The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-29 00:00:00

boons to thepoorer people in the shape of allotments
or rather of garden patches attached to their dwell-
ings, shoull not be accompanied with the
injurious recommendation of a precarious
and deceiful vegetable. Now that there
of the successful is so rem probability
cul-
tivation d the Indian maize in lieu of
the less nuritious potato, we are sanguine that a
better substtute for that fragile tuber may be intro-
duced, not nerely to the allotments of Dorsetshire,
but to the wider and equally neglected tracks of
Ireland.

After all the dismal disclosures of want and
wretchednes among the Dorsetshire labourers ; after
having acqtired the mournful knowledge of their
habitual destitution, and the painful conscious-
ness of tleir mental and bodily abasement ;
it is some solace to find their natural guardians,
even at tie eleventh hour, acknowleding their
great sins cf omission, and avouching their determi-
nation to assuage the torments inflicted upon many
generations by themselves and their more culpable
predecessors It is a solace to hear this solemn con-
fession, and this assurance of regret; and it is well
to feel that the compensation of those miseries will
be in accorcance with the dictates of a repentant ge-
nerosity anti the impulses of a laudable emulation.

There caa be no doubt that next to a temporary
arrangement —settlement, for the present, were hope-
less—of the pressing difficulties of Ireland, which
must be firs: considered and dealt with by the Legis-
lature in the ensuing session, the great question of
national education will occupy a large portion of the
attention of Parliament. The Government itself is
pledged, by the city of London manifesto of the
Premier, to introduce the subject upon a " compre-
hensive" scale; and, even:were we without this au-
thoritative assurance, the public mind has so long
been bent upon the necessity of supplying the intel-
lectual wants of the middling and humbler classes,
that the force of opinion alone would forbid the Go-
vernment remaining inactive on a matter of such
national interest. Had we earlier attended to the pro-
minent duty of imparting to our countrymen the
blessings of mental culture, what moral advance-
ment might we not by this time have accomplished,
and what a reduction of crime would' there not have
been yearly effected ! Independently of the superior
example set us by other civilised countries—and
those our nearest neighbours—our own criminal
statistics, periodically furnished, ought to fill us with
shame for the neglect of which we have been guilty.
We have frequently noticed the notorious dispropor-
tion among criminals of those who can neither read
ner write compared with those who have acquired
such elementary instruction, affording us the legiti-
mate inference, that in the ratio of the spreadof know-
ledge crime diminished. It is a melancholy circum
stance to contemplate that nothing has so much de-
terred public men from grappling with the subject of
national education as the prevalence of religious
jealousy ; and we are not vsithout the
apprehension that the over-wrought zeal and
mistaken enthusiasm of many well-meaning,
but really bigoted men, will be forthcoming to oppose
any liberal measure that the Executive may propose
for the diffusion of general enlightenment. Education
has been for centuries a complete monopoly. The
Established Church has had the entire power in her
own bands. Everything has been done for the upper
ranks of society that could have been expected, where
the stimulus of competition has been wanting ; a few
charity and Sunday-schools have been kept on foot
for the poorest of our fellow-creatures ; but the edu-
cation of the middling classes has been nearly altogether
unheeded. The Church will not resign her accus-
tomed power without a struggle, and the specious plea
will continue to be dogmatically put forward, that
education is worth nothing without religion, which
ought to constitute its foundation. We fully concede
to the truth of this proposition, but hold, neverthe-
less, that without prejudice to the same the State
may go a great way towards ensuring education to
I all ranks of the people, upon the principle of religious
L toleration.

