The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JAx. 7.

The Southern journals still fasten attention on 'the
fearful condition of Skibbereen. That is the centre of
piiinful attraction, but other districts along the coast,
on both sides of the Bay of Bantry, are 'educed to a
state fully as destitute, though the complaints are less
loud and frequent. South Ries, of which the condi-
tion is represented to be most miserable, is one of the
most barren districts in Ireland, and in years of ordi-
nary abundance, scarcely supplies its population with
food. Farther to the south-west is another district
which suffers in comparative silence, though I am in-
formed by a gentleman just returned from that
county, that there is absolutely no food even among
the beat conditioned farms. A statement in behalf of
quiet suffering Dingle has been made to the Central
Committee, and it is to be hoped relief will soon
be at hand. Mayo and Donegal are not much im-
proved, but public sympathy has been directed from
them to other complaining localities. Wherever onetunis
onlystarvation and horror are to be seen. In reference to
the state of Skibbereen, one fact is worthy of grave
attention. The Rev. W. Townsend, who lately re-
turned from London, moved at the presentment ses-
sion', for the barony of West Carberry, on Saturday
last, that a presentment should be made for the pur-
chase of eqffins ! Mr. Becher, a magistrate, in sup-
porting the application, said:
In the extreme west of this county, in the parish of K ilmoe,
the Roman Catholic clergymen of that place told mo within
the last week that the condition of his people is such, that a
single coffin with a false bottom is taken from house to
house, iu which the bodies are carried to the grave, and
there deposited in the rags that covered them ; whilst the
coffin is taken to the next house, and made answer a simiLtr
purpose.
The elements of an "Irish party" are beginning to
assume a cohesive form. The letter of such a mode-
rate politician as George Alexander Hamilton, has
stiffened the nerves of many, and parliament may
expect, for the first time since the union, a regular
Irish organisation. How long it is likely to continue
is quite a different question, for contending and oppo-
site interests cannot but supervene on the resent
desire to harmonise, and create diversity olfaction
with diversity of opinion. All insignificant passions
are now merged, and the first and great interest of all
is to save the property of Ireland. I informed you
of the issue of circulars yesterday, requesting a
meeting of the peers and representatives on the 13th.
These circulars, signed by the Marquis of Sligo and
George H. Moore, Req., late candidate for Mayo,
embraced a series of resolutions, setting forth the
reasons for the meeting, and the necessity of an Irish
combination. The resolutions are calm, temperate,
and well considered. None can object to the princi-
ples on which they arc based, and many will approve
of the creation of a new element of power, whose
absence heretofore was the disgrace and weakness of
Ireland. The following are the resolutions :

That at this awful period of national calamity It becomes the first
duty of every Iriehman to devote his individual effort. to the internde
of Ireland, and that neither politica, parties, nor pen dud melodic.
should influence his mind In the disc harae or such . duty. That so
we feel deeply co/Printed that our own divisions have been the lending
mums of our own misfortune', and by weakening our influence in
the councils of the empire, Pave deprived us of our share in the
ptorpWty, so we are no less firmly persuaded that
General
is by union alone that we sae repair the evils that die-
mension hue created. That if the necomity of joint and united
sedan he urgent and Important to Ireland, under onlinary eirconi-
stancea It at this moment become' imperative and vital, as not only
the future fortunes, bat the present Ines of millions may depend on
our exertion., and that dimension at such as hour n not only a re.
mooch bet • crime. That to make such a union binding and effec-
tive, It will he necessary not only to feel but to set together, to take
steps to ensure an united support or united oppinitine to such m-.-
awn as may be produeed with regard to Ireland during this linnets
laden of parliament. That for this purpose we venture to
sanest to the Irish member', of the leitialarure to meet torts.r
at such time as may be considered most proper and convenient
for the purpose of fanning an Irish party for the protection of
Irish intensts ; and see earnestly entreat that every member
of that body shotict resolve' so far PP ins poolble, to consider and
modify his own opinion PO as to meet the united feelings of the geme-
nt body. and should banish from his mind all consideratinin of party
or prejudice, at a time when the line and linemen of his countrymen
arc no deeply penned. That we feel confident a union thus formed
and carried on for the protection of &annexes will receive the support
and co-operation of all—the aid of the rich and the confidence of the
poor. We pray Divine Providence to bless our efforts in the cause of
our a filleted country —to promote amongst on that feeling o: united
exertion and .elf-rellanee which can alone raise us to out proper place
in the great empire to which we belong.
There are two chief committees at present in
vigorous action in the metropolis—the central com-
mittee for all Ireland, and the metropolitan for the
I exclusive relief of the city. Large B=B are being
subscribed to both. To the metropolitan, the Chief
Secretary has subscribed 1001., in addition to 300/.
to the central; and the Hibernian Bank a sum of
2001. Nearly 7001. have been lodged within a few
days at the different banks, to the credit of the
" Central." At the meeting of the committee oil yes-
terday, a sum of 2501. was voted to another bene-
volent body called "The Irish Relief Committee," to
enable them to complete a cargo of meal about to be
shipped to the north and west of Ireland.
An active spirit of benevolence anteing the gentry
is no where more necessary than in Galway, where
destitution is great, and liberality not eery conspi-
cuous. There is, however, one remarkable excep-
tion. Mr. Walter Joyce, of Merview, has offend
1,000/. to the relief of Galway. Since the govern-
ment undertakes to give one priund for every pounds
subscribed to relief committee's, the combined fund of

