The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-24 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

"As to holding office, I have only to say that I
conscientiously believe that the well-being of the coun-
try requires that I should hold it, and hold it I will
till lam removed." Such was the resolution avowed
by Lord Melbourne at the close of the last session,
and. deliberately founded on the principle that so long
as a Minister possesses the confidence of a Reformed
House of Commons, he is bound in duty to maintain
his post. But Lord John Russell has more recently
declared that the Irish Corporations Bill is of vital im-
portance to the Administration, and expressed his
sense of the evil of bringing forward measures year af-
ter year, and suffering them to be defeated, without
taking any step, and further, he has stated that
he does not think the Government can permanently
go on or ask the confidence of the Commons, if it suf-
fers principles to be applied to the Government of
Ireland against which it protests. This has been in-
terpreted as a pledge to resign upon the defeat of the
Irish Corporations Bill, but any such purpose on such
grounds is overruled by the higher and more com-
prehensive principle asserted by Lord Melbourne.
Which, then, is to prevail ? Is the Ministry to bold.
power while it has the support of the Commons
in a Parliament elected under Tory auspices ; or, hav-
ing the support of the Commons, is it to lay the Go-
vernment of the country at the feet of the Lords ?
Would so gratuitous and so abject a submission be en-
dured by the people? Common sense and common
pride equ-ally revolt against it.. We agree with Lord
John Russell as to the grievous evil of bringing for-
ward Bills and suffering them to be defeated without
taking further steps on the subject ; but let us see
how the matter is to be mended by surrendering the
Government to the very enemy which thus arrests the
progress of reform: A great benefit is proposed for
Ireland, which the Lords will not allow to be carried
into effect, and, because the benefit in question cannot
be obtained for Ireland, is the denial of it to lead to the
most cruel injury that can be done to her, namely, the
abandonment of her to the Tories ! Will the Whig
Ministers say to the people of Ireland, " As we can-
not serve you as we wish, as we cannot do you the
good you desire, we will put you in the hands of
your enemies, and expressly because they have frus-
trated, the measures proposed for your advantage."
Disguise it as it may, such would be the logic
of a resignation on the Municipal Reform Bill. The
people of Ireland will fairly answer, " If our benefit
he what you have at heart, know that the most in-
jurious thing that you can do us is to surrender us to
the Tories. Such a step will not give us the mea-
sures we want, and it will give us a fell Administra-
tion that will govern us according,- to its views, as
aliens in blood, language, and religion." This, it will
be said, is all very true, but what is to be done ? Can
the Government go on suffering its measures to be de-
feated without any farther step ? We say that this is
a question which must be decided by the people. If
Ministers are prepared to propose any step to obviate
the defeat of their best measures, well and good, let
them resign should the step be refused to them : but
if they do not as yet contemplate any step to conquer
the difficulty, they are required to hold their ground
till public opinion upon the factious obstruction in the
House of Peers has formed a firm and settled judg-
ment, upon which a liberal Government will be com-
pelled to proceed to some measure for the removal
of the dead lock in the Legislature.—Morn. Chron.
Although we have more than once called public at-
tention to the almost unexampled sufferings of the high-
landers and islanders of Scotland, our readers, we are
sure, will readily excuse us for again reverting to the
subject. The metropolitan subscription, we regret to
say, is by no means realizing the anticipations that
were formed of it. At present, including many con-
tributions from the country, it scarcely exceeds
12,0001., which is little more than a .ninth- part of the
lowest estimated amount necessary to meet, in any mo-
derate degree, the distressing exigencies of the case.
The partial and tardy way in. which a response has
been given to die various appeals addressed to our
countrymen on behalf of these famishing multitudes,
is to us wholly unaccountable. That much of this
backwardness may be attributed to a prevalent misap-
prehension that some substantial relief would be admi-
nistered by the Treasury, we cannot doubt. The truth
is that the unproductive pretences and paltering negotia-
tions of Ministers upon this subject have left many per-
sons undetermined what to do ; but we have now to
announce, once for all, that, whether from terror of
Joseph Hume's declared hostility to the relief of his
countrymen out of the national Exchequer, or from a
desire to encourage voluntary contributions, to which
the said Joseph has not given a single farthing, or
from some other cause which avoids publicity, no assis-
tance of any kind is to be expected from Government
for the purpose of relieving immediate wants. All
that Ministers contemplate is the conditional advance
of a sum of money to supply the tenantry with seed--
a piece of liberality which may be very useful in pro-
pitiating the political support of Highland landlords,
but which will not provide a single potato for the
existing necessities of the population. We are ex-
tremely surprised to observe the comparative parsimo-
niousness with which this humane object has been
supported by the Scottish nobility and gentry of the
Lowlands, as well as by some of our English families
of acknowledged wealth and benevolence. This, we
are persuaded,•must arise entirely from the extent and
particulars of the destitution not being sufficiently
known, and therefore we publish in another column a
number of well-authenticated details, of which the fol-
lowing, we believe, is a tolerably faithful summary.
In the district of Skye, containing a population of
23,801, the Rev. Mr. M'Lachlan, one of the local
clergy, says—
There are whole families within our bounds who have
neither fire to warm them, nor garments to clothe them,
nor food to support them."
Respecting Portree and its immediate neighbour-
hood, the Rev. C. Macdonald writes—

