The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-01 00:00:00

THE IRISH PRESS.

A remarkable change will bp effected in the con-
dition of the Irish Press, by the new financial
arrangement in contemplation, by which the duty on
each copy of a Newspaper will be raised from 2d.
to 4d. ; and the duty on each advertisement from
2s. Gd. to 3s. Gd. Thus the imposts on all News-
papers throughout the United Kingdom will be com-
pletely assimilated, the system rendered uniform in
all places, the expences of collection we presume
diminished, and facilities
_given.for the more perfect
consolidation of the revenue establishments of both
countries. Theie considerations are offered as suf-
ficient to justify the change, and none but those who
affect unusual perspicacity would seek for further
motive for the alteration. From motives, however,
apparently blameless, evil results may sometimes
ensue, to say nothing of the loss of property to those
whose capital may be engaged in Newspaper specu-
lations, or the loss of a local vehicle for the dissemi-
nation of local intelligence, and the discussion of
local questions and interests ; to say nothing of the
loss, in a political point of view, of so many guar-
dians of public freedom, we have here the immediate
practical and crying grievance, resulting from a
large body of hitherto respectable artisans
being thrown out of employment. There are,
at present, published in Ireland abouty sixty
Newspapers, of which sixteen or seventeen are printed
in Dublin. If the new taxes be imposed—as no
doubt they will—not above half of the Dublin
Papers will survive, perhaps not one-third; and
certainly not one in ten of the Provincial Irish
Papers will bear the increased expence. Those who
have a very competent acquaintance with the Irish
Press, entertain a strong persuasion that no towns,
except Belfast, Cork, Waterford Limerick, and per-
haps either Londonderry or Galway, could maintain
a Paper under the new system. Assuming that ten
of the Provincial and eight of the Dublin Journals
may stand, upwards of forty will disappear, which
have given employment to nearly 200 printers, and
perhaps a much larger number of persons in other
departments. This arrangement, however well in-
tended, will do nothing towards the increase of the
Revenue, but, on thil contrary, tend to its diminu-
tion. It may still have great value in the eyes of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer—it ought to have
great value, to warrant the ruin of so many hun-
dreds of families, up to this time accustomed to
comparative comfort, and that without the extenua-
tion afforded by those politico-economical grounds
which have justified so many of our recent commer-
cial changes.—Observer.

A bed of very fine fire clay has recently been
discovered on the Ewanrigg estate, near Illaryport, be.
longing to J. CHRISTIAN, Esq. It is said to be equal
in quality to any in England.—Carlisle Journal.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—ALEX. MONRO, one
of the workmen at Dunnet Head light-house, while going
down a difficult pass to the sea-shore at the Pentland
Frith, unfortunately slipped over the precipitous cliffs of
Dunnet Head, from a height of about 200 feet, and was
literally dashed to pieces.—Edinburgh Evening Courant.

METROPOLITAN POLICE.—The Magistrates
acting at Epsom have expressed themselves highly pleased
with the good conduct and vigilance of the party of police
who have been stationed there during the race-week. The
Magistrates state, th it the duties of attending to the course,
and more particularly, also, that of protecting the public,
have Leon performed in a much more efficient man-
ner than before ; and observed, that after several years'
experience, their orders had never, upon any occasion,
been so properly executed.

About a century ago a Dutch lady emigrated
to the United States, and died at an advanced age. Her
descendants became the rightful heirs of a large property
of a person in Holland, who died intestate. An advertise-
ment to this effect failed to reach them at the time. The
estate, with its increase, has been faithfully preserved,
and now amounts to two millions of dollars. The lady's
descendants amount to two hundred, and their title to the
property being ascertained, they are ahout to receive it
amongst them

BLIOHT.—The extensive tract of woodland
country eastward of l\lonmouth, comprising the Bieulieu
Grove, Hadnock Wood, and the Crown property, have
become a scene of devastation by the ravages of blight;
thousands of oaks which a few days since presented such
pleasing verdure, have been entirely stripped Of their foliage,
and have become winter,like in 'appearance, The grub
has confined itself tp the oak stores or trees, and when du,
leaves of one tree is devoured the insects lower themselves
by a fibrous web, which they spin, and ascend the next :
there are few oaks throughout the whole of these woods
but whatlsse been visited by this destroyer of vegetation.
The oldest woodwards on this property do not remembei
such destruction to tbc eitintrion.