2,0001,, aided by other sources of alleviation, will add
considerably to the relief of the poor. Mr. Joyce,
who gives the largest sum yet contributed by any in-
-1 dividual in Ireland, is not of the kunled clue. He
was an eminent distiller in Galway, and retired from
trade with a fine fortune, which he knows also how
to apply.
Ulna a remarkable contrast between the duke and
distiller! While Mr. Joyce gives 1,0001., the Duke
of Manchester, who owns eight town lands in one
parish, in the county of Down, will not coutribute a
shilling to the relief of the poor of his district. Party
is a more powerful stimulant to quicken man's
generosity than gentle charity. The duke was more
liberal in supplying the northern Orangemen with
muskets than in saving their be lies from the grave.
A gun club is more deserving of support in the
esteem of the Duke of Manchester than a relief com-
mittee.

The drowning man and the floating straw arc pretty
well illustrated in the conduct ot• the landed gentry.
They grasp at every the slightest hope of extrication,
but though every feather has been clutched the ascent
is not more rapid. The last report is that the legis-
lature has called for a return of the property in the
public funds, with the view of an assessment such as
as imposed under the Labour Employment Act ; but
unhappily for the real, and happily for personal pro-
perty, the rumour has no truth. Ro such inquiry has
been instituted.
The Lieu rick Chronicle, an authority of no great
mark, states that the jurisdiction of the civil hill
courts will be extended to 301. ; the present limitation
is 201, with some exceptions. Such a measure would
empty the files of the superior courts of one-half their
declarations, and precipitate the bar, in self-defence,
on the small courts. I may add that the law-officers
of the crown have their hands sufficiently full with
other matters, and that no such bill is now in prepa-
ration.

Notwithstanding the general destitution of the
labouring claws in Muin.ter, it is satisfactory to
know that the trade and commerce of the great
entrepiat of West Munster are steadily improving,
as the following returns fur the port of LinieriCk
exhibit :
Gross receipts of Customs, year ended sth an. 1546 t 192,973
Ditto ditto ditto 1547 214.44
Increase year coded sth Jan. 1847

6ro-• receipts year ended Sib Jan. 1925 te4929
Number oi wont In in•ard, from foreign porta. year
ended Sth Jan.. 1846
Ditto ditto year ended Sob Jam 1817 .. 14S

Increase, year ended Sth Jan., 1847
Maoh greater (says the ehroniek) would be the
number of foreign shipping, had Limerick the long-
desired advantage of floating ducks. I may add, that
those docks the government have lent money to con-
struct, and they will be speedily in progress.
Lord Carew, it is stated, will second the Address in
the House of Lords.

