The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-25 00:00:00

SHOCKING DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

The increasing and appalling distress which is at this
moment raging in the West of Ireland, almost surpass all
description. Mayo in particular exhibits the most heart-
rending picture of complicated miseries that tongue can
tell, or heart sympathize for.
The following is an extract (verbatim) from a letter
received this morning from a Magistrate of the county,
Ind a military gentleman, who had often witnessed human
woes under a variety of frightful shapes, during the period
of his warfaring career :
" Newport Pratt, May 19, 1831.
" I have suffered want and hardship during the
Peninsular war, but have never witnessed such heart-
rending scenes as meet me every hour. The want is un-
paralleled in many parts of the country. The people are
actually obliged to dig out of the earth, for their imme-
diate support, the very potato. seed they planted some
few weeks previous. We have had twelve deaths from star-
vation since I last wrote to you, and from what I now see
going on I must say many more must inevitably fall vic-
tims to this dire dearth of provisions, unless means are in-
stantly furnished for their relief."

Let us now read what another resident gentleman writes
to a friend in London on this lamentable subject :
" Glebe House, Newport Pratt, May 19, 1831.
. .

" The famine is increasing. The supply of provisions
is not at all equal to the demands. I have given out in
loans to the people 5501. This has been of great relief,
as it has enabled many persons to make a sowing,
whose ground would otherwise have remained untilled. 1
expect to lend out 2001. or 3001. more for the same pur-
pose, as Mr. Clendining has been so kind as to promise
that he would see me repaid. This is a great encourage-
ment to me to borrow money to keep the poor people from
starving.
" There are nineteen thousand applicants for relief on
our list at present, and I regret to say the number is
every day increasing. I have given seed barley to many
who could not get seed oats for their ground in due time.
" The soup goes on well, except that the expenditure is
double the amount of the receipts.
" I was at Mulrany yesterday, and witnessed the
starving cottagers eating the potatoe seed that had been
some time sown. lam happy to inform you that the poor
creatures are perfectly quiet and peaceable under their suf-
ferings."
" MY DEAR OTONEL, " Westport, May 19.

" A. C. L. having a frank, I write to acquaint you that
Achel and Ballycray are in a very bad way, although every
thing (circumstances permitted) has been done for each
district. The local subscriptions, and those through central
committees, are more than exhausted. I have been obliged
to purchase and. send there this day twenty tens of potatoes.
This is but a joke for those extensive countries; I have
desired an exact return to be taken of the population of
each. I have set works a-going of improvement, such as
roads and drains, and others that will be valuable to the
tenants. This is all I can do, but it is nothing when the
destitution of so dense and numerous a people are concerned ;
unless Government comes forward, the worst consequences
of famine must be immediately anticipated. The whole
rental of the lands, even if available, is unequal to the
maintenance of the people. It seems odd, at least, why
such expectations are talked of from landlords, who in this
country enjoy but a fraction of their property. The mort-
gagees in the back ground, who get the first fruits, are
never talked of. The poor landlords, who get the second
and worst half, are the easiest of attack. It would be cu-
rious to know how very small a proportion of the rental of
the country is enjoyed by them, I would almost say that
nearer to seventy than fifty per cent. goes from them on the
average of the country to creditors, and what can reasonably
bi expected out of their surplus income is nothing for this oc
ca•ion. After much thought upon it, I have come to the con-
clusion that here, where there is not employment in manu-
facture or otherwise, the population must by emigration
be reduced to that number within the productive power
of the soil to surport them. At present the overstock is
beyond the power of the land to produce sustenance for
them, and as there is no employment for them to provide
the deficit, and while the overstock also prohibits proper
cultivation, I see no relief but to reduce it, and no way to
do that but by emigration.
" Yours, &c. "A. CLENDINING.
" To Sir R. A. O'Donel, 16, Wimpole-street."
" DEAR SIR, " Newport, May 20.
_ _

