The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1847.

awl a measure, as there is no ed•auta of prices of grain in
Itustia to nose any anziwty, It would appear to be purely
political.--Journal du Havre, Feb, 13.

ITALY.—DoN 1111c0r.t..---A letter from Rome
say.—" The departure of Don Miguel still form, the prin•
cipal topic of conversation. It is said that the reprewnta.
tires of France, Spain, and Portugal have complainel of not
having been informed of it. It seems to be certain that the
government was a perfect stranger to his Bight.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF
ENGLAND.
A WS/11LT COUNCIL was held at the Society'. House, in
Hanover-square, oa Wednesday last, the 17th of Febnury ;
the Earl of Egmont, prasidosit, in the chair.
POTATO DISEASE. —Mr. Foster transmitted to the society
various documents on the subject of the potato disease. In
them Sir John Johnstone stated that the potatoes in the
vicinity of his residence in Yorkshire had all been affected,
within the period of two days, as if struck by a blight ; the
beans and peas had been also to a certain extent smitten in
the same way. Mr. Miler had found his celery and hrocoli
affected by a brown spot n-on the leaves, which immediately
resulted in the decay of the plants. lie had, however, not
yet heard of potatoes being affected with the prevalent dos-
sane in the neighbourhood of copper-works. Lord Portman
had been informed that it prevailed to a great extent in the
West Indies. Dr. Calvert would inspect and report upon
the microscopical illustrations of diseased specimens.
BISET-BISEAD.—Mr. Briscoe forwarded to the Council
upecimees of househould bread made under his direction by
Mr. Doer, baker, of New Bond-street, of equal parts of
mangold-wursel pulp and fine wheaten flour in one case, and
of equal puts of the same pulp and wheaten flour from
which the bran had not been separated in the other ease •
the juice having been pressed out of the pulp, and no wets;
used in the making of the bread. Mr. Briscoe informed the
council that this bread had been found very palatable, and
could be made for half the price of that in ordinary use.
AUSTUALIAN POTATOES AND WISZAT.—Mr. Majeadie,
of Ileditigham-castle, Essex, reported to the council the
testimony of the Bishop of Tasmania, and of the Rev. T. J.
Ewing, chaplain of New-town, Van Diemen's-land, in
favour of the excellent quality of the Australian potatoes,
which had been found to remain perfectly sound and free
from disuse during the voyage to England. The variety
brought home in the Jane Frances is known in the colony as
" Brown's River Potato," and the supply was as good when
the vessel arrived off the Lizard as when she first set sail.—
Mr. Msjendi expressed his intention of presenting a sup-
ply of these potatoes to the council for trial among the mem-
bers ; and he was authorised by Lady Franklin to state that,
should the council think it desirable to write out to Australia
for a further supply, it would give her much pleasure to be
the medium of communication in the attainment of this
ob-
ject, as well as in that of obtaining also from the colony a
supply of the finest seed wheat grown in that part of the
world, forcultivation in England. After some further busi-
MN, the council adjourned to Wednesday next, the 24th
instant.

COMMISSION BY KEIL IMAJKSTY'S COMMISSIONERS
OP LIPUTISNANCY P.lll. THS CITY.-0. Platt, Esq., to be
Captain of Royal Loudon Militia.
CITY OF LONDON UNION.—The following is an ab-
stract of the report of the special committee appointed to
inquire as to the necessity for and the cost of a workhouse :
"To the Board of Guardians of thecity of London Union. We,
your committee, to whom it was referred to prepare informa-
tion as to the neceseity for a workhouse, beg leave to report
that we have considered the subjects referred to us, and find
that the publication of your intention to procure the erection
of • workhouse for this union has given rise to a great deal
of misapprehension in the minds of many- With • view,
therefore, to remove all doubts and misapprehensions, and
prevent unnecessary excitement or opposition, we skill pro-
ceed to state such reasons as appear to us conclusive as to
the necessity for erecting a union workhouse without delay.
In order that our remarks may be the better understood, we
shall divide the subject into the following heads, and show,
first, the necessity for • workhouse ; secondly, the
probable cost of the same ' • thirdly, the benefits
we expect to arise both to the poor and the rate-
payers from the possession of such workhouse.