DOWIC—AnSENTLE LAN DU/RMS.—The Venerable Arch-
deacon, Saurin at a recent relief meeting held at Ssagoe,
aunty Down, made • statement, of which the following is
the substance, arid the matter of which is not creditable to
the landlords Denied by him ,—The distress among the poor
(the rev itentleman said) was rapidly extending itself. A
meesi... would have been held sooner, but he was waiting to
receive replies from the absentee landowners of the place, to
whom he had written, in order to wezertaii, their feelings on
the subject. It was nearly a month sine. he wrote to the
Duke of Manchester, who holds eight townlands in the
parish, and up to the present mom( nt he had not received
an *meter. He wrote to Messrs. Moore and Bulliek, pro-
prietors of Herniae, and
,they, in like manner, declined to
answer him. lie also wrote to Mr. Atkinson and Dean
Adams, owners of Edenderry, but they ntasolutely refused to
lend him any assistance From one landed proprietor only
had he got any aid, and that gentleman was Mr. James
Itobiuson, who suescribed a pound for establielting a
soup-kitchen. The kitchen was in existence since the 12th
of December, and upwards of 3,000 persons had received a
pint of soup each. He (the chairman himsell) had esta-
blished that soup-kitchen, to which the landed proprietors
had subscribed one solitary pound !
SKIRHEREEN.--fLISTILENCH ASU F.V4IN B.—The fearful
condition to which the t eople of this miserable district have
been reduced, the mortality which threatens to decimate the
inhabitants, and the spread of pestilence and disease, which
famine necessarily products, have frequently been before
your readers, but I cannot notwithstanding do the English
public the injustice of withholding the following statements
from the Cork Examiner, and for the truth of which an
appeal is made to Mr. Downing, a solicitor, and Mr. Well-
ply, a Cerk merchant, both connteted with Skilibereen.
The account is written by u special reporter of the Examiner:
" I have seen children reduced to skeletons, in some in-
stances; in others bloated beyond expression by hideous
dropsy, and creeping around the damp wet floors of their
miserable cabins, and like the meaner brutes of the creation,
unable to stand erect, or even articulate. In other hovels
there were crawling, jabbering idiots, whom disease and
hungvr had deprived both of strength and reason, who re-
' warded with horrible apathy their own sufferings and the pries-
' tions of their friends, and looked with unmeaning and incr.-
' pressi ve cou n tee ances on those who approach to afford them re-
lief. There are at present in the workhouse of Skibberecu
1.000 inmates; of these there are 126 in the fever hospital,
128 in the infirmary, and there were admitted on the last
board-day 12i. (Jut of that number seven have siuce died,
and up to this day the Rev. Mr. Hayues has administered
the last rites of religion to thirteen mere, of whose ultimate
recovery there is not the slightest hope." The reporter
visits a house of woe : " On entering we found the lifeless
body of Sullivan, stretched upon a little straw, pale, worn,
and emaciated, his eyes half closed in the sleep of death,
' and his mouth gaping horribly, fur he had just expired. On
the same wretched sop, and covered by the same scanty cloth-
ing, we saw his wife expiring, the death rattle in her throat,
her glazed eye and distorted feature. betokening the sufferings
of her last mortal agony. At the feet of their dead and dying
parent were stretched four young and helpless children,
prostrated by malignant fever, and faintly imploring for
something to moisten their parching lips. Sitting by a few
rods of turf in the corner, was a miserable-looking girl, who
only that day had risen off her fever bed; and crying, madly
and frantically, was the remaining daughter, who had three
times relapsed into fever. With an exprearion of grief and
frenzy she malted out of the cabin, tearing her hair, scream-
ing wildly--" My father and mother are dead—and 1 em
left alone