" There are 27 families, consisting. of 110 individuals,
who have not a single article of food within their dwellings.
I have found nearly 700 persons who have nothing earthly
lot watery potatoes, without a grain of meal. In this
state of destitution, and without aid from their beneficent
neighbours in the south, my poor parishioners have no other
prospect before them but famine, disease, and premature
dissolution."

Another letter, dated the 18th of February, says—

" Of nearly 4,000 souls in the parish, 1,076 are wholly
without provisions. The rest are almost destitute. The
kind of food on which they now live is better fitted to en-
gender disease than to afford nutrition. They are as much
at a loss for clothing as for food."

The Rev. Joh❑ Cameron, Minister of Stornoway,
in the district of Lewis, declares in reference to his

parish—
" 1,5a0 souls will require require relief till next autumn :
163 families are totally destitute of all supplies of food :

the remaining number stand in need of succour. Accord-
ing to the opinion of two medical gentlemen resident here,
there is required (in addition to what may be obtained by
digging for shell fish in the sands, and by every other shift
the people can make) a stone and-a-half of meal, 141 b. to
the stone, for each adult per month. The quantity re-
quired, according to the above estimate, is 716 bolls, of
140 lb. each boll." _ _ .

Let this revolting.and deplorable statement sink into
the hearts of those who have a feeling of humanity
left. All that this excellent clergyman asks for, to
eke out the uncertain subsistence of his perishing flock
till next harvest, is rather less than a pound weight of
pea-meal per day, for each of the sufferers. The food
petitioned for, both in point of coarseness and stint,
is such as an Englishman would be ashamed to offer
to his horse or dog. Equally touching is the account
given by the Rev. Mr. M' Rae respecting the want of
food, clothing, and bedding among the people of his
charge ; while the Rev. Mr. M‘Pherson, of Tober-
mory, expressly says—
" Before harvest, the number of the destitute will be
700. I know well that several families in this place had
not a single morsel of food in their houses some months
ago ; neither had they money wherewith to purchase any."
In the island of Colonsay (says Mr. M'Calman),
with a,population of 850, " many families are without
a particle of food, save what they have gathered from
potato-fields
,previously dug, and that will not last
above a week. ' Of 1,458 people in the parish of
Jura, the Rev. Mr. Kennedy says, " Hundreds are
in necessitous circumstances, having neither potatoes,
nor the means of procuring them," Almost the whose
population of Harris, upwards of 4,000, are in dis-
tress. Mr. M'lver, the parochial !clergyman, writes
that " four hundred families are in want of the neces-
saries of life, and others are confining themselves to one
meal a-day. But to prosecute this distressing enumeration
were endless. Suffice it to say, that besides the cases
of Salin, North Uist, Strath, Small-isles, Tyree, and
Ross in Mull, alluded to in our other columns, ac-
counts of a still more revolting character arc daily ex-
pected in London from some of the remoter districts of
Invernessshire, and especially from the Orkney and
Shetland Islands, whose destitution is already ascer-
tained to be extreme. What can we possibly add to
give force to these simple and affecting statements?
'The highlanders and islanders of Scotland are an orderly,
moral, brave, and industrious people. During the last
war they contributed to nearly all the proudest triumphs
of the British flag, both by land and sea. They are
distinguished universally for their kind-heartedness and
and hospitality. The present sufferers are the victims,
not of indolence or vice—not of O'Connell tributes or
priestly extortions, but of a severe and protracted visi-
tation of Divine Providence. They cost the country
