The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-25 00:00:00

THE WHEAT CROP.

We notice with the greatest pain a circumstance
which, if we believed it could become universal, would
indeed make the measure of our calamities to overflow.
We rerer to the statement abroad that symptoms of
failure have developed themselves in the young wheat
crop. This failure was first adverted to in the Drog-
heda Argus of Saturday last, and it was said to extend
through the counties of Meath and Louth, as well as
Dublin. At the meeting in the Music Hall, yesterday,
the respected Secretary, Mr. Frazer, added his testimony
to the fact, and as we believe he is largely connected
with the practical agriculturists of the country, especially
in the counties adjoining Dublin, we are compelled to
give some weight to his assertion, though we wouldgladly
believe it to be exaggerated. We find it stated in some
of the public journals that in several instances the wheat
fields, thus disclosing symptoms of decay, have been
ploughed up, and other crops sown. , Let us hope, how-
ever, that the parties acting thus were premature, and
that, had they suffered them to remain, they would
have found the young shoots to revive again. The
second winter, which set in towards the middle of
February, and the bleak north-east wind which pre-
vailed for many days, were well calculated not only
to retard the growth of the young plants, but to parch
and make them sickly also. Yet we have no doubt
the root was sound, and we are the more confirmed in
this opinion because we find that in the rich district in
and around Limerick, where the same appearances had
been apparent, they are gradually giving way before the
genial spring weather, and the soft rains which hare
fallen during the last eight days. We trust the same
effects from the same cause will be general.
At the same time, we cannot but say that it augments
our anxiety and our pain to recollect that it was in those
districts where now the wheat-blight is supposed to
operate in which the potato-blight was first developed
also. Absit omen.—Weekly Register.

THOMAS GREY, THE RAILWAY PIONEER.—If it
were not for the apathy which now prevails on nearly all
public questions, and the increased demands which every
one has found upon his resources, we should reiterate
the claims of the railway pioneer, who spent the best years
of his life in urgingupon the attention of Government the
importance of adopting a national railway system—who
spent the money that would have rendered him independent
in these his latter days, in endeavouring to demonstate the
practicability of a plan which would havegreatly increased
the national wealth and have rapidly advanced the welfare
of the people. Mr. Grey was, however, derided as a fool
and a madman. The newspapers inserted his advertise-
ments, but pitied his infatuation. Official people smiled
at his plan, and railed at his pertinacity: and now when
all admit that if listened to, he would have done the State
good service—he has the mortification to see his argu-
guments coolly appropriated by others, and the merits of
his far-seeing judgment forgotten in the blind adulation of
the mere speculator who has grown rich at the public
expense, and through the public neglect of Thomas
Grey's plans. Had Mr. Grey been listened to, we should
have had a national railway sytem long ago—the best
lines would have been made in the cheapest manner, and
an ever-increasing source of wealth would have enlarged
the revenue and added to the conveniences of the people.
---Weskrn Times.