The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-17 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTEL-

LIGENCE.

APPOINT/LENTS AND PROMOTIONS, AUGUST, 13, 1846.
Mate Edwin Augustus Porcher, to Excellent; for rank
only. Seniority, June 8, 18-14.
plate Charles Oakes Blackwood llall, to Excellent. Se-
niority, February G, 1846.
Mate Henry Harvey, to Excellent. Seniority, April 11,
1846.
Master's Assistant George Wall 13urtchael, to Caledonia.
Master's Assistant Charles Frederick llickett, to Caledonia.
Additional.

AUGUST 14, 1846.
Surgeon James Salmon, to Sidon. Commissioned.
Assistant-Surgeon Richard (Coker Russell, to Sidon. Com-
missioned.
Surgeon John Read, to Actaeon. Confirming appointment
of the senior officer on the coast of Africa.
Assistant-Surgeon James Campbell (a), to Actaeon. Con-
firming acting appointment, Seeiority, Jane 9, 1845.
PORTsMOUTII, SUNDAY.—A striking; instance of the indis-
position of officers to seive on the coast of Africa has been
max:Vested in the state in which the Contest, new twelve gun
brig, Commander 111-Murdo, has been compelled to put to
sea. This vessel, when ecmmissioned, was expected to have
been destined for service on a healthy station. The
applications for appointments to her were most nu-
merous. We are told that as many as four hundred
lieutenants applied for appointments to her. It is well
known she was manned in a few hours. Well, the usual
number of officers Were appointed to her: among them three
lieutenants, the complement for vessels carrying commanders.
All these officers left the Contest. Why? She was ordered
to the coast of Africa; and the vessel, after shipping her
mails and Admiralty dispatches, was detained at Spithead
for more than a week, because she could get no lieutenants
to join her. She has at last gone to sea with only one officer
of that class, Lieutenant W. H. Hood,(1846), and he has
been for years past engaged in the coast-guard service.
The same state of things is exhibited in the Columbine, 16,
Commander Booth, which arrived here on Thursday from
Chatham. This vessel came round from the eastward with
only one lieutenant, and he debilitated from service on the
coast of Africa (Lieutenant Daniel Dawes). The ship was
also without any master, mate, or midshipman, and in this
disgracefully inefficient state has worked round during
very severe weather. The Columbine will be ordered to sea
in a few days.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Countess
Jocelyn, Lady in Waiting, the Hon. Miss Napier, Maid of
Honour, Lord Alfred Paget, and Baron Stockmar, will pro-
ceed on Tuesday (weather permitting), in the royal yacht
Victoria and Albert, Captain Lord A. Fitzclarence, to
Devonport, where the royal party will remain two days,
inspecting the various objects of interest at that port,
sleeping, &c., on board the yacht. From Devonport her
Majesty will proceed to Falmouth, thence to the Scilly
Islands, and cruise about; the entire excursion occupying
about a week or ten days. The Fairy and the Black Eagle,
Admiralty yacht (which arrived at Cowes from Woolwich last •
night), will accompany the Victoria and Albert. It is pre-
mised that one or two members of the Board of Admiralty
will go in the Blach Eagle. The Royal Family will remain
at Osborne.
The Aurora, Sardinian corvette, Captain Spinola, sailed
yesterday for the downs.
The Mariner transport, Lieutenant Still agent, sailed yes-
terday with military invalids and returned stores for Chatham
and Deptford.
The Sylvia cutter, tender to the Seaflower, arrived yester-
day from Jesey to refit.
The Tagus, with the India mails, arrived this morning at
the Motherbank.
The Queen, Peninsula steamer, arrived at Southampton,
about the same time.
Some remarkable results have been produced by the shot
practice from the Excellent on the Ruby iron steamer, ordered
by the Admiralty to be experimented upon, in order to test
what resistance the iron hull of a ship would offer to a shot ;
and it is expected that the Admiralty will, in consequence,
stop the building of iron steamers, and other vessels for the
present. The shots which struck the Ruby not only pene-
trated the side first struck, but in several instances passed
through the other side, carrying with it whole plates of iron.
In action this would risk the total loss of the vessel, for on
heeling over to leeward, such a body of water must rush in
that she would inevitably sink with all on board. A repre-
sentation of this important result has been made to the Ad-
miralty, and should further experiments prove that serious
risk will be occasioned to iron vessels of war when exposed
to the chance of being struck with heavy shot, it is doubtful
if the Board will not abolish them as men-of-war.
The committee of management for erecting a tablet to
the memory of the late Commander Estcourt, of the Eclair
steam-sloop, having more than sufficient funds in their hands
fur the completion of their patriotic object, have most consi-
derately presented the surplus (151. 4s. Id.) to the building
fund of the Seamen and Marines Orphan Schools, Portsea.
APPOINTMENTS.
Commanders—C. L. Hockin (1846) to the Star, 'rice Dun-
lop, deceased.
Lieutenants—W. G. Stanbridge to the Hound. .
Surgeon—J. Read (1840) to the Acton.
Mates—E. A. Blacket and H. J. Blomfield to the Royal
Naval College for study.
Assistant- Snrgeons—R. C. Russell to the Sidon; C. L.
Lester to the Recruit.
Clerk—J. G. Mes3um to the Cyclops.
Naval Cadets—W. B. Bingham to the Hound; A. F. Duff
to the Collingwood ; J. A. Forbes to the Queen.
Gunner—C. Chamberlain to the Victory.
'['he following mates have passed for Lieutenants at the
Royal Naval College :—Messrs. IL Harvey, E. A. Porcher,
and C. 0. B. Hall.

