The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-28 00:00:00

S Ny NOVEMBER 28, 1846.

IRELAND.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY-ARMING OF THE

PEASANTRY.

DUBLIN, Nov. 26.—The most alarming statements
are still published as to the open trade in fire-arms,
especially in the counties of Tipperary and Limerick.
The Liberal journal in Clor.rnel, the Tipperary Free
Press, gives the following account of the apid increase
of traffic in that town, which is the capital of the
county'

" There is more business doii-Kr in the trade in gulls.
pistols. blunderbusses, powder a:id shot, in
other ir this town. The gunsmiths are kept g•wrie:, day
and night repairing arms, and the vendors of arms find It
difficult to supply the demand of their customers. I),y
and night reports of gun-shots are heard throughout tlit
country—in some localities volleys are discharged, to
the great terror of the peaceable' inhabitants."
The Limerick Chronicle says—
" Wo gave early and frequent proof of the avidity (I
the Irish peasantry to -arm themselves, at any cost or
rhazard. The facilities are now free of all restriction:,
and the sale of fire-arms in this city, never so extensive,
is almost exclusively availtd of by that large class of
people. For Ballycannane townland, twenty-nine guns
were bought up in the last week. The Birmingham
trade was never so flourishing."
There are still many heartrending accounts of distress,
especially in the western province. And whilst the
landlords loudly remonstrate against public works, and
take no effectual steps to promote drainage, or other
productive works, new presentment sessions are de-
manded, to continue employment for the destitute la-
bourer%

The only gratifying features in the provincial accounts
are the increased supplies and reduced prices of food, and
the continued exertions of the relief committees.
DISTURBANCES—OPPOSITION TO RENTS.
The Irish Government have issued the following pro-
clamation :

" Dublin Castle, Nov. 25, 1846.
" Whereas it has been represented to the Lord-Lieu-
tenant, that about eight o'clock P Br. on the 22d instant.
a party of about thirty men unknown, armed with guns
and pistols, after visiting the houses of Michael Greene,
Thomas Garahan, and John Keeran, and threatening
them with death if they should pay rent, proceeded to
the house of John Flood, farmer, and being refused ad-
mittance, discharged at him a gun loaded with slugs,
which wounded him, and caused his death immediately—
the above outrages took place on the townland of Ar-
dandra, parish of Aghara, and county of Longford. His
Excellency, for the better apprehending and bringing to
justice the perpetrators of these outrages, is pleased
hereby to offer a reward of one hundred pounds to any
person or persons (except the person or persons who ac
tually committed the same) who shall, within six months
from the date hereof, give such information as shall lead
to the apprehension and conviction of all, and propor-
tionably for one or more of the persons coucerne6
therein.—By his Excellency's command,
" H. LABOUCHERE."

The Newry Telegraph says :—" On Sunday night, or
Monday morning, a quantity of Indian corn meal was
stolen from a lighter on the Newry Canal, at a place
called the Madden Bridge. The robbers managed to
carry away 15 sacks; containing two cwt. each."
CLONMEL, Nov. 25.—0 n Monday a carman convey.
ing a load of flour from this town to Killenaule, was
stopped by an armed party of men between Clonmel and
Fethard, who carried off four bags.
A cask of butter was taken from a poor woman near
Fethard by another party of marauders ; she was bring-
ing it to this market to sell ; she received a severe beat-
ing from the ruffians.
KING'S COUNTY.—PARSONSTOWN, Nov. 25.—Satur-
day night last a notice was posted at Cough, calling
upon the labouring population of the parish of Drum-
cullen to assemble at the four roads at the Pass on Mon-
day morning, to suggest means whereby the wants of
the people would be relieved, consequently about fifty
persons assembled, and proceeded to the residences of
Daniel Molloy, Esq., J.P., Clonbela, and Thomas Mani-
fold, Esq., Raheenglass, to each of whom they stated
their wants. Both gentlemen stated that every possible
exertion was making to procure employment for them.
Some of the party said " that unless they got employ-
ment they would take the fat from off the land." A
good many labourers were yesterday employed in making
a -new line of road in that parish.
MORE DEATHS FROM STARVATION IN SKIBOEREEN.

