The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-31 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JAN. 30.—The question of a discrimi-
nating rate is beginning to make progress amongst the
popular party here. The Freeman's Journal has been
hammering at the principle for a long time, and its
views on the subject are becoming adopted in many
quarters. People who once recoiled from the propo-
sition, are now beginning to talk of giving the pea-
santry an interest in the land. A Conservative M.P.
says that the peasantry could not be employed in
Connaught unless something of the kind was done,
as the majority of the present holders have no means
of giving wages. A landholder in Mayo has let his
farms to English tenants, on a lease of twenty-one
years, at 255. an acre, and undertakes to pay all the
poor-rates for them.
The importation into Dublin this week of fresh
American pork has startled some of our Irish graziers.
Mr. Smith, a Dublin provision merchant, has been the
importer of fifty pigs, packed in ice, and they were
perfectly sweet and fresh.

At a wedding last week, at Nigg, in Ross-shire,
John Munro, the bridegroom, who happened to go out
at the door of the house where the bridal was being cele-
brated, was seized by three stout men and carried four
or five miles over fields and ditches.. When he was
missed all was dismay in the party, and the poor bride-
groom did not reach home till six o'clock in the morning,
wet,and weary.

An unlicensed Theatre in Maiden-lane, King's-
cross was attacked by the police last night, and eleven
of the actors and actresses taken into custody.
Sir Augustus B. Henniker, Bart., died on
Sunday last, very unexpectedly, of diseased heart. De-
ceased was in his 54th year, and was rector of Thorn-
ham-Magna, Suffolk, and an active magistrate, and
chairman of sessions of that county. He is succeeded
by his son, Brydges Powell.
in
ECONOMY PER RAILWAY.—The reduction the
price of coal consumed at Bury St. Edmunds, since the
opening of the Eastern Union Railway, has been equal
to the yearly amount of poor-rate levied in that town.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.—Last evening the annual
general meeting of the governors of this institution was
held at the Board-room of the hospital, Gray's Inn- lane,
Mr. Pritchard in the chair. The Secretary (Mr. Fenn)
read the report of the hospital for the past year, which
showed the number of patients relieved in 1848 to have
been as follows:—In-patients, 667; out-patients, 27,944;
making a total of 28,6 11. This exhibits an increase of
39 in-patients and 6,551 out-patients, as compared with
the previous year. The total receipts for 1848 amounted
to 4,501/. 125., being an increase, es compared with 1847,
of 8311, The expenditure amounted to 4,843/. 9s. Bd.,
including 2,093/. 7s. 7d. as old debts paid off in 1848,
and leaves a balance against the institution of 341/.
17s. Bd. The report further stated that in consequence
of the imperious necessity for practising a rigid
system of economy. .by reason of . the limited
extent of the funds, the committee had been compelled
to keep two of the spacious wards of the institution un-
o2cupied. Nevertheless, these two wards had been held
in perfect readiness to meet any such public emergency
as an outbreak of cholera in the metropolis ; and 154
of the pauper children removed from Mr. Drouet's
establishment at Tooting had recently been accommo-
dated within them ; 87 of these children had been vio-
lently attacked, but owing to the effective medical treat-
ment of the patients, promptly rendered by the institu-
tion, only four had proved fatal, and even in these four
cases the children were in a very bad state at their ad-
mission, and died within a few hours after. Mr. Christie
then moved, and Mr. Goddard seconded, the adoption of
the report, which was unanimously agreed to, and after
voting thanks to Dr. Marsden (the founder of the hospi-
tal), the committee of management, and other officers,
the meeting separated.
MILDNESS OF THE SEASON.—As an extraordinary
proof of the mildness of the season, a ripe strawberry
may be seen at J. Abraham's, watchmaker, gathered on
Tuesday from a hedge at Venslooe, in the neighbour-
hood of Liskeard, and the flowers of spring, butter cups,
and primroses, are common in the same locality. A very,
beautiful butterfly was caught on Saturday, the 20th
inst., between Merton and Beaford, by John Mitchell
the Hatherleigh and Beaford post messenger. He has
been on the road about five years, and each year has
seen a butterfly particularly early and near the same
spot (the Billies near Merton). Last year he caught
one there as early as the 2€l of February.—Devonshire
Chronicle. _ _ _

A large meeting of landowners, farmers, and
burgesses of Taunton, was held on Saturday last, in the
County Hall, to petition Parliament for economy and a
remission of the window-tax, assessed taxes, and other
obnoxious impost.. Mr. Escott was called to the chair,
and having addressed the meeting at great length, and
amidst universal applause, proposed a petition, which was
unanimously adopted by the meeting. The petition is
to, be presented to the House of Cemmors by the Right
Hon. H. Lebow:here, Member for Taunton.
THE STREET ORDERLIES.—A meeting of the
Committee of Licensed Victuallers, formed for the pur-
pose
reportetdieg
of providing employment for the poor as street
orderlies, was held on Monday evening at the Upholder's
tee, an d
1:), V, Poland-street, Oxford-street; the chair was taken
last fivanci
The ar. C* Ireland, Lumber Troep Tavern, Fetter-lane.
sreretary, Mr. John Smart, read an elaborate
etailing the successful progress of the commit-
tee the list of subscriptions received since their
al statement, Itniouuting to ucany 701. Re-
solutions were passed in favour of this systun of street