The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-14 00:00:00

DESTITUTION IN ZETLAND.

A meeting of commissioners of supply, justices of the
peace, heritors, and clergy of Zetland was held at Ler-
wick, on the 25th ult., when the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted:-
1. That this meeting view, with alarm and deep con-
cern,of
hrthe
Majesty'san wr
Trwhicheas
Treasury
yd
tboe etnhem ereturnedmori
memorial
whichyth
last, on the subject of the destitution caused by the failure
of the potato crop. e i 4
theyrd
had the honour to address to their Lordships in October
Lords
2. That the members of the meeting were aware that
the Lords of the Treasury had no regular " fund at their
of fromr o
roads,"
s, whichbut grants
ucmo üblldy
cboen cme a
iv de
de fort theo be ttohre-
funds, when the lives of its subjects were at stake.
draduiastFoasnan interest of a parental Government to provide
l
8. That it is the duty of this meeting to lay before her
Majesty's Government a more particular account of the
state of this country, its wants and prospects; and to
impress upon Ministers the awful responsibility of with-
holding relief from many thousands of their destitute
fellow-creatures; and that this is more especially neces-
sary, inasmuch as the meeting believe that the Govern-
ment officer who lately visited Zetland had not, from the
shortness of his stay, an opportunity of becoming :ac-
quainted with the real state of the country.
4. That the following facts show the utter impossibi-
lity of this country, alone, and without the strong sup-
port of Government, attempting to meet the exigency.
The gross rental of these islands has been computed at
not exceeding 20,9001., from which there must be de-
ducted for public burdens at least one-fifth, which leaves
at most, an available rental of 16,0001. In this calcula-
tion there is left out of view, altogether, the great
amount of annual loss arising from bad debts among a
numerous and poor tenantry. The population of these
islands, according to the last census was 30,466, of
which, at the very least, 25,000 are poor cottars, many
of whom, in a seafaring population, are helpless widows
and orphan children, who have lost their chief article
of food through the failure of the potato crop. Their
small stock of bear and oats--even making no allowance
for seed—will be consumed by the middle of February,
after which, for several months, they will have nothing
but starvation before them. To maintain this popula-
tion, some at the nominal rate of Id. per day for one
month, which, if continued, would, before the arrival
of harvest, more than exhaust the rental of the whole
country.
From these facts, it is further evident that the country
will not he able to provide seed, especially potatoes, for
the ensuing season, by which the existing calamity will
be inevitably extended to future years.
5. Resolved—That to make roads in this country,
where the parishes are from ten to twenty miles long,
over hill and bog, with a rental of from 5001. to 2,0001.,
is beyond the resources of these islands, which are
already most heavily burdened; and to attempt to bor.
row money for such a purpose would be highly inexpe-
dient and ruinous. —Edinburgh Advertiser.

BEET-ROOT BREAD.—Another of our friends has
sent us a slice of beet-root bread, made of iyheaten flour
and beet-root in equal quantities. The colour of the
bread is rather dark, resembling rye bread, but the taste
is sweet and agreeable. Our correspondent says that
the kneading of the flour and beet-root is the same as
when flour alone is used, except that no water is re-
quired to make it into dough; the liquid absorbed by
the boiled beet-root being sufficient to make the mix-
ture. He adds, that in his own family they have fre-
quently had beet-root as a vegetable at the dinner table
—Leeds Mercury.
NEWCASTLE ELECTIONEERING i,MOVEMENTS—Ru-
mours have been in circulation this week of the intention
of Lord OsAulston and Mr. A. J. Creswell, the two Con-
servative Members for the northern division of tbis
county, to retire at the earliest opportunity: and that
they are to be succeeded, unless the electors determine
otherwise, by Mr. Hinde, one of the Members for this
town, and Mr. Orde, of Nunnykirk, who are both well-
known Conservatives. We have not over much faith in
vague rumours, especially in electioneering affairs, but
we have reason to believe that an arrangement similar
to the above is contemplated, and may not unlikely be
tried. Mr. Hinde is known to feel uneasy about his
present constituency, and having good claims upon his
party, must be provided for in another quarter, where
he may be less liable to disturbance. The circumstance,
however, shows the necessity of active efforts on the
part of the Liberals in the town and county. A Liberal
candidate to succeed Mr. Hinde has been nominated, but
no steps taken to elicit the opinions of the electors on
the subject, or to secure for him the support indispen-
sably necessary to procure his return. Such apathy and
indifference are inexcusable, and contrast very strikingly
with the secret yet effective operations of our poltical
opponents.—Newcastle Guardian.
The corn tithe of one-half of the immense parish of
Westerham, in Kent, is announced to be sold by auction
next month, by Mr. Robins. As the income arising
from this description of property, is not only settled by
Act of Parliament, but charged upon the land in the
nature of a first payment as ground rent--the best, and
most secure means of investing money is presented, far,
• in our opinion, beyond the funds, which are liable to
fluctuation—whereas, by the Commutation Act, a mini-
mum rental is establish( d, and all that is obtained above,
whether from the increased value of corn, or a larger
quantity of land employed iu its growth, from its waste
prtion or otherwise, becomes so much additional profit,
and a temptation to the capitalist to employ his money
, in such investments.