The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-13 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH l3, 1847.

of the culpable few. Ireland has hitherto been
abandoned to the discretion of her landowners. Par-
titioned into enormous estates by the questionable
munificence of successive monarchs, from ELI-
ZABETH downwards to WILLIAM awarded
to adventurers and loyalists in the way of either re-
compense or bounty Ireland has, from the re-
motest periods of her history, presented us only with
one monotonous and deplorable spectacle of suffering.
A cottier population has been multiplied on her soil
to an extent that foreboded, from its com-
mencement, some great catastrophe like the one
in which she is even now involved. An
overwhelming majority of her community has existed
for many generations under the ban of this terrible
alternative—either to subsist by sufferance under the
murderous extortion of her landlords, or to infest the
island like a vast army of " gaberlunzies." By this
evil system the maladies of Ireland have been
frightfully multiplied, and under its shadow
inendicity has become the national character-
istic. So enormously had these woes accu-
mulated, and so entirely had the poison of the
scheme eaten into the very substance of the Irish
constitution, that it required nothing less than an un-
paralleled crisis to effect the renovation of her decayed
powers, and the eradication of the numerous diseases
preying upon her vitals. It required a crisis of
convulsions, for it-is only by the throes of such a crisis
that abuses are destroyed en masse, and the whole phy-
sical and moral condition of a people renewed. That
crisis has arrived. Ireland has been stricken with
starvation : her potato-grounds have become pits of
vegetable corruption : her agriculture has been gene-
rally smitten by a mysterious and destructive power :
millions of her people—millions accustomed at the
best times to fare meagerly and live upon the
doles of a precarious benevolence—have been visited
with famine and disease, and the utter deprivation
of all the ordinary means of obtaining employment.
Out of those abysses of affliction, however, are
emerging not merely their present redemption, but
their ultimate and permanent prosperity.
Government has not only advanced manfully
and generously to the salvation of the starving
peasantry, but it has had the courage and
the wisdom to conceive a scheme by the
operation of which the recurrence of all the miseries
formerly incidental to Ireland will be impossible.
By the imposition of local rates proportioned to the
local rental, the local destitution will henceforth re-
ceive a local provision. That is the secret of the
measures introduced to Parliament by the Ministry.
It is the secret of political economy and of legislative
charity. It is the secret of the poor-laws. Grievous
as has been the clamouring against the introduction
of a plan like this into Ireland, it is, nevertheless, to be
introduced at once, and to be universally applied. Is
there not in this determination of the Legislature a
forethought compatible with its reputation, a bold-
ness equivalent to its activity, a justice propor-
tioned to its extraordinary liberality ? Let any
man review the course pursued by the Government
ince the commencement of the evils now rife in Ire-
land, let him consider how its generosity has vied in
its increase with the extension and development of
those evils, let him remember that whereas 30,000
only were at first employed on public works, the
number had risen, on the 27th of February
last, to no less than 708,228 ; that whereas
the amount exl,ended upon relief works' was in
September only 54,8781., it reached in February to
upwards of 944,0001. ; that arrangements were made
under its direction for the purchase of seed to the
value of 50,000/., and for the elevation of the provi-
sions in store to the extent of about 10,000 tons—let
him remember the ardour, and the energy, and the
incessant toil of the Legislature in behalf of Ireland
from the very opening of the session, and then de-
signate this Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill a rash Bill,
an onerous, or an injudicious Bill. The accusation
is impossible when the measure is considered in con-
nexion with the various arrangements making apart
from this proposition itself. The drainage plan, the recla-
mation of waste land, the improvements of the fisheries,
of the ports and of the harbours, would be severally
palliative—if the matter were considered as requiring
anything like palliation—of the i troductiun of the
poor-law into Ireland. But the introduction of that
system of relief to pauperism requires no extenuation,
as it is only synonymous with the rights of the Irish
peasantry.
Much might be written upon the philosophy of
the arguments in favour of the Government measure
which were advanced candidly and simply, and yet
most earnestly and most impressively, by LOtd JOHN
RUSSELL. Such an extension of our remarks, how-
ever, is altogether superfluous. We shall turn from the
consideration of that speech to one of the memberless
schemes which have latterly presented themselves as cal-
culated to assist the Irish multitude in redeeming their
own condition. While the zeal of the agriculturists
is directed to the irrigation, and ,mantsring, and
drainage of the soil for the purposes of growing
crops of a nutritious and profitable character, it is
most desirable that one branch of agricultural enter-
prise shall not be overlooked. The branch to; which we
allude is of a peculiarly national description, and its
prosperity would in a great measure ectisure the
prosperity of the agriculturists and the. manu-
facturers of Ireland. IVe mean, of course,
the systematic cultivation of flax. At pre-
sent we have not an oppportunity of entering
more into the enumeration of the advantage is certain
to accrue from the culture of flax than by "extracting
a brief, but significant, calculation from Mr. DICK.
SON'S work upon this important commodity, page
167. That gentleman there mentions the circum-
stance of a tenant of the Dean of .Dromore
growing on three statute acres flax to the
amount of nearly 120 stones, which, sold at tfit'se mode-
rate price of 15s. per stone, would give a :return of
901. Under all circumstances, however, says the
writer quoted, this farmer "has a certainty of 100
stones, which will realise him 751." .Here are
inferences from that calculation which olinnot be
treated lightly, and the more especially at this
juncture :

