raised by the sale of the pub-
lic lands, for the purpose of promoting free emigra-
tion. Mr. Foster thinks that the home country
should co-operate with the colonies, and contribute to
the expense by supplying the emigrant with, at
least a moderate outfit to be defrayed at the cost of
the locality from which he might emigrate. Mr.
Foster would empower the poor-law guardians to raise
funds for this purpose by taxation ; the money so raised
to constitute a charge exclusively on the property on
which the emigrant had resided. "In this manner,"
says Mr. Foster, " there is s simple and unobjectiona-
ble way of taxing the careless proprietor, and, gene-
rally speaking, the absentee. One effect of thin
must be that landlords must endeavour from a
regard for their own pockets to keep their tenantry
in the country' and out of the poor-house, which could
be best accomplished by developing to the utmost the
resources of each locality." Mr. Forster's sugges-
tions are numerous, display a practical acquaintance
with the subject, and many of them are not unworthy
of entering into any future legislation.
The central relief committee having acquired a
liberal fund, have commenced its distribution. On
Friday allocations were made, amounting to 1,000/.,
to the counties of Clare, Cork, Donegal, Mayo, Tippe-
rary, and Westmeath. Mayo obtained the largest
sum, 330/. ; and Cork, 2201. On Saturday 1,300!.
were allocated to thirteen counties, of which Galway
obtained 400!., Tipperary 230/., and Cork 260/.
The British and Irish Steam Packet Company have
declared a dividend of 6 per cent on the half-year
ending the 31st of December.
Londonderry is attracting a fair portion of the
northern commerce, while Belfast exhibits a slight
decline on the receipts of the past, compared with the
preceding year. Londonderry presents a different
condition: its commercial prosperity is on the in-
crease. The customs' receipts for the year ending
the sth of January, 1846, were 100,3391. ; Sth of
January, 1847, 125,7841.; showing an increase on the
year of 16,446/.
Very influential meetings of landed proprietors have
been held in the counties of Wexford and Roscommon.

Resolutions were passed and memorials adopted soli-
citing the attention of parliament to the future pros-
pects of the country ; increased burdens on the land
with an universal blank in cultivation. Seed and
tilling is now the great necessity.
A new trade is about to originate in Galway, which,
if well worked, would afford employment to great
numbers♦ of the poor. The new enterprise consists in
supplying broken granite for the formation of roads
in and about London. The granite procured from
Guernsey at present costs Its. 3d. a ton, which covers
all charges including the actual freight of a vessel for
the special purpose. Now the Galway people believe
they could undersell Guernsey by at least the differ-
ence of freight, as numbers of vessels sail from that
port to London in ballast.
There have been very considerable arrivals of
Indian corn flour and meal at Limerick. The Limerick
Chronicle enumerates not fewer than eighteen vessels
discharging cargoes at the port on yesterday morning.
Notwithstanding this, however, the export of corn has
not ceased, for the same paper states that a cargo of
oats was being shipped for the London market.
Several vessels are reported in the Lower Shannon,
also laden with corn. The prospects of a harvest this
year brighten, so far as the county of Limerick is con-
cerned, for the farmers are, it is stated, busily engagad
in the setting of wheat and other grain—wheat being
not unusually set in that county at this season.
A writer, in the King'B County Chronicle, enume-
rates the famines by which Ireland has unhappily
been devastated between the years 897 and 1798.
He founds this enumeration upon well-known histo-
rical records. From this statement it appears that
Ireland, during the above period, has been ravaged
by famine not less than sixteen times. Many of
those devastations flowed from the operations of na-
ture, such as that of the present year, while many
others were caused by the horrible ravages of the
wars waged for many centuries between the English
and Irish parties in this country.
The fine arts are being brought in aid of the
general distress. The committee of the Royal Irish
Art-Union propose an exhibition of pictures by the
ancient masters, and solicit the owners for their tem-
porary use. Music also contributes its portion. A
grand concert of all the music societies in Dublin is
being organised, which will add largely to the funds
of the central committee. The drama offers the last
contribution to the cause of charity, Miss Helen
Faueett. notwithstanding the delicate state of her
health, has volunteered her services in combina-
tion with Mr. Calcraft, the lessee of the Theatre
Royal. For some reason, however, which cannot be
reconciled with the (esthetic or the charitable, the
central relief committee have declined the offer.

