The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-10 00:00:00

DESTITUTION IN THE WESTERN

ISLANDS.
A gentleman resident on the island of South Uist has
communicated to us facts regarding the state of the po •
pulation in that and the neighbouring islands which are
truly startling. The statement by this gentleman is,
the amount of provisions now in the people's possession
cannot possibly sustain them for more than two months
to come at the very utmost. Their crop, he confidently
states, will not yield seed sufficient to be sown next
spring, allowing they use none of it for food at all.
On the 11th ult., when our informant left Uist, British
cholera and inflammation of the intestines had begun
to be epidemic; he knew of upwards of two hundred
cases of this, at that date, in South Uist alone, and
by accounts he has since received, this epidemic has
been, and still is, increasing fearfully. This, our in-
formant says, is the result of deficient feeding and
the food used being of unwholesome quality; the dis-
eased potato, while any of that food remained, and
quantities of small fish, called in that country " cud-
dies," which come to the coast at this season, and which
the people, having literally no other manner of food
whatever, have been living upon, and are now suffering
in consequence. The entire dependence of the whole
population on potato diet is a fact not known adequately
in this part of the kingdom, The people are deprived of
their only food, and literally have now no food. The
gentleman who is our informant, and whose name
and address we shall be ready to communicate, was
asked whether labourers would be found to leave
those islands and repair to the south country, where
railways are in progress? His answer was, that three
months ago, large squads of able-bodied working men
would have undertaken that labour gladly ; but that
now, in their present famished condition, those very men
were altogether unable either to travel or to work at
ordinary day labour. Such a state of matters, at this
period of the season, is very appalling. The statements
already conveyed to the public regarding the destitution
in the Highlands and Islands have been considered by,
some to be exaggerated. We have here the most com-
petent testimony as to the state of facts. A very im-
perious and solemn duty is laid upon the whole com-
munity to extend their sympathy and aid. To this
gentleman's house some sixteen or twenty men—not
nnthiinng dueclisneg dis
the pauper class—come of a day craving food, not
having tasted any food for two whole days, and feel-
ingeas dis-
ease, they
loathed themselves thatthat
ditheiret, fish diet h
ad was
what-
ever to look to.—Greenock Advertiser.

OUTRAGE BY SOLDIERS.—David Oliver and John
Jones, privates in the Bth Regiment, were brought before
the county magistrates at Rochester, on Monday, on a
charge of assault, arising out of the following disgraceful
circumstances:—On Friday night, between nine and ten
o'clock, the prisoners, having escaped from their quarters
at Upnor Castle, after roll call, they removed their num-
bers from their caps, equipped themselves in military
cloaks, and armed with bludgeons, proceeded to the re-
sidence of Mr. S. Stronghill, farmer, at Friudsbury,
where they commenced violently knocking at the front
door, to the great alarm of the inmates. Fortunately
Mr. Stronghill and his brothers were both at home, and
on gong to the door, found the prisoners standing one on
each side of the doorway, who immediately demanded
food, swearing that they would have some before they
left. Mr. S. Stronghill threatened to report them to
their commanding officer, notwithstanding which, they
persisted in their first demand, and in the most violent
language, declared they cared no more for their officer
than they did for him. Oliver holding up his bludgeon
in a menacing attitude, swore that he would give him
something. He was, however, overpowered, and the as-
sistance of the labouring men in Mr. Stronghill's em-
ploy having been obtained, he was safely lodged
.in the
station-house at Rochester. Jones escaped and returned
hto e
nhdiesd qnueaxrtt edrasy!t
Jones
sr Castle,was adjudged
t o
pay
a was a
ya p p re-
penalty
of 305., and Oliver, who was most violent on the occa-
sion, a penalty double that amount. In default they
oweree mboontthhd h
an committedt e latter to
for Maidstonetw o months. Gaol the former for
n