We have read with feelings of unmixed gratifica-
tion the masterly speech which the Archbishop of
DUBLIN delivered at the recent soiree of the Man-
chester Athenaeum, immediately after Lord Mon-
PETH had concluded his eloquent oration, and to
which we adverted a few days since. His
Grace left Dublin fur the express purpose of
' being present on the occasion, persuaded, no doubt,
that the opportunity was a most seasonable one for
enunciating and enforcing certain truths, as well as
for propagating particular information of intrinsic
importance. The speech of the Archbishop will
eraunsdal. ChTrihsetiavnielilse, the reasonings
put forward are
developedma mopstlyerxetpemanyodsetdp cogent. For upwards of thirty-eight
years, in an active and zealous manner, as a writer,
teacher, and founder of different establishments, has
his Grace been connected with the cause of education.
For the last fourteen years the Most Rev. Prelate has
been chiefly occupied with the ewihnitcrhod, uhcetiocnonosifdenras-,
boons which has been
any part of her MA-
JESTY'S ,ioonnf ae willlr
rpeerddouv education ayot inoGen
00
yfi netrthonemlernelta
greatest nodn
donainions: This system has been made the
theme of much vituperation; but, as explained by
the Archbishop, we are sure it will meet with merited
commendation :

" We do not undertake to teach the whole of their
religious belief, to give the whole of their religious edu-
cation to the children of different denominations—be-
cause we could not possibly do that for all of them toge-
ther, without violating the consciences of some of them.
V
tt‘hioeen. rdcolTignhioeotu sypsrsoeteda
proposes
muocseis to leave to the parents of each child
s therefore, to give a complete educe-
tion of that child, the right of reli-
gious education in that mode, be it right or wrong in my
opinion, which they themselves think the best.—(Much
cheering.) We give to the children jointly, and ix
friendly intercourse with each other, all the instruction
which they can conscientiously receive together. And
so much of that instruction, I am happy to say, con-
sists of the knowledge of sacred history, of those great
truths of our common Christianity in which, thank
Heaven, we all agree, much as we differ upon other
points."
This, as far as the principle is concerned on which
the system is based, seems to leave nothing to be
desired. His Grace subsequently remarked, in
terms of fervid eloquence, that it was not right to
force upon children any religious instruction which
their parents may disapprove :

" I never can believe that the Founder of our Religion,
who, when he was apprehended and dragged away to an
ignoble death, declared that he could call on more than
twelve legions of angels to his rescue, and who told his
overzealous disciple to put his sword into his sheath—
I never can believe that it was his intention or desire
that his sacred word should be forced upon any one
against his will, inclination, and conscience."
This language does honour to its author. We
wish the whole bench of Bishops were equally en-
larged in their views. However, a more enlightened
spirit is beginning to animate the heads of the
Church, as was, in a great degree, evinced during the
last session of Parliament. We shall hope that the
sound advice tendered, and the excellent example set
them by the Archbishop of DUBLIN, will not be lost
sight of by his episcopal compeers. The fulfilment of
this hope would be the removal of one of the greatest
education,impedi
impediments now lying in the path of national

ppose of
and dearness
A most important meeting of landowners and
entry was held at Fermoy on Saturday last, for the
thur and taking such step e country, s as might be deemed
" discussing the present alarming state of
advisable to meet the exigency created by the scarcity
, beneficial employment for the people." The county
1% lembers attended, Mr. O'CoNNELL having come from
of food, and the want of useful and
Derrynane specially for the purpose, in order to hear
the sentiments and understand the views of his con-
stituents and to assist in carrying them out as far as
possible. Every such assemblage, at which the views
of intelligent gentlemen, well acquainted with the
wants of their
respective localities, are elicited, must
be extremely valuable; facts are stated and authen-
ticated which will form data for the authorities to
draw their deductions ; and, although the conclusions
of the speakers or the resolutions adopted may possibly
not be fully
attention of the Executive will necessarily be directed
warranted by the premises, still the
thereto, and a full consideration will be secured for
the projects by which it might be suggested that the
existing distress should be mitigated, and the condition
of the people of all classes ameliorated and improved.
It was chiefly owing to what had occurred at similar
meetings, and the forcible manner in which the
deficiencies and defects of the Labour -rate Act were
pointed but And explained to the Lord-Lieutenant by

the gentlemen selected to attend before his Excellency
as deputations, that we probably owe the vigorous
and bold determination adopted by that patriotic
nobleman of taking upon himself the responsibility of
sanctioning a deviation from the letter of the statute,
by which the greatest benefit may be obtained, if due
advantage be taken of the powers thereby afforded to
the several baronial sessions.

