The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-23 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF IRELAND.

For once the statistics relating to agriculture on
the other side of St. George's Channel will prove a
matter of equal interest to those which appeared
some days ago with reference to the produce and live
stock of our own country. An increase of
27,872 acres under all crops has taken place since
1868. While wheat has decreased by 4,033 acres, it
is gratifying to find that barley has increased by
34,591 acres. An increase of 7,156 acres of potatoes
must be an acceptable fact in a country where
that vegetable forms so great a portion of the food of
the inhabitants. Flax has increased by 22,695 acres.
It is to be hoped that the reclamation aimed at by
Mr. Gladstone's bill will before long lessen the large
total of over twenty millions of bog and waste land
unoccupied. With regard to live stock an
increase of 2,545 horses he#: taken place ; of
cattle, 80,998 ; and pigs 1'10,215. Sheep
however, have decreased by 253,338. The actual
increased value of live stock in the country is over
half a million of money. An increased number
of emigrants left the country during the first
seven months of last year. The attention of occupiers
has been called to the great injury arising from
the unchecked growth of weeds, so apparent
on the land, and experiments have been
put before them, shelving the benefit de-
rived from a system of regular weeding. As in
England, the importance of improvinc, the dwellings
of the labouring classes is beginning to be urged, and
with such good effect that the Legislature has grantee
loans for this most desirable object.

THE MORDAI7NT CASE.
The .Daily News is hopeful of a speedy termination
to the Mordaunt Divorce Case. "It was currently
reported in legal circles that arrangements are
pending which will obviate the necessity of any
further prolongation of this painful inquiry.'T It is to
be hoped that this rumour will not prove unfounded.
The continuation of the case was fixed for Wednes-
day morning. Divers other rumours are afloat
respecting this remarkable trial. Ono is that the
Prince of Wales has offered to attend the Court and
explain every point respecting his relationship with
Lady Mordaunt. This report is mentioned in more
than one quarter ; but it scarcely assumes a' definite
form. Such an explanation on the part of the Prince
would be irregular; but might be permitted by con-
sent of both parties. It is considered very likely, too,
that the reporter who obtained a copy of the Prince's
letters and sold them to different papers will get
into trouble for contempt of court. The letters u
question were put in. but not read.

THE LATE BISHOP OF CIIICHZSTrc.
Yet another episcopal vacancy falls to Mr. Glad-
stone. Dr. Gilbert, Bishop of Chichester, who die?
on Monday morning, had reached the end of his 84th
year. He was born in 1780, educated at the Man-
chester Free Grammar School and Brasenose College,
Oxford, and in 1809 obtained first clads honours
in classics with the late lair Robert Peel. After he:
nag nnea tne ottices of Fellow, Tutor, and Principal
of his college, Dr. Gilbert became Vice-Chancellor
of the university from 1836 to 1840, the late Duke
of Wellington being Chancellor. In 1842 Dr. Gilbert
was nominated by Sir Robert Peel to the see of
Chichester, vacant by the death of Dr. Shuttleworth.
The deceased prelate was of a very benevolent disposi-
tion. Though a divine of ability, he has rarely come be-
fore the public of late. He was partial to political ques-
tions, and on one occasion was mobbed at Brighton
for supporting Mr. Woodward's scheme of middle-
class education. The value of the see is £4,200 a
year.

DR. TEMPLE AND coNvocATim
The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol has written
to the Dean of Gloucester, giving a full account of
the proceedings in Convocation touching Dr.
Temple's explanation. On the morning of February
f) he received a note from Archdeacon
Freeman, announcing that he was empowered to
male the important statement relative to the with-
drawal of DI% Temple's essay. In conE,equence of thii
letter the debate on the Bishop of Lincoln's motion
was studiously divested of all reference to Dr.
Temple. The Bishop of Exeter himself spoke
in a generous and conciliatory manner, and
the writer, with those of his own views, was
fall of Lope. Then came the request of Dr. Temple
Lye permis.._lon to make a personal statement :—" On
the _Friday the so-called explanation was made—an
explanation on which I will say no more than this—
that I am convinced that the longer the Bishop
ot
Exeter lives in his diocese the more
acutely will
regret much of what he then said. No answer could
b,) returned. It was a personal explanation, to which
tho rules of Parliament and Convocation preclude
reply. The only answer that could be given
was aiven—sorrowful and rebukeful silence."

Vl'. longue s letter to the iimesz stating
that Archdeacon Freeman was perfectly justified in
announcing the withdrawal of the essay comes too
late." Instead of peace, there can now only be, at
least for the present, continued doubt and estrance-
ment."