First, se to the necessity for a union workhouse. We are
of opinion that there is a great want of a proper classifica-
tion In the present poor-houses. In the quadrangle of each
house the old and the young, the industrious and the idle,
the profligate sod the unfertunete rate-payer, of both sexes,
are compelled to mix together. We strongly urge the necessity
for a proper workhouse, in order that evils of such magni-
tude and such serious importance, particularly to the youth.
rut inmates of your poor-houses, may be remedied without
delay. In addition to the above, are many regulations
as to discipline, order, comfort and cleanliness, which might
be introduced with advantage into a workhouse of your own.
Such advantages and comforts arc not faun I complete in
any one workhouse, but being adopted partially in one or
more, there can be no reason why the guardians of this union
should not make use of the experience thus gained, and
introduce every improvement of discipline or comfort
into their workhouses, built and adapted for the purpose.
With respect to the second point, namely, the probable cost
of a workhouse, we have ascertained the cost of three of the
workhouses rot recently built in the neighbourhood of the
metropolis ; that is to say, Wandsworth, Greenwich, and
Bethnal-green. We find that the coat of the building and
site of the Wandsworth workhouse, to contain 550 inmates,
was about 20,0001. ; of the Greenwich workhouse, to contain
1,100 inmates, was about 30,0001. • and of Bethnal-green
workhouse, to contain 1,100 inmates, was about 25,000/.
Taking these as a guide, and bearing in mind the probably
higher value of land, but at the same time the decrease in
the price of building materials, we think we may fairly
presume that the cost of a site to and of erecting a suitable
workhouse for this union, to contain 1,200 inmates,
would not exceed 30,0001. The total cost, therefore,
would not exceed 40,0001. The guardians are autho-
rised, by act of parliament, to raise the necessary
sum fur building a workhouse by loan, repayable
by instalments, with interest, in twenty years. The above-
mentioned sum of 40,0001. would be charged to each parish ;
and it may be observed that each pariah will be at liberty
either to pay off suth amount at once, or by twenty instal-
ments, with interest, in twenty years, whichever may be
most in accordance with the wishes of the rate-payers. We
will next proceed to offer a few considerations as to the
benefit to be derived to the rate-payers after the workhouse
is erected. We find by the returns for this union for the
year 1846 (which we take because the prices of provisions,
&c. during that year were stationary), that the whole
average con per week for each pauper maintained in the
present poor-house was ss. 91, or thereabouts. We include
in such sum of Is. 9d. all extras allowed either by the
board or the medical officer. We also find that the
highest cost per head per week for maintenance
an clothing in several of the unions round the
metropolis at the same period, viz., the year ending March,
1846, amounted to 3e. 61d., but this being exclusive of ens-
blhhment expenses, which we estimate at a sum certainly
not exceeding 16001. a year, we add to the above sum of
lla 61d. the further sum of 9d. for establishment expenses,
making a total wet per head per week of 4s. 31d., which
being deducted from the cost in the union of ss. 9d., will
show a saving upon each pauper per week of Is. 51d., and
taking this upon 800 inmate' only, the saving to the union
would be about 3,0001. pee annum, with all its conveniences
and appendages, over the narrow and improper accommoda-
tion afforded by the present poor-houses.—Signed, Thomas
Thornton, 0. Sherman, A. Solomon, R. A. Warwick, J.
Morris, J. Gann, J. Colman. H. W. Ward F. W. Vigers,
G. Brooke, G. Simmons."—A table is appended to the re-
port, showing the average number of indoor adult poor,
exclusive of children and lunatics, and the total number of
out-door poor for the several years from 1839 to 1846.
HURRICANE.—A hurricane took place between four
sad five o'clock yesterday morning, it being nearly high
water, on the Thames. Barges were driven from their
moorings. Hundreds of sticks of timber &tilted here and
there, the lashing of the wove, threw down several em-
bankments between Vauxhall and Putney-bridges; and
between Battersea and Putney nolos than five sailing barges
were sunk. In three oases the crews succeeded in reaching
the shore in safety. In the fourth there was • very narrow
erape of life ; and in the last case, the men having charge of
the huge are believed to be drowned, as nothing had been
heard of th om up to last evening. Thehurriesnehas been al moet
r disastrous on land. In the nursery gardens around Clap-
ham, Balhans-hill, and Battersea, immense mischief has
been done by the uprooting of shrubs, &n ; and in Wienble-
den, niobium& and Bushy-park, many trees have beta
blown down, and some hundreds lopped of their branches.
