The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-01 00:00:00

LONDON, MON DAY EVENING, MARCH 1, 1847.

not performed that the wages of eightpence per
day were given to the labourers.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, it must be remembered that the average daily
wages in the county of Sligo was only 6d. a day. It
was deemed important not to divert more than was ab-
solutely necessary of the labour required for the culti-
vation of the soil, and for agricultural purposes. Under
those circumstances the officers of the Board of Works
had thought it better to employ only one man out of
every family, instead of raising the prices of agricultural
labour to more than Bd. a day; and although at the present
price of provisions it was difficult to support a family,
yet, in order to extend the relief as much as possible, it
was deemed advisable to adopt the rule of employing
only one male from each family. With regard to
another point, namely, the proportion that the expenses
of the staff bore to the total expenditure, he was happy to
say that the anticipations of the lion. Member were
altogether unfounded. He found that the number of
labourers employed was from 19,000 to 20,000, that
there was one overseer for every forty labourers, and a
check clerk for every 280. He found, also, that the
total expenditure for a month was 27,877 L, and that
from this amount a sum of 2,1101. for day clerks, check
clerks, &c., was to be deducted.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN wished to know if the Right
Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland thought that
Bd. a day would support a family?
Mr. P. SCROPE wished to know what provision bad
been made fur infirm paupers who were not able to be
employed upon the roads? The only measure that was
destined for their relief was one which would not come
into operation before the next autumn. He had a
letter in his hand from a gentleman in Carlow,
in which it was stated that this class had been refused
admission into the workhouse, and the guardians refused
to relieve them till they had built temporary sheds for
their accommodation. The other mode to which he
referred was by relief committees, and they were
interdicted from giving relief by the limited
means at their command, the Government only
supplying assistance in proportion to voluntary sub-
scription.—(Cries of " Order, order.") The question he
wished to ask was, what certainty of relief the Hon.
Gentleman could hold out, under those circumstances,
to the old, the infirm, women, and children?

Mr. LABOUCHERE, in reply to the Hon. Gentle-
man, did not believe that the class referred to were
likely to suffer from starvation. The present system
of public works would be continued until the
plan proposed to be substituted came into operation,
and he did not apprehend that the inconvenience re-
ferred to by the lion. Gentleman would ever arise.
Mr. HUME wished to know if the Government had
fixed a day when the present expenditure on the public
works would cease?

Mr. LABOUCHERE replied that it had not; but the
system intended to be substituted would come into
operation with as little delay, as possible.
TIIE ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL

Sir ROBERT H. INGLIS wished to know whether
a motion for the Committee on the Roman Catholic
Relief Bill would be proposed before Easter ?
Mr. ESCOTT said that it would be proposed imme-
diately after Easter.
THE MEASURES FOR IRELAND.

Sir J. D. NORREYS said that, before passing the
measures for the relief Gf the suffering Irish, he thought
it would be better to appeal to the Irish landlords. Mea-
sures might be adopted to promote tillage.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he was not at all satis-
fied that there was any prospect of the Hon. Gentleman's
views being carried out
-at present with respect to tillage.