" It was only on yesterday evening I had the honour
to receive your's of the 14th inst., bringing to me and to
the starving poor of this widely-extended district the
joyful tidings of seventy tons of meal, being appointed by
the London Committee for their relief. As to the numbers
in distress here you must be already well acquainted with
—they are from 19 to 20,000. In this district half of
the usual tillage of potatoes cannot by any possibility be
made this season from want of seed. Up to this day I
would not say that as yet more than fourteen persons died
of actual starvation ; but as so many have fallen the hap-
less victims of hunger in the immediate vicinity of New-
port, I can have no doubt but the number who have
fallen similarly throughout the entire district must be con-
siderably more. Already the constitutions of multitudes
arc so completely exhausted, and reduced to such a pitch
of debility, that no relief, however prompt, can avert
their immediate and inevitable dissolution. In a very few
weeks they will be dying—not in the arithmetical ratio
of 2,4, 6, but the geometrical ratio 3,9, 27, every day.
" In districts of this parish the people had for some
time no other sustenance but the rotting potato-slits they
used to pick out of the earth. I must tell you, that I
and my curate have had for the last three weeks the
greatest possible difficulty in restraining the people from
going to the mountains, to take with them in open day
their neighbours' cattle, to slaughter them for their
starving families. Before a month, the houses of such as
will be suspected to have food will be broken into and plun-
dered—the cattle of the country will soon be looked on by
the people as common property—the gaols will be filled with
persons guilty of these robberies—they will be tried, and,
I suppose, acquitted. But, at all events, morality in this
country will receive this year so vital a stab by this sys-
tem of plunder, confinement, and acquittal, that it will
become afterwards next to impossibility to reside much
longer in it ; for after this year the commission of the
greatest crimes will become, I am almost certain, per-
fectly familiar to the poor here. Many persona here and
in this country are of opinion that the Government and
the Ministry have adopted, in this season of distress, the
withholding of any relief as a sure method to thin the
population of this country. lam not of that opinion,
hut it is a most effectual way to accomplish that end. We
are this day without money, without potatoes, without
meal or any other means of support for the starving poor
here—we are in daily expectation of the 150 tons of pota-
toes ordered for us by the London Committee. I beg
most respectfully to mention to your Committee that no
aid which they can derive from private subscription will
meet the distress here—every hour of the day my house
is thronged with poor, crying and weeping from hunger.
The Rev. Mr. Prendergast and the Rev. Mr. Huglies
have died of a fever, which they had taken in their houses
from poor calling for relief. Mr. Hughes was P.P. of
Crosstuolina and Mr. Prendergast was P.P. in Connemara.
" I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
" Your very humble servant,
"JAMES HUGHES,
P.P. of Newport, Mayo.
" To Sir Richard A. O'Donel, Bart."

From those short extracts, which, in truth, fall far short
of the real state of the poor in that part of the country,
enough can be inferred to justify a strong and direct ap-
peal to the wisdom of the Legislature ; and at the same
time to observe, that unless an order in Council is imme-
diately made, prohibiting the further exportation of corn
from Ireland during the continuance of the present famine,
starvation will take a wider spread, and devour more of
human life than even the most sanguinary civil war or
destructive epidemic has ever done. A few of the leading
landlords have contributed largely and benevolently to
arrest the progress of distress in Mayo ; but until the
Government and the other landed proprietors of the
county co-operate with such estimable persons as the
ndining, and the worthy authors of the letters from which
we have taken the above extracts, to minister to the wants
of tire
liepeof opleS,ligitois vain Richard O'Donell, Mr. Clen.
in to anticipate any favourable re-
version in their calamitous situation.