Great damage has also been sustained by the rare and valu -
Akio tionestion of ;darts in Kew-gardens.
InfttliTlCTDft—Yesterday morning, at an early
hoer, so a private watchman on duty in the South Lam '
teeth-road, near Vauxhall-bridge, he saw a deal box, about
twelve inches square, lying in a field at the rear of the Crows
and Thistle tavern. It was tightly bound with a cord, eml
he carried it to the nearest tavern, where he with mole
difficulty unfastened the lid, and to his astonishment :
discovered the liedy of a newly-born male child. It was
quite naked, and the box was filled op with ashes.
RIOT AT LAMBETH WORKHOUSE.— Yesterday
afternoos, a lens amber of ormal female rupees,
who have teenage* boa sent to the county gaol, Brix-
ton. for :Mims 'net and ftindow , assembled
ftioakin4sy
is Est'
being wortkingoe, finasediog relief,
sad sot mires' of the momeat Shopping several
oessmenwil an Maw* as the wheaten. noir set and
bow be game see Wasted a miSmoonues ti idle sad bad
choreetsre, who agoweady seemed to urge than on
is Irk work if ' daimon's. The shutters at the
bower part ft . the building were necessarily coft-
mild to be abrade as • may ot the Legatee received
meow Injury by Um gems fad other minas' which
they burled asm the various womb, gawiag mach fear
maws the aged {smuts. nes police arrived, and after a
little aseibise has et the rig-leaders were taken into
custody.
FALL dr RAs. Solna in Lori-num.—On
Tharsday raseolog, Wonky Our 4 *Walk en midget w-
eaned la linwOrobt, tiondtvish, by whisk mega lignage
womb' Ilmsiimil pen & Tor moth Om pest, the
awninged 216 fa the siren. , ea, a shopal,ll=
been soudderell Moab Sem de @bee e hetwitts-;
deadles, ea. ddoefy bay. Ordlltorsi bar two digegh-
ten, eusdissed to renal thargia, Om ils atendes le. quer
tiers. h* violent gib stela& a Idly Mesh otabioney.,
tooth* Mil the &a eirfilli with • Mash, remehing s
&....el *whir. ewe Oahes gm the to ef the
met en the one known as the T
II •'M Collire-home, both reed were forded la, ends
so thoh the Tallier ot .bath
iflirl :Mk brides awe rabbi & The bsiniftbr;:ftribs=
=
sad sew. owed &Wadi= ; ow OW punks only
say peeled injury, that merely a eat am the
heed.
FALL or w niecinnie In lIINLITY.--+
On nattily skews, ens bill ha ie . whisk,
=AI
wigs Air Ware. 'NM heotA flo diet son-
dine& The bows ere ot , smdl oen
'sterner • Illivilateg notow4re of ever
the bosh title inantoo, We crytreti. vinyl
• raw leen %ballet by ma glailly, We pay •=1
rtattni Wheolsit they blabs.' often wawa at dos
lof • tipsy
_ponistod ft yortikshog. Steles& efl
deseMera diked awnyi, No et the a finaole;
was . As inunediabi seine was tise, agg
she was discovered' in the bask pan of the bony worm doll
mina, and conveyed to the bow et a neighbour, ohs gib.'
stained very littio injury, RI Ina reorweg,

ILLICIT DISTILLERIES.—Yesterday, no lees than
four illicit stills were seized by the Excise in the course of
the day. From the observation of Messrs. James and Fre-
derick Pargeter, officers of excise, of premises No. 27, St.