MANCHESTER, FEB. 25.—Perhaps it may be said that
a little more business has been done in cloth this week,
though at prices, considering the price of the staple, that
may be called all but ruinous. The decreased consump-
tion is beginning to operate on buyers, and on the whole
more confidence exists than for some time past; but. this
confidence cannot be called a healthy state of things.
Yarns are not lower, but no large sales are making.
The orders from the United States are very extensive,
and a very large and good business is certain for the
present year.
LEICESTER.—We have no alteration to report in the
home trade. The accounts from America are considered
favourable, and a good fall trade is expected. Worsted
yarns are flat, and more spinners are working short time,
but little is doing in wools, at prices in favour of the
buyer.—Leicester Journal.
BRADFORD MARKET, FEB. 25.—The staplers seem
more willing to sell than they were, but the spinners buy
with great caution, and only for their present limited
demands. We can report no alteration of moment in
price. In yarns there is certainly more business done
both for the home and export trade, especially the
latter ; and we have confident hopes that ere long we
shall be able to state that this branch of our market is
in a satisfactory state. A trifling advance was in many
instances obtained in price. There was to us no difference
in the amount of business done in the piece market,
though some manufacturers complained that the sales
were not so good as previous weeks. Prices were firm,
but only stationary.
MANCHESTER PRODUCE MARKET, FEB. 26.—There
has been a rather better demand for sugar, but prices are
unaltered. No change in the quotations for tea ; greens
still continue very much depressed. In consequence of
the sale of silk at. Liverpool this week, the business here
has been very limited. Prices ruled much on a par with
those previously obtained by private contract, being 9d.
to Is. lower than at the last public sales. The cotton
market has assumed a more active appearance; larger
sales have been made than for some wecks back, and
prices are rather higher.
MANUFACTURES, FEB. 26.—During the last two days,
our market has not shown so much animation as at the
beginning of the week. Many of the spinners and
manufacturers have demanded a slight advance upon
previous rates ; and, in some few cases, buyers of yarn
have acceded to the demand ; but, generally, it has had
the effect of checking business, and comparatively few
sales have been made yesterday and to-day. Probably,
too, the unfavourable accounts received from Indis by
the overland mail may have had some influence upon the
market, especially as a better state of affairs was looked
fur in that part of the world. It appears that, owing
to the distrust caused by opium gambling, the native
dealers are unable to get bills discounted by the shroffs
or native bankers, and are consequently unable to exe-
cute the orders which they receive from the interior.—
We are eesirous of correcting an error into which we
fell on Tuesday, in stating the export of coffee from
Brazil to the United States at 1,500,000 bags, being an
increase of 400,000 bags. It is the total export which
exceeds 1,500,000 bags. The exports for the year to
the United States, were 709,000, against 546,000 in the
preceding year.—Manchester Guardian.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.
From a curious " Table of Prices of Wheat," by Lieu-
tenant Mackenz'e, author of the "Elements of the Cycl-is
of the Winds, Weather, and Prices of Corn," compiled
from Smith's " Wealth of Nations," and our Parliamen-
tary records, the following deductions are made. We
are induced to lay these before our readers from the
circumstance that, of late, public attention has been
aroused, both at home and abroad, to the discovery
made by Mackenzie of a fifty-four years' cycle or peri-
odical revolution of the weather. 'The " Table" we
refer to records the prices of wheat from the year 1203
to the present time; and, by a minute computation, it is
proved that during twenty-seven years of the cycle
prices have a tendency to rise, and during the other
twenty-seven years to fall. From 1836 till 1847, the in-
clination to higher prices has been perceptible; and,
from the present year till the year 1862 they will, it is
conjectured, still further advance. This the author
ascribes to the great prevalence of unfavourable winds
on this division of the fifty-four years' cycle. The
dreadful years of 1800-1801, when prices were at 110 s.
and 1165.; and again 1812. 13, when prices were at 1165.
a quarter ; fell within the corresponding division of
twenty-seven years. There is no doubt (the author
admits) that the effect of corn-laws, and other conven-
tional arrangements of legislators, political economists,
changes in the currency, &c., materially affect the prices:
these, and a state of peace or war, vary the rate and
generally produce higher prices upon both the dear and
cheap divisions of the cycle—mLre espeoially when
Europe is suffering under a striking visitation of nature;
but Legislative measures can have no place in any sys-
tematic account of the weather or in the revolution of
seasons ; and such is the powerful influence of the
weather, that prices, on the average, are proved to be
cheap and dear on the respective divisions of the
fifty-four years' cycle. This very influence of the
weather—altogether independent of conventional ar-
rangements—would produce, as it has produced already
for a period extended back for more than five hundred
years, an average of 545. on the dear half (or twenty-
seven years) of the cycle; and of 365. per quarter on
the cheap half. We are now in the commencement of a
series of unfavourable years, which (if the theory be
well-founded) will prevail till 1862, when another revo-
lution of the cycle will occur, which will have a tendency
to produce greater abundance, and consequently the
pribes will decrease from that period till the year 1889.
—Church and State Gazette.

NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR THE
POTATO.
(From the Northern Whig.)
The interest with which every addition to our stock of
plants, capable of affording food, is at present regarded,
will render a few observations, on a species of grain hi-
therto unknown in Ireland, acceptable to our readers. At
a late meeting of the Council of the Chomico-Agricul-
tural Society, I produced a sample of the seeds of a
South American plant, which,by the kindness of a friend,
I had procured, about a year ago, from a Peruvian gen-
tleman, who, at present, resides in Liverpool. The
parcel, containing the seeds, was accompanied
with a note, in praise of their numerous valuable
qualities, and stated, that they were known in Peru by
the name of quinoa. At the same time, my friend sup-
plied Mr. Ferguson, Curator of the Royal Botanic
parcel of the seeds, but which, I regret
Garden, with a
to find, upon inquiry, did not vegetate. The only infor-
mation which I could, at that time, procure, respecting
the plant that yields these seeds, was in the writings of
the old Spanish voyager, Don Antonio de Ulloa, who, in
his work on South America, when giving an account of
the vegetable productions of the Province of Quito,
speaks highly of its value, both for food and medicine. In
the interesting work on South America of Dr. Tschudi,
tweeting it, Itrajbesl
el errv,ewhich hassome
a dl
da
teiloyn
al en p
at rrat
incsu belatedlan into
re .
a German
which are of peculiar interest, from the
English,
circumstance, that the plant has been successfully culti-
vated in Germany ; and should, according to his ac-
count, be regarded as a valuable substitute for the
potato. The following is the description which Ullua
gives us of this grain :—" Besides the grains of the
same species with those in Spain, this country (Quito)
has one peculiar to itself, and which very well deserves
to be ranked among the most palatable foods ; but still
more valuable, from its being one of the best preserva-
tives against all kinds of abscesses and irnposthumes.
This useful species of grain is here called quinoa, re-
sembles a lentil° in shape, but much less, and
very white ; when boiled it opens, and out comes
a spiral fibre, which apears like a small worm, but
whiter than the husk of the grain. It is an annual plant,
being sowed and reaped every year. The stem is
about three or four feet in height, and has a large
pointed leaf, something like that of the Malloro. The
flower is of a deep red, and five or six inches in length,
and in it are contained the grains or seed. The quinoa
is eaten boiled, like rice, and has a very pleasant taste,
and the water in which it has been boiled is often used
as an aposere. The quinoa is often used in external
applications, in order to which,
which, it is ground and boiled
bioiletdo
to a proper consistence ; after it is app
the part, from which it soon extracts all corrupt
humours occasioned by a contusion. Dr. Tschuclea
account of this plant is not less interesting.—" Maize,"
he says, "is the species of grain most extensively culti-
vated in the Sierra ; it is of excellent quality, though
smaller than that grown on the coast. wheat, though
it thrives well, is cultivated only in a very limited
quantity, and the bread made from it is exceedingly
bad. Tho other species of European grain, barley ex-
cepted, are unknown to the Serranos. To compensate
for the want of them, they have the quinoo. (ellen°.
podium quinoa, L), which is at once nutrious, whole-
some, and a pleasant article of food. The leaves of this
plant, before it attains full maturity, are eaten like
spinach ; but it is the seeds which are generally used
tor food. They are prepared in a variety of ways, but
most frequently boiled in milk or broth, and sometimes
cooked with cheese and Spanish pepper. The dried
stems of the quinoa are used as fuel. Experiments in
the cultivation of this plant have been tried in some
parts of Germany, and with considerable success.
It would appear, however, that its flavour is
not much liked—a circumstance rather surprising
to the traveller, who has tasted it in Peru, where it is
regarded in the light of a delicacy. It were to be
wished, that the general cultivation of the quinoa could
be introduced throughout Europe ; for, during the preva-
lence of the potato disease, this plant would be found of
the greatest utility. It is a well-known fact that pota-
toes and tea, two articles now in such universal use, were
not liked on their first introduction into Europe. The
quinoa plant, which yields a wholesome article of food,
would thrive perfectly in our hemisphere ; and though,
in its hitherto limited trial, it has not found favour, there
is no reason to conclude that it may not at a future time
become an objest of general consumption."
JOHN F. HODGES, M.D.
Laboratory of the Chemico-Agricultural
Society. 7, Arthur street.