IRELAND.
TIIE POTATO FAILURE.

DUBLIN, AUG. 14.—We regret to state that, amidst a long
catalogue of reports from all parts of the country, there is not
this day a single account calculated to mitigate the alarm
for what is now felt to be the advent of a great national cala-
mity—the almost annihilation of the early crop of the only
food of the poorer classes. Last year there was unquestion-
ably some exaggeration, which had the effect of creating
what was called an anti-alarmist party, who, deprecating the
cry of famine, sought to restore confidence by a counter cry
of "no scarcity," it' no monopoly or no jobbing. And this
turned out, to a certain extent, to be the troth. This year,
however, the case is totally different, and journals of every
shade of politics concur in the belief that there is no hope for
the future, save in the united exertions of all parties
(Government inc:inedve) to provide a remedy for an infliction
which seems to be inevitable.

The reports received through the provincial papers since
Thursday would occupy too much of our space; it must,
therefore, be sufficient to say that the last accounts repre-
sent the pestilence as rapidly spreading through the counties
of Westmeath, Antrim, Down, Armagh, and Fermanagh
In the market of Enniskillen, on Weelnesday, potatoes, owing
to their deteriorated quality, suddenly fell from Bd. to 2d. per
stone, while here, in the metropolis, from the same cause,
prices range from Is. to 7s, per 1001 b., the sound kinds be-
coming every day more scarce.
A highly-respected clergyman of the Established Church,
the Rev. J. IL cotter, has addressed the following seasonable
letter to the Prime Minister upon the present state and pros-
pects of the poor :
"My Lord,—lmpelled by an imperative sense of public
duty, I take the liberty of addressing you upon the present
state and future prospects of our poor in Ireland. Your
Lordship has, of course, been already informed of the failure
of the potato crop. Last year the loss, though heavy, was
in some degree partial, some few favoured districts escaped
the blight; but this year I regret to say that the devastating
disease has been universally diffused, nor am I acquainted
with one: single potato garden in these localities which has
been untouched. The great majority are either wholly de-
stroyed, or vegetation has been so completely arrested, that
the tubers have not attained one-fourth part of their natural
size, and a large proportion of those which are sound at pre-
salt will, we fear, in a very short time, by the spreading of
the disease, be rendered unfit for human food, as we know
happened last year. This is no exaggeration ; my wish is
neither to exaggerate the distress, nor to make too favour-
able a representation. The potato crop is gone, gone so far
as not to be depended upon as constituting the support of the
poor. Now, my Lord, what is to be done? There are thou-
sands upon thousands who have been accustomed to live en-
tirely upon potatoes ; that source has failed. Divine Provi-
dence, for some wise purpose, has destroyed the potato crop,
and it remains to be considered in what manner the starving
poor are to be supplied; and, my Lord, be assured, if assist-
ance be not afforded upon a large and liberal scale, the con-
sequences will be fearful. The late Government wisely sent
into the country large supplies of Indian corn, and this pre-
caution had the effect of keeping down the prices, and
enabling the poor, with the most rigid economy, to exist.
" But, my Lord, at the present time they are in a totally
different position. The farmers, who were accustomed gene-
rously to assist all who solicited relief, with a few potatoes,
have now none for themselves. This source is dried up, and
the poor labourer having no potatoes of his own, having no
friends able to relieve him, is thrown entirely upon the
produce of his labour, which he has latterly been accustomed
to lay out in the purchase of Indian meal from the relief
committee of his district. I would wish, here, to make a
distinction between gentlemen's labourers, who have constant
employment and enjoy perhaps some little advantages, and

