The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

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WATERFORD AND KILKENNY RAlLWAY.—Traffic return
for the week ending Dec. 31 (29 miles) £147 12 1
Corresponding week last year (13 miles) 44 3 10

BREAD RIOT IN DEVONSHIRE.—Creditors, which lies
about eight miles from Exeter, was on Friday night the
scene of the greatest disorder and confusion. The high
price of bread and other necessaries has for some time
past produced great discontent among the lower classes.
The four pound loaf is now selling at ad., while all other
articles are proportionately dear. The severity of the
weather during the past week has increased the suffer-
ings of the poor ; and that day arrangements were made
for relieving some of the most deserving. The ordinary
number of that class requiring assistance was much
augmented by the large number of " navvies " who
are engaged in the construction of the North Devon
Railway, which is intended to join the Exeter and Cre-
diton. line at this place. Thrown out of employ in conse-
quence of the weather, it was feared during the after-
noon of Friday that a disturbance was likely to take
place. Nothing, however, occurred till after dark ; but
between seven and eight o'clock a mob consisting of
upwards of 200 men and women, armed with staves
and stones, suddenly appeared in the streets. With
great noise and disorder they proceeded to the shops of
several of the principal bakers, and demanded a sup-
ply of bread. This was of course refused, where-
upon missiles were hurled through the windows and
the mob helped themselves. In some instances the
shopkeepers heard of the approach of the rioters and
closed their shutters without any loss of time. This
precaution, however, was of little avail. The shutters
were beaten in with immense clubs, and the men seemed
'determined to have all they could lay their hands upon.
In one case, Mr. Lee, a baker, was made acquainted
with the riot which was going on, and locked his doors.
The mob, on their arrival at his house, peremptorily de-
manded that they should be opened, and as Mr. Lee re-
solutely refused, they at once broke open the door, and
carried off every loaf in the shop. The parish constables
interfered, but they had little puwer with so large a body of
men. During the evening a messenger was despatched to
Mr: J. W. Buller, county magistrate, residing a short
distance from the town. On his arrival a large number
of special constables were sworn in ; but the rioters
appeared by that time to have been satisfied with their
plunder. Two of the principal offenders were appre-
hended and brought up this morning before the local
magistrates, by whom they were committed for trial.
Much alarm has been created among the inhabitants,
and it was feared that a similar scene would be re-
enacted on Saturday, it being market day. In the morn-
ing a body ofabout fifty "navvies" perambulated through
the market, and, after some time, congregated
around the stall of a butter-woman. One of the men
laid hold of a pound of butter, throwing down a shilling.
The woman told him the price was is. 4d. ; but he coolly
remarked that ls. was a fair price, and walked off with
it. This daring conduct had such an intimidating effect
upon the rest of the market-people that they all packed
up their goods, and the market was cleared in a short
time. No further outrage, however, has been com-
mitted,

SINGULAR WAY OF BEFRIENDING THE POOR IN
BRUSSELS.-M. de Broukere, the burgomaster of Brus-
sels, who had lately offered, in a letter to the journals,
to give ten sous to the poor for every visiting-card, under
a thousand, which he should be spared the trouble of re-
ceiving on New Year's day, has just addressed the fol-
! lowing second letter to the public press :—" The request
which I made to my fellow-citizens through the press has
been attended with the result which I had hoped for.
I have received only 74 cards, and consequently I will
have great pleasure in distributing 463 f. to the poor. I
do not reckon in the above number of cards such as were
accompanied with gifts for the poor. In that way I
have received 979 f. 50c. in money, 5,100 kilog. of coals,
200 kilog. of rice, and 30 kilog. of bread."—Ga,lignani.