The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

THE POOR-LAW.

We understand that the following is an abstract of the
opinion given by the Attorney and Solicitor-General, which
was referred to by Lord John Russell on Friday night. It is
dated Oct. 16, 1846:
"I. Two of the commissioners should sit as a board, and
they are not at liberty, as they seem to have considered
themselves to be, to distribute the business of the commission
amongst themselves, witheat eventually referring it to the
board.
" 2. The commissioners are not bound to have the attend-
ance of their secretary at their board meetings.
"3. The commissioners ought to exclude from the record
none of their correspondence that refers to their business
as commissioners.

"4. The commissioners are not bound to enter a minute of
opinion in every case, unless they shall finally differ. [lt
has even been suggested that they should register opinions.]
" 5. Every communication relating to the conduct of any
of the officers, or to the business of the commission, should
be addressed to the party concerned in an official shape
(although private correspondence respecting the business
they have to do is not forbidden to all, or any of the commis-
sions, for thus they may obtain information which is neces-
sary and useful, and need not be communicated to the board
under all circumstances).

The following is the opinion of an Assistant Poor-law Com-
missioner of the I'oor Removal Act :

" I have no hesitation in giving my opinion that the Poor
Removal Act operates most harshly upon the aged and in-
firm poor—upon the class of poor most deserving of our
sympathies. I have no hesitation in saying that, during
the whole period since the passing of the Act, I have never
visited a board of guardians, 1 have never visited a union, I
have never conversed with a person, without hearing the
greatest dissatisfaction expressed at the measure. I have
never known an instance in which approbation of the law has
been expressed. I have heard the greatest dissatisfaction
expressed at the measure by ratepayers, and by the poor
applying for relief. lam bound to say the sooner the Act of
last Session is repealed the better. The Act has a tendency
to induce the proprietors of close parishes to pull down their
cottages, and drive the poor from the place of their labour.
Everything is now done to force an irremovable person out
of a parish. The only paupers who have derived beueti
from the Act are the Scotch and Irish."

FOOD DISTURBANCES IN THE
NORTH.

(From the Edinburgh Advertiser.)
FIRING BY THE MILITARY Al' WICK.

Contrary to all expectation the turbulent spirit manifested
in some districts in the north, regarding the shipment of
food front the various port', has again manifested itself,
and been attended with disastrous results in the town of
Wick.

It appears that, in the course of last week, a vessel had
arrived at Wick to ship grain, but, by the interference of the
populace, this was prevented. Sheriff Thomson and the
authorities, however, deemed it necessary that protection
should be afforded to the exporters of the grain, and ap-
prehending that outrages might be committed, sent for
the aid of the military at Fort George. Accord-
ingly a detachment, consisting of one hundred and four
men of the 76th Regiment, under the command of Captain
Evans Gordon, was dispatched by the Pharos steamer,
and arrived at Wick on Tuesday. After being landed
they were quartered in the Temperance Hall. The authori-
ties now made preparations to protect the loading of the ves-
sel, and, on Wednesday, a number of constables were sworn
in, but the shipment of grain proceeded so slowly that they
were dismissed with an injunction to assemble if necessary.
The follewing are from the local papers :
(From the John 0' Groat Journal of Friday.)
Before dusk on 11' ednesday evening a party of the military
was marched down the quay to watch the vessel during the
night, and here commenced the most alarming part of the
whole proceedings. How a mob was created, there are
various statements; one thing is certain, previous to the
arrival of Cie military, the streets presented the usual
features of ordinary days. About seven o'clock the
whole remaining body of the soldiery were quickly
marched to join their comrades, on a shot being fired as a
signal from their party on the quay. At this time there was
a atesnacote,fextaheneitement. An immense gathering of the populace;
men, women, and children had asasembled, and, in other
and great
tdeep
excitement anxiety
pwasrevdaei depicted e dTi
The
ee
Sheriffve co
and
Provost Provost were present amongst the mob, who surrounded the
military on all hands. The Riot Act aas read by the Sheriff,
but this had not any effect in inducing the people to disperse
in peace. At this time the feelings of the inhabitants were
roused up to the highest possible pitch, for a direct collision
was a.sticipated every hour. The soldiers were divided into
several parties; and were ordered to disperse the mob at the
point of the bayonet. In this attempt several were wounded
but only slightly. The soldiers continued for some time
parading in different directions, which had the effect of scat-
tering the crowd. The prisoners were taken and lodged in
jail.
But the worst remains to be told. As a party were march-
ing from Pulteney-town, back to their quarters, when imme-
diately under the brae where the Academy is erected, a
volley of stones was thrown by individuals on the top of the
brae and the Sheriff and Provost were both struck. The
soldiers were immediately ordered by the Sheriff to fire, and
we deeply regret to say, that two individuals, a man and
a girl were wounded. The man, William Hougston, fore-
man cooper to Mr. David Davidson, did not form part of
the mob, nor was he with them at the time. According to
his own statement, which seems highly probably, he was
proceeding quietly home. A ball went through his right
hand, which was so shockingly mutilated, that the fin-
gers had to be cut off, and it is even doubtful if a farther
amputation will not have to be made. The other a girl,
named Macgregor, was wounded in the left arm, the ball
passing through the fleshy part, but we believe that the in-
jury done was not dangerous. About this time it is impos-
sible to depict the state of excitement which was visible in
every direction. Men, women, and children fled, on hearing
the report of the musketry and on learning that damage had
been done. Parents were anxiously running in search of
their children, while the crowd were giving expression to the
most vociferous shouts and yells. Soon after, with the ex-
ception of the guard at the vessel, all the military were or-
dered to their quarters, but throughout greater part of the
night, groups of the inhabitants were assembled at every
corner, where the unpleasant events of the evening were cane
vassed. Nothing occurred, however, to produce a breach of
the peace.