the far more numerous classes of those who have no constant
employment, and belong, if we may so express it, to no one.
Besides, there are many sick, with large helpless families ;
many aged, who have hitherto depended upon casual charity.
It will be said, perhaps, by some, Let them go to the poor-
house.' The poorhouse is the only fair test of real desti-
tution.' It is unnecessary for me here to enumerate the
causes of the strong prejudices of the Irish peasantry against
entering the poorhouse, some, I admit unfounded—many I
think most reasonable ; but, my:Lord, I will freely assert that
it is most fortunate that these prejudices do exist—for if they
were removed, four times the present number of workhouses
would not suffice to contain the applicants, and those who
could not obtain admission must then be given outdoor
relief. We ought, therefore, to keep the poorhouses out of
view when considering what is to be done during the present
emergency.
" Let us now inquire what the wages of labourers are, and

look to the present glees charged for Indian meal by many ;
of our relief committees. I think it will appear that they are I
wholly inadequate to meet the exigencies of the family of
the buyer. Labourer's hire varies from Bd. to 10d. per day.
Suppose a man has four children ; he has then, including
his wife, six to provide for ; in the gfeat majority of
instances these all depend upon his daily wages for their
daily food.
" I would assume as an average sufficiency of Indian meal
for such a family, 21b. per head, large and small ; here we
have 121 b. per day. Many of our relief committees charge
la. 2d. per stone, that is, ld. per pound; some even higher.
How, then, can the labourer's 10d. wages purchase 121 b. of
meal, to which the Sunday allowance is also to be added ?
We say nothing of milk to use with his Indian meal as
stirabout, and if he is working at a distance from home, he
must use Indian bread; although meal made into stirabout
is more economical, still this latter cannot be carried to a
distance. My Lord, I am here putting forward the
most favourable case, but consider the number who have
not this constant employment. How are they to exist ?
How are they to be clad ? Where is their firing,
bedclothes, and rent for their cabins to come from ?
Many have removed their bedclothes—what is to become of
them when winter arrives, when cold and wet are added to
hunger? They cannot now afford to purchase or to keep a
pig, by the profits of the sale of which they were once
enabled to pay the rent of their cabins, and to supply them-
selves with many little necessaries. It comes to this, my
Lord—wages must be raised, or the price of Indian meal and
other food considerably reduced by private subscriptions and
by public grants.
" Employment «ill not suffice, unless the produce of that
employment is equal to the support of their families. You
cannot throw them entirely on the head landlords ; many of
the most distressed are located on estates held by middlemen,
who possess large terminable interests, much larger than
what the head landlord possesses, and who cannot reason-
ably be expected to support persons whom they have not
brought upon their estates, of whom they know nothing,
and whose condition they cannot improve until the termi-
nation of the existing leases. Tenants should be left
entirely to their landlords. The landlord is bound to assist
and protect his tenants who hold immediately under him,
and do not sublet ; no assistance should be afforded by
relief committees unless to the labouring classes and un-
employed tradesmen, or tickets granted to none without the
closest investigation, and limiting the quantity of relief,
either at reduced prices or gratuitously, which must be given
in many cases to what was absolutely required for the con-
sumption of the family. Circumstances may oblige me to
address your Lordship again upon this subject, and, my Lord,
I have the honour to subscribe myself
" Your obedient, humble servant,
" JOHN ROGERSON COTTER,
" Rector of Innoshannon, County Cork.
" Innoshannon 12th August."
. Subjoined is the reply given by a landlord of the county of'
Cork to an application from one of the local relief corn-
mittees _ . .

