The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-15 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15, isv,

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Fen. 11.—Daily the accounts from Ireland be-
come more gloomy and alarming. The extreme severity of
the weather has aggravated the horrors of destitution, and
famine is extending its ravages in the south and west. The
very heavy fall of snow throughout the country has caused
a general suspension of the public works—almost the sole
source of sustenance for at least two millions of human beings,
and although the regulation established by the Lord-Lieu-
tenant entitles the labourers in such a contingency to a
moiety of the ordinary wages, yet, where provisions are at
a famine price, the poor creatures will not be able to purchase
food enough to keep body and soul together.
Although arrivals of flour and Indian corn continue at
Limerick and other ports, prices continue to advance. Alto-
gether the prospects are hourly becoming more disheartening.
Many more deaths from starvation are reported in the pro-
vincial journals. The Mayo Constitution contains the parti-
culars of ten inquests, on all of which the verdicts were
"died from starvation."
Various presentment sessions have been held, under the
Lord-Lieutenant's proclamations, but the votes were limited
to sums required fur completing works. At the sessions of
Markethill, county of Armagh, on Tuesday, no presentment
was passed, because the local gentry and farmers are endea-
vouring, by employment and voluntary relief, to provide for
the destitute.
In the King's county and other districts, meetings are in
progress to promote the tillage of the land, and the sowing
of the spring crops.
RuraonucrtvE EMPLOYMENT ComistmEE.—Meetings of
this committee were held on Tuesday and yesterday. A
petition in favour of Lurd George Bentinck's Irish railway
project was unanimously adopted, and a vote of thanks to
Lord George was passed. It was recommended that peti-
tions in favour of the project should be adopted throughout
the country, and to be forwarded for presentation in the
House of Commons to Lord George Bentinck, and in the
Upper House to Earl Fitzwilliam.
With respect to the New Poor-law Bill, a petition was
adopted by the committee, strongly objecting to any right of
relief, and to the system of out-door relief in any shape. The
petition requires that the electoral divisions, instead of the
unions, should form the area of taxation, and that even a
smaller area than the electoral divisions should if possible be
adopted, with a view to protect improving landlords from the
pauperism of negligent proprietors. But the most remark-
able feature of the petition is a suggestion for a general pro-
perty-tax, limited in amount, for the support of the poor.
GOVERNMENT SUPPLY OF SEED POTATOES.
The Cork Examiner contains the following important letter
from Messrs. Keeling and Hunt, who have been commis•
sioned by Government to look out in the different grain
markets of the world for a supply of seed. The letter is ad-
dressed to Mr. D. Kenhealy, of Cork :
" Monument-yard, London, Feb. 6, 1847.
" Dear Sir,—We regret to state, that all our exertions to
obtain potatoes for seed have turned out a failure. France'
has prohibited the exportation. The `Azores' have like-
wise stopped the shipment, the drain of Indian corn from
that quarter compelling the authorities to fall back upon the
crop of potatoes, to prevent a dearth of provisions them-
selves, in proof of which the shipment of Indian corn is now
stopped as well.
"We have tried ' Russia,' both by steam and sailing
vessel ; both parcels were landed in a bad state, and dis-
heartened us from another attempt. We have sent out in-
structions for a supply from 'Bermuda,' which will be our
last resource. _ _

"It is very evident that Ireland must fall back upon
grain food. We look to the present visitation as a provi-
dential warning as to the futility of depending upon so pre-
carious a root as the potato. The reflection, no doubt, will
be severe, but it will tend to the regeneration of Ireland,
and God grant it so, speedily, with the exercise of his
mercy.—Faithfully yours,

"KEELING AND HUNT."
Mr. Owen, of Mar Weld, county of NS'exford, has pub-
shed a letter, with a view of dissuading small farmers from
sowing potatoes. He states that failures in the early-sown
potatoes are occurring, and urges those farmers, who are
husbanding the remnant of their sickly store for seed, to
consume them at once.

SHOCKING MURDER OF A HUSBAND AND WIFE.
LimEnrcK, FEB. 10.—A double murder, which could not
be exceeded in atrocity in the most savage country, was per-
petrated in the town of Askeaton, on Saturday night last.
The unhappy wife,
victims were David Fitzgerald and his an
industrious and Toff, nding couple. The murders were com-
mitted with Fitzgeralsrs ow hat ht, which was found
covered with blood, and we learn from one who visited the
awful scene upon Sunday morning, that the spectacle was
most revolting and hideous—the gashes upon the faces of the
unfortunate victims, their brains protruding, and the floor of
the house was literally deluged with blood. The fatal blows
must have been rapidly inflicted, and with deadly force, as
no alarm was heard, although the house was in the centre of
several others, and within ten yards of the police.barraek,
and at a very early hour of the night, as Fitzgerald or his
wife had not undressed or retired to bed. Robbery is sup-
posed to have been the object that led to this horrifying
crime, as Fitzgerald's boxes were found unlocked and appa-
reritly rifled. A man. named John M'Carthy, who worked
as a journeyman weaver with Fitzgerald, and who was at
Fitzgerald's house on Saturday night, was suspected, and
surrendered himself to the police An inquest is holding the
last two days before Dr. Enraght, the coroner, and an intelli-
gent jury, assisted by Carrol Naish, Esq., one of the local
magistrates of the district.