Peter's-street, Bethnal-green, and the delivery there of cer-
tain suspicious articles, they were convinced that something
illegal was going on, and on obtaining a search-warrant they
proceeded to the house, and having gained admission, they
soon found that those suspicions were perfectly correct- On
proceeding to the front kitchen they found a large copper
still in full work, running off strong spirits. They then
went to the back kitchen, when another immediately
met their view, also at work. In this room two men were
engaged, and so buoy were they that for some time they were
unaware of the preeence of the officers. One of them was
holding a bladder with a funnel in it, while the other was
filling it with spirits from a tub. One gave the name
of Jamas Brown, and the other Alfred Crompton,
but protested that they were only servants. There
was a large quantity of fermented wash and spirits, and the
sena distillery apparatus, which they seized.—The next ease
was at No. 7, Scott-street, Bethnal-green, kept by a man
named Joseph Adlington. The officers got over a gateway,
and effected an entrance into the house, where they found a
still at full work, running off spirits of wine, a quantity of
spirits fifty over-proof, fermented wash(which was destroyed),
and all the usual apparatus, which were wised and conveyed
to the excise warehousea—The third case was in Stoney-lane,
Petticoat-lane. Messrs. Bayford and Lewin', the indefatigable
officers, from information received, went to a house in the
above street, and after a good deal of trouble effected an en-
trance. In a back apartment they found • very tare still in
full work, and a mean attending to it, with an immense
quantity of fermented wash prepared for carrying on a large
trade, with spirits ready for sending out. The apparatus
was of a complete deeeription, the whole of which was
seized. This is the second still seized by Messrs. Bayford
sad Lewin* within Bolan few days.
INQUEST YESTERDAY.-.-ALLEGED POISONING WITH
WUoNo MRDlClMB.—Pursaant to adjournment from the
previous day by Mr. T. Watley, M. P., at the Wheat-
sheaf, Camden Town, to inquire into the death of Miss
Sarah Ellen Collyer, alleged to have died from the effects
of a certain unauthorised medicine prescribed for her by
Dr. Cronin. Dr. Cronin was in attendance, accompanied
by a professional adviser. Mr. J. Pound said, the deceased
and himself, who were cousins, had been under the treat-
ment of Dr. Cronin, of Leicester-place, Leicester-square.
The deceased coriiplained of pain in her back, and when he
went with her to see the doctor, on the 3rd instant, he gave
her the prescription produced, and afterwards gave it to his
assistant to maks up. They paid each a guinea as a fee for
two visits, and 2s. for the medicine. On Monday evening
last, about 10 o'clock, deceased had the prescription made
up by Mr. Cortield, chemist, of 47, High-street, Camden-
town. The label stated that two spoonful were to be taken
three times a.day. The deceased took the medicine on
Monday eight, in a wineglass, the quantity being rather
MOM Ihna one table-spoonful. A minute or two after
Chewed had taken the medicine, she exclaimed, " How
einem. I feel !" and made her way out of the parlour. Ob-
serving that she appeared ill, and staggering, witness
followed her to the garden door, where she fell. He
raised an alarm, and a relative, who was in the house, ran
for Mr. Corfield, who, the moment he came, fetched a sur-
geon. The deceased died in a quarter of an hour after. She
had been lively and cheerful up to the moment she took the
medicine; but after she fell, she groaned loudly. When
Dr. Cronin gave Miss Collyer the medicine be told her to
take two table spoonful three times a day. Dr. Cronin
told her to keep on with the mine medicine, and said the
medicine could be made up at any chemist's lam positive
he made the latter observation. The witness Imre identified
the prescription, which was signed D.C., as the one given to
her by Dr. Cronin, and the bottle containing the medicine,
from which she had taken the fatal close.—Mr. J. A. John-
son deposed to being present when the deceased took the
medicine; ebe laughed, said it was rather strong, and handed
him the glass, and he
remarked that it smelt strongly of
almonds. The witness showed the quantity taken in the wine-
glass, which, on being measured, was not quite a table-spoon-
ful and a half. Mr. George Weathers, surgeon, said, I was
called to see deceased about a i before 10 on Monday evening,
I found her in the parlour perfectly insensible, with limbs
extended, pupils dilated, and pulse exceedingly tremulous.
Understood she had taken some medicine five or six minutes
before ; and from her appearance, sepposed her at the time
to be labouring under the effects of prussic acid. Endea-
voured to induce vomiting; and, as she was rapidly 'inking,
he gave brandy and ammonia; but she bad no power to
swallow, and died in a quarter of au hour. Had since exa-
mined the body in the presence of several medical friends,
and found it in every part perfectly healthy, except that
the surface of the brain was somewhat congested, and
that the ventricles presented a slight odour of prussic acid.
The witness here described the various tests applied in the
analysis, in which he said he was assisted by Dr. Scoffern,
and that the result gave the presence of a sufficient quantity
of prasaic acid teaccount for death. Mr. Wakley here inquired
if the friends of deceased made any complaint against Mr.
