The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

tion and distress that are to be found in Imd. The '
Ministry will do much, but they must be ed and as-
sisted in their work of benevolence and shay; public
relief must be tied down and restricted win certain
limits, within which it will be impossib for every
case to be included. A general, indiscrinate relief
afforded to every one, whether earned (not, would
lead to an entire disorganization of the inework of
society, would damp and check thexercise of
private charity and private exertionind would
speedily lead to evils even greater U those for
which it was intended to provide a reme. All that
can be done by the Executive is to and employ-
ment on an extensive scale, and to grarfunds in aid
of those that may be procured by prite subscrip-
tions. And well have those now in off discharged
the duty they owed to the country. Ivould be ri-
diculous to expect that they could pr provisions
into Ireland sufficient to supply thevants of all,
and if they entered the field competitors
they must do so, for that competim would at
once discourage the private trader, ar prevent him
from dealing in a commodity in web he would
have to encounter so powerful an op)nent—a rival
who would be contented not merely treap no profit
from the speculation, but to sustain toss that would
be ruinous to any possessed of les gigantic re-
sources. 'We doubt not that the enti policy of the
Government with respect to Irelandwill hereafter,
when everything can be more matuay considered
and calmly inquired into, receive uniersally the ap-
probation that has been accorded to i'by those com-
petent to arrive at sound conclusions. The suggestion
of Sir GEORGE GREY, "that means could be taken
for raising as well in England as in Ireland
contributions for the relief of extreme cases
of want and destitution, nt capable of
being relieved by the existinE poor-law, or
by the works in progress or hereater to be sanc-
tioned," appears to present the most 'easible means of
supplying the desideratum, and provding in the least
objectionable manner the require( and necessary
assistance to the Government measules ; and this, we
are happy to say, will take place or the most exten-
sive scale, and under the highest ani most propitious
auspices. Already it appears that a committee is
. . - all A. 1[1111•La a.m. us, • -
some of them named by and on the part of the Go-
vernment, who will not only contribute themselves
largely, but from their character, influence, and the
prestige attached to their names, but above all the
sacred cause in which they are about to act, will
afford an ample guarantee for the judicious applies-
tion of the sums that may be collected, and secure an
amount adequate to the purpose and honourable
to the donors. The funds so collected are to pass
through a committee in Dublin of men of rank and
station of all classes, creeds, and parties, who will
distribute it through the relief committees, according
to the exigencies of their respective districts. There
will, therefore, be no possible excuse for any with-
holding of contributions from a fear that they may
not be duly applied to the purposes contemplated. We
will not so far wrong our countrymen as to doubt
that they will come forward speedily and efficiently,
that they will from their abundance spare a portion
to the unhappy and wretched. They may do so with-
out the necessity of an abstinence from any:of the com-
forts or necessaries of life : from their superflui-
ties they may provide necessaries for thousands
and tens of thousands of their fellow-creatures who
are now in the lowest state of misery and destitution.
By so doing, by acting in a manner worthy of Chris-
tian men, they will add a fairer page to their national
history than ever celebrated the triumphs of conquest,
or the acquisition of territory, by war or diplomacy.
That benevolence that has been extended to the most
remote parts of the earth, that has soothed the afffic-

tions of the unhappy in every clime, that has pro-
vided instruction for the heathen, and struck the
fetters from the slave, that has been extended to the
brute creation, and has endeavoured to prevent unne-
cessary suffering from being inflicted on any of
GOD'S creatures, will be extended to our Irish brethren
in this season of trial and sore affliction. We trust,
ere many days have elapsed, that it will be our pleas-
ing duty to record a general and liberal subscription
from all, according to their means. Promptitude and
dispatch is all important ; when once a collEction is
in progress through all parts of the kinglom, a
QUEEN'S Letter may fairly be looked for in As aid,
and from what the Government has already done,
aad what fell from Sir GEORGE GREY, in his letter,
we may predict, with the utmost certainty, that such
will then be granted. Let every person act as if the
matter depended on his individual exertions, and the
result will more than fulfil our warmest anticipa-
tions, and bring consolation to the abodes of misery
and destitution.