" This flax is now in process of conversion iinto cambric
pocket-handkerchiefs, is capable of being spun to 30 hanks
to the pound, and is to be spun by hand. Mark, now the
employment this will give.
"It will give constant employment for twelve. months to
132 women to spin it ; 18 weavers will be occupied a like
period in weaving it; and it will employ 40 women a year to
hem-stitch (or vein) the handkerchiefs; thus givit g constant
employment for twelve months to 190 persons.
" It is curious to trace the result of the process. which this
flax is now undergoing. It will produce 210 vneihs of cam-
bric, each web containing five dozen handkerzb iefs; each
dozen will be worth 405., and the entire, when tin ished, will
be worth 2,1001.

While the Government is taking a comprehensive
survey of the capacities of the Irish soil a.%d of Irish
industry, the cultivation a flax should by no means
be disregarded ; it should form one of th e accom-
paniments of the Poor-law introduction.

By later intelligence received from America, it
would appear that the dissensions excittd in the
Senate by the 3,000,000 Bill give little promise of
immediate termination. One proposition for the
amicable settlement of the Mexican warA ire is suc-
ceeded by another in quick succession, ..and all of
them equally calculated to effect their avowed
object. Mr. CALUOVN, at one moment, proposes
a most extravagant scheme for bringing the adja-
cent republic to its senses, namely, the: establish-
ment of a continuous line from the mouth...of the Rio
Grande, by the river, to El Passo, and so. -westwards
towards the northern extremities:of Califorri:4'a. By this
plan it is presumed by Mr. CALHOUN that the coun-
trymen of SANTA ANNA will be very sck icitous to
enter into a cordial alliance with their invadi u-s. Most
probable inference ! The filching from th e7.n of their
must valuable boundaries would render a. :people ex-
ceedingly solicitous for a friendly alliance 'with their
robbers ! Mr. CASS, on the contrary, is aml 'OW of be-
holding the valorous SCOTT and the indoi ni.table Z A-
C lIARIC TAYLOR marching triumphantly intt, the centre
of the Mexican federation. The wrangling of the
Senate is answered in a somewhat contempt iblo man-
ner by the soldiers of the United States.• General
YLOR still continues comfortably located at Mon-
terey, while his successor tarries at Brazos, ',Santiago,
waiting the arrival of transport; troops, raid ammu-
nition. Among the defenders one fresh movement is
alone reported, namely, that SANT A. ANNA,
at the head of 15,000 men, had withd3lrwn from
San Luis Potosi, and proceeded inwards towards the
capital. From such unaccountable fluct.aa tions as
these, the war between Mexico and the Unite d States
gives every indication of being protracted and blood-

less. If the latter characteristic be only visible in
the strife, we shall not have to mourn the former with

so much earnestness.

