The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-24 00:00:00

TRE suy,
_LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 24, 1846.

IRELAND.
THE FOOD QUESTION.
DUBLIN, OCT. 21.—The Freeman's Journal of this
day publishes the following able letter, addressed to the
Marquis of Sligo by Sir Randolph Routh; in which the
latter undertakes to reply to the application of the Noble
Marquis on behalf of the poor of his district ft r the es-
tablishment of food depots, and the importation by iGo-
vcruanelit of ford, and the sate thereof at such prices as
would reduce the present exorbitant rates :
" The Castle, Dublin, Oct. 14.
"My Lord,—l have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of- your Lordship's letter of October 8,- contain-
ing the resolutions of the Westport Committee, which
reached me only yesterday, and I have this morning
your letter of the 12th instant.
" I pay due attention to your Lordship's application
for Government assistance and the op, ning of the Go-
vernment depot, and I solicit your Lordship's patience
whilst I enter into some explanation on this subject.
" We have a crisis of a peculiar nature to overcome,
and a sudden transition from potato to grain food. for
hich the country is little prepar...d. We have two great
dt-fieiencies to supply—mills and inland con,- !eit!ers, and
both area work of time. •

• Unfortunately a great, and, as I think, an ill-
considered, opprobrium has been thrown upon dealers
in corn ; and the farmer, with scarcely any know-
ledi.te of the principles of trade. is exercising the two
professions, and with injury to both. If they were,
as they ought to be, divided, the farmer would be re-
lieved from a business that he does not understand,
and would have his whole time given up to his own
occupation, in which he would be materially assisted by
loans or advances from the trader, who, as well as his
landlord, would have an interest in his success.
" The day cannot be distant w hen the gentlemen of
the country will see the advantage of encouraging
dealers of character and respectability, and deriving all
the advantage of the union of commerce and agriculture.
" With regard to the high prices which it is alleged
the dealers exact, we must bear in mind that if an
article is scarce it must be dear; that a smaller quantity
of food must be made to suffice for a longer period than
is usual, and that the high price is the only criterion by
which consumption can be economised. The interestsof an
intelligent dealer will always check the tendency to raise
prices above their true level; or, at all events, the at-
tempt will carry its cure with it by disappointing him of
his market.

" The present is not a local scarcity, but includes all
western Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France, as
well as the United Kingdom ; and these Powers are
competing with us in the food market ; and if we decline
to pay the fair value, we shall lose our proportion of it.
No merchant will bring his goods to our market if he
can obtain a better price elsewhere.
" I think we shall certainly mistake the object if we
sell below the cost price, for we give up all check upon
the consumption, and shut out all mercantile assistance
orn us, and stand alone in our market, making our-
selves responsible for the supply.
" Your Lordship's information leads you to state that
the .'(Train in the country is only enough to supply the
seed necessary for the sowing of the double crop to com-
pensate for the loss of the potato.
" I must not attempt to combat this impression as re-
lates to your Lordship's neighbourhood, but in the
country generally it is acknowledged that the harvest
has been abundant, and so great have been the exporta-
tions to England that the price has actually given way
under it, and the markets are less advantageous than in
Ireland. Wheat has even been reshipped and brought
back again.
.

" Here is a proof of the great loss experienced by the
country from the absence of respectable corn-dealers,
whose business it would be to watch the course of trade
and keep their own markets supplied, making the abund-
ance of one part of the country applicable to the demand
of another.

"Your Lordship is disposed to think that the opening
of the depot at Westport, which contains about 150 tons
of unground Indian corn, would afford to the people an
effectual measure of relief.

" The quantity which I have stated is almost an an-
swer to this solicitation, but I am anxious to explain to
your Lordship, that neither the trade nor the Govern-
ment could adopt any steps for increasing the supply of
food in the country until the failure of the potato crop
was known in September.
" On the most favourable view that can be taken of
the time necessary to introduce foreign importations,
it cannot be accomplished with any effect in less than
three or four months. Until this period therefore has
elapsed (from the Ist of December to the Ist of January),
neither the trade nor commissariat can be in a position
to meet the exigency which your Lordship thinks is now
impending.
" The only and the real remedy is the abundance of
the late grain harvest, and your Lordship will not omit
to observe the danger we incur in exporting this super-
fluity, or in failing to apply it to our local wants, and
transferring our expectations to the importation of a
foreign grain which has not had time to reach our coasts.
" In consequence of the demand for Indian corn meal,
the price has risen to 565. per quarter, much beyond the
price of whole wheaten meal, the growth of Ireland, or
of barley meal, whether grown here or imported.
" I earnestly recommend to your Lordship's com-
mittee the advantage which these items of supply offer.
"I should also strongly r,commend the sowing of rye
instead of oats, at least in part, which is harvested
usually six weeks or two months before wheat.