The proceedings were restricted to the deeply im-
portant questions they had assembled to discuss, and
everything that could by a possibility have occasioned
difference or dissension was carefully excluded. Mr.
O'CoNNELL, true to the pledge he voluntarily offered
with respect to the proposed National Committee, to
which the present meeting was in some degree
analogous, checked the expressions of esteem and
respect which were loudly offered to himself, feeling
that they might possibly be tortured into political
manifestations—and thus afforded an additional proof
of the confidence that may be reposed in him, and of
the fidelity with which he would observe his engage-
ments.

The first resolution conveyed a certain degree of
censure on the Board of Works for not facilitating
and expediting the projects submitted to them for
approval, a censure which was most strongly repeated
by Mr. O'CoNNELL in his speech, and also in the letter
which he wrote from Kilkenny on the following day
to the Repeal Association. The emergency is un-
doubtedly most urgent, and not a moment's time
should be lost in setting the people into active occu-
pation wherever useful and valuable works have been
presented for. Some allowance, however, must be
made for the extraordinary weight of the business
thrown on that body, increased, as it has been in many
instances, by the refusal of the people to employ
themselves at task work, and the organised opposition

they have offered to the mode of employment and the
amount of remuneration offered, and in others by the
conduct of some of the presentment sessions, who, as
at Macroom, indiscriminately sanctioned every pro-
position made without discussion or investigation,

leaving it to the board to select the good from the
bad, and to refuse their approbation to the jobs which
have too often been brought forward. Another
reason also might possibly have occasioned the ap-
parent inaction of the board—the great majority of
the presentments had been passed before the letter cf
his Excellency announced the determination he had
arrived at of sanctioning works of a reproductive
character, and it might fairly be presumed that the
magistrates and ratepayers might desire to reconsider
the manner in which the great expenditure decided on,
amounting on an average to one year's poor-law
valuation of the several lands in the districts, should
be applied.
These considerations offer some apology for the
board; but we sincerely hope that the stimulant
thus administered may not be thrown away, but that
in every case some of the most desirable works may
immediately be commenced in each of the baronies,
so that the people may obtain instant occupation, and
the means of purchasing the food so essentially neces-
sary for their destitute families. If the staff of the
board is insufficient for the amount of labour cast upon
them, it should forthwith be increased to the requisite
strength.

That part of the Treasury Minute which directs
that the pay of labourers should in every instance be

2d. per day under the ordinary rate of wages in the

district, was most properly condemned. The re-
muneration for labour should be sufficient to enable
the poor man to obtain the necessaries of life—a
sufficiency of plain food for himself and family; this,
at the present prices of provisions, it is impossible for
him to procure, and the wages should undoubtedly
be raised to an adequate amount. We had hoped
from what fell from the Premier and the Chancellor

of the Exchequer, at the audience which they gave to
the Mallow deputation, that the objectionable clause
would long since have been modified; in fact, the

present state of affairs imperatively demands a
change in this respect. We are unable to discuss
from want of space, the several resolutions adopted.
A deputation, consisting of one or more members
from each relief committee, was appointed to join Mr.
O'ColusELL in presenting a memorial, founded on the
resolutions, to his Excellency, and to -day ,has
been fixed for a conference with the Lord-Lieutenant
upon the subject of the meeting, as well as upon the
general state of the country. We hope that the
I gentlemen thus selected may not separate and dissolve
themselves after the interview ; they would form an
admirable foundation for the National Committee•
How could such a body be more usefully constituted
than by representatives deputed by each of the relief
committees throughout the entire country ? Every
locality would be adequately represented, and there
would be persons competent to state to the general
body its peculiar wants. The first step is all that is
necessary, and if the gentlemen, now appointed,
continue their meetings in Dublin, their ranks will be
increased by numerous adherents, and a National
Committee will be formed to devote their time and
their energies to the amelioration of the people, and
the means of escaping from the impending difficulties. I