The Railway Commissioners have published their
first report, in pursuance of the resolution of the
House of Commons, " that all railway Bills shall be
referred to the Commissioners for their report to the
House upon certain points, previously to such Bills
being considered in Committees of the House." In
the present instance the projects of the South-Eastern
Company, are eight in number, five of which are placed
in Group No. 1, and the remainder in No. 3,
form the subjects of the report. The Commis
sioners state the impossibility of their being respon-
sible for the correctness of the information that could
only be obtained from the companies themselves, but
at the same time do full justice to the company in
the present instance, for the great readiness they ex-
hibited in supplying the requisite answers to their
inquiries, and state that they see no reason to doubt
the accuracy of the information so given.
In consequence of the above resolution, every
existing company applying for fresh powers to Par-
liament, must render a complete account of its
stewardship, and show in what manner, and to
what extent, it has executed the powers granted
by any former Act or Acts, and the report is to
state the opinion of the Commissioners thereon, and
also as to any special provisions with which it may in
any case be expedient to accompany the grant of any
new powers. A salutary check will thus be held over the
several companies, as there are few, indeed, that will
not have occasion to apply to the Legislature at some
time or another, and the expose to which they will
necessarily be subjected will prevent any abuse of the
trusts reposed in them. These inquiries, however,
appear, in the present report, to have been restricted
to the pecuniary affairs of the companies ; and we
shoul.l gladly have seen them further extended to the
nature and sufficiency of the accommodation provided
for the public, in return for the virtual monopoly con-
ceded to them, the cl eapness and moderation of their
fares; tolls, and charges; the number of trains running
every day ; and whether any and what additional
number would be required for the public convenience,
and the giving of every due facility to the traffic,
whether of passengers or goods, particularly
the number of third-class trains so dispatched ;
the speed attained, and the goodness of the carriages
provided for the poorer classes. We conceive that
information on all these points would be extremely
useful, and that special provisions may fairly be in-
troduced into the Acts of any of the companies who
have hitherto failed in their duty to the public, re-
quiring them to amend in any of these particulars
where they have been found in fault, before any new
powers are conceded.

The eight Bills now applied for will, if sanctioned
by the Legislature, enable the South-Eastern Corn.
pany to raise additional capital to the extent of
3,025,7501., and to borrow 1,007,8101., while by the
former Acts, twenty in number, it had power to
raise a capital of 6,415,0331., and to borrow
2,218,71 C/. Of their capital money there has been
received 4,290,0751. Bs. 10d., and 3,656,4201. 55. re-
mains to be paid, showing that the company have
sustained a loss of 244,5041. 6-.2d., in conse-
quence, it is stated, of the forfeiture of some of the
earliest shares, which, when sold, in many instance s
did not realise the amount of the calls due upon them.
Another singular circumstance connected with the
company is, that on various occasions they issued
to their proprietors shares of a lower pecuniary
amount than their original shares, but which, never-
theless, were entitled to equal dividends. We find,
therefore, shares of 501,, 251., 321., 331. Cs. Bd., and
301., all of which participate equally in the profits of
the company. The Commissioners, however, are of
opinion that, as these new shares were issued to the
holders of the original stares, the interests of the pub-
lic will not be materially affected by these transac-
tions, provided that in any future calculation of
profits, with a view either to the revision of fares,
or the sale of the railway, under the provisions of
the 7th and Bth Vic., c. 85, the different shares are
reckoned at the amounts at which they were re-
spectively issued, - and not as 50/. shares, as they
have been erroneously termed in share lists. The
different dealings of the company, either by way of
purchase or loan, are set forth, and a particular re-
ference is made to the purchase of Folkstone Har-
bour, which, if the transaction were now pending, or
if the arrangements were to be authorised by any of
the present Bills, the Commissioners would think it
their duty to report specially on. They now, how-
ever, only allude to it as an example of a transaction
to which in future the attention of Parliament ought
to be specially directed. The Commissioners most
justly reprobate in the strongest manner a
custom which has extensively prevailed, and which
may be considered as having received the tacit per-
mission of Parliament, and for which, therefore, no
peculiar blame is ascribable to the company. It is
the custom of directors signing the subscription con-
tracts for large sums on the understanding that it is
solely on behalf of the company, and that they are
not to be called on for the sums for which
they appear liable upon their contracts. This the
Commissioners state to be a violation of the real
spir • it of the standing orders, although it may be con-
sidered a technical compliance therewith, and we fully
admit the sufficiency of the reasons adduced for that
opinion ; they also question the propriety of compa-
nies making the Parliamentary deposit out of funds
authorised to be raised for other purposes.
We would gladly have seen some allusion to the
open third•class carriages, exposed to all the incle-
mency of the weather, and without seats for the
passengers to sit down, the
impropriety
of which has been exposed by our correspondent
" VIGILANS" on a former occasion. There is no notice
either of the increase of fares adopted immediately
after the termination of last session, after they had
pressed the moderation of their former charges on
the Committees as a reason why further powers
should be granted. These are subjects well worthy
the attention of the Legislature on thepresent occasion.
We shall, on an early occasion, give the report in
extenso.

A Vienna letter, of the Ist, announces the arrival of
the Queen of BAVARIA in that capital, with the inten
tion of making a long visit. Her MAJESTY alighted at
the Palace of the Archduke ALBERT, who is her son-
in.law.