" Skibbereen, July 4.
" Sir,—l have the honour of acknowledging the reeeipt of
your note of the 2d inst., together with a copy of the resolu-
tions adopted at a meeting of the inhabitants of Upper
Church, held in the chapel on the 2d of May, to adopt the
best means of relieving the poor of their district.
" Possessing some property in the parish of Upper Church,
I readily recognise the right of the inhabitants of this parish
to call on me for aid towards the relief of the proor in their
district, and in transmitting to you the annexed order for 101.
on the Provincial Bank, I feel that I am only discharging a
duty which devolves on me as a landlord.
" The proposition enunciatedlby the immortal Drummond,
that ' Property has its duties as well as its rights,' is now ge-
nerally adopted, even in Ireland, and of those duties I con-
sider none more imperative than that of relieving the poor in

seasons of distress and destitution.
"The demand which the resolutions adopted at Upper
Church made on me in behalf of those suffering from distress
in that district, is enforced by the additional consideration of
self-interest, for, whilst the duties of property are discharged
with punctuality, its rights will be acknowledged and re-
spected, the laws will be observed, peace and order will pre-
vail, and those unfortunate crimes which have disgraced
some of our provinces, and which bring down the maledic
tion of Heaven on the perpetrators, shall be far more effec-
tually prevented than by Coercian Acts, or a suspension of
our constitution.
" I have the honour to be, faithfully yours,
"DANIEL WELPLY.
" Mr. Andrew Ryan, Upper Church
Relief Committee."
To the foregoing the Cork Reporter appends the following
statement :
" We have it from private authority, in which we impli-
citly confide, that in and around Skibbereen, and through
Carbery in general, the crop both early and late is doomed;
that the distress is frightful, and that the small farmers can-
not subsist much longer on the miserable and unwholesome
fare they spend the whole day in digging from their fields.
'No garden, or part of a garden,' says our correspondent, in
this country has escaped the prevailing disease, and in gene-
ral they are not considered worth the labour of digging
them. The Skibbereen Relief Committee have done every-
thing in their power to provide employment and food for the
labouring classes, and they have already 500 men employed.
This, however, is but a small relief amongst so dense a po-
pulation, and where both farmer and labourer must hence-
forward depend on their labour for support. I have no diffi-
culty in telling you, and as you are the organ of public opi-
nion, you should have no difficulty in telling the landlords
and the Government, that unless measures be at once taken
to meet the present emergency, that neither law nor private
property can be much longer respected. The masses of idle,
hungry people going through this town and neighbourhood,
looking for work or food, publicly declare that they cannot
stand it much longer, that it is as good to die by the bayonet
as by starvation."
The Cork Eraminer of yesterday contains the subjoined
memorial from the Kinsale Relief Committee :

TO HIS EXCELLENCY EARL BESBOROUGH, LORD-LIEUTENANT

GENERAL AND GENERAL GOVERNOR OF IRELAND, SLC:

" The memorial of the undersigned members of the Kin-
sale Relief Committee humbly showeth—That your memo-
rialists, after the most careful and minute investigation
have come to the conclusion that the potato crop in this ba•
ropy is altogether lost.
"That in a fortnight from the present date the agricul

tural labourer will be thrown out Of employment, as the har-
vest will be then gathered in; and as the farmers are unable
to provide them with food, or to pay them wages, they will
consider themselves released from the obligation of the con-
tract entered into at the commencement of the season.
" That to provide for the destitution necessarily arising
from such a deplorable state of things, it appears to your me-
morialists that not a moment should be lost in procuring em-
ployment on a large scale for the people ; and that unless im-
mediate steps be taken for effecting this purpose the peace of
the country will be endangered.
"That already large assemblages of the people have mat
within the last week, and threatened the proprietors and
millowners that, unless immediately relieved, they will help
themselves.'
" That your memorialists beg likewise to represent that
the contemplated measure of appropriating 1,000,0001. ster-
ling to the drainage of land in Ireland will nut be available
for the purpose of giving employment in this and many other
districts, insomuch as there are no lands requiring to be
drained in the localities alluded to. Your memorialists,
therefore, humbly suggest that the application of said money
may be of a more general nature.
" That the funds placed at the disposal of your memo-
rialists for the relief of the distress existing at the close of
the present season, are now nearly exhausted and your me-
morialists respectfully suggest that a further grant be forth-
with made to them for the purposes of meeting the impend-
ing pressure, and providing temporary employment until the
Government shall have had time to organize a more general
system of affording relief by the construction of public works
on a large scale.
" Your memorialists consider the subject-matter contained
herein to be of so urgent a nature, that they most respect-
fully request the immediate attention of your Excellency to