Another rase of a like nature :—The night before last
(Saturday) I was called upon by Mr. M•Carthy Downing,
to visit for a few minutc-s a house at the distance of about
half a dozen door, from the hotel, where he had accidentally
heard that a child I,ad been for some time dead. On enter-
ing this miserabli. place, I saw an infant, three or four years
old, lying upon a pallet of rotten straw—its little limbs ex-
tended
in the rigidity of death, and its body scarcely crrered
by Re scanty clothing. At the further earner of the cabin
was a sick child, about seven years of age, who had been
obVged for three nights to lie alongside its dead sister, and
endure the cold and terror of contact with the lifeless
clay. At ten o'clock on Saturday night, the hour at which
I entered, the wretched mother was absent, begging the price
of a coffin to inter her child, and rescue her only sunning
daughter from contagion. He visits a dispensary patient, in
company with the doctor. In the first house that we
entered, which belonged to a widow-woman named Sullivan,
there were six children lying down together in fever, the
wretched mother unable to previde them sustenance of any
description. She declared to Dr. Donovan that not one of
them had tasted a morsel of food since an early hour the pre-
vious morning, and that they had not a farthing or a farthing's
worth to purchase even the smallest quantity of bread. As a
matter of course, this hovel contained but the straw on
which these children lay, and the wretched clothing that
covered them during the day when in health, and at present
constitute their only defence against the cold at night. The
reporter proceeds to detail several other cams of a like hor-
rible nature, and states that on Monday last the Roman
Catholic clergyman administered the last rites of his church
—never communicated unless to persons supposed to be about
to depart this life instantly—iu eleven houses out of a village
comprising twenty-three houses. In moot of those, two
patients were lying, and in sonic more than two. But the
strongest corroboration of all is contained in the gal-
lowing document, with which the account concludes:
Daniel Donovan ittelareth, that he knew the wife at
Jeremiah Leary, of Bridgetown, to have been for three days
in labour, in a roofless hnusc, and on the day after her COL.
finement he saw her, whilst labouring under fever, begging
about Skihbercen ; and he has within the last fortnight
known her to offer her only bed covering—an old coverlet,—
to a rag-collector, for a few pence, which the latter refused
from an apprehension that it would spread contagion. And
he further declareth, that within the last week he has sena
the body of a man lying for days uninterred —that decom-
position had set in, and that on the same wad of straw, twin
persons, his son and daughter were stretched under th•
same sheet that covered the corpse.
AOHADA RECTORY, CLOYNE, COVNTY CORK, JAN. 4,
hall. air: I beg to send you a list of some of my poor pople, whom
I ventured to visit, having merited a kw pounds to &tribute, aid
bee to appeal to your charity to make their Platt knownolobapathit
you will be side to aidme in this terrible trait. The mom I
witnessed were heartrending. I went into searorly
_a MUM Whigs I
could learn then was even mew employed at ltd. or 10d. a day, tLusd
this he all to support famines of sin and often more "MET
mini is 2.. M. a stone, and the kit sufficient for maintanance este*
pounds weight per head. Two pounds in not sufficient for a working
nmn. But such I almost invariably matt over, Monett certna the
deprivotsos must be great in inimfficieney of food, independent of fast,
attune, bed-clothes, kite.ben, ne., but whatever its extent in men
ewes I could not enter into it, having no means of relieving any such
want. I mw enclave a list of two days' inspection. than skated mmany
mauve since. Their penury..indigeste. destitution, poverty, mietvy, nor-
mime any thing I can write. Iso generally thought to be able to
ramie my thought •n public and in private writings, but bete I am
at a total lose. Famine in s word that does ant do it. Their Joy of
heart when I as pre them even one shilling, or a quarter stone
of Indian meal ! feud help them : The great majority are living on
one meal of turnips a day, and often not that. Late last mewing I
was in a hone when the damffier owne in with three tenths, a gift
Man a neighbour. The dtlerht, the joy of them all at thin ;me:-
pected provision for supper was goon a light in the house. In all
eases the bending maul wretched: where pomade they have a I
clean sheet, and mime shift for a blanket. In every hone everything
pawner:de passim'. I treat eon will be able to proems wane relief for I
there wrstetted people. What shell I call their state 7 Misery does
not convey it, destitution, nor tn. • •lon. Lvory want le lure.—Yintrs,
WILIAM. 11,01 Re,:de Mirada.
[The r • o by the writer contains a statement of
th .utched condiuon of the families visited.]