—An inquest was to have been held on Monday last on
the bodies of three men, whose deaths are attributed to
starvation. The inquest was not held, the coroner
being unable to attend from the accumulation of busi-
..

ness—in the district in which he resides!—a fact that
speaks volumes for the desperate condition of the people.
On the examination of the bodies, after being exhumed.
there was found no trace of food in the stomach or intes-

tines. The greatest sensation pervades the locality.—
Cork Examiner.
BENEVOLENCE OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.—ThIS
exemplary body, with that spirit of humanity which has
ever ch iracterised them, has entered into a subscription
of 2,0001, in Dublin, to relieve the wants of the poor
throughout this•kingdom, and the same body in England
have also subscribed 20,0001. for the like purpose.—
King's County Ceronicle
The Marquis of Londonderry changed horses, on
Tuesday. at the Donegal Arms, on his route from
Mount Stewart to Glenarm Castle. His Lordship, after
a brief visit to Mr. M•Donell, proceeds to Cushendall.—
Belfast Paper.
DUBLIN AND KINGSTOWN RAlLWAY.—Traffic for
week ending 24th of November, 1846:—Passengers,
37,696. Receipts, 6201. 19.4 7d. Corresponding week
of 1845:—Passengers, 36,568. Receipts, 861/. 2s. 4i.
RETURN OF LORD BESBOROUGH.—The Waterford
Freeman says—" A paragraph has been circulated in all
the papers, stating that his Excellency the Lord Lieu •
tenant intended to return to Dublin on the 24th inst. We
are enabled to state, on very high authority, that such
was not the intention of his Excellency, and that he bar
expressed his intention of being present at the hunt ball,
which will be held in Carrick-on-Suir, on Friday next.
His Excellency will not return to Dublin until after the
first week in December."
PRINCE GEORGE OF CAMBRIDGE.—Major-General
Prince George of Cambridge on Monday returned to his
house, Pery-square, Limerick, from a visit to the Lord-
Lieutenant at Besborough. Prince George on Wednes-
day received his appointment as Commander of the
Forces in the Dublin garrison and district.
CASE OF MR. HARDY.—The Benchers were engaged
to-day in considering a petition from Mr. Hardy, re-
cently a member of the Irish bar, for a re-hearing. The
result did not transpire.—Evening Post.
BALL AT THE CHIEF SECRETART'S.—Mr. and Mrs.
Labouchere gave a ball at the Chief Secretary's Lodge on
Tuesday.
THE ARMY—PROMOTIONS CONSEQUENT ON

PRICE SD.

AWFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.
On Tuesday morning last, between five and six o'clock,
an accident of a melancholy nature occurred in the
"Coppall Pitt," the property of Mr. John Hargreaves,
jun., of Bolton, whereby eight persons lost their lives.
n Thursday afternoon an inquest was held at the
Wheatsheaf Inn, Coppall, before Mr. N. Palmer, coroner,
when the whole circumstances were thoroughly investi-
gated. Mr. J. Gaskell, solicitor, Bolton, appeared on
behalf of Mr. Hargreaves, and offered every facility to
,she inquiry.

From the evident,.3 nAduced, it arpeared that tha
at the colliery is, that the firemen (whose duty it is tc
ascertain that there is no lite-damp in tho placas wh, r,
the mut have to work) shall examine the mirr• before
any of the men are oil to go to work. The practic,
is, that the fireman shall examine each place with a
Davy lamp, and on finding it free from sull,hur, he leaves
t candle burning, which is an indicltion to the collier
that his place has, been examined, and is fit for him to
lommillce work.

On Tuesday morning, between five and six o'clock,
number of the colliers and drawers had descended th.
pit, and were waitin I, for the report of the fireman to
commerce, when Thomas Halliwell imprtniently went
into his " steight" before it had been examined, and the
fire-damp, with which the place was charged, coming in
contact with the light of his candle, a terrific explo-
sion took place, by which the following persons lost their

lives :
Thomas Halliwell, aged 37, who has left a wife and
four children.
Jane Halliwell, aged 13, daughter of 'the above.
Joseph Hale, a drawer, aged 14 years.
William Turner, aged 25, a collier.
Seth Turner, brother to the above, also a collier,
aged 23.
Mary Booth, aged 11 years, employed as a drawer.
Jane Moss, aged 21, a drawer.
William Wilding, aged 16, a drawer. And three or
four others more or less injured.
In reference to the employment of women in the mine,
it appeared that it was without the knowledge and con•
trary to the instructions of Mr. Hargreaves. They
were taken into the pit dressed as boys, and when the
manager told Halliwell that he would have his drawer
examined to ascertain whether it was his daughter Nl'
not, he said he would stick his pick into any one who
would attempt to examine a drawer of his. Mr. Jackson,
of Bolton, the surveyor, about three weeks before in-
formed Mr. Hargreaves that he suspected from the voices
of the drawers, that some of them were girls, and Mr.
Hargreaves, indignant that his manager should so far
transgress his instructions, went over to the pit, but was
assured that Mr. Jackson had been mistaken.
After hearing the evidence, the CORONER said, that
so far as the evidence went it implicated no one con
cerned in the management of the mine. If anyone was
to blame, it appeared to be the man Halliwell, who went
into his place before it was examined, and who had lost
his life in consequence.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of " Acci-
dental death."