It is related of his present MAJESTY'S father,
GEORGE 111., that he was once much urged to give his
consent to a measure, on the ground that both Mr. PITT
and Mr. Fox approved of it; to which his MAJESTY re
plied, " When Mr. PITT and Mr. Fox contradict each
other, one may be wrong and one may be right ; but
when Mr. PITT and Mr. Fox agree in opinion, be assured
that they are both wrong."
WI;ES THE STEED IS STOLEN SHUT THE
sTADLE DoPit.---4 very substantial and elegant cast-iron
palisading, which has been some time in progress, was put
up on Saturday last, at the head of the Serpentine •river,
in Hyde Park, to prevent a repetition of those numerous,
and, in many instances, fatal accidents, which have oc-
curred of late near this spot. The last individual who
met with a watery grave, in consequence of falling over
the parapet of this place, was the late Lord Rratts.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPERS.
(From the Moniteur of Sunday, May 22.)
NON-OFFICIAL PART.
__

PARIS, MAY 21.--The last report of the Presi-
dent of the Council announces that " the action of
the laws and the public force will soon have re-
pressed the troubles in the West." The ill-dis-
posed had taken advantage of the moment when the
arrival, the arming, and clothing, of the new levies
did not permit the regiments to send out detach-
ments, and to establish distant garrisons. They had
succeeded in forming some bands, which were in-
creased by refractory conscripts. At present our
regiments are completely organized, and raised to the
full complement, as regulated by the late ordinances.
The Ist, Gth, 12th, 14th, and 18th regiments of
Light Infantry, the 32d, 41st, 43d, and 64th of the
Line, the 4th of Artillery, the 4th of Hussars, the
11th of Chasseurs, and the sth of Lancers, formed
already a respectable force : they have just been
joined by the 9th, 16th, 31st, and 46th of the line,
and by the sth and 14th of mounted Chasseurs.
Such are the forces now collected in the 4th, 12th,
and 13th military divisions. Two-fifths of these
troops will suffice for the ordinary garrisons. Of
45 battalions, some will be cantoned in the countries
where disorders have manifested themselves, and
will place fixed garrisons in the central points; the
others will form moveable columns, which will con-
tinually pursue the malefactors, and will oblige the
deserters to abandon the bands. Such forces di-
rected by the King's extraordinary commiss'on, with
the activity, talents, and the prudence which he has
shown in our long wars, will soon retore peace and
the authority of the laws in the departments of the
west.

This display of military force will save the country
from the rigours of the law, to which the projects of
the enemies of order exposed it. It was necessary
to act on the same principles that have succeeded
elsewhere—that is to say, by an excessive display of
force to prevent the employment of it, and to dis-
courage all attempts, in order to spare the trouble
of repressing them.
The payment of the last instalments of the in-
demnity which, according to the convention con•
cluded between France and Brazil, the 21st of Au-
gust, 1828, was due to the French merchantmen,
the Courier, Jules, and San Salvador, illegally cap-
tured during the blockade of Buenos Ayres, was
made by the Brazilian treasury on the 2d of March
last, to the person delegated for this purpose by the
King's Charge d'Affaires at Rio de Janeiro.
The convention of tll9. 21st of August is en-
tirely executed.

(From the .Tournal du Commerce.)

PARIS, MAY 2l.—An extraordinary courier has
just arrived from Vienna, and it is said that the
despatches he has brought were of such a nature,
that they rendered two meetings of the Council of
Ministers necessary, after which a courier was
despatched to the King.
The National, which is always well informed
respecting what comes to us from the Austrian
capital, says to-day, that the last despatches of
Marshal Maison leave no doubt of the speedy occu-
pation of the Nov arrais by Austria. Is this perhaps
the subject of the new communications which have
just arrived, from Vienna, and does the Ministry
believe that it must at length resolve to check the
encroachments of Austria ? (The Novarrais is part
of Piedmont, but it seems that Austria claims the
reversion in consequence of the extinction of the
older branch of the House of Savoy.)
(From the Constitutionnel.)
PARIS, MAY 21.—1 t is asserted that 283 Members
of the Chamber of Deputies have solicited from the
Government their elevation to the peerage; eighty-
five, it is said, were nominated, when the remarks of
the press on Article 23 of the Charter stopped
the promulgation of the names of the persons so
distinguished.
(From the_ltiessager des Chambres of Monday.)