nothing for military or police. Above all, these are
the descendants of the men that fought and fell at
Assays, Salamanca, and Waterloo.—Times.
It appears from the accounts in the Irish papers,
that while the Tories across the Channel are doing
all in their power per fas aut nefizs in support of
their party, that some of the leading Whigs are ex-
hibiting a lukewarmness truly lamentable, and not at
all creditable to their zeal and spirit. In the large towns
in Ireland exclusive dealing and intimidation are, we
are informed, ' Carried to, such an extent by the Con-
servatives, as to deter persons qualified to become
electors from coming forward at the Registries to put
in their claims, and in the counties the rod of tyranny
is held in terrorenz over the heads of the rural con-
stituencies, ready to fall upon them if they dare to
obey the dictates of conscience, instead of attending
to the unreasonable commands of their inexorable
taskmasters. But what have we said—that the rod is
only held in terrorenz over the heads of honest but
dependent men ? Alas ! it has already been employed
in scourging the victims of persecution. A few days
ago we gave what now turns out to have been unjust
praise to the Marquis Conyngham, regarding the sa-
crifices he had made to promote the liberal cause, by
encouraging his tenants in the north of Ireland to re-
gister their votes. We are sorry to understand that
we have been wrong, and that the apathy of the Noble
Marquis will insure a triumph to two of the bitterest
Orange 'Tories in the House of Commons. This is
really shameful. That a man who is connected with
the Government, and who receiving a salary under
them, should not think it worth his while to exert
himself to promote their stability, is a circumstance
not very creditable to his head or heart. We have
no patience with false or pretended friends, and still
less with those who are not, but are bound to be,
friends, if they have any sense of gratitude or honour
about them.—Morning Advertiser.

STEA M-PACKETS.---We learn that is intended by
the Lords of the Admiralty to establish steam packets between
this country and Portugal, a measure which, whether we regard
its advantages merely as a matter of improved revenue, or in
the more important view of facilitating commercial and poli-
tical communication, cannot fail to be satisfactory to, and pro-
motive of the best interests of, the country at large.
,A . •
THE TABLES TURNED.7—At the DonegaIEISSIAC S
the followino, humorous cross-examination of a witness occa-
sioned much rierriment in Ccurt :—Mr. Doherty—What bu-
siness do you follow ? lam a schoolmaster. Did you turn
ofi' your scholars or did they turn you off? Ido not wish to
answer irrelevant questions.—(Laughter.) Are you a great
favourite with your pupils ? Aye, troth, am I, a much greater
favourite than you are with the public. Where were you,
Sir, this night ? This night, said the witness—there is a
learned man—this night is not come yet ; I suppose you mean
that night—(here the witness looked at the Judge, and winkred
his eye as if in triumph). I presume the "schoolmaster was
abroad" that night, doing nothing? Define "nothing," said
witness. Mr. Idaiterty did not comply ; well, said the learned
schoolmaster, I will define it—it is a footless stocking without
a leg.._( Roars of laughter, in which his Lordship joined).
You may go down, Sir. Faith, I believe, you're tired enough
of me ; but it is my profession to enlighten the public, and if
you have any more questions to ask I will answer them.
A BLIND TURN-OUT.—Thirty years back blind.
horses were numereus in stage coaches ; in fact, it would now
and then happen that the whole team were in starkness. " Well
over t at, Sir," said one of the old school of coachmen to a
passenger that sate behind him on the box, having just passed
a dangerous bridge on a foggy night. " Only one eye among
us." That " one" was his own l—Nimrod.