Corfleld, the chemist who supplied the medicine; and being
answered in the negative, Dr. Cronin said, as that question
had been put, he wished to know in what position be stood,
or if there was any. complaint against him ? The Coroner .
Certainly,Dr.Cronin, you are charged with prensibing a medi-
cine by which the deceased's death has been caused, and it is
my duty to tell you now that your position is a very serious
one. —Dr. Cronin expressed his surprise that he was there
criminally before the court, having been summoned as a wit-
ness. He had, however, no wish to evade the responsibility,
and would at once acknowledge the prescription to be his.—
The prescription, written in Latin, was here rendered into
English, as follows: Spirit of ammonia, 2 drachms; tinc-
ture of opium, 16 drops ; prussic acid (Scbeele's strength)),
4 drops; bitter almonds water (Num amygdalie smarm),
6 ounces ; compound strychnia powder, 2 grains. Feb. 3r ,
1847. Mies Collyer. Two spoonsful three times • day.
D. C,"—Mr. Danield Cordeld said he had the prescription
produced sent to him from Mee. Collyer's about seven o'clock
on Monday evening. It contained two articles he had not
got, namely, the compound strychnia powder and the bitter
almonds water, the latter of which he got from Mews. Bell,
of Oxford-street. He dispensed the prescription in every
respect accurately, with the exception of the corn
strychnia powder, which he could not find either in
the London or Dublin " Pharmacopreia," or any seer
nised medical work. He had known bitter 'laced, wad=
to be used previously, but sever interimilly. Mr. Zee*
Bell, Mr. Weathers, Dr. Scoffern, and Mr. Mcareson, aII '
stated that the " compound strychnia powder" was not
known in the British Pharmacopiria. The coroner said it
was quite certain the medicine prescribed was trot to be found
in any recognised formula, and the bitter almonds water
might be of very great strength, or very slight strength. It
was therefore necessary that the bitter almonds water
used, and the medicine which the deceased took, should be
tested with the greatest minuteness, to ascertain if the mein- '
tine dispensed contained more prussic acid than it ought, in
accordance with Dr. Cronin's prescription. Dr. Scoffern
said he had tested the medicine, and found it to contain about
one quarter per cent. of real prussic acid. In the bitter
almonds water he found prussic sad and oil of bitter
almonds, also, to the extent of about one quarter per
neat. Mr. Bell, in his examination, stated that he never
dispensed such a prescription as the one produced, and had he
hadit presented,he should have gone to the physician and asked
him dim knew the effect of the medicine he had prescribed.
Had never known bitter almonds water used Internally.
A gentleman, named Tennant, said he had had the very me-
dicine from Mr. Bell's shop made up from a prescription of
Dr. Cronin's.—Dr. Cronin said, he considered he had a right
to complain that his prescription was not made up entire;
he did not like the colour of the medicine made by Mr. Cor-
field. If the " compound atrychnia powder" had been
it being a preparation of oxide of iron, would have
the prussic acidinert, and made the medicine appear of a bluer
colour—The coroner said, it was most essential to ascertain
the exact amount of the prosaic acid in the mixture, and in
the bitter almonds water, to see if more than the four drops
of prussic acid prescribed had been placed in the former, and
Dr. Cronin oould appoint some of his friends to assist in such
ana'yaia.—Dr. &offer% Mr. Ball, Mr. ldoormen, and Mr.
Weathers were then appointed by the coroner, and Dr. Van-
able' by Dr. Cronin, to make the rewired analysis, for which
rirthe inquiry was adjourned Wednesday next, and
ronia, and all the medical gentlemen bound over in
their own resispiener to attend on that occasion.
