The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-26 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Avo. 24.
The English people will be glad to learn that the
state of the advances required for temporary relief in
Ireland are likely, to prove much less in amount
than could be calculated on by the ministry or the
public. Lord John Russell's estimate was, that the
amount required would exceed three millions. It
will smay, if at all, exceed two millions ; and if
this be apead over a period of ten years, as may not
improbably be the case, it will not entail on any
Irish county an excessive rating. The knowledge of
this fact must be calculated to exercise a not tIllfIF
vourable influence on the money market.
The relief commissioners having had their portion
withdraw'

of popular displeasure, and having now —drawn
from the scene, the board of worts come next, and
from the alarums sounded in various quarters they
are likely to have a very buoy autumn between
complaint and activity. " A Suffering Friend to
Humanity," in tt morning rner, accuses the board of
wilful neglect, or something more culpable, in
omitting to carry into execution drainage operations
in Roscommon, for which all the necessary documents
had been signed, and the reports made ander the
direction of the board. After all the " fuss" of last
May, the connexion between the Croghan and the
Shannon remains still in posse. Doubtless
the delays of the board are founded on sub-
stantial reasons, though some of their proceedings
are certainly accompanied with embarrassment and
annoyance to the landed proprietors. I have myself
seen a set of documents supplied by the board
for signature, attestation, &c. after three proprietors
had come together from different parts of the king-
dom—one from England—and made all arrangements.
A more complicated set of forms must be perfected
before the works can go on.
I informed you of the cordial reception afforded to
Father Mathew by the " prentioe boys," • happy
sign of a happier ern than has blessed our lament-
able history for many an age. Who would have
thought, twenty years past, of the popular greeting
of a Franciscan friar in a city consecrated to or dese-
crated by religious bigotry for 1.50 years ? Yet
eo it is. " The prentice boys taking part in

'the procession with as much earnestness as if
they had been celebrating the anniversary of
their own victories." At the ban9uet we saw
the episcopalian mayor side by side with the Roman
catholic bishop, and Mr. Gilmour, "as stern to the
principles of the covenant as John KI:10Z himself," in
loving converse with the apostle of temperance him-
self ! The eloquent sentiments of the Roman Catholic
bishops touched the hearts of the prentice boys.
" May,' said he, " the system that has inspired these
sentiments progress, and endure for ever—may its
centre be ours, while its circumference is mankind.

In the pure feelings of friendship, of fraternal
charity, the full understanding that we are all Irish-
men, Laving a common country to save, and our com-
mon happiness to promote—that the happiness of all
is the happiness of each—that temperance, which
clears the intellect and makes man steady to his pur-
pose, must be made and continue the groundwork of
our friendly intercourse. Let us one and all adopt
the motto peculiar to the maiden city, and say with
our souls and our voices, 'No surrender.'"

A letter, signed " John Oliver Curran," a distin-
guished Dublin physician, appears in the morning
papers, and has excited a profound sensation through-
out the city. The facts he narrates are authentic, for
he was a personal eye-witness, and I may add, for
your information, that Mr. Curran was accompanied
in his melanch.ily tour by Doctors Stokes and Wilde,
and two French gentlemen, commissioned by their
government to inquire into the state and diagnosis of
typhus fever in Ireland. The letter states, " that few
of the inhabitants will be willing to believe that
such could possibly be allowed to exist for a
moment in the second city of the British empire."
And whoever is to blame, there can be little
doubt of the gross culpability of some parties. It is
unnecessary, and would be alike sickening and dis-
gusting, to repeat all the scenes described by Dr.
Curran. A few will show the general character of his
observations. Near the " temporary hospitals," which
have been described as so comparatively healthy and
pleasant, he found " twelve persons, men, women,
and children, lying indiscriminately along the
pathway and the gutter, waiting to be ad-
mitted," some stretched at full length with
their faces to the sun, their mouths open, and
" their black and parched tongues and encrusted
teeth visible even from a distance." Inside
was a small shed, roughly covered with boards but
open in front, " like the sheds in farmyards for cover-
ing dung and rubbish." Ho took it for a receptacle
of the cast-off rags of fever patients; but hearing heavy
groans underneath the heap of filth, he found, to his
indignation and horror, thirty-five human beings
heaped together indiscriminately, heads and feet in-
termingled, on a wisp of straw. They called to him for
water to quench their burning thirst; and on inquiry
it appeared they had lain there for three days without
relief and without attendance. Some were actually
dying, and did die the night after the visit—all were
afflicted with typhus. The remainder of Dr. Curran's
letter speculates on the cruelty of submitting any
part of the population to such horrors, and censures
the conduct of the government, which might have
adopted a better system of sanitary regulations and
precautions against the extension of disease. Dr.
Curran has been prompted to make this public appeal
in consequence of the rumour that government in-
tends to withdraw its assistance from all hospitals
with the cessation of out-door relief.