So intense was the cold during the nights of Wed-
nesday and Thursday se'enight, that in parts of the metropo-
lis having a northern aspect, ice nearly half an inch in thick-
ness was found in water-butts and other exposed reservoirs.
As yet scarce a sign of leaf or bud is to be seen on the shrubs
that ornament the areas of the squares. This is certainly
something unusual in the middle of that month which is the
immediate precursor of the " flowery May." There was heavy
rain, with snow and extreme cold, in Dublin the whole of
Tuesday last. Cattle and sheep are suffering for want of fod-
der, and farmers are paying 5/. to 101. and 151. per day for
hay. Good hay commands 61. a ton, and should the present
weather continue longer, it is likely to rise considerably. The
Bath paper, of Thursday, says, Monday, Tuesday, and yester-
day we had snow—that on Tuesday, though it did not remain
on the ground, was very thick. Serious apprehensions are en-
tertained in the country about the grass, and the winter vege-
tables used for human food are likely to be exhausted before
the spring (when it comes) can replace them.
_ _

On Friday week, between th• hours of eleven and
twelve o'clock, a parcel was picked up in Glasshouse-yard,
Aldersgate-street, by a polieeman on duty, which, on examin-
ation, was found to contain the bodies of two infants ; they
were wrapped up in a green baize apron, a blanket, and part of
the under clothing of a female ; the latter was very much
stained, and had the mark which was on the front cut out. The
apron, from its appearance, was supposed to have belonged to
some fishmonger. The bodies were carried to the watchhouse,
and on the following morning taken to Mr. Lobb, the surgeon
of the parish, in whose possession they still remain. That
gentleman states that they had not nearly arrived at the full
period of utero-gestation. They were evidently twins, and
both of them females. The parochial authorities from some
reasons appeared to think that their premature birth had been
caused by the aid of some deleterious drug, and have accord-
ingly issued handbills offering a reward for any information
respecting the apprehension of the parties concerned. A man,
apparently about thirty years of age, of middle stature, having
a black coat and wearing a white apron, was seen under a
gateway shortly before the parcel was found, and was observed
to throw something down and leave the spot in great haste.

An English traveller, in passing through Loch-
winnoch parish last week, was much surprised to see a
man busily employed in mowing hay ; but instead of an early
crop, it turned out to be a late ono ; it being the crop of 1836,
and not that of 1537, that was under the operation of the
scythe. " How is this ?" said he, " Why you are three quarters
of a-year behind the rest of the world." " I'll tell you a'
about it," said the mower, suspending his labour and leaning
on his scythe. " Last winter the crops on a' than meadows
were destroyed by a great spate. The Laird (Mr. Alacdowall,
of Bar), who had let them out to tenants, couldna fin' in his
heart to tak' a bawbie frae them. Me gied us a' back our
bills, and gied up his claim against us, plack and fardin. Twa
three days since, he sent me and the lave word, that if ony of
the hay could be of use to fodder and bed the beasts wi', we
were welcome to tak' it, and we hae just accepted his kind
offer." " Well," said the Englishman, as he took leave of the
mower, " lam happy to see, that though you are eight or
nine months behind the other parts of the kingdom in the
growth of your hay, you are not a whit behind them, but rather
in advance in tho noble, generous, and honourable feelings of
your landlord.".—Paisley Advertiser.