PARIS, MAY 22.—Lieutenant-General Bonnet
arrived at Nantes on the 17th instant, to perform his
functions as extraordinary commissioner in the three
military divisions of the west.
_ _

The news from Warsaw of the 10th ►nst. make
no mention of the victory announced this morning
by the Constitutionnel.
A violent storm which took place a few leagues
on this side of Warsaw, gave the belief of a great
battle having been fought, but it appears that the
thunder had been mistaken for the discharge of
cannon. The journals of Warsaw announce, at the
same time, both that Diebitsch is marching towards
Praga, and retiring into Lithuania. It is difficult to
determine any thing in the face of all these contra-
dictions.

The misfortune of Dwernicki leaving Diebitsch
without any uneasiness on the side of Volhynia, he
will recall the whole of his left wing, and advance
for the fourth time towards Warsaw. If he does not
do so, we believe that the Lithuanian insurrection
will continue to menace the rear of his centre and
right wi»g.
The troops of General Dwernicki are definitively
retained prisoners by the Austrian Government,
who will trancport them into Hungary. It is pre-
tended that the Polish soldiers will be returned to
their country, provided that an equal number of
Russian prisoners be delivered. This is a strange
condition on the part of a neutral Government. Is it
not making common cause with Russia, to consider
the Poles as prisoners of war in Austria, and to ex-
change them for Russian prisoners ? Could they
act otherwise at Vienna if they were at open war
with Poland ? and especially when the Russians
were the first to violate the Austrian territory, in
order to turn Dwernicki, who had then no other
course to pursue than to seek an asylum in a terri-
tory which he saw open to the enemy as well as to
himself.

If the Austrian Government be desirous of the
esteem of Europe, it should make it evident by a
strict and impartial inquiry, nothing being more
easy than to arrive at the most exact knowledge of
the truth; and if it then should appear that the
Russians have given the example of violation of ter-
ritory, justice demands that the Poles should be set
at liberty without a ransom.
Extract from a letter, dated Vienna, May 11 :
" The reverses of fortune which the brave Dwer-
n;cki has experienced, excite more and more the
public attention. Many private subscriptions have
been made for the benefit of the poor Poles, who
will be obliged to make a long and fatiguing jour-
ney, being unprovided with any necessaries. In
almost all great societies, the ladies have made col-
lections for them. It has been reported to-day, that
the Emperor was disposed to set at liberty General
Dwernicki and all his soldiers, on condition that the
Polish Generalissimo would give liberty to an equal
number of Russian prisoners, as well officers as sol-
diers. It is said that an Austrian agent yesterday
evening departed for Warsaw, with a despatch to
that effect."

One of the Clare magistrates has been re-
moved from the commission of the peace. He rendered
himself very unpopular some time since, by committing
persons on charges of " Terry Alt " practices, who were
generally supposed to be entirely unconnected with such
proceedings. He was pressed to take bail for these per-
sons, but continued to resist until the election came on,
when he went to the gaol and liberated the entire party,
for the purpose, as is alleged, of allowing them to vote for
O'GORMAN MAHON. A representation of the transac-
tion was forwarded to the Government, and the result was
the erasure of his name from the list of magistrates.—
Dublin Morning Register.
THE LATE EMPEROR ALEXANDER.-
" Tell all ill-brel men of your acquaintance, tell Me this
anecdote of the Emperor of Russia. In the midst of the
concert, while the first violin was playing, I saw his eye
glancing towards ladies at some short distance from him.
When the close of a passage permitted it, be advanced
with the greatest precaution, but perfect ease, and not the
smallest sound of tread, to take a tea-cup from a lady, the
wife of one of the Aides-du-Camp of Lord WELLINcTuN
(who had the good sense not to resist it), returning to
place it on a table."—Life and Correspondence of Sir
Thomas Lawrence.