The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-05 00:00:00

ITEMS OF IRISH NEWS.

We (Limerick Examiner) believe it is part of the
instructions recently addressed to the constabulary, to
make a report under the present inquiry in the rural
districts, of the quantity of land in pasture or tillage,
and of the extent deserted by the tenants, and left to
the landlord, without any cultivation. it is the con-
clusion of very good judges, who have farmed extensive
tracts in this and the adjoining counties, that not
more than certainly two thirds the acreable area of
ground will be prepared for culture in the south of
Ireland next year, and in the western counties, on
an average not one-half the acreable surface will be
productive. We know in the county Clare, for in-
stance, that seven thousand acres are thrown upon one
proprietor by his tenants, and this gentleman is
unable to seed or stock one-twentieth part of this
derelict territory. In one electoral division in the
west of the county Limerick an expanse of more
than 2,000 acres is left bare and destitute, without
a vestige of tillage or human occupancy. Most of
the farmers have been constrained to sell this season's
produce at a market price entirely inadequate to their
labour and outlay. The proceeds, however, are care-
fully reserved, not for payment of rent, poor-tax, and
county cess, hut to assist the holders in making a
settlement across the Atlantic.
A report of the local committees of the unions of
Limerick, Rathkeale, Newcastle, and Kilmallock,
upon the present condition of the ratepayers and
other inhabitants comprising an aggregate area of
666,499 acres, a property valuation of 558,8881., and
a population of 272,257, show that the grand jury
cess and poor-rate of the city has increased to 9s. 7td.
in the pound ; Rathkeale union, is. lop.; Kilmal-
lock, Os. 70.; and Newcastle, 15s. 20.1—Limerick
Chronicle.

MUEDEn.—Some time since a poor woman was
poisoned, and subsequently barbarously choked
with a tongs, whilst lodging in the house of a man
named Meehan, in the neighbourhood of Carrick-
banagher, near Collooney. She had eight or ten
pounds in her possession, of which she was robbed,
and then hurried in a ditch close to hleehan'a house.
A man named T. Gilgan, who was severely beaten
by some of the parties suspected of the murder, gave
information on the 28th instant to the police, who
instantly went to the place pointed out by Gilgan, and
on digging down the ditch they found the remains of
the poor woman buried under a heap of stones, and
coveted with lime, livid with putrefaction, and fright-
fully decomposed.—Sligo Journal.
From a report furnished to the guardians of the
Macroom union, it appeared that the able-bodied
women in the workhouses were employed, in con-
junction with a few pauper weavers and tailors, in
making clothes from the raw material. A profit to
the funds of the union, amounting to 1681. 17s. 61.,
was realised by the produce of their labour.
Lieutenant Henry, Government emigration agent,
has selected eighty girls of the ages of from fourteen
to eighteen out of the female inmates of Nenagh
workhouse, as eligible emigrants for Australia.
The weather continues most inclement, with such
a fall of rain as to render the farmer's ground totally
unfit for seeding purposes.—Limerick Chronicle.
THE ENCUMIIEB.ED ESTLTES COMMISSION.—At this
moment there are lands and tenements for sale in this
neighbourhood and county, in Galway, in Kerry, and
in Clare, comprising over eight thousand acres, and
yielding a gross rental of over eight thousand
pounds. Cabirelly East and West, and Bally-
bricken, in the Barony of Clanwilliam, are adver-
tised for sale; Kilmacow and Ballyconnelly, Gra-
nagh, Lisduane, Capanahane, Gurteen, Carhuemore,
and Ballycullen, each in Upper Connelloe, are
also to be sold. Carrigogunnell, in Yubblebrien,
Rathbane, in the Liberties of Limerick, Cappa,
and Kiltenane, in Lower Connelloe, Killoculla in
Shanid; Cappahard, Newpark, Knockanoura and ,
Gaurus, in Bunratty, are open to purchasers. Inch•
manahan in Kerry; Knocknacara, Bullane, Athenry
town, including the house and town parks, Walls-
court, Kilshanvay, Ratish and Rathill, each and all in
Galway, are ready for disposal.—Limerick Examiner.
THE LINEN TRADE.—It affords us much pleasure
to state that, from several facts which have recently
transpired, the linen trade of Ulster seems to be
in a flourishing state. Such is the demand on
the continent that the merchants purchase eagerly
from the manufacturers. The consequence is,
that weavers generally are in full employ-
ment, at good wages—good, as compared with the
wages they received some time ago—an average
workman being able to earn six shillings a week.
Seven weaver!, who were lately inmates of this
workhouse, from not being able to earn sufficient to
maintain their families, have recently gone out, to
resume their former occupation. Downpatrich
Recorder.

AIIJRDER AND SUICIDE.—The town of Towcester was
yesterday thrown into a state of the greatest consterna-
tion by the discovery that a person named Dowdeswell,
who had been for some years a traveller in the employ
of Mr. John Vernon, wine-merchant, of that place, had
murdered his wife, and afterwards committed suicide.
Not appearing at his place of business at ten o'clock a
messenger was sent to his residence in Park-street, when
the house was found to be closed. A ladder was ob-
tained, and an entrance gained to the house, when the
bodies of Dowdesdell and his wife were both found
lying on the floor. A pistol was on the table, with
which the wife bad evidently been shot, while the hus-
band still grasped another in his hand, with which his
suicide had been effected. The child of the unhappy
pair, about two years old, was in a room upstairs crying.
Mrs. Dowdeswell was for some years a waiteress at the
Talbot, and was greatly respected. Leas than two years
ago she was married under circumstances not calculated
to promise a happy wedded life, and it is said that her
husband has frequently treated her with great brutality.
Her maiden name was Powell. The double crime was
no doubt committed late on Thursday evening.—/Vorda-
ample?: Mercury,
SUICIDE AT BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL—Last
night Mr. Payne held an inquest at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, on the body of Jonathan Light, aged 51. The
deceased was admitted a patient in Mark's-ward, on
Thursday last, suffering from indigestion. He remained
until Saturday morning, about 5 o'clock, when, becom-
ing suddenly very restless, another patient in the same
wa-d drew the nurse's attention to him. She endea-
voured to soothe him ; but shortly afterwards he began
to dress himself, and seemed as if determined to leave
the hospital. He then seized bold of a small cheese
knife, and inflicted a fearful wound in the throat, com-
pletely severing the windpipe, and expired almost in-
stantly. The deceased was a cabinet-maker by trade,
and had for some time past been exceedingly despondent.
Evidence having been given as to the state of his mind,
the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, had an interview yesterday with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer.