The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-15 00:00:00

TflE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MOB

WEATHEit.—SIIN OFFICE, JUNE 14.
TUERMOMETER, Lnwest, 55: i-lielest. 64 NOOU, 58.
BAROMETER, 29.6 —WIND W.S.W.; rainy.

I I , f. T.ONMON-P.V.IDGE THIS' DAY.
.I r .. 16 mixiiite, Attpr 3. 1 F.,enin2 34 7,17.1',L .s --• 3.

The deepest interest is still manifested as to the
state of Ireland and the prospects of the approaching
harvest. Much controversy exists as to the appear-
ance of the potato crop, and the probability of its
escaping the fatal taint that has already shown itself,
beyond the possibility of doubt, in some districts.
The fearful consequences of that mysterious visita-
tion to those who fell more immediately within its in-
fluence, the frightful destitution and suffering to
which so many of our Irish brethren were exposed,
the number of victims who prematurely perished
from the combined effects of famine and pestilence
must excite the anxious desire of every man possessed
of the common feelings of humanity for the adoption
of any system by which the chances of a recurrence
of such heart-rending scenes might be materially
lessened, or rendered wholly impossible ; while the
increased prices of every sort of provisions, the de-
ranged state of the money market, and the consequent
difficulties by which every branch of trade and manu-
facture is affected, the people thrown out of employ-
ment, and their comforts bridged, not only in Ire-
land, but in this country also, must awaken the appre-
hensions:lf even
nie
rtehl the most
most callous and insensible,
who
fro
actuated by
class, however, to w,hwomhoPtseuheyseeq:uyesetxio.n
similar impulses,
motives will be
iont..e.nrce is de-
pendents
the
Tohne tphreosppreieetdoyrsanodf
thsaefesziunt is
the
are indeed placed in the vanguard. They will have
..k.
to sustain the first brunt of the encounter, and on the

manner in which they meet the difficulty, the extent
and efficiency of their preparation, their own safety
must depend. By the new Poor-law for Ireland the
great princh,de is recognised that the property of the
country must sustain it, poverty; that the necessities
of all must be. provided for, before any portion can
he made applicable to the luxuries or the superfluities
of the few. They must see, then, that the means of use-
ful and profitable employment is placed within the
reach of all, so that those who would otherwise un-
productively consume the national resources may be
enabled to earn their own livelihood by the exercise
of their own honest industry. Throughout almost
the entire kingdom the potato has hitherto formed
the chief, if not the only, article of food for the agri-
cultural population, and the cerial products of the
land have been chiefly devoted to the payment of the
landlords' rent. This cannot now be the case to any-
thing like the extent of former years. The greater
portion must be applied to the maintenance of the
people, and the claim for rent must be provided for
from other sources.

Is there, then, any description of crop easily ac-
cessible to the farmers and occupiers of land, that
will realise all these advantages—that will at the
same time afford the small landholders a means of
paying their rent, of obtaining a fair money return for
their produce, which will open a wide field for the pro-
fitable occupation of the people, which will retain in
Ireland large sums of money annually sent to other
lands in exchange for that which might be produced
at home, which will, if judiciously and extensively
cultivated, lead to the accumulation of national and
individual wealth, and bring into the country the
capital she so urgently requires—her chief
want. If all these objects can be attained
by a little care and attention—and we unhesitatingly
answer in the affirmative—is it not absolute
insanity to neglect so great a blessing, to
abstain from seizing the benefits that are actually
within their grasp ? With what face can the Irish
landlord appeal to the sympathies, or hope for the as-
sistance, of England, if he will not make some exer-
tions on his own account, and at least endeavour to
support his people in honourable
The general culture of flax throughout all parts of
Ireland—the zealous and efficient attention by
which that valuable crop can be brought to
the utmost perfection, by which not only the
fibre but the seed may be preserved, and
every portion made applicable to the beneficial uses of
which it is capable, will furnish the solution of the
enigma—will be found the real cure for Ireland's
distresses. The tourist throughout the country is
struck with the extraordinary differences visible in
the appearance of the inhabitants. In the southern,
eastern, western, and even parts of the northern
districts, he sees around him on every side a half-
starved people, exhibiting all the indications of the
most squalid poverty—their wretched huts scarcely
fit habitations for the swine that are admitted to
a participation in the shelter—their clothing a mass
of filthy rags, insufficient to ward off the inclemency
of the weather, or to preserve even the decencies of
life, while their attenuated and worn aspects evince
a total absence of all the comforts and an insufficiency
of even the necessaries of existence; with this he
also perceives a listless languor, a lounging laziness, a
general indolence that seems to pervade the very at-
mosphere. If he inquires into the state of the
country, he is informed of riots and bloodshed,
of agrarian outrages and nocturnal disturbances.
While proceeding on his journey let him enter
into Armagh or Downshire, and he is indeed
astonished at the change. He finds a cheerful
and contented peasantry, well-fed and well•clad, clean
and well-ventilated cottages, with every fitting office,
and all the conveniences of domestic life, every
person employed, and even the children, contributing
by their exertions to the general fund. It is almost
unnecessary to say that peace and tranquillity will
invariably be found in these happy localities. To
what magical influences are these blessings to he
ascribed ? He is in the seat of the linen
manufacture, the district in which the growth
of flax is diligently and sedulously attended
to ; there is no other apparent cause by which
the great and extraordinary difference can be ac-
counted for. He may, therefore, fairly presume that
it is ascribable thereto, and if by a separate calcula-
tion he can show that the cultivation of flax would
lead to such results, that fair presumption will be
changed into a moral certainty. We hope on a future
occasion to show that such is the case, to point out the
many advantages flowing therefrom, the reasons why
it should be brought into unly wrsal use, and that, as
we have already stated, it furnishes most obvious
means for the speedy removal of Irish distress, and of
Irish difficulties.

The jifoniteur Grec of the 30th ult. has been re-
ceived. It expresses very forcibly the dissatisfaction
of the Athenian Cabinet with the discussion in the
House cf Commons, which was elicited by the motion
of Lord JOAN MANNERS.

The Union Monarchique asserts that the French
Government has received dispatches announcing that
the Porte had accepted the prcffered mediation of the
Vienna Cabinet, for the reconciliation of the rulers of
the Ottoman empire and the Hellenic kingdom.

Madrid papers of the 7th have arrived.

Monsignor BRUNELLI is described as being still
actively engaged in endeavouring to reconcile the
QUEEN and her ill-matched husband. Fire and snow
we fear are more capable of union.

Both the Faro and Heraldo contain accounts of
the capture of the forces and property of the Junta.
Otherwise than in the expression of joy at the
honourable reception of General NARVAEZ at the
French Court, and his friendly intercourse with the
young Duke and Duchess of MONTEENSIER, the
papers are barren of intelligence.

BOURSE.-Three per Cents., 304 cash ; Four per
Cents., 18 cash ; Five per Cents., 18* cash, 18+
paper ; Debt, without interest, 51 cash, 5i paper.
Exchange on London, 49 10.

The Paris journals of Friday and Saturday have
reached us with their usual punctuality. From the
latest rumours in the capital it would seem that there
is little probability of a very protracted existence for
the Ministry. GUIZOT'S authority is slipping through
his fingers—like the handful of sand, the tighter he
grasps it the more quickly and the more glibly it
runs out from the pressure. The hack of the Admi-
nistration was nearly broken by the division in the
Chamber of Peers upon the Medical Reform Bill.
So desperately was the Cabinet driven by this division
that, according to the Opposition newspapers, the
whippers-in of the Chambers went even, as it were,
to the bedchambers of decrepid nobles, and had their
enfeebled and paralysed bodies conveyed to the
benches of the Legislative Chambers by their at-
tendants. Notwithstanding which extraordinary
precaution the Ministerial majority was miserably
small.

The various journals are busily occupied in the
discussion of the probable consequence of this very
visible decadence of power. The future is indeed to
them a mirror in which they already see the reflected
downfal of the once powerful but now powerless
G IJIZOT.