Accounts have been received from Portugal by her
MAJESTY'S steamer Rattler, which left Lisbon on the
27th, Oporto on the 29th, and Vigo on the 30th.
The intelligence she brings is important. On the
22d an action was fought at Torres Vedras between
the forces of Bomnm and SALDANIIA, in which the
former was totally defeated, owing principally to
the desertion of a portion of his troops (700 men),
and his forces completely dispersed. BOMFIM and
his staff were taken prisoners, together with 2,000 48
his followers. The action wag well fought on both
sides, and Boairm and his officers were allowed to
retain their swords. The official dispatches of SAI,
DANIIA, announcing his victory, will be found in ano-
ther column. Of the QUEEN'S army there are 57
killed, 316 wounded, and 13 missing. Of BoMruu's
280 were killed or escaped, and the rest either surren-
dered or joined SALDANIIA. BohNotnismooanwda his staff
the prisoners were
oi wno e rbt e
ho
aec
ro
dnc dut
hus
toe
ot
Ded dyi a to
ofoa fLisrs
gAb
oLo
tpt
A, and
, off Belem Castle. 'While
NnA.
treated in the kindest manner, but since
they have been on board the Diana they have
been used with great harshness. Bownw con-
trived to send off a dispatch to DAS ikrrAs, who
immediately commenced a retreat, at the head of 300
regulars, on Coimbra, to effect a junction with LOULE.
He sent dispatches to VASCONCELLAS, at Santarem,
who evacuated that place at the head of
2,500 men and 100 cavalry, having previously
spiked all the guns, and also fell back on Coimbra,
SALDANIIA having embodied in his army the 700
deserters from Bomrim s troops, marched from Torres
Vedras on the 28th in pursuit of DAS ANTAS. It is
said that DAS ANTAS will, when he has
effected a junction with LouLE and VAS..
coNcELLAs retire on Oporto. CASAL has expelled
the Miguelite forces under M`DoNNELL from Braga.
The Miguelites and Insurgents are negotiating a
junction. Things are in statu quo at Oporto. BOMFIM
has written to Sir W. PARKER, soliciting his good
offices to procure for his companions and himself
some mitigation of the sufferings they are en-
during. lie states that they are crowded almost
he food
Duke
o r bedsof Tto lieT upon.
to suffocation, the ship being already nearly full of
political detenus, and that they are fed upon brown
bread and the coarsest fare, and are not allowed to
procure for themselves even with their own money
either
ERCEIRA is still a prisoner at
Oporto.

Madrid papers to the 28th have arrived.
A preparatory sitting of the Senate was held on
that day, at which the Duke DE CASTRO TORRENO
D" esided. A deputation of twelve was ap-
pointed to meet their Majesties the QUEEN and
the KING CONSORT on the 31st. A meeting
of about one hundred Moderado deputies was
held on the same day, at which Senor PACHECO an-
nounced his intention of opposing the present Minis-
try. A Cabinet Council was to be held in the even-
ing to settle the wording of the QUEEN'S speech, and
to decide as to who should be the Ministerial candi-
dates for the Presidencies of the Chambers.
MADRID BoLsA, DEC. 28.—The Three per Cents.
were done on the 28th at 33i- ; the Five per Cents.,
20 13-1 G ; Passives, 6i ; Coupons, 19.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday.
The New Year's-day addresses to the KING and the
Message of the President of the UNITED STATES are
the subjects of comment in them. In commenting
on the latter, the Journal des Dibats, in strong lan-
guage, condemns Mr. Poia's attempted vindication
of the Mexican war. The Constitutionnel says
that the Message is intended as a refuta-
tam of the charges brought against Mr. Poi,;s•
administration by the Whigs
" , and sneeringly
adds— It may be thought this refutation is more