A letter from Constantinople, of the 18th ult., in
the Augsburg Gazelle, says : " The letter which
King OTHO has written to the SULTAN relative to
the difference that has arisen with respect to M.
MUSSURUS, is said to be couched in the most con-
ciliatory terms. King Ors() assures the SULTAN
of his most friendly intentions, but at the same time
complains strongly of the conduct of M. MUSSURUS
which he attributes to malevolent intentions. His MA•
JESTY adds that, in testifying to M. MUSSURUS his dis-
pleasure at his conduct relative to Colonel KANITASSOP,
he had no intention of offending either the SULTAN or
the Divan."

Madrid journals of the 6th instant have arrived.
The Herald& states, that henceforth a monthly report
of the operations in the Finance Department of the Go-
vernment is to be published in the Gaccta, showing a
report of the receipts and expenses of the Treasury, the
general balance, &c.

In the Chamber of Deputies_ tho debate on the
Address still continues.

The Barcelona Fonzento, of the sth, publishes another
most ferocious " Bandu" of the Captain-General of
Catalonia, BRETON, against such as may assist or connive
ut the Montemoliaist movements.

MADRID BOLBA, 111Artcll 6.—The Three per Cents. closed
at 303/4 for cash; the Five per Cents. at 191/1 ; the Passives
at 5:r4 ; and the Coupons at 17.

We have received the Paris papers of Thursday.
The Journal des liccbats has a long article, written
for the purpose of allaying tha alarm which prevails in
consequence of the continued increase in the price of

corn. It says—
" The prices of corn have been rising generally and con-
tinually throughout Western Europe. In two-thirds of
France the hectolitre (22 imperial gallons) is at about 401. ;
but the price is still greater in Belgium. It is also very
nearly the average price in England. It is asked if this
high price is at its utmost reach. and, if it should continue,
to what point it will attain. Everybody asks what is to be
done to prevent a recurrence of such extreme dearness of
the most necessary of all the provisions of life. The increase
at this moment is caused from the stores in the entrepOts
having only very limited quantities left in them. It is by Mar-
seilles, Havre, and Bordeaux that we receive the supply that
is indispensable. No one has any doubt of the existence of
this supply. Nature this year has performed this act of com-
pensation which she never refuses ; penurious towards several,
regions, one of which unfortunately is ours, she has been
liberal towards others Therefore bread-corn will not fail.
However, at this period of the year, the transport from
abroad is exceedingly difficult, and indeed, almost impossible.

Corn cannot be brought in, at least in any great quantities,
from America, because the internal canals of the new conti-
nent, 1);,- it must be brought to the ports, are frozen.
From. a sitililar cause, the present is not the period at which
the port of Odessa draws from the country from which
it is supplied the quantity of corn it exports. We have
in our granaries and stores enough to enable us to wait
for arrivals, however long they may be delayed. But the
absence of large quantities of imported corn in the entrepOts
is not the less fat, and nothing more is necessary to cause a
rise in price. As long as this cause subsists it cannot be
expected that the rise should stop. Such is the rule of trade.
Whenever the demand exceeds the supply in a iarge pro-
portion, the prices increase. Nevertheless, if there be dis-
turbances to aggravate the state of things, and the effect of
which would be to convert into an absolute dearth what is
now only a rise in price, but against which every precaution
has been taken by the Government, and which the good
sense of the citizens would immediately put down, there is
every reason to hope that the probability of large arrivals at
the end of April will moderate the rise."

The Debats concludes by arguing in favour of
free trade, as one of the greatest remedies for the
calamities of bad seasons, as it tends to keep up
such an intercourse between nations as to enable them
to rely upon each other for the mutual supply of their
wants.