The Presse contains the following article on the
present state of the corn markets :
" We announced a few days sinco that a slight change
of temperature would be sufficient to raise the price of
corn. Already, unfortunately, our anticipations have
been realised in Belgium. The last markets of Courtrai,
Grammont, Liege, Louvain, and Termonde, experienced
a rise of from 2f. to 3f. the hectolitre. One week of cold
wind has raised exaggerated fears in the minds of the
consumers, and the speculators have taken advantage of
it. It is, moreover, easy to excite a panic when a con-
siderable deficiency of provisions is supposed to exist.
In England, notwithstanding the continuance of fine
weather, a considerable rise in the price of wheat has
taken place. In Holland prices are looking down. An
inspection of the crops has taken place by order of the
Agricultural Congress assembled at the Hague, and the
appearances throughout the provinces are extremely fa-
vourable. The growing wheat has assumed the best
aspect—the rye promises such a crop as has not been
seen for many years—the potatoes are flourishing, and
no symptom of disease has yet been discovered. It does
not appear that the temperature has producd any bad
effect in France. The corn markets continue to decline
throughout the kingdom. In the East particularly, the
fall in prices is remarkable. Within the last ten days
wheat has fallen from 9f. to 12f. the hectolitre at Metz,
and more than 20f. at Strasburg." _ .

The Journal des Dgbats publishes the following
letter from Palma of the 3d instant :

" The squadron of evolution commanded by the
Prince de Joinville has made a short appearance in our
roads, ar.d the few hours it remained were devoted to a
simple and affecting ceremony. The Prince had heard

last year that the small island of Cabrera, which had
b,.en the prison and tomb of the French ,oldiers taken
prisoners by the Spaniards at. Bevies', was strewed with
the bones of those unit), tunate men, deprived of sepul-
ture. 1-b wos not able at thc, time to ascertain the tact,
hating been apprised of it just as he was putting to
sea. Yesterday, however, the Prince had scarcely
reached the roads of Paltna, when ho dispatched the
steam corvette Pluton to inquir, if !he information he
had received was correct, and, en the return of the v,s-
sel, he issued the following order of the day The Corn -
mander-in- Chief has been informed that on several
points of the island of Cabrera human bones are seen
lying unburied—the sad relics of our unhappy country-
men taken prisoners at Baylen, and who died of misery
on that rock. The Pluton repaired, by my orders, to
the island, and then the officers and crew, guided by a
Spaniard who had witnessed the lingering agony of our
soldiers, collected a large quantity of bones scattered
over the soil and exposed to every insult. To-morrow
the Pluton will return to Cabrera with the Abbe Coque-
reau, to give Christian burial to those remains. The
admiral proposes to place a stone over them, with this
inscription:—`To the memory of the Frenchmen who
died at Cabrera—the squadron of evolution of 1847.'
(Signed) The Vice Admiral Commander-in-Chief, Fer-
dinand d'Orleans.'

" In consequence of that order, the Pluton returned
this morning to the island of Cabrera, and the com-
mander of the ship landed with the ALAI, Coquereau,
chaplain of the squadron, to accomplish the religious mis-
sion confided to them. No pomp, no military show was
displayed to give to that funeral ceremony useless eclat. The
Pluton had her colours half mast high during divine service
and the prayers for the dead. Nothing could be more
affecting than to see the fifteen or twenty farmers who
constitute the entire population of that 'desolate island
kneeling by the side of our seamen, and joining in their
pious supplications. Mass having been said, and the re-
mains of our unhappy soldiers covered with earth, a
wooden cross was placed over the grave to indicate the
spot where the monument is to be ,rected. The officers
and men would not leave to the generosity of the Prince
the honour of defraying alone the costs of that modest
sepulture. A subscription, in which all participated,
Produced 2,oooE—sufficient to pay the expense. The
squadron demanded, moreover, that the name of the
Prince be introduced into the inscription. This was
a just homage rendered to the young admiral, who
had conceived the patriotic idea of of offering that pious
tribute to the memory of unhappy and forgotten fellow-
countr
Queen MARIA CiamsvriNa had arrived at Toulon
on her way to Paris, whera she was expected on
Monday.
nn Saturday tho official papers relating to Portu-
gal were laid on the table of the Chamber of Deputies
by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The general
impression was that Das ANTAS had voluntarily sur-
rendered himself to the blockading squadron.
According to the Journal des Debats the commis-
sion appointed to examine the charges against
General CUBIERES proceeded on Friday, by the in-
terrogation of M. TESTE, formerly Minister of Public
Works, and also of a barrister named CAFUI.