Mayo, habitually a peaceful county, is now in a
state of thorough social disintegration. Famine, liti-
gation, and crime are the marked characteristics of
its unhappy condition. The peasantry will soon be
hopelessly bankrupt, or worse. At the sessions at •
Ballinrobe there were 1,300 civil bills, 60 ejeetmenta, I
and 40 indictments. In Castlebar there were 1,0001
civil bills, 52 ejectments, and 64 indictments ; and inl
Hallina, another division, nearly six thousand pro-
ceases, 34 ejectment., and 120 bills of indictment.
This is dreadful. The business of only one•fourth of
the year, including nearly ten thousand actions in
one of the most miserable counties in Ireland! The ma-
jority of the civil bills appear to have been wretched
peasant against peasant, and the provision dealer
against both.
I alluded some days past to the deliberations of
the I3enchers. The result, in one most important
particular, has transpired. The dinner deform is
nearly perfect—an excellent dinner and half pint of
real wine, only eighteen pence! Your inns of court
ought to follow so liberal an example.
DI/111MM IN CLOTNE—Bir,--I write to thank you again
for publish/1w my letter, and to request you to acknowledge 10/., re-
ceived from I. N. Bond, E-q.. It Bitterne...place. Plymouth, wh•ch I
sorely owe to you. We arc in • fearful state at present, and P•rior-
stricken for what we fear is to come. Through the dona-
tions I hove received I was able to give, on Saturday. two
days maintenance to 160 families, and to-morrow von be
able to relieve them again, and as many mac. I lose
about one-third by median at under-price, and donative. to the
destitute. The princurd maintenance of the population to Swedish
turnips ; If they have suffloient of them for one evening meld for the
family, and • pieoe of bread for the man to breakfast on and turnip for
bis dinner, they are well off. Hitherto they have subsisted by pawn-
ing everything, even to /Mertz and shifts. The turnips are now wiling
.t It. 10a. • ton, and they will he moss eshansted. All previous system
lo st as end. No employment for tradesmen or wtilloers; tailor%
shoemakers, and carpenters are working with spade and Moreton the
rondo, and vet Ime matter but good temper. I never see • roawling
look, nor hear one word of reproach to thole who might be expected to
come forwent tn their aid: but, invariably, blessings on those who do.
I trust, sir, with your powerful pen you will advocate the eau. of this
famishing tunine-strieken people, and that contributions will be sent
to the clergymen of the church of England, when there can be DO MD.
TORDIILNO, lector of Aithadda, Cloyne, on. Cork.

SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, JAL 21.
The following extracts from the proceedings of
a meeting of the unemployed and others, held in
Pandey, on Monday last, " to take into consideration

the inadequate allowance given by. the relief eons-
inittce," will exemplify in what spirit some of the
destitute expect that their distress is to be relieved :
A speaker name Cochran asked where were the clergy
that they were not here ? (A voice, " They are at home,
praying for us.") lie held that it was their bounden'
duty, as Christian mil:list:re, to come forward to a meeting
of this kind, and give their support to obtain adequate
relief for their starving brethren. The amount of relief
xiven wan calculated to promote disease and vice in the
community, nod he (Mr. Cochran) looked upon it as a
wholesale murder of the working classes. Ile would
move "that the allowances now given to the unem-
ploeed is totally inadequate to sustain nature, and that from
the painful experience of the past, we have every reason to
fear that fever and other maladh s will doubtless t Blow this
mercies, treatment."—A Mr. Wilson seconded the resolu-
tion. He had computed that a family of eight persons would
require 14a. a week ; and when he stated that to the sunply
committee, they were surprised that any person could mo-
pose such a thing. The middle class a and the clergy may I
stand aside and not assist, but we may expect that fever will
follow such ded it u tion,and th en theta parties cannot expect to I
escape. There was plenty of money in Paisley for other pur-
poses: £l,OllO could be raised at the opening of a church, and
if the clergy only gave their advice tt would be attended to.
