The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-19 00:00:00

Ify MARCH 19, 1847.
S

POTATOES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The time being rapidly approaching wien that
root must be planted the failure of which has caused and
is still causing so much misery both in our own and the
sister kingdom, may I venture to suggest a plan which I
feel confident would much alleviate, if not wholly prevent,
the disease. It has been imputed, and I think with good
reason, by some one to the swarms of green insects
which covered the whole of the vegetable kingdom
during the spring and early summer months of last year,
which, by preventing the proper growth of the haulm,
caused them to wither gradua!ly away, and by that
means affecting the tubers. To prevent this I would
.uggest to the growers of potatoes that they collect all
the waste rubbish they can,_ with which after the
potatoes have grown about six inlbes in height they
should cause fires to be lighted in different parts of the
field or garden, as the case may be, by which means they
would easily destroy the greater part of the insects, thus
!caving the plant free to imbibe the atmosphere essential
;0 its full development. The early dawn I consider
would be the blst time, as the smoke will curl along the
g"ound for a greater distance; it could likewise be much
sided by having a rick-cloth stretched across a few
hurdles placed at suitable distance. In gardens, lam
confident, were this plan generally applied, we should
have but few failures of the fruit crops in future years
compared with the past.
Trusting some at least may be induced to try this in-
expensive remedy for the blight both in the potato and
other crops, the benefit arising therefrom will end in
sotnething more than mere smoke.
I am, Sir, &c., J. B.
Sonthampton-buildings, March 17, 1847.

FLANDERS AND DUTCH MAILS.
BRUSSELS, MARCH 15.—We are happy to say that
the fruit trees of every kind never appeared to promise
a more plentiful produce. The late frosts have hitherto
checked the vegetation, and we have reason to hope
that-skis year will &rah& is" great abundance of fruit ;
and, considering the advanced season, we may believe
that the unfavourable weather has not destroyed the
immense quantity of buds which cover the trees. Ex-
cept rapeseed, which has suffered slightly by the frost,
all the crops have the most promising appearance.
The Journal du Commerce d'Anvers says—" The ac-
counts which we receive of the market of Lotivain to-
day announce a decline in the prices of corn, but they
were not exactly known on 'Change to-day."
Several respectable merchants of Antwerp propose to
address a petition to the Chambers for the entire freedom
of the trade in corn. At the market of Aron, on
Thursday last, wheat which the week before was quoted
at 33f. 12c. rose to 40f. The Echo du Luxemburg says
" Our inhabitants view with resignation and composure,
this rise in the prices. They hope that the Govern-
ment will not fail in its duty by abandoning that. They
ask for work and not for alms."

A letter from Riga of the 20th of Feb., says, "the
merchants of this city have just made large purchases
of corn. As soon as the ice breaks up in the Dwina
50,000 lasts of rye are expected to be brought down by
boats (a last is equal to 30f hectolitres), 5,000 or 6,000
lasts of wheat, and 20,000 lasts of barley, will be
sent away as soon as possible. It is calculated that
nearly 1,000 boats will be necessary for this purpose.
The Bremen Gazette, announcing the arrival of an
American Consul, says that it is more probable that the
Grand Duchy is going to conclude a treaty of commerce
and navigation with the United States, or that it will
participate in the treaty, which the States has just con-
cluded with Hanover.

The town of Mountjoy, a few leagues of Aix la Cha-
pelle, is in danger of being swallowed up in parts, by the
sinking down of the mountain which overhangs it. It
is feared that the melting of the snow has led to this
catastrophe.
VIENNA, MARCH B.—Count Francis Stadian, the Go-
vernor of Trieste, arrived yesterday in Vienna. lie is
still spoken of as designed for the government of
Gallicia. Count Deyru is still here to discuss the rela-
tions of Cracow.

THE “CHRISTIAN COMMON-
WEALTH" FAVOURABLY ENTERTAINED
f,tY THE POPE.
We learn by letters from Rome that Mr. J. M. Morgan,
the benevolent and indefatigable projector of the Christian
Commonwealth, or self-supporting village of 300 families,
has been honoured by an interview with his Holiness the
Pope, at which he was permitted to explain his plan fi)r
ameliorating the condition of the working clasos. Ilia
[holiness was pleased to express the great interest which he
felt in the design, and his approbation of its charitable pur-
pose. He accepted copies of Mr. Morgan's work, the
" Christian Commonwealth," in French and English, and a
lithographic print illustrative of the proposed village: having
previously allowed a transparent painting of the same
to be placed in his apartment, and having devoted
to it considerable attention. The most patient consideration
has been given to the design by the different religious bodies
of Rome, especially by the Scotch and Irish colleges; by the
latter it was recognised as the most likely means, under
Providence, of averting the evils which afflict the sister
island. We learn, moreover, that the Pope has referred
Mr. Morgan's proposals to the examination of the Agricul-
tural Commission, of which the Cardinal Massimo is pre-
sident; and that it is e 'ected their report will be followed
up by the establishm6 of At model village in the Cam-
pagna di Roma. Such a movement on the part of the
head of the Catholic Church demands the utmost grati-
tude from Christians of all denominations; whom we
trust it will excite to emulation in a work so noble
and excellent, and so highly calculated to relieve the pre-
sent and prevent the future sufferings of the industrious
poor. The following extract from the Roman Advertiser, of
a date previous to that of Mr. Morgan's interview with his
Holiness, will show the estimation in which our worthy
countryman is held in the eternal city
" PROJECT 1,011. A CliltIgTIAN COLDLY.—In countries
where commercial prosperity has risen to its highest it is
often found that the moral and social condition of the labour-
ing classes has sunk to its lowest degree. The wealth of
nations is sometimes found to advance in an inverse ratio
with every exalted and spiritual interest of national life. In our
intense conviction that the only Cat holicon for these withering
tendencies of overgrowing wealth and luxury is the Church, the
grand social regenerator, we are yet happy to see any effort
of philanthropy to stein this current of evil, this gross prin-
ciple of materialism, whose blighting sway, like the Upas
tree, spreads death around to all that is noble, generous, and
holy ; even if this may appear impossible to reduce to prac-
tice. Such we are not disposed to think is the project
above-named, which Mr. J. M. Morgan, who is now in
Rome, has benevolently devoted himself to the further-
ance of, and is anxious to submit to the consideration of
his Holiness, who, as the Common Father of the Faithful,
is the proper person to be consulted on any project
aiming at the promotion of the principles of the
Gospel. The prospectus of this undertaking receives sanc-
tion from the names of several of the English nobility.
and highly respected ministers of the Protestant communion.
It states that the object is to be found in any, or all coun-
tries, Catholic or Protestant, where funds may be raised, a
model colony for the establishment of 300 families, under
the management of directors, renting about 1,000 acres of
land, with a church and public offices attached, schools,
farms, and a factory, so that all the essentials to social wel-
fare may be combined with the action of religious and moral
influences, and as much as by any outward agency can, a
life of virtue, peace, and comfort IN secured to all. The
theory of this little colony very much resembles that of the
Republic of Paraguay, which, under the guidance of the
Jesuit fathers, long presented the aspect of a moral oasis in
history, a contradiction to the selfish economy of anti-Cliri-
tian institutions.

Mr. Morgan observe, that if this plan was generally
understood it could be speedily adopted, and prove the means
of furnishing the destitute population of Ireland and Scotland,
and indeed of all countries, with immediate remunerating
employment in preparing the establishments,