SPRING ASSIZES.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, FRIDAY NIGHT.

BRUTAL MURDER AT A CRRISTRNING.—This morn-
ing James Welch was arraigned before Mr. Baron Rolfe,
i❑ the Crown Court, of the Northumberland Spring
Assize, for the wilful murder of Thomas Proud, a
groom in the service of a gentleman living in the County.
Mr. Grainger and Mr. Potter prosecuted, Mr. Mat-
thews defend( d. _ .

By the evidence of several witnesses it appears that
the prisoner was a quarryman, employed at the Four
Stones, somewhere near the Newcastle and Carlisle
Railway. On Sunday, the 7th inst., the deceased, who
lived at the village of Allerwash, invited several of his
neighbours to the christening of one of his children.
After their return from church they had tea at his house,
and he then invited them to a public-house to drink the
child's health. They did so. and there encountered the
prisoner. On leaving, Welch followed them, and
solicited several females who were walking with

friends (men) to leave them and join him. They
declined, and he at length caught hold of Mary Ann
Towers, who was walking with the deceased, and
endeavoured to separate them. Towers begged of
him to desist, and, being further insulted, Proud inter-
fered, and desired Welch not to molest her. High words
here ensued, and a scuffle followed, in the course of
which Proud fell upon his antagonist, and, it is said,
kicked him. The deceased then made all haste home
with the female, but had not got far ere the prisoner
was seen running after them with no coat on. On
coming up with them, he struck the deceased twice over
the head with a stick, and eventually plunged a deep-
bladed knife into the unfortunate man's neck. lie
instantly dropped on the ground, and in a few minutes
expired. The priscner made his escape, but was
shortly captarcd. The knife was found near the body,
and it was sworn to having been seen in the prisoner's
possession.
Mr. Matthews made a powerful appeal in behalf of the
accused.

The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Mr. Baron Rolfe concurred in the verdict, and in a
cry feeling and impressive manner sentenced the pri-
soner to death.

The law will be carried into effect. at Merpeth goal.

NORTH WALES RAILWAY.

The half-yearly meeting of the rharehoLlers in this Com-
pany was held on Saturday at the London Tavern, Bishops-
gate street, for the purpose of receiving from the directors
information as to the course they recommended to bo
adopted in future, and for transacting the ordinary bu-
siness of the meetings.
The chair was taken at one o'clock by W. J. Chad wicke,
Eq., chairman.
The notice, convening the meeting having been read,
the report stated, that as some important matters were
then under their consideration, they were not in a situp).-
to lay before the proprietors, in that report, the course
they recommended to be adopted. The report also
tat ed, that there were fire vacancies in the Board, which
the directors proposed to be filled up by the election
of the following gentlemenl—Alexander Rosa, Esq.,
Walter Jones, Esq , Joseph Shaw, Esq., R. J. Lawton,
Esq., Thomas Holmes, Esq. Mr. Charles Hill, the au-
ditor, would retire, and he offered himself for re-election.
The following were the assets and liabilities of the
company, up to Jan. 30, 1847 :
ASSETS.