The receipts of the Paris and Orleans Railroad
during the last week amounted to 199,122 f. ; those
of Paris and Rouen, to 202,600 f.; Rouen and Havre,
73,368 f.; Orleans and Tours, 80,116 f. ; Great North-
ern, 285,253 f., being a trifling diminution ; and the
Amiens and Boulogne, 13,240 f.

The Paris Bourse was firm towards the termination
of business on Saturday.
The Three per Cents. closed at 77f. 65c.; the Five per
Cents., at 117 f. 60c. ; the Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,273 f.
75c. ; Rouen, 9771 50c. ; Havre, 6581. 75c. ; Great Northern,
6011 25c. ; Avignon, 7531 75c. ; Vierzon, 620 f. ; Bordeaux,
510 f. ; Boulogne, 4101 ; Troyes and Montereau, 2771 50c. ;
Basle, 190 E ' • Dieppe, 320 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 4281 75c. ;
Tours and Nantes, 4131 75c. ; Paris and Lyons, 443 f. 75c. ;
Lyons and Avignon, 4481 ; Bordeaux and Cette, 4501 ;
MARSEILLES, JUNE 9.—Marseilles and Avignon, 7551 ;
Northern, 6071 50c.

LYONS, JUNE 10.—Paris and Rouen, 968 f. 75c.; Avignon
and Marseilles, 745 f. ; Vierzon, 600 f. ; Northern, 600 f. ;
Paris and Lyons,44of.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT TILE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JUNE 12.

Central of France (Orleans and Vierzon), 151/2—Luxem-
bourg. I%—Namur and Liege, ,al/2.-,-Northern of France,
11—Paris and Orleans, 49.

MR. WYLD AND THE BRITISH

MUSEUM.
TO THE EDlfoli OF THE SUN.

&x,—Permit me w call your attention to the recent
decisions at the police office. Bow-street, upon certain
cases arising out of the Copyright Act, and upon the
injumus effect such decisi, na must have upon the ad-
vanceinvnt of art and lit, rature. Und,r the old Copy-
right Act the trustees of the British Museum claimed a
copy of all books and maps, and both authors and pub-
lishers were content to supply them. Under the new
Acr, the trustees claim copies of every book, map, or
publication which may differ in the slightest degree from
the original publication, and, as it wits decided by the
magistrate in Mr. Smith's case, every addition to the
original publication, if it were only the crossing of a t,
or the dotting of an i, entitles the trustees of the British
Museum to another copy of the work, and the counsel
for the trustees stated it to be their determination to
enforce their claim; unfortunately the Act of Parliament
allows of no appeal from the magistrate's decision.
If such, Sir, be the future conduct of the trustees, it
is fraught with oppression to every author and publisher
in Great Britain. Upon the publication of maps this
decision will act as a bar to future improvement. Maps
are printed in very small quantities, and slight altera-
tions are made upon the plates each time the maps are
printed; if the intepretation of the law by the magistrate
be a correct one, the trustees of the British Museum will
be entitled to 50 or 100 copies of many maps every year;
whatever may be the literal reading of the Act of Par-
liament, such could never have been the intention of its
framers. _ _ _

