The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-18 00:00:00

IRELAND.

ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO LORD
BESBOROUG H.
On Tuesday a deputation from the ministers and ruling
e
elders of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, composed
of the Rev. P. Morgan, moderator, and the Rev. Messrs.
Stewart, Young, and Wilson, waited upon his Excellency
the Earl of Besborough, at the Vice-regal Lodge, to pre-
sent an address. The Rev. Gentlemen were most kindly
received by his Excellency, to whom the Rev. Mr.
Morgan read the address, as follows :
" May it please your Excellency—We, her Majesty's
most dutiful and loyal subjects. the ministers and ruling
elders of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland, embrace the earliest opportunity
since your Excellency's arrival in this country to offer
our respectful congratulations to your Excellency on
your appointment to the Viceregal Government of Ire-
land. Deeply attached as we are to British 'Connexion,
we do not consider any nobleman in the United Kingdom
as a stranger or an alien ; yet, we must confess that we
feel peculiar interest in approaching a Viceroy who is a
native of our island, and a n bleman so distinguished by
generous and philanthropic exertions for the prosperity
of the country.
" We dare not boast of our worth, but we are thank-
ful to Almighty God that he has enabled the people
under our care, by industry, peaceableness, and regu-
larity, to render the portion of the country in which
they live no disgrace to the empire, and but little ex
pensive to the Government.
" We lament to state that the calamity which it has
pleased Almighty God to inflict upon the world at large,
in the destruction of the potato crop, has fallen upon
our people. They were last year subjected to the loss
of at least one-half of this crop, in the present they
have lost all—yet they have hitherto been no burthen
to the country. Into the other provinces Government
have been obliged to send both money and provisions to
prevent actual starvation, and much greater supplies
appear to be in those localities still required, while into
Ulster little or nothing of the kind was introduced.
" What may be the effect of this year's calamity we
are unable to conjecture. The present prospects are
dark and threatening ; but our people are taught and are
accustomed to put their trust in Him who feeds the
raven of the valley, and we trust that by His blessing
upon their patience and industry, they will be enabled
to submit to and to bear whatever His providence may
lay upon them. We have the fullest confidence in your
Excellency's paternal care over us, and all portions of the
community. We are assured that in any emergency
which may arise, our people may rely upon receiving
from your Excellency every aid and encouragement
within your Excellency's power.
" We and our people shall continue, as we have been
accustomed to do, to plead at a throne of grace, that the
King of kings may shower down his choicest blessings
upon our beloved sovereign and her family, and nume-
rous subjects, and that a large portion of the same bles-
sings may descend upon your Excellency's person, house-
hold, and government.
" Signed in the name of the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, at Belfast,
this 27th day of August, 1846.
"JAMES MORG AN, Moderator.
"THOMAS M. REID, t Clerks."
"ROBERT PARK,
His Excellency returned the following reply :
" Gentlemen—l receive with the greatest satisfaction
the congratulations of a body so distinguished as the
Presbyterians of Ireland have ever been for their
loyalty to their Sovereign and attachment to the British
constitution.

" I am too well aware of the awful dispensation of
Providence, which has deprived so large a portion of the
people of this country of that crop on which their ex-
istence almost depends ; but it is satisfactory to me to
know that they bear their sufferings with resignation to
the will of God.

" As an Irish proprietor, I am aware of the wants and
deprivations to which so large a portion of the people of
this country are constantly subjected, and of the patient
endurance which they have always exhibited.
" On that forbearance I rely for being able to conduct
the government under this most pressi! g difficulty; and
you may be assured of my inclination to watch over the
interests confided to me with anxious solicitude, and
with a determination to see those measures which the
Legislature has placed at my disposal carried into opera-
tion as efficiently as it is possible for me to do by any
exertion it is in my power to make."

MAIL FOR LISBON AND THE CAPE.—This morning
a notice was posted at the General Post-office, that her
Majesty's ship Bulldog, for Lisbon and the Cape, which
was to have sailed this day, will not sail till the 21st inst.
TERRIFIC BOILER EXPLOSION AND Loss OF LIFE.
—A fearful accident, attended with loss of life and in-
jury to several persons, happened on Tuesday, at the
factory of Messrs. Thompson and Co., at Treforest, by
the explosion of a steam-boiler. It took place at about
six o'clock in the morning, when the day men were re-
lieving those that had been employed during the night.
The terrific character of the explosion, and the severe
vibration which it caused, induced many to suppose that
some dreadful convulsion of nature had taken place. For
a time the district was enveloped in smoke and dust. Ott
its subsiding it was discovered that one of the largo
boilers attached to the works had burst. The building
in which it stood was of the soundest description. The
roof was supported by massive iron beams. The entire
was shattered to a complete ruin. On the mass of
rubbish being searched, the body of a man named
Rowers was found sadly mutilated. His death must
have been instantaneous. Two other workmen were
much scalded, but hopes are entertained of their re-
covery. It is impossible to account for the accident, the
boiler having been in good working order for the last
five months. The body of it was thrown nearly 100
yards from its original position. An inquest has been
held on the poor fellow who was killed, and a verdict of
" Accidental death" returned.

THE MANCHESTER ATHENXUM.—The grand annual
soiree of the Athenaeum will be held a little short of a
month hence. Besides the distinguished nobleman, Lord
Morpeth, who is to preside, the list of those who have
promised assistance on the occasion contains the names
of his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Dublin, the Right
Rev. the Lord Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev. the
Lord Bishop of Oxford, the Right 11c,n. Lord Viscount
Sandon, M.P , the Right Hon. Richard Lalor Sheil,
M.P., the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, 2.1. P., Captain the
Hon. IL Keppel, R.N., Mr. M. Gore, M.P., Mr. J. T.
Clifton, M.P., Mr. J. W. Patten, .M.P., Mr. W. Ewart,
M.P., Mr. M. Philips, M.P., Mr. J. Brotheiton, M.P.,
Mr. J. Bright, M.P., Mr. Charles Mackay, Mr. George
Dawson, M.A., Mr. Douglas Jerrold, and Mr. J.
M'Gregor. The Vice-Presidents comprise among them
a number of the wealth, talent, and influence of the town,
and altogether the soiree promises to equal any of the
delightful assemblages with which the name of the Man-
chester Athenaeum is so pleasingly associated. Toe ex-
cellent bands of the 4th Light Dragoons and of the 69th
Infantry will be in attendance, and a variety of arrange-
ments for the comfort of the guests are advancing
Tickets may now be had, an intimation of importance
to those who, residing at a distance, may intend to wit-
ness the proceedings.—Manchester :curler.

NATIONAL EDUCATION SOCIETY.—The Committee
of the National Society for Promoting the Education of
the Poor in the principles of the Established Church
have resolved on the establishment of two examinations
yearly, analogous to those in the Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge, with. a view to impart an additional
stimulus to persons preparing themselves for the office
of schoolmasters. To those who creditably pass, formal
certificates will be given, and there will he immediately
afterwards an examination of a higher kind, in which
candidates who shall have passed the first trial will have
an opportunity of showing their proficiency in any ad-
ditional branches of knowledge, directly or indirectly
useful to an elementary teacher in the exercise of his
vocation. For the " pass " examination, the subjects
are to be reading, writing, grammar, the Liturgy, and
Scriptures, arithmetic, geography, history, vocal music,
and the theory and practice of teaching. In the " ex-
amination for honours," most stress will be la,.id on high
proficiency in the branches above enumerated—on skill
in English composition, the elements of history awl
philosophy, and knowledge of classics and mathematics:
The first examination is to take place in London at
Christmas next.