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

" 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 auantity 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 adupt 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
tho 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
elspsed (from tile 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
trap ferric our expectations to the importation of a
foreign grain wh!ch 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 %I hole wheaten meal, the growth of Ireland, or
of barley meal, v.hether grown here or imported.
" I earnestly recommend to your Lordship's com-
mittee ihe advantage which these items of supply offer.
" I should also strongly recommend the sowing of ryt
instead of oats, at least in part, which is harvested
usually six wiAclin or two months before wheat.

"I trust that your Lordship will peceire the inutility
of op: ning our depot, and of commencing our i,sues be-
fore we arc in a position to maintain them. It would
he decd log you and depriving us of the means of af-
fording a small temporary succour to some of the worst
parts of Connemara and Achill Island.

" In conclusion, I advert to your Lordship's applica-
tion for a depot at Louisberg, for the difficulty of which
my previous explanation will have prepared you. 11.
tact, I am ohl7ge,l to withdraw fur 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 thfs rubject it may be made evi.dent to .your
Lordship that these constabulary del 6.5, if they beconet
too numerous, of f,-!ct the impartiality of the distribution ;
for all those localities which have not this dmitage
are obliged to defray from their own funds the expenses
of transport, of custo y, and issue—and I am sure your
Lordship will concur with me that there should be nu
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, seen in the aggregate, no
one could antieipato that I should have the means of com-
plying.
"1 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 congratuhtte the district on your
L,,rdship's having consented to act as their chairman at
a moment when all the influence and example in tht,
country are necessary to carry us through this great
crisis.—l have the honour to be, &e.,
"R. J. 'MUTH, G.G.
" The Most Noble the Marquis of Site, &c.,
Westport."

OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Lord- Lieutknaot has adiressed the following,
memorandum in reference to the subject to the Chair-
man of the Board of Public Works:—
. (Mica of Public Works, Oat. 16.
" Sir,— I am sorry to find that great objection is mad.
by labourers in different
.pails of the country to wink
officers therefore,u
by piece or task work, IN h. ICh is the only mode by which
inployment can be given at this anal of general
nder your control to
of desiring that
distress to any large. portion of the people. I am
3u,onudelrvinthi
explain to those who. are returned to them by the
relief eonimitces as destitute and in want of employment,
the nature of the task work which it is proposed to
employ thorn, the mode in which the measurement will
be made, and the wages which they may earn, which
enstrrriectesstia'
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,
BESBOROUGIL
i 0 The Chairman of the Board of Works."

THE REGISTRATIONS.
MIDDLESEX

Afr.Shadweli held his court on Thursday at the Sussex
Arms, Hammersmith, for the revision of the lists of
Chiswick, Fulham, Hammersmith, Kensington, and
Chelsea.
Mr. W. H. James attended for the Liberal party, and
Aft.. Payne for the Conservatives.
In the Chiswick list Finlay Mackenzie, claiming for
two freehold house:, conjointly with his uncle, was ob-
jected to by the Conservatives.
Mr. Russ, the claimant's uncle, stated that his nephew
was possessed of the property.
Mr. Payne—ls it not your property? Mr. Ross—Yes.
Mr. Payne—Then by what right does your nephew
claim? Mr. Ross—l
gave him permission to put his
name on the list for the property.
Mr. Payne—Did you convey any part of the property
to him? Mr. Ross—No ; but I allow a large sum of
money.
Mr. James—Could he sell the property? Mr. Ross—
Certainly not ; I only allow him to put his name down
for a 40s. vote.—(Laughter.)
Mr. James—That will not give him a qualification.
You should convey hire a rent-charge-
Name expunged.
Mr. James complained of the conduct of the overseers
of Hammersmith parish in objecting to a great number
of voters in the list, on the ground of change of resi-
dence; it was a great stretch of authority in doing so,
and also a great injustice to the voter, for ho could not
receive any notice of the objection.
The overseer said the lists wore put upon the church-
dcor.

Mr. James said that might be the case, but it was pat
up at a time when it was more than , likely that the
voters were out of town, and in many cases the voters
removed to the country, and then would not be able to
g? to the church-door without great trouble andinconve-
nience.

ground ::)f. change
Mr. SIIADWELL said, if the overseers objected on the
the parties know by letter, or put themselves in a posi-
tion to prove the qualification.
In the Hammersmith list, Mr. James Baker, claim-
ing of residence, they should either let
for a copyhold house, was objected to by the Con•
servatives.

Mr. Baker stated he was possessed of the property,
and bad bad it for many years, and resided upon the
property, which was of the value of 281. per annum.
Mr. Payne—What do you get from the property? Mr.
Baker—lt is of the value of 281. a year.
Mr. Payne—What charges are there upon it? th.
Baker-419a whiitfever.

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 far the es-
tablishment of food depots, and the importation by (Go-
vernment of food, and the sale thereof at such prices as
would reduce the present exorbitant rates :
" The Castle, Dublin, Oct. 14.
" My Lord, —I 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 opening 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
which the country is little prepared. We have two great
deficiencies to supply—mills and inland corn-dealers, and
both are a work of time.
• Unfortunately a great, and, as I think, an ill-
considered, opprobrium has been thrown upon Heelers
in corn ; and the farmer, with scarcely any know-
ledge 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 when 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 interests of an
intelligent dealer will always check the tendency to rase
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 is the fbod 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 hut out all mercantile assistance
from us, and stand alone in our market, making our-
selves responsible for the supply.
" Your Lordship's information leads you to state that
the grain in the country is only enough to supply the
seed necessary for the sowing of the double crop to com-
pensate fur the loss of tie potato.
" Imust 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
ander 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.