" I Crest that your Lordship will peceive the inutility
of opening our depot, and of commencing our issues be-
fore we are in a pthition to uriintain them. It would
be deceiving you and depriving us of the means of af-
fording a small temporary succour to some of the worst
parts of Connemara and Achill bland.
" In conclusion, I advert to your Lordship's applica-
tion for a depot at Louisborg, for the difficulty of which
my previous explanation will have prepared you. In
fact, I am obliged to withdraw for the moment the con-
stabulary depots now dependent on. Westport, trusting
to the exertions of the committee to supply their absence
until we are able to renew them.

"On this subject it may be made evident to your
Lordship that these constabulary del Ots, if they become
too
for all those localities which have not this advantage
a are
onbulmigeerdo u, a
tos defray ytthefrom
impartiality lity of the distribution ;
their own funds the expenses
of transport\ of clutto 3,, and issue--and I am sure your
Lordship will concur with me that there should be no
distinction. I have received applications for no less a
number than 183 of these depots, with which it will
be clear to your Lordship, that,
one could anticipate that I should have the means of com-
plying. _ seen in the aggregate, no

-
"l beg to assure your Lordship that it will give me
great pleasure in assisting your committee as much as
lies in my power; and I congratulate the district on your
Lordship's having consented to act as their chairman at
a moment when all the influence and example in the
country are necessary to carry us through this great
crisis.—l have the honour to be, &c.,
"R. J. ROUTH, G.G.
"The Most Noble the Marquis of Sligo, &c.,
Westport."
OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Lord-Lieutenant has addressed the tollowing
memorandum in reference to the subject to the Chair-
man of the Board of Public Works:-
4' Office of Public Works, Oct. 16.
" Sir,—l am sorry to find that great objection is made
by labourers in different parts of the country to work
by piece or task work, which is the only mode by which
employment can be given at this tim," of
general
distress to any large portion of the people. I am
under the necessity, therefore, of desiring that
you will instruct the officers under your control to
aplain to those who are returned to them by the
relief commitees as destitute and in want of employment"
the nature of the task work on which it is proposed to
employ them, the mode in which the measurement will
be made, and the wages which they may earn, which
are to be paid to them in money by weekly
payments.
" If after this explanation they shall refuse the work
that is provided for the support of themselves and their
families, you will direct your officers at once to with-
draw from the locality, as it is not consistent with the
directions of the Government that they should be sub-
jected to offence and violence in performance of their
arduous duties.
" I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
" " The Chairman of the Board of Works."BESBOROUGH.

THE GREAT WESTERN STEAMER. LIVERPOOL
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. —The e ship Sea has arrived ;
she sailed from New York ontrheeOth ult., the same
day as the Cambria's mails we
consequently her news is not any dispatchedlater to Boston,
We are now
hourly expecting the Great Western. *
ANOTHER ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF BREAD.
On Thursday morning the bakers in nearly every locality
of the metropolis made a still further advance of one
halfpenny in the price of the quartern loaf, making about
the fifth rise in price during the present month. It is
singular to obs rve the various sums demanded in dif-
ferent localities for the 41b. of " household" bread. In
the neighbourhood of the New Cut, Lower Marsh, Lam.
beth, and its immediate vicinity, the price is only 71d.
in some instances, and Bd. in others. In the Blackfriars-
road, Southwark, the Borough, and the other parts of
the Surrey side of the river, the latter sum is the utmost
demanded, except for full-priced bread. In the City,
without exception, the price is 814. and 9d ; 81d. and
9d. is charged in the vicinity of Clare-marks t and Picket-
street, whilst for a similar article but lid. and Bd. is de-
manded at Whitechapel, Poplar, East Smithfield, &c.
In some neighbourhoods no less than 9id. is charged per
41b. loaf. The amount charged for the best or " full-
pricA" bread averages from between 91d. to 101 d.
and 1I d.
THE LATE CASE OF DROWNING IN THE
REGENT'S
CANAL.—On Thursday, the inquiry into the circum-
stances attending the death of Sarah Whithorn was
concluded, before Mr. Baker, at the Sportsman. Mar-
garet street, Haggerstone. George Phesent, 2, Victoria-
street, Homerton, deposed that deceased and her hus-
band passed him near the Cat and Mutton-bridge, about
one o'clock on Sunday morning. High word passed be-
tween them, and they turned into the path leading to
Haggerstone bridge. In answer to questions, the witness
stated that deceased breathed fora period of twenty
minutes after her recovery from the water. The medical
evidence adduced on Tuesday was then read, from which
it appeared that deceased was stated to have died within
a few minutes after her recovery from the water. Other
important evidence having been g.ven, the Coroner ad-
verted to the melancholy facts of the case, and com-
mented upon the material portions of the evidence; and,
after a lengthened deliberation within closed doors, the
jury returned a verdict of "Temporary Insanity ;" and
added, " that gross recklessness had been exhibited by
prevent deceased's
deceased
e ehusband,eased
throwing Alfred Ihileirtshel
f into the Regent'so rn , in neglecting to
Canal, and in endeavouring to leave the spot after the
same without offering assistance in rescuing her; and the
jury regret that the law cannot punish him for his in- i
human conduct."