The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-30 00:00:00

TIIE SUN,

IRELAND.

THE HARVEST.
DUBLIN, TUESDAY.—There is a much more cheerful
tone in the general reports from the provinces, and in
the official accounts received by the Poor-law Commis-
sioners from their inspectors, and ti om the boards of
guardians. From extreme despondency, amounting
nearly to despair, there is a change to hope, and almost
to confidence, that the fine and genial weather with
which Providence has blessed the country will repair
much of the injury that has been suffered, and afford
time to secure a far better harvest than could have been
expected a week or two since. We had an opportunity
yesterday of inspecting the corn and potato fields in
parts of the counties of Dublin and Wicklow, and were
greatly surprised and gratified at the progress made
in harvest work during four or five days of good
weather. The wheat crop is rather light generally ;
but the grain, with partial exceptions, is sound
and free from blight of any kind. Oats and bar-
ley are as fine crops as could be desired: Potatoes
are extensively diseased ; but a large proportion,
probably two-thirds of the crops, is yet sate, and the
fineness of the' weather encourages the hope that this
important portion of our produce will not rattier much
more injury. There can be no doubt that other dis-
tricts, particularly in the south and west, are not as well-
circumstanced as the two counties named ; but the
northern counties generally have been more fortunate.
Altogether, although the crops have suffered to a con-
siderable extent from the heavy rains, and the potatoes,
in some localities, are damaged irretrievably, the for-
tunate change in the weather will yet enable the farmers
to secure a fair, although not fully an average harvest.
Another effect of the fine harvest weather occurring
at this critical moment has been to produce an immense
demand for labourers. For the first time, perhaps, since
the famine, there has been full employment for all
hands, at the genuine and productive labours of the field.
The following reports were received this morning:—
" NEWRY, AuG. 28.—The few days of fine weather
with which we were favoured towards the close of last
week have had a moat seasonable effect on all the cereal
crops; the ears of the grain in many places in this loca-
lity are assuming the yellow tint peculiar to them at this
season; generally, however, the grain is very soft; but
we have no doubt that a fortnight at most of warm sunny
weather would render the whole of the wheat, oats, and
barley about this neighbourhood fit for the sickle. Having
lately examined the fields lying upon the Dublin road for
a couple of miles, and also those in Upper Fathom, we can
state with satisfaction that the oat crop there is a fair
average upon former years, both as to quality and quan-
tity; neither is it so much laid' as might have been an-
ticiFated. Such fields of flax as we have seen look re-
markably well, and several persons assure us that through
the country it is a good crop. With respect to the
potato, we may mention that a very erroneous idea pre-
vails with some parties, who, seeing the stalks blackened,
are of opinion that therefore the crop is diseased, and
report accordingly. Now, we know of several instances
in which the stalks were completely charred, and the
leaves had fallen off decayed, yet, upon examining the
tubers, they were found to be quite free from disease.
One gentleman, on whose veracity we can rely, informs
us that he has a whole field of potatoes, the stalks of
which present a diseased appearance, and the tubers
attached to which are perfectly sound. The potatoes
brought to our market are certainly much more free
from taint than was the case at the corresponding period
of last year.
DUNDALK, AUG. 28.—There were a few sacks of
oats at market to-day, which sold at 15s. per barrel; no
new. A few samples of old wheat offered, for which
369. was obtained. No new sold, but a sample or two
was shown; quality very middling.
"DROGHEDA, AUG. 26.—1 n the early part of this
week we had excessive rain and wind, but for the last
four days we had good harvest weather, and a large
proportion of the crops is secured in stook and stack:
Our market to-day was thinly attended by farmers,
and the business done was very limited. Old wheat
was ls. per barrel higher. Oats 6d. over last quota-
tions. A few samples of new barley appeared, but
no price fixed. New wheat 265. to 335. Flour is la.
to 2s. per sack dearer. Potatoes plentiful, and generally
sound."

The Cork Examiner of yesterday evening contains
a letter from Cloriakilty, which, after remarking on
the effects of the change of weather, says—•' We may
fairly hope for an average crop both of grain and
potatoes."

A clergyman in the•. county of Down, in a letter to
Saunders's News Letter, says—" The potatoes aro re-
covering, and putting on a healthy green aspect."