The case decided on Friday, relating to my " Popular
Atlas," is a very important one. This work consists of
a republication of maps heretofore published ; the British
Museum has been supplied with the previous publica-
tion, but they contend that the publication of the snaps
in the serial form entitles them to other copies. If such
be the interpretation of the law the British Museum
will soon be too small to contain the myriads of amended
works, either books or maps, which the trustees will be-
come possessed of, and the effect of this decision must
be to stop the issue of works in a cheap form, and to
prevent improvements in maps and corrections of books.
Should the slightest alteration (one word only) be mada
in the re-issue, and the publisher omit to 'send the
amended work, he will be subjected to informations at
the public police-offices,_, to fines, and the enforcement of
costs. lam sure, Sir, that I have only to excite public
attention to this oppressive law through the instrumen-
tality of your columns to obtain either its modification
or repeal.—l have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES WYLD,
Geographer to the Queen and His Royal
Highness Prince Albert.

RAIL WAYS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Six, -Your Parliamentary report of Thursday last
contains, in reply to a question by Mr. Gisborne, some
remarks by Mr. Strutt and Sir George Clerk, on the
evidence which I had given at the inquest, at :Chester,
as to the cause of the failure of the Dee bridge. In
this morning's report also I find that Sir George Clerk
again refers to the matter, with a view, I presume, of
showing, that there was no sufficient justification for the
statement I had made on the occasion alluded to.
Although I am extremely unwilling to occupy your
space or the public attention, by referring to what might
have been stated by me either at Chester or elsewhere, I
feel that on a subject of so much importance it becomes
imperative on the not only to offer an explanation, but
to remove, as far as I can, the possibility of a misunder-
standing.
As nearly as I can recollect the words which I actu-
ally used, the following may be considered substantially
accurate ;—" That in the public departments—viz.,
the Admiralty, Board of Trade, or Commissioners
of Railways, less consideration was given to the
security of the public travelling by railways
than was n to the navigation or space of tidal rivers
and roads which were crossed or intersected by railways,
and I referred to a letter which had been addressed by
myself, in conjunction with Messrs. R. Stephenson,
Brunel, and Cubitt, to Lord Dalhousie on the subject of
bridges, which had not boen attended to."
_ .

Although this statement was made at the inquest at
Chester, it was distinctly admitted by Mr. Stephenson
that the Government department was in no way impli-
cated in fixing the dimensions of the Dee Bridge, and
no attempt was made by any one, as Sir George Clerk
supposes,
to lay upon them the consequences of that
accident.

If in the remarks which I thought it necessary to
make I had merely intended to complain of the want of
courtesy in neglecting to acknowledge the receipt of our
communication to Lord Dalhousie, Sir George Clerk's
reference to his Lordship's acknowledgment would be
conclusive. My statement, however, went further, it
complained that the subject-matter of the letter had not
been attended to, and that so far as we knew it had never
been considered.
The letter itself, together with the reply, are below,
and I may add, that no alteration in the clause has yet
been made, nor any explanation given for adhering to
That the clause, as Sir George Clerk states, was ori-
ginally determined upon " after full consideration" I am
not disposed to doubt ; but I would venture to add, on
the other hand, that there is not a practical engineer in
England accustomed to railway works who would have
advised the adoption of such a clause.
when briSdigresGoefo3rsgefeCetlesrpkanal;so states that it is limited to
roads are crossed at right but this
Wishoennlythteryue ss the
,li
are crossed
obliquely (which is by far the most common case), the
span is increased sometimes to 60 and 70 feet. It needs
no engineer surely to show that a rise of four feet for
such a span is not sufficient.
I have confined my remarks simply to the matter re-
ferred to in the House of Commons, not feeling myself
called upon to enter into any further discussion.
Your insertion of this communication will oblige, Sir,
your obedint servant,

JOSEPH LOCKE.
11, Adam-street, Adelphi, June 12.

Co)
London, 11, Adam-s(trepyet, .
Adelphi, May 2, 1846.
My Lord,—Having found great difficulty in carrying
out, the provisions of clause 49 in the Railway Clauses
Consolidation Act, defining the dimension, of bridges for
carrying railways over public roads, we have thought it
prudent to address your Lordship in regard to it.
Although we have often found that the widths required

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