1). INLAY moved, "That in the depression of ISI2-1,
a penny a-day Wall deemed inadequate to sustain healthful
11:e, while oatmeal was then at Is 4d. per stone; how de-
plorable now must be their condition when the price of oat-
meal is upward of 3s. per stone, with an allowance of suds
scarcely lid, in a day. Wu deeply lament that men pre-
ttying Christian principles should be so utterly void of
humanity as attempt to feed the industrious inhabitants of
this community ou leas than lid. per day." Mr. M'K.,
related at considerable length the particiears of the ease of a
labourer's family in the S ud lon, including a daughter with
a child. The mother had applied to the relief committee,
and was sent to the parochial board. At the expiry of
a fortnight It. 6d. a-week was allowed; Ind so
reduced through want had the mother become,
that she was laid up, and died on Friday last.
J. Odf dne moved "That the reason given by the relief
committee to the deputation appointed at the last public
meeting of the inhabitants, that they had not funds to in-
crease the allowance of those persons suffering destitution
1 from want of employment, is unjustitia le, a. they have not
called a meeting of the county gentlemen, neither have they
made an appeal to the goy dament, or the country at large
on behoof of the sufferers." Ultimately, it was agreed that
a deputation be appointed to wait upon the supply commit-
tee and the corn mittee of presbytery, to aak them to call a
meeting of the county gentlemen.
Almost every provincial paper contains accounts of
the institution of soup kitchens in new localities, or
an augmentation of their number where previously in
operation.
EDINBURGH INFIRMARY,—Pmfesser Syme has been re-
stored to office, on the understanding that he and his brother
medical officers are not to si,rn ease books, but in order that
cases may be accurately recorded, the managers have decreed
that no physician's clerk or surgeon's clerk shall receive a
certificate at the termination of his services, unless he shall
have produced monthly, during the whole period of his
services, an attestation by the medical officer under whom he
has acted, signed on the last day of every month, in a hook
to be kept fur the purpose, that the duties of the office, in
eluding the keeping of the case books, have been discharged
to his (the superior medical officer's) satisfaction, and to the
credit of the hospital.
MAIL ACCELLBATION.—The employment of the railway
between Lancaster and Carlisle will give Scotland the ad-
vantage of four boars' earlier communication with London.
RAILWAYS ANY CANALS LIABLE TO POOR'S RATE
This has been established by the second division of the
Court of Session, in the case of Sr. Cuthhert's Parish r. the
Union Canal Company. The decision runs:—lot. That the
company were liable for the assessment both as heritors and
oecup nits, the same as other parties. 2nd. That the hoes'
property occupied by etc company is liable to be assessed
separately from the canal. 3d. As to the amount of dedue.
tion to be made on account of capital embarked in the car-
rying trade, the court remitted to a person of skill to inquire
into and report on that point.
AN ESTENsIVE FIRE broke out in Deanfleld, near Meigle
early on Sunday morning last, hut how it origina.ed is not
known. It appears the workers had teen employ, d till •
late hour in the packing house, on the Saturday night pre-
cedi-g, packing cloths; but when they left all seemed to be
right. A woman residing in the neighbourhood, and whose
window faced the works, happened to awake about two
o'clock nn the Sabbath morning, and, observing the light of
the flames on her window, immediately gave the alarm. The
kirk bell in this place was rung on the occasion, and in a very
short time a large concourse of people assembled round the
scene of destruction ; but by this time the flames had gained
such an ascendancy that the beetling-mills, dye-houses, lap-
ping, and packing-houses, were in one Teat volume of fire,
and in a short period burned to the ground. The damage at
present cannot be correctly estimated ; but it must be great,
for, beside* the buildings and machinery, a large quantity of
cloth has been consumed, which has only been partially in-
sured. This unfortunat.: occurrence w:11 throw about 150
hands out of employment.