The Constitutionnel has the following on the Bill before
the Chamber of Deputies, authorising the employment
of steam frigates in towing ships laden with corn :
" The committee, charged to examine the demand of
1,037,386 f., for the keeping up for six months of steamers
to be employed in towing vessels laden with corn, has ter-
minated its labours, and the Bill will be discussed to-mor-
row. The committee proposes to accord the credit asked
for. However, the report does not omit pointing out certain
objections that may be brought against the Bill. First of
all, astonishment is expressed that the royal navy is not in
a position to effect from its own resources the towage of
vessels laden with corn. The Chamber is by no means
sparing of funds when the object is t• develope the re-
sources of this department, but it is on condition that it will
be able to suffice for all eventualities, and that so simple an
incident as towing vessels in the Dardanelles, the Straits of
Gibraltar, and the Channel, shall not take it.unawares, and
cause it to ask for fresh aid. Secondly, the motive cannot
be understood which has caused a preference to be givon for
this duty of towing to large frigates of 450 horse-power,
over steamers of from 160 to to 220 horse-power. The latter
burn less than half the quantity of fuel, and they can tow
several vessels together; they, in fact, do
,this daily in Al-
geria. They are, no doubt, less rapid; but, on the other
hand, it is easy to increase their number. These steamers of
160 horse-power are more useful for this service than a frigate
of 540, such as the Vauban, which is to be so employed,
and they consume a much less quantity .of coals. Besides,
there are at the present moment several steam corvettes
of from 160 to 220 horse-power, lying unemployed, to make
use of which would effect a great economy. Is it not to be
feared that the desire to give high commands has had much
to do with the choice of vessels, of from 450 to 540 horse-
power?"

It is not alone the desire to give high commands that
has had to do with the choice of these large steam
frigates as tug boats. Under pretence of tugs, France
will have a large fleet of steam frigates in the Darda-
nelles, ready to take advantage of those hostilities which
her Ambassador, M. Pis CATORY, is endeavouring to
excite between Greece and Turkey, and to aid the Bey
of TUNIS against his liege lord ; while, at the same
time, by having a similar fleet, under a similar pretence,
in the Straits of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean will, for
a time, be completely blockaded, in fact turned into a
French lake. We trust that the movements of these
steam tugs will be narrowly watched.
" It is rumoured," says the Courrier Francais, " that
the suppression of the native regiments forms part of
a complete plan for re-organising the army of Africa,
which is to be carried into execution at the beginning of

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
anted
1., U.l T T() Tli) E.
n.li w•
and American sorts have been %d. per lb. lower. Sales of
the week, 18,100 bales. Stock now, 453,380 bales, against
835,370 bales at this time last year.
The sale of Railway Shares ycs'erday, by Messrs. Lamond
and Co., was flat, and the quotations were again a shade
lower. The following are a few of the principal sales :
East Indian
Great Western of Bengal 0 6 6
Madrid and Valencia.
Great Northern ( London and York Reg.) 2 6 0
Manchester and Southampton 0 17 6
North British Extension
Shrewsbury and Birmingham (B) 1 10 0
North Staffordshire
Leeds and Thirsk, Preference
South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole 2 0 6
Leicester & Bedford, Exchange Certificate 0 12 6
Eastern Counties ..........•...
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate, ex int 4 13 0
Newcastle and Berwick
Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire 0 9 0
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston
Accounts of September 12, from Hobart Town, state that
some excitement continued to prevail on the subject of trans-
portation, and that Lord Stanley's dispatches had excited
much dissatisfaction.
From Sydney there are dates of October 3. A long debate
on the Crown lands seemed to be the principal subject of
interest in the colony, and a more equitable holding thereof
was still the object of the parties interested. Trading affairs
were steady.
An arrival from the Cape of Good Hope furnishes infor-
mation of January 9. The troops were marching into the
Kafir country to chastise the chief, Pato, who was still re-
fractory. The eastern province was freed from the maraud-
ing parties of the enemy.
The English Securities have been extremely heavy. Con-
sols are worth 881,E 1/2 for Money, and 88% 1% for Account.
Exchequer-bills have been ls. to 4s. premium.
The Spanish Bonds have been very quiet. The Three per
Cents. realising 34 to 3415. Mexican Stock has being heavy
at 21% %. Brazilian is firm at 87.
In Shares there has been a good deal doing, but at lower
rates generally.

btrb Ebitto

THE FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES

ONE
O'CLOCK.
Three per Cent. Consols Annuities .. .. 88% %
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Anns.
Long Annuities, Expire Jan. 5.1860 ..
Ditto, 30 years, Jan. 5, 1860 .. .. 9 3-16 9 3-16
Bank Stock for April 14 .. .. .. .. 204,4
Consols for Account, April 15 .. .. .. 88 V, ,414 88%
Consols, Scrip ~. .. .. • • . Oli % dis % dis
Exchequer Bills. 1 %d. 11y d.
1,0001... .. .... 4 1— pm. 1 p
COOL .. •• 1— pm. 1 p
Ditto, Small .... 3 1 5 pm. 5 p

BRITISH FUNDS.

CLOSING
PRICES.
88M

ONE
O'CLOCK.