The officers of the Royal Horse Artillery, Wool
wich, gave, on Thursday last, an entertainment to their
,riends, to which were invited the nobility and gentry of the
neighbourhood. The Ethiopian Serenaders, from the
St. James's Theatre, were specially engaged on the occasion,
and gave a selection from their popular repertory with their
accustomed success and effect. A large party assembled to
do honour to the hospitality of their gallant hosts.
REMARKABLE RECOVERY OF BANK NOTES.—On
Thursday a very singular circumstance happened to a man
named James Wilkins, a person employed in the London
Docks. He was in possession of several bank notes, to the
amount of 501., which he kept ill his waistcoat pocket. At
a late hour in the evening he went into the Town of Rams-
gate public-house, Wapping, where he partook of some re-
freshment in the parlour, after which he departed to his
residence. Yesterday morning he missed his bank notes,
and hastened to the public house where he had been on the
previous night. He made various inquiries, and had given
up the property as lost, when, on searching the parlour, he
discovered the missing notes under the wood in the fire-
grate, which had evidently been picked up by the servant in
a hurry and placed there at a late hour the previous night,
as it was her usual custom to lay the fire before she went to
bed. If the owner bad been five minutes later the fire
would have been lighted, and the property of course con-
sumed.
HORRIBLE DESTITUTION.—A gentleman, recently
from the west coast, assures us that a family in Kishorn,
Lochcarron, have subsisted for several weeks this seasons on
boiled grass and nettles, without tasting any other spiefof
food. He adds, that nothing whatever has been done for
the poor by the parish beyond giving
of meal, and thinks that, ere summer, Jeantown wi .
the paupers a few be
be
as utterly destitute as Skibbereen, in Ireland.—Ross-shire
Advertiser.
It is mentioned in Westminster Hall that Mrt.
Cockburn, Q.C., intends, at the termination of the prreeginee
session to relinquish his Parliamentary professional
in Committees of the House, with a view to his entering
Parliament at the next general election.
ANOTHER STEAMER LOST.—she
Creole, which was long employed between New
iloe deal): and
packet
Bordeaux, has been wrecked on the eastern coast of
e the
Island of Cuba. She left Bordeaux on the Bth of Nov tu-
ber, with 135 persons on hoard, including crew and paessengers. On the 19th December she was driven on
remained
sub-
marine rocks off Nuevitas, Canal of Bahama, and
ts.
in this perilous situation during two days and three niughers
All hopes of getting her eff, notwithstanding the passe
gend,
added their exertions to those of the crew, being at
ard, and
the captain ordered her masts to be cut by the b
turned every effort to save the passengers; but before insane
could be taken the ship broke up. Out of 155 perso , .
82 reached the shore. Among those who were lost
ewlausuttniel
captain, M. Jules Cayol, who refused to quit the ;eine saved
every other living person had been got off.
have been well treated by the inhabitants, and were expect-
ing to leave shortly for New Orleans.
..... A de-
TROOPS FOR THE CAPE OF GOOD iE
tachment, consistin of 35 non-commissioned
men of the Royal Sappers and Miners at Woolwic
ss
bn
from their barracks, headed by the excellent liairloarmuga,danodf
the corps, to the Royal Arsenal, on Saturdayf r Gravesend,
embarked in the Lord Vivian Ordnance sloop hi for con-
to be transferred to the Senator hired freightibse p
p vacancies
veyance to the Cape of Good Hope, to
led it• Miners at that
o
in the two companies of Royal Sappers !% s_ and five men
sta ion. Two officers of the Royal Ergin;earAans were also
of the Royal Sappers and Miners, from Chatham
of the Royal Artill ry, consisting of 15
Inenembarked at the
to join at 'Gravesend for the same destination.
ofAtdheeta4cthhmbeantl
talion, and 15 men of the 7th battalion,
the
command of
Royal Arsenal at the same time,
Lieutenant Drayson, to fill up the two
Artillery at the Cape. companies of Royal
On Friday, at the
THE COST OF FOURPBNCE.--
Under
Kjgsg te street, Hol-
Middlesex County Court of Requests,
ea a
d Barnes, appeared
born, a journeyman paper-hangar, I,?nsaimery, for the sum
to sustain a summons against James us
laintitrs child went to
of fourpence. It appeared that the
Pse of obtaining change
the shop of the defendant for the pur were
given, oas of
for a shilling. Three fourpenny-01l
.ei ess
returned to the de-
which was bad. Upon the coin beir
er, g
Is and expressed his
fendant, he denied having giveu it to
her
It having been
determination of not substt tilting anot •
nd the one produced in court
sworn that the coin then given
ammissioner directed the du-
wasdant to pay the amount the same, the LearnedCo
claimed—fourpence, and the costs,
fen
making a total of five shillings
five shillings and sixpence,unang
to nearly twenty times the
and tenpence, the costs limo
sum sued for.
1 Sir Archibald Maclaine has been
Major-Genera
Colonels}
of the 52d Foot, in the room of
appointed to the oneral Sir Edward Gibbs. Sir Archi-
baldthe late Lieutenant- e s
1794, and was
the army in promoted to the
entered
al in 1841. He is the officer who re-
ceivedrank of Major-Genanr
ko
f ighthood for his defence of fort -Ala
the honouA-a
with only 155 men, against Marshal
tagonda for 55 )
e of 8,000 under his command.
Soule, who had a forc
. IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING WROUGHT-HOSE.
NEW
Jarman, of Leicester, has announced a new in-
vention—Mr. Job
~..
t..
ose w
for making wrought-hose. h • e understand that it
makes one-fourth more goods than on the present plan, and
in every respect.--Nottingham Re •' .
quite
equal to them C
' Ie le"
LAW in-It-- t
RUMOUREDgenerally
yesterday was
reported in the Four Courts on that Judge Burton
has intimated his
1.)- intention of vacating the bench. His Lord-
hyl •" 1 powers, it has been for some time manifest,
shiP's i d althouh his
are becotning enfeeb e , _ .
has mental faculties seem
unimpaired. His Lordship reached a very advanced
- 'el 96 or 97—and his reti
age—it is sal rement, under any an early early event
cumstances, must be . The Attorney-General
• as usual, have the first offer of the vacancy ;
and this fact—always supposing the report ofJudge Burton's
instant resignation true—must have its effect on Galway po-
litics.—Dublin Pilot.
A serious accident happened to one of the labourers
working in the railway tunnel at Ridgeway-bill, on Thurs-
day. A large stone, falling down a shaft, struck him on the
head. and knocked him down senseless. We since hear that
the poor fellow is likely to do well.—Dorset Chi tinkle.
EXTRAORDINARY IAILWAY ACCIDENT.—OH Mon-
day merging, as the train from Exeter was comieg to New-
ton, the engine took in water at Teignmouth, and the engi-
neer or the attendant forgot to turn the water off, so that
when the third class Fssed the hose they were soused, and
the carriages were tilled with water. The occurrence caused
quite a sensation amongst the travellers. When the party
reached Newton, complaint was made to the Superintendent,
who expressed his regret at the accident, and premised that
the matter should be inquired into.—. Plymouth Journal.
We understand a number of
the new Queen's
Counsel will be made either previous to the circuits or in
Easter Term. Amongst these likely to be honoured with
silk gowns are mentioned Mr. Bliss and Mr. Granger, of the
North- rii Circuit; Mr. Townshend, of the North Wales Cir-
cuit; Mr. Miller, of the Midland; and a As. , •
Vrendt i gag, and
Mi'. O'Malley, of the Norfolk Circuit.'4
"I'tl4 Gress IVss*.erti sts.sita-sili; is to ben s,';;l by
auction next month. She is now lying in the fioatitighlTwur
at Bristol. .