RHAPPIAMIAIIka or THE POTATO DISEASE.—Sir,
I
so hen a ruiselet Ow Botanical Society of London, that
Mtn Sam" ar Meath, has exhibited namerous speci-
mens of elleemeed psalms of this yeses growth, sad that he
It ANN Sta &am will be more serious then last year. Now
It mtesll Iwo boa very mach surprised indeed if these
*real sabot bad net the disease, as keying is of all
things In the weal& the most likely to produce a. But I
beg to caution Om Palk against being alarmed by this
repast ; it is we paint all that the dimes will be more
maim this year thew bet. If cultivators will be eerefol to
alaaa mini mad, aril ha suitable land, I will venture to say
mang em ileat bas produced.—Ozoaoa T. Diaz,
Leasdobb, aim , Feb. 17.—N.8. The rashes=
who =lsm the dime to the fly knows very haled the
I era= • it is =riga sown= to ascribe it to ea= a swarm
RalcrEne.-Bir,—ln an article relating to abeam
eteasimistieel »vas width =peered ia year raw ad
=fryer leas areva la a
=teat la ewe,erantyrenrana ; and, amahot
file
yes say that aeisaus us very woe in
the of a elm of stathellas
the
oiled Beiehea, =is join
the elf the chatter tri the inematies. ant* ea
afthe Prom an exteriva earaintasea with the
et Chetah= ankuria, by wa.7 r•Pmeh,
" " gay conaledea tar, tbat year Iwo et the po-
lka et *sir reealake is assesses ; being
sae Of ea nisi erthe araseshis set le allow, I
uglier any the lasteiemtfaaelf lmtgllami
dew In Ober religham Widealtama Vilift ele.
this rule I'm, la mast with einiseadiag =reed I in=
you an, in reties to the roam impilesial, in= the
above.—..Tosra, A. W. Hiarraort, Baptist slibitar, Feb. 17.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN,

Fos. 111.

The solicitor-general has been returned for Galway
by • majority of seven, after a very severe contest,
the numbers on the
ere and anal poll being,
Moosleen, 508, , 501. The raceme of the
golicitorteneral bas been regarded by the moderate
of all parties u a Tata.; for government, and an
sesames and consolation in the midst of the
to which one portien of their policy his been exposed.
Even in Galway, where that foolish verdict to which
reference has been so Ass made during the election,
might be supposed to indicate the anti-ministerial
dose of public opinko, the well known anxiety or the
government to relieve and raise up baa found an ung.
(pivotal respomalhe &boa could compare the Galway

lelection to nothing lesssublime than the Pass of Thee-.
mopylte. Well, the gates were forced notwithstand-'
lag the combined shoulders of old and young Ireland.
The victory should be considered in another light, even
more important than the political one, as some re-
quital to the munificence of England. True: the
return of an Irish law-officer for an Irish borough
conld not be regarded in a very imperial light; but
people associate that fact with British generosity,
and rejoice in the result.
Emigration on a very extensive scale is about to
take place. In the north, this movement is connected
with an important part. The small farmers are sell-
ing out their tenant rights for sums as loge as might
be had for them in more prosperous times. " Men,"
says a northern journal, " who have been literally
starvel out of their farms, which, were they occupied
rent-free, would not afford a comfortable subsistence
to their families, find persons who are willing to pay
them large sums for the privilege of mere occupa-
tion." The purchase-money which often amounts to
twenty-six years rent, would procure the fee simple
of more fertile land in America or the British colonies.
If the landlords were able but unwilling to buy in
these rights, the enlargement of farms by consolila-
dation becomes impossible in their hands.
The state of crime in the provinces is not propor-
tionate to the fears entertained of its progress in the
beginning of the winter. Hunger has subdued the
cravings of guilt even in those districts where social
violations had assumed the character of an endemic
disease. Limerick is rather heavy in number (183) ;
but the great majority is fur minor offences. Wes&
meath, also, is lighter in the quality than the quan-
tity of crime, the number of prisoners confined in
Mullingar gaol being 156, of whom 67 were impri-
soned since the Ist of January. The King's County
calendar reckons 63, chiefly for the smaller offence a;
and Clare 60 only.
One of the Society of Friends, on behalf of an
English charitable association, is making an inspec-
tion of all the union workhouses in Ireland. He in-
spected the Derry workhouse very minutely last
week.

It is a remarkable fact, from which each will draw
his own inference, that there are not less than
fifteen thousand puncheons of whiskey at present
stored in l)ublir.

__
An important meeting was held in Waterford on
Tuesday last, at which the Mayor presided. The ob-
ject of the meeting was to pass resolutions, and to
petition parliament in favour of an union and against
an electoral rating. The whole of the Irish
an electoral rating. The former is the mode of
rating proposed in the new measure of relief for Irish
destitution now before parliament, and is vehemently
oppoeed both by " the Irish party" and the great body
of the landlords. Captain Newport addressed the
meeting against the measure of union rating, but he
was not able to find a seconder to an amendment in
favour of the electoral rate. The whole of the Irish
cities, towns, and villages are unanimous for an union
rate. They say that by the electoral mode the
landlords are able to throw upon the towns
the maintenance of such paupers as they may make
by " clearances" of estates, and consolidation of farms.
