The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-27 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1847.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Alio. 25.
I communicated to you a short time since the
statistical facts of the South Dublin Union under the
Temporary Relief Act. A similar statement with
reference to the north union, for Dublin has only two,
will complete the history of the metropolis under that
act. The total ^-
••uuivrt ut •-
18 weeks, i. e., from the commencement to the masa-
ition of relief, was 400,458, or a weekly average of
22,164, at a total cost of 20,3201., or an average of
somewhat less than 11d. for each individual. The
excess of persons relieved in the north over the south '
union, was 2,083, and the excess of expenditure was
1,2821.—the whole expenditure in the north union
being 20,3201., and in the south 19,038/. The saving
in the cost of each ration was one farthing in favour
of the north union, while their committee supplied a
far better description of bread, and disease conse-
quently is far less prevalent. Population in the last
few years has increased more rapidly sad extensively
in the north than the south union, which is in a great
degree accounted for by the contiguity of the former to
some districts containing the poorest population in the
kingdom. Meath, for instance, which is a grazing county,
with but little tillage, and that of the most inferior de-

scription, pears a constant tide of indigence and labour
into the north side of the city, from which the south
aide is comparatively safe. But there arc other causes
at work to account for the inequality of poverty be-
tween the two unions. The south side is constantly
improving, being inhabited by the wealth and rank
of the city, no inferior houses are being built, while
the north aide decays from the decline of business;
and as rats crowd to empty houses, so does the mass
of wretched tenements in the old lanes and alleys give
harbour to poverty.
The Galway assizes, which have just terminated,
have been among the heaviest in Ireland, there having
been not fewer than thirty-five persons sentenced to
transportation, or more than one-half the convictions.
The terms of imprisonment were also unusually
heavy, varying, with some few exceptions, from six
months to two years.
The army in Ireland in the beginning of this month
consisted of ten regiments of cavalry, two troops of
royal horse artillery, with nine companies and de-
tachments of royal artillery, thirty regiments or bat-
talions of infantry, with two companies of marines,
giving a total efiective force of 28,000 rank and file
of all arms, with 21,682 enrolled pensioners, militia
staffs, and recruiting parties. If to these we add
the constabulary—nearly 10,000, rural and municipal
—we have an imposing force of about 60,000 men.
An interesting case came before the Lord Chancellor
yesterday. A person was brought up on an habeas
corpus. The return set out his imprisonment by order
of the seneschal of Mary's Abbey, which had juris-
, diction in civil and criminal pleas, by patent of Charles
the First. This raised some knotty points in consti-
tutional law and the doctrine of kingly prerogative
some two centuries past. The monastery to which
the right is attached was dissolved in the reign of
Henry the Eighth, and the chief question now is,
whether Charles the First could resuscitate these ju-
risdictions. A good deal will depend on the wording
of the Statute of Dissolutions. The prisoner was re-
manded until Friday, when the matter will again
undergo discussion.
From Mayo we have to-day in the local paper cor-
roboration of the unpleasant rumour of yesterday,
respecting the development of the potato blight. It
has assumed, however, a far less malignant appear-
ance than last year, or that of 1815, and as yet is net
general throughout the county. From other quarters
the accounts of the harvest are most cheering. In
Louth, scarcely a blade of corn remains standing,
and the yield will be one-third beyond an average.

MR. SMITH O'HateN.—There A no longer any doubt that
this gentleman will remain member for Limerick. He has
published an address, announcing the fact. He states in
this that " he does not know, as vet, to what portion of the
constituency he is indebted for this signal mark of confi-
dence ;" but further oa he says, that " having spontaneously
invested him with the character of representative, he is not
disposed to shrink from the responsibilities which belong to
that important trust"
ATTEMPTED PIIISOM BEEAKINO.—A daring attempt at
prison breaking was made, on Monday last, in the gaol of
Kilkenny county, by three men, named Larkin, Daniel, and
Walahe, under sentence of death for the murder of Mr.
Prim. Larkin had suggested to his brother convicts a con-
spiracy for that end, and they, though unwillingly, entered
into it. A turnkey named Lee had the daily duty assigned
him of releasing the convicts from their cells, for the purpose
of taking the air in one of the prison yards. On Monday,
when he had done this, the three convicts, together with the
turnkey, stood in one corridor. Larkin immediately set
upon Lee, and a struggle ensued. This continued until the
stone staircase wag reached. Larkin's comrades showed'
no alacrity in joining him. One, however, Wsishe, did at
length do so ; be was knocked down, but still he struggled,
and the scuffle continued until the foot of the staircase was
reached, when Larkin picked up a paving-stone, and
striking Lee on the head therewith, stunned him, laying
him bleeding and prostrate on the ground. All three then
made for the doorway of the yard, but were stopped by a pri-
soner named John Forbes. Tney instantly turned and ran
in another direction, but were encountered by a number of
prisoners, some of whom stopped them, and by this time the
governor of the gaol having been alarmed, the guards were
called out, and the convicts secured. Larkin and Daniel
are to be executed this day, and Walshe on this day se'nnight.
On Tuesday these wretches confessed to the conspiracy,
which they had only accidentally been prevented from at-
tempting to carry into execution on Sunday last while at
prayers. Their Intention was to seize and-murder the guard
while prayers were in progress, and then escape ; and
Larkins plan was on Monday last to murder Lee with the
aid of the other convicts, to murder the next turnkey when
tie should come to look after Lee, and, if necessary, the
governor after bath. They could then, it was thought, escape
with ease. This horrible plot would seem to have been dc-
fes'ed by the remaining human feelings of Walshe and
Daniel. Three of the other tonvicta in the gaol had, it is
said, obtained the stones for these murderous convicts.