sult, in the shape oi recommendation to the Cil,Wll, is
made known by the Marsh,ti or President of the Di..t.
The Ministers, hovvcv..r, who saw the necessity ~f
granting the present constitution, will see the necessity
of making use of the press in working it. For what is
now done will not only prove useless, but turn to poison,
unless the administration be carried on in accordance
with it.

What a change does this at once make in the politics
of Europe! How much must our fears of French pre-
dominance be allayed by seeing Prussia start up as a
German and a constitutional power! How much must
our alarm at Russian encroachment be diminished at
seeing the Prussian monarch, for the first time, admit
the assembled representatives of the people to his Court
and councils, knowing, as all do, how universal is the
hatred and fear of Russia in every German heart ! How
much are British anxieties for the balance of power re-
moved at seeing its true, and great, and national arbiter,
Germany, swelling to its true ditnen-ions, and taking
the place that the wishes of all liberal men long since
assigned it.
We cannot but rejoice that English peers and com-
moners have held their tongues on foreign policy this
session. M. Guizot, M. Thiers, M. Berryer, and the mag-
nates of the French Parliament, have all and each
uttered long speeches. Every one of them is knocked
on the head by this act of his Prussian Majesty.
M. Guizot and M. Thiers united in representing
the despotic East as ready to coalesce in order to dictate
to France; whilst England was to join them in the new
coalition. The words had been scarcely uttered, when
Prussia breaks avowedly with these despotic Courts and
their policy; and professes to rival France, not as the
auxiliary of despotic, but the representative of liberal
ideas. French statesmen and Ministers are thus shown
to be as ignorant of German politics as of English.
England and Europe may indeed unite against France
in the matter of the Spanish marriages, but it will be
an union of opinion, of reproval, and of peace. War is
not required to punish the French Court for its un-
worthy acts. Spain alone will suffice to punish Louis
Philippe; and the reproving countenance of Europe will
teach Philippe;
that neither international rights, nor the
solemn promises of Sovereigns, are to be broken with
impunity.