The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-08 00:00:00

HIGHLAND DESTITUTION.

THE BLACK ISLET, EASTER ROSS, MONLOCHIE, SEPT.
22.--On the Ist instant, the heritors, commissioners of
supply, and justices of the peace of the seven northern
counties, memorialised Government to make provision
for supporting the poor in the Highlands, under the
prospect of a failure in the potato crop. The answer to
the memorial has been fourteen days in the hands of the
Committee of Management, and up to the present mo-
ment is not published. Through the kindness of a per-
sonal friend we have obtained a copy of a letter, and
hasten to lay it before our readers :
" Whitehall, Sept. 5, 1846.
" I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letters of the 29th of August and of the Ist of
September: the former enclosing a copy of resolutions
adopted at a meeting held in the parish of Glenelg;
and the latter enclosing the copy of a memorial of a
committee appointed by a meeting of the commissioners
of supply, heritors, and justices of the peace of the
county of Inverness, with reference to the failure of the
potato crop in that county. These documents, toge-
ther with the memorial from the Island of Skye, trans-
mitted in your letter of the 20th of August, have re-
ceived the careful and attentive consideration of her
Majesty's Government.
" They have learned with deep regret that the dis-
ease which has so generally affected the potato crop
during the present year throughout the United King:
dom, as well as on many parts of the Continent, has
spread so extensively in the western districts of Scot-
land; and it is a cause of very great concern that so
large a portion of the population in that part of Scotland
are represented to be mainly dependent for their sub-
sistence upon potatoes.

" Her Majesty's Government are at the same time
gratified with the assurance contained in these docu-
ments, of the readiness of the landed proprietors to take
measures for lessening the distress which is apprehended,
as they are the parties mainly responsible for the afford.
ing relief under any pressing emergency, and as for their
local knowledge and influence they are best able to
furnish it without waste or indiscretion.

"Her Majesty's Government are in communication
with the Board of Supervision for the relief of the poor
in Scotland upon this subject; and they find that inqui-
ries have been instituted by that board, in order to
obtain accurate information as to the extent of the evil,
and with a view to the adoption of such measures as the
result of these inquiries may prove to be necessary with
regard to that portion of the population which is entitled
to parochial relief.
"I am further to inform you, that an experienced
commissariat officer will proceed immediately to Scot-
land, with instructions personally to inspect districts
within which the greatest distress is to be apprehended,
and to make a full report to the Government as to the
supply of food which will probably be available for the
people in these districts.
" This report will receive the earliest attention on
the part of the Government ; but I feel it my
duty to state, that while her Majesty's Government
will be desirous to promote and facilitate the efforts of
landed proprietors to lessen the distress which is ap-
prehended, they cannot encourage the expectation
that by any direct system of pecuniary advances they
can relieve the proprietors from the obligation which
rests upon them, to take upon themselves the charge
of providing for the wants of the people. Her Majesty's
Government have reason to believe that, notwithstand-
ing the failure of the potatoes, the crop of oats in the
west of Scotland is this year generally abundant, and
the quality excellent ; and they trust that other articles
of food will be found to exist in larger quantities than
in or iinary years.
" With reference to the desire which has been ex-
pressed for providing means of employment, I may,
perhaps, be permitted to call your attention to the Act
passed towards the close of the lass session (a copy of
which I enclose), which authorises the advance of public
money for the purposes of draining.
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
" Henry Baillie, Esq., M.P," G. GREY.