THE BEE HUNTER.—This is the title of the new
romance by the celebrated author of " The Pilot,"
" The Last of the Mohicans," &c., just published by
Mr. Bentley, New Burlington-street. In this new work
Mr. Fenimore Cooper gives us another story of the Bed
Indian, and triumphantly shows us that there is no
falling off in his powers as a novelist since he was
greeted by the universal acclamation of the whole read-
ing public on the production of his first story, " The
Pilot," which won for him a name second to no living
writer of fiction of our time. The " Bee Hunter " is a
story abounding in hair-breadth escapes and daring ex-
ploits—of descriptions of the magnificent sceney
of America painted by the hand of a master.
In short, it is a book to rivet the attentio❑
of the reader, and ur.der the spell of the enchanter we
must remain unto the end. We shall not attempt an
analysis of the story—it will be read by everybody. We
shall merely add that the Yankee Bee Hunter is fixed
in our memory with Pigeon's-wing, the Indian, and
Scalping Peter, the Savage, who is won from his bar-
barous intention of sacrificing the pale faces by the
fascinations of Gershom's sister. It appears that when
Mr. Cooper visited the parts spoken of in this story
some ten years ago, he found the Bee Hunter and his
wife comfortably settled there, old substantial people,
with Christianized Peter living with them, and talking
sensibly about the changes he had seen; while Pigeon's-
wing, who still remained in his native wildness, came to
see them once a year, and always went away loaded
with gifts * * This new story will be sure to find
welcome every where.—Evening Paper.
Two DREADFUL FlRES.—Between one and two
o'clock this morning the inhabitants of Fetter-lane,
Holborn, were alarmed by the outbreak of a fire on the
premises of Mr. Thomson, of King's Head-court,
machine ruler. Although the alarm was spread in-
stantly, and two powerful engines, with Mr. Colf, the B
brigade foreman, quickly arrived from Farringdon-
street, yet in less than an hour the whole building, three
stories in height, together with stock and furniture, were
totally destroyed. About the same time the engines
and men were required in Church-lane, Whitechapel,
where an extensive destruction of property took place
at d sugar-baker's. Water was well supplied to the
firemen, and the engines were worked vigorously, but
before any impression could be made on the flames, the
upper floor and contents were consumed. Both parties
are: believed to be insured against loss in the Sun, lin.
perial, and Phenix Fire-offices.
CARTE'S SEA SERVICE ROCKET APPARATUS.—Mr.
Carte, the ingenious originator of this invention, had an
opportunity afforded him yesterday of exhibiting its
applicability upon the Serpentine river. It is not un-
know to sailors as a useful and desirable apparatus,
having been already tested in several calamitous cases,
and, we believe been the means of saving human life.
The advantage which it offers is that of providing an
easy mode of discharging the rocket, whereby the object
aimed at can be covered with great certainty, and the
communicating rope conveyed without delay. It con.
sist4, of a perpendicular brass stanchion, furnished with
an arm susceptible of a universal movement. In a
grocive upon this arm the rocket is laid, and while with
one band the operator adjusts the apparatus to the pro-
per elevation, with the other he fires the rocket. The
expdriment was twice tried yesterday afternoon. The
first; through some mismanagement, failed, but the
second was extremely sntistactory, a line being dex-
terolisly thrown over a pair of boats moored together in
the river at a distance of about 140 yards. The ap-
pari4us is extremely simple, as well as portable and
econpmical.
Gr

NERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—The
cuatomary half-yearly meeting of this company was
held lyesterday at their offices, No. 71, Lombard-street;
Mr. VlTelkin in the chair. A report and statement of
the accounts for the half-year ending the 30th of June
last were read. The report was received with general
apprfbation, it appearing, notwithstanding the badness
of the times, that the earnings on the company's stations
had been abundantly productive to enable the directors
to continue paying the usual dividend offourteen shillings
per +are for the half-year, free of income-tax, and leave
a balance besides. The dividend being declared, thanks
were' voted to the chairman and directors, when the
meeting separated.
TEE LATE COLLISION ON THE PRESTON AND
LANCASTER RAILWAY.—The inquest on the unfortunate
suffeier by the latecollision of the trains at the Bayhorse-
staticin on this line of railway was resumed on Monday
at the Townhall, Lancaster. The most important part
of the evidence was that given by Richard Morris, the
engine-driver of the express train, who stated, with re-
gard to the signal at that station, that " it is not a sig-
nal, i$ is neither use nor ornament, for it is put in a
place 'where it cannot be seen. It is nothing like the
signals in use on other lines;" and "that in places
where there is a curve it is usual to have the signal
placed at a proper place where it can be seen, or send a
man to give notice of danger." This witness also swore
that he so far checked the speed of the express train,
that if the Preston train had been 30 or 40 yards be-
yond the station he should have been able to have pulled
up, the speed at which he was going when the collision
took place did not exceed eight miles an hour, and that
he scarcely felt the shock; that it was impossible to
work a line with one signal; that on other lines they
had an up and down signal, but not on the Lancaster
and Preston line. It was his opinion that if the last
carriage of the Preston train had been a new one in-
stead of being rotten, it would not have broken, nor
would any person have been injured. The investiga-
tion was adjourned until yesterday (Tuesday). The
inquest was continued yesterday, and had not con-
cluded at an avanced hour.
PAYMASTERS OF EXCHEQUER•IIILLS.—An Act of
Parliament (11th and 12th of Victoria, chap. 55) came
into force on the 14th inst., for Consolidating the offices
of Paymasters of ,Exchequer-bills and Paymaster of
Civil Services with the office of Pay master-General, and
for making other provisions in regard to the Consoli-
dated Offices. By the first clause power is given to the
Treasury to abolish the offices mentioned, and to transfer
the duties of those offices to the Payreaster•General.
The balance of naval prize money is to be transferred to
the Paymaster-General, and 100,0004 stock of un-
claimed and forfeited shares of army prize money is also
to be transferred to the Paymaster-General and the
Secretary at War. The Commissioners of the Treasury
are empowered by the fourth section to make new regula-
tions fur the office of her Majesty's Paymaster-General,
by reason- of the transfer of the duties of the offices
abolished by this Act; which regulations are to be laid
before Paillisaient.