The sharemengers are again beginning to lift up
their inauspicious heads. The alluring bait this time
is " millions of acres of virgin soil situated in Western
Virginia, convenient to the Ohio river." The capital
is only the " wee bit" sum of 150,0001., in 6,000
shares, of 251. each ; and, more tempting still, the
small deposit of only half-a-crown per share is soli-
cited. About 1,0001. would flow into the pockets of
the " schemers"—we use the word of course in its
original sense—and none would be much the poorer in
the deposit of thirty pence a share. The " Western
Land Virginny Company" might as well spare the cost
of advertisements, as there is not the remotest chance
of a nibble. The virgin soil will continue undis-
turbed by an Irish spade on the banks of the
0 —hi —0 !

There cm thirteen defaulters in the rank of gen-
tlemen in the Athlone onion. They owe retell to the
amount of 232/. _ _

There has suddenly been revived to-day the rumour
of a potato blight. Accounts to this effect have, it is
said, reached town from Wicklow, on the east coast;
from Mayo, on the west coast; as also from Sligo.
Whether these rumours are well founded it would be
impossible to say. We most hope they are not. They
have, however, had—for I suppose. it was that which
had—the effect of maintaining prices and giving a
firmer tone to the Corn Exchange operations this day.
This day Mr. Gregory's draft for 7.30/. was paid to
the high-sheriff. Mr. Reynolds was in error yester-
day when he said it had been dishonoured for want
of funds. It is said that when Mr. Gregory saw that
he lost his election mainly owing to the bungling of
the high-sheriff, he wrote to his banker not to pay
the draft, being resolved to let Mr. Roe take his
action, and, on the trial, show the way he botched
his business. However, Mr. Gregory had intended to
pay the amount, and did so this day, as stated. It
is confidently reported that the petition against the
return of Mr. Reynolds will assuredly be presented.
Notice of an action for libel has been this day
served on the proprietors of a Dublin paper for the
publication of an article, on Saturday last, to the
effect that the wife of a professional gentleman, said
to be pointed out, had eloped with an officer. There
is no truth iu the report, if it apply to the parties
supposed to be referred to.

ANOTRER FEVER VICTIGL—Mr. A. Beale, secretary to
the Society of Friends' Relief Committee is Cork, has rust
sealed his exertioas in the cause of humanity by death. He
was carried off by fever.
Tam GaLweit GLAND JURY, headed by the M.P.'s for
the county, have addressed a long but sensible memorial to
the government, which they open with the declaration that
the advances to the county during the late crisis having
been made by the government promptly and liberally, the
debt so incurred shall be honourably and punctually repaid.
Having attracted the notice of the Lords of the Treasury
by this "promise to pay," they enter into a long statement
to show the claims they have on the consideration of govern-
' anent. With regard to the works under the Labour-rate
Act they state that Lord Lansdowne having declared that
no public works should be undertaken except those of un-
questionable utility, and the works which had been under-
taken being union and incomplete, they propose a middle
course—namely, that the works should be valued by com-
petent persons, and their actual value only charged to the
credit of the county as against employment, and
better value could have been obtained for a far len
outlay. The next subject is the new poor law, which, not-
withitanding its burthens, they profess their anxiety to see
realised efficiently and humanely. They very truly state
the difficulty of collecting funds for the ordinary expenditure
of the county, and to render the operation of the law as
light as is consistent with justice they propose that the in-
stalments under the Labour-rate Act should be postponed
for a season, and that spread over a longer term. They pro-
pose that all incomes derived from land should contribute to
the general taxation ; that a well conducted scheme of emi-
gration would tend to the rapid Improvement of society ;
that Galway, looking to the western hemisphere, has no
railway; that the development of the fisheries would add to
the national wealth ; and in conclusion, that " advancement
of loam for usefuipurposes " is the one thing needful. The
representative of the Moantcashel doctrine entitles the
Galwegians to some extra favour.
CAPTURE Or WEAL'S IN LOUO/1 FOYLE. On
Saturday, the 7th inst., a shoal of whales of the bottled-
nosed species, were embayed in the shallows of Lough
Foyle, on the county Deny side of the Shell Island. They
were soon observed by the workmen employed in forming
the embankment for the Londonderry and Coleraine Rail-
way. Two boats lying alongside the bank were immediately
manned by a few uanng adventurers, little acquainted with
the dangers of whale fishing. After some manteuvring,
however, they succeeded in driving them into shallow
water, when a desperate Womb) commenced. Such arms—
Doles, spars, rails, &a., u theited hastily caught up, were
found worse than melees against these monsters of the deep.
The rash assailants were most unceremoniously lashed about
after they had closed with their huge antagonists in their
I own element. Defeat must have been the result to the
headsmen, had not the steam-engine poured down a con-
stant and fresh supply of men to the assistance of their
roughly handled and now nearly exhausted comrades. The
surrounding hills were crowded with spectators to witness
this novel and interestiag combat. After five boars of
doubtful and arduous conflict, victory was declared in fa-
vour of overpowering numbers. Four of the shoal were
captured, and will reward the victors with at least two tone
of excellent oil. This, it is expected, will be the last op-
portunity that these cetaceous visitors from the Arctic Sea
will have of playing their gambols in this locality, as the
very spot where this scene was enacted will, within the
spew of four years, it is expected, wan thick with corn.
This conversion of a place now covered with the watery
element, and the resort of whales, into dry ground, is
entirely due to the enterprise of the Derry and Coleraine
Railway Company. The place where the capture was
effected was near the village of Muff, in the parish of
Faughenvale.—Dublin paper.
SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, AUG. 24.
One episode connected with the Queen's visit to the
Clyde deserves special record. While Per Ms,j(!sty
entered the river the American frigate Macedonian,