The landlords, on the contrary, urge that the anion
principle is a discouragement to improving landlords,
and is likewise calculated to encourage an indiscri-
minate admission of all applieants into the poor-
house. One fact, related in an Irish journal, fur-
nishes a very strong corroboration of the argu-
ment urged on behalf of the cities and towns.
Upon a recent occasion, in Drogheda, sixty
paupers were admitted in one day, chargeable
on the town division of the union, and of these not
fewer than forty were natives of the rural districts,
who had just lived in the town long enough to
qualify.
I must not forget to add, as a curious incident con-
nected with the Waterford meeting above referred
to, that a vote of thanks was proposed (and carried
by acclamation) to Lord John Russell, for having
proposed the union rating, and expressing a hope
that he would not be deterred from persevering in it,
nor omit the fact that this vote of thanks was pro-
posed by the most ultra repealer in Waterford.

COMMAIV DES C•FPIN'S LETTER.--Sir,—The letter of
Captain Catfin, which appears in your paper to-day, detail-
ing the scenes of distress in &hull parish, of which he had
been an eye-witness, will no doubt have arrested the atten-
don of your readers ; and those of them who have become
subscribers to the British Association for the Relief of Dia-
-1
trees in Ireland and Scotland, will naturally wish to know
what has been done by that asexiation with reference to this
particular district. It will be satisfactory to them to learn that
the very ship (the Scourge) which Captain Coffin hail under
his command, was laden exclusively with provisions for the
relief of that district, purchased with the funds, and
shipped by the exertions. of the relief committee at Bristol,
in communication with, and under the advice and sugges-
tion of, the committee of the British association in London.
The cargo of the Scourge consisted of 96 tons of meal,
biscuits, Hour, and peas. Further cargoes of provision have
been placed under the control of the agent of the British
Association for the relief of the district immediately sur-
rounding Schutt. In justice to the effort. of the British
Association, and for the satisfaction of the humane feelings
of the public, I have deemed it my duty to enter into this
explanation, which I tram you will admit into your columns
toinorrow.—Ssmerx JONES LOT 11, Chairman.—British
Association, for the Relief of the extreme Distress in Ire-
land and Scotland, Committee-r toms, South Sea House,
Feb. 19,1847.
STAT. OP THE COUNTRY.—The state of Limerick pre.
wets, by this day's accounts, a more cheering aspect. Within
the last five days nine vessels, laden with Indian corn flour
and other N•mdiduffs, had arrived in the Shannon. The
quantity of Indian corn in those vessels amounted to 6,300
quarters ; and 6,700 barrels of meal had arrived at Cork,
forwarded by the government for the Limerick district.
Besides this quantity the London Relief Committee had sent
4,000 barrels tor the same destination, and the Relief Com.
mince at the Castle, over which Sir John Burgoyne presides,
have allocated 9001. in aid of the Limerick soup kitchens.
Throughout the whole county of Limerick', and indeed of
West If under generally, the wheat crops look very healthy,
and the farmers are sowing considerable quantities of potatoes.
The total of Presentments to be applied for at Clare modes
amounts to 20,34.51. Os. 4d.
I regret to state that the condition of Galway continues to
be painful. I have seen a letter from the Rey. Mr. Fits-
maurice, of Chides, in which he dates that the deaths by
destitution in his parish average from ten to fifteen per diem.
Karl Spencer has, I learn, subscribed, through Lord Lucan,
1001. to the Castlebar relief fund.
COMPRESSED PRAT-CRA SCOAL.-111e, Jasper W. Rogers
proposes to cut up the peaty 'upend:stem of the Irish bog-
land into portions, subject these to hydraulic or other pres-
sure, and then convert them into charcoal ; thus affording
employment to multitudes, preparing the land For useful
purposes, and affording the means of smelting /tenth iron
into material equivalent to that of Sweden. Turf too, at fo.
a ton, will produce as much steam as Scotch cola at 10s. a
tem.—Me Builder.