SCO'I'L,A.VD.

EDINBUROII,.AIIO.. 25.

Fever again threatens to be in the ascendant, but it
is so far consolatory that external causes alone are likely
to rekindle it. Irish immigration is the great evil to be
avoided; but as the shoals presently crossing the
Channel come for the avowed purpose of assisting at
the harvest, the same treatment cannot be applied to
them as is applicable to mere mendicants ; yet some-
thing
might be done. From Jane 15 to Aug. 17 the
number of Irish which have arrived in Glasgow
amount to 26,335. Of these, since the 18th of
August, 301 have been infirm. Of 1,150 fever
patients received into the Glasgow hospitals, 750 are
Irish, 380 Scotch, 15 English, and 5 foreigners. As
usual, too, the brave men who voluntarily, or by office,
stand in the gap to stay the pestilence, continue to
fall victims themselves. An excellent catholic clergy-
man in Greenock, Dr. Sinnot, who for greater useful-
ness had received a medical education, died of typhus
last week. The returning officer for the Glasgow
board has also been taken ill, his being the foartecath
case of attack in that establishment.

The proceedings of the Edinburgh town council
yesterday present a few salient points. The lord pro-
vost and several of the magistrates and council are to
resign, as much apparently from choice as from
rotation, and the results of the Macaulay rejection, as
indicating changes in the electoral mind which will
cause local disturbance, are said to be the motives for
these movements. The thirst for municipal honours
teas considerably abated since the passing of the Re-
form Bill, and it is possible that bailies' chains may
be had cheap next November. Abstinence from ge-
neral politics, and religious tolerance, are the only
recipes for the revival of the faded ermine, and were
local senators to keep their creed civil and religious
somewhat in abeyance during office, they might do
the city some sanitary and general service. The cog-
nate offices of " doomster " and executioner for Edin-
burgh are to remain vacant. The former will live in
the pages of " The Heart of Mid Lothian," and when
the functions appertaining to the latter office shall
unfortunately require to be fulfilled, Cathcart will
likely be sent for.
For the completion of the Scott monument twenty-
four Waverley figures still require to be placed in ex-
ternal niches. The cost of these (2,000/.) is forthwith
to be defrayed by a Waverley ball and by other such
projects.

Tue PROVOST OF DUMBARTUN.—The following is the
speech of the Provost of Dumbarton, in reference to the
precedence given to the Provost of Glasgow when the Queen
landed at Dumbarton: Provost Risk, in replying to the
toast (his own health), said it was well known that the ma-
gistrates of Glasgow bore no goodwill to those of Dumbar-
ton; and why ? Glasgow has become a great city, and has
looked with a covetous eye on our privileges and immunities.
Like the unrighteous king, she is not content with her
own, but will unjustly take the poor man's vineyard. We
have reason, however, to feel proud that with the energy
we have displayed, and the justice of our cause, we have
taught them a lesson which they qught to remember.
Ile (the Provost) was not disposed to take much notice of the
Provost of Glasgow's statement. It proved too much—it
refuted itself. Ile would leave the matter in the hands of
any unprejudiced spectator or reader, and he doubted not,
when the wreath had faded with which the calumny was
garnished, and it stood forth in naked deformity, that even
his own minions would see that his remarks were hasty, and,
as a consequence, unfair. The magistrates of Glasgow stole
into our waters without our permission, or putUng them-
selves in communication with us, and, with equal presump-
•

tion, they ru.bed forward to lead, whets,' in commies
honesty, they ought to have followed. They disingenuously
omitted to acquaint her Majesty's Secretary that their
jurisdiction only extends to the Clyde ; for, had this
been done, the presentation of the magistrates of Glaa-
;;;:w 1"": "Aithin tn: Pounds Of LiumbartOn
might have given them leas cause of exultation. It is now
over, however, and, as loyal subjects, we have bad mud
reason to be gratified. It is nearly 300 years since Due.
Parton was honoured with a royal visit. Some of us may be
privileged to see another visit—many will not; but it will be
the duty of those who take an active part in the next
pageant, to profit by the lemon they have already been
taught. Let me rather sit down, hoping that the royal
pleasure will again point to the Clyde, again visit her ancient
fortress, and again give our magistrates and burgesses an
opportunity, not of retaliating on the boasting of the purse.
proud civic dignitaries of tilasgow, bat of vying the one
with the other as to who can raise the most exulting about,
and give the most heartfelt welcome to the greatest and best
sovereign that ever swayed the British sceptre !