which came over with food for the destitute Irish and
Scotch, had her main and fore masts, and bowsprit
decored, as Caleb Balderston would have said, with
British colours, the United States ensign being at the
gaff peak. She gave the Queen a royal salute of 21
guns. Her Majesty invited Commodore de Kay and
his lady to visit her yacht on her return, but from
same change in the arrangements of theroyal squadron
the visit was not performed. Another instance of in-
ternational courtesy is afforded by the presentation of
a superb cast of the Laocoon to the Glasgow School of
Design by the Baron Marochetti.
Fever has decreased in Glasgow 161 cases daring
last week ; and, as illustrating cause and effect, it re-
quires to be stated that during the same period 298
houses were cleaned.

The income-tax system having turned out well
nationally, an attempt is to be made to try it on mu-
nicipally. A schedule has been sent round to the
Glasgow parochial authorities inquiring the incomes of
the inhabitants, which they are called upon to fill up.
The Dean of Faculty has given an opinion that the
board has no right to insist on such returns being
made; they will therefore vvry likely be resisted.

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.—A ram rule realisation of the story
of Ginevra, in Rogers's "Italy," and of the song of the
" Milletoe Bough," occurred at Glasgow on Saturday List.
Three young boys, two of them eons of Mr. J. Wilson,
builder, Galloweate, and the other a son of hie brother,
Mr. Charles Wilson, were lost. As the rest of the
family were down the water, the boys' absence occasioned at
first no great uneasiness, as it was supposed that the young-
sters, the eldest of whom was about 11 years of age, had set
off to join their mother and the rest of the family. As
nothing had been heard of them, Mr. Wilson left home
early yesterday morning with the intention of pro-
ceeding to Ilelensburg, where the family were, to
ascertain if the runaways were there. Ile had not, how-
ever, been long away, when a carter who takes charge
of a horse belonging to Mr. Wilson went to the enable
for the purpose of procuring some provender for the animal.
The provender is kept in a corn-cheat—a box six feet long
and about three deep, with three separate compartments, and
secured on the outside with an iron hasp, which fits into a
staple in the side of the chest. On opening the lid, the man
was horror-stricken at finding the three young boys motion-
, less at the bottom of the chest, each occupying one of the
compartments. Ile immediately summoned assistance, and
they were taken out ; hut it was found that two of them,
James Wilson, aged 11, and Charles Wilson, about • year
younger, were quite dead, and had been so apparently for a
' considerable length of time. The youngest, a boy between
7 and 8 years, showed some signs of life, and by prompt
medical attendance he gradually revised, so as to be able to
state what had led to the melancholy catastrophe.
The brothers and cousin had gone into the chest
in search of beans, and while so engaged the lid,
which, as has been already stated, is secured on the outside
by an iron hasp fitting into a staple, closed on them. In
falling, the hasp, as it most unfortunately haprened, fined
into the staple, and all the united strength of the poor cap-
tives was insufficient to enable them to burst the bands of
what, too truly, proved their tomb. On the side at which
the youngest boy was found, the lid did not fit so close as
the other parts, and from the limited supply of air which had
been admitted through this crevice is to he attributed his
preservation. They had endeavoured to support each other's
courage as well as they could in their dismal dungeon ; and,
before giving up hope, one of them broke the blade of a pen-
knife in the attempt to make an incision through the side of
the chest. After they had exhausted themselves by unavail-
ing shouts and cries which were not heard on earth, they
all joined in prayer. This is the last circumstance which the
surviving sufferer recollects, as he soon after became insensi-
ble. To account for no noise having been heard, or no one
within call, it may be mentiored that the wood-yard in
which the stable is situated is locked up early on the Satur-
day afternoon, and is not again entered till Monday morning.
A CLEVER COLLY.—Wonderful stories are told of the
Scotch sheep-dog. The latest is from the Edinburgh Chro-
nicle. An unfortunate dog, in order tolnake sport for some
fools, had a pan tied to his tail, and was sent off on his
travels towards Gab. He reached the village utterly ex-
hausted, and lay down before the steps of Mr. Young's
tavern, eyeing most anxiously the horrid annoyanee
hung behind him, but unable to move a step further,
or rid himself of the torment. Another dog, • Scotch
colly, came up at the fame time, and seeing the
distress of his crony, laid himself gently down beside him,
and, gaining his confidence by a few caresses proceeded to
gnaw the string by which the noisy appendage was attached
to his friend's tail, and by about a quarter of an hour's exer-
tion severed the cord, and started to his lege, with the pan
hanging from the string in his mouth, and after a few joyful
capers around his friend departed on his travels in the high-
est glee at his success.