Investment at bankers'
Current account at bankers'
Cash in secretary's hands
Call unpaid .
Forty shares on hand l4O 0 0
Interest on investment to this date
Furniture, fixtures, &c.

LIABILITIES.
Sir John Rennie claims *..£10,488 0 0
Messrs. Williams and Breese claim
Mr. Sturmy
Auditors
Direction
Dividend on deposit and call not yet
applied for
Incidentals, including salaries and re n t BO 0 0

• Amount disputed, and now under the consideration of a
court of law.

The following abstract of expenditure from passing of
the Act, 1845, to the present time, was laid before the
meeting :
Engineering expenses
Parliamentary agents
Law expenses—Mr. Shaw, solicitor to Mr
Archer, taxed costs in suit against him 2lB 12 4
Compensation—Messrs. Poole and Powell,
solicitors to Mr. Griffith, of Llanfair 4OO 0 0
Stationery account—books, stationery,
stamps, printing, engraving, certificates,
&c.
Salaries
Rent
Direction
Furniture, &e. &c 223 13 6

*Office expenses, 1845 and 1846 202 14 2
*Miscellaneous expenses, 1845 and 1846
Travelling and deputation expenses
Auditors

£3,896 19 7

* These items include the entire expenses since the forma-
tion of the company.
The CHAIRMAN then said that the directors had hoped
to come to some arrangements with other Companies
to take the concern off the hands of the Company at a
fair and ample remuneration. The meeting was aware
that great influence had been used to injure the interests
of the Comi'any by a person whom he would not then
descend to name, neither would he enter into the state-
ments put forth by that person. It was the opinion of
the directors that it would be advisable to construct the
line only between Bangor and Carnarvon. lie would be
perfectly ready to answer any questions which might be
put to him. lie would move that the report read, be
received, adopted, and circulated.
A SHAREHOLDER wished to know the position of the
company in regard to the claims of Sir J. Rennie.
Mr. STURM", the solicitor to the company, said that
Sir J. Rennie bad brought his action, which had been
pleaded to upon two grounds—first, that of payment ;
and the second plea would raise the whole question, by
trying the general issue.
Sir J. RENNIE wished it to be understood that he had
done all he could to arrange the matter with the com-
pany ;he did not wish to go to law, far from it. At-
tempts to arbitrate the matter had failed, and he would
have no objection to have the matter referred.
Mr. BUTLER put a number of questions to the
chairman as to the truth of a number of statements
contained in a pamphlet published under the title of
" A Black Book with a White Cover," by the late secre-
tary of the company.
The CHAIRMAN said that there was not a word of
truth in any of the statements contained therein.

Mr. ARCHER, who, it appeared, was the late secretary
of the company, contended that the statements were
borne out by fact, and prepared to road a number of
entries from a suspicious looking book with a cover of
brown paper (the only document in existence containing
the early history of the proceedings of the company),
but in consequynee of the confusion created by this
mode of proceeding, he was length compelled to desist.
Mr. MOTT proposed, and Mr. SHAW seconded, an
amendment that the meeting be adjourned, and a com-
mittee be appointed to inquire into the state and pros-
pects of the company.
The amendment was lost by a large majority, and the
original resolution was then agreed to.
The following gentlemen were then appointed directors
of the company for the ensuing year : —Mr. Alexander
Ross ; Mr. Walter Jones ; Mr. Joseph Shaw, of Hud-
dersfield ; Mr. Lawton, of Manchester ; Mr. Thomas
Holmes, of Hull. _ _

Mr. Charles Hill was also re-elected to the office of
auditor to the company.
Again a scene of the utmost confusion ensued in con-
sequence of Mr. Archer'a entering again into the
question of the statements of the " Black Book." In
the midst of this confusion a shareholder proposed a
vote of thanks the chairman, which was unanimously
agreed to.
The meeting then broke up, having lasted for upwards
of thrte hours, and leaving Mr. Archer to the perora-
tio❑ of a very violent speech.