Accounts from Switzerland are to the 22d. The
elections at Geneva passed off without the slightest
disturbance. The result has been, that out of ninety-
three Members of which the Grand Council is corn-
posed, sixty are firm supporters of the present
Liberal Government.

At Bale, too, the Liberals have mustered in such
force that the Government resigned their functions to
the Liberal opponents voluntarily, and the change,
which leaves the Liberals in undisputed possession of
power, was accomplished without the peace being at
any time disturbed.

The Jesuit party in the canton of Valais, who, al-
though they possess the Government, and command
the armed force of the canton, are yet in a
•
minority as compared with the Liberal party, are
getting alarmed for their supremacy, and are adopt-
ing their old tactics of endeavouring to rouse the
ignorant and fanatical peasantry to massacre their
opponents, and are, as they did two years since, in-
citing and practising secret assassination. The fol-
lowing is an extract of a letter from St. Maurice, the
frontier town of the canton, situated on the Rhone,
where it divides Valais from Vaud :
" The revolution of Geneva has alarmed the Govern-
ment of this canton, menaced with an approaching
downfal by the victory of the Liberal party. The
Council of State, in these circumstances, has put under
arms some of the citisens, but their number is insuffi-
cient, and it fears to entrust arms to others whose de-
votedness to the Government is very doubtful. Attempts
are made to excite tht fanaticism of one part of the po-
pulation against the other, and the tables of the cabarets
are covered with proclamations drawn up in the
name of religion. A public functionary has even been
seen declaiming from the balcony of his re-
sidence, and endeavouring to instigate the people
against the Radicals, and preaching a little St. Bartholo-
mew against those whom he calls the impious. In En-
tremont and Upper Valais secret meetings are held
every night, and the report is current throughout the
Canton that a troop of fanatics, armed by the mysterious
persons who compose these meetings, are to strike the
principal Valasian heads of the Radical party, who live
in exile in the canton of Vaud. Already M. Maurice
Barman, who resides at Bex (Vaud), has been near
falling a victim to one of the fanatics, and he owed his
life only to the vigorous opposition which he made to the
man who attacked him."

Madrid papers of the 20th have been received.

It was said that the Queen of PORTUGAL had
applied to Spain for assistance, and that at the re-
commendation of the French Ambassador, an armed
intervention in the affairs of Portugal had been de-
termined on. Orders had been dispatched to the
captains-general of Andalusia, Salamanca, and Ga-
licia, to march troops to the Portuguese frontier.
The Diario of Lisbon, of the 14th, states that
Viscount D'OLIVEIRA, Minister of Finance, having
given in his resignation, M. DE SOUZA.AZEVEDO has
been appointed in his place. The Diario announces
that the news received by the Government from Cas-
tello Branco, Abrantes, Serpa, Deja, and Estremoz
is satisfactory. The population and the troops, it
was said, had everywhere submitted without resist-
ance to the QUEEN'S orders. "It is to be believed,"
adds the Diario, " that her MAJESTY'S orders will
have equally been observed in the northern pro-
vinces, intelligence from which is every moment ex-
pected."
The belief thus confidently expressed by the Diario
is, however, unfounded, for all communications be-
tween Lisbon and Oporto and Coimbra have been cut
off for some days, in consequence of the destruction
of the telegraph by the insurgents.
MADRID BoLsA, OCT. 20 .—The Three per Cents. fell on
the 20th to 344 for cash; and the Four per Cente. were