The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-19 00:00:00

AUGUST 19, 1851.

ENCUMBERED ESTATES ACT.
if we watch the results of the Encumbered Estates
Act with particular anxiety, it is only the result of a
desire to see that Act in operation which was re-
peatedly expressed, long before it had received the
sanction of the Legislature, and long before it had re-
ceived that favour at the hands of other journalists
which was heaped upon it as SOOO as it was seen that
it would " work well." When the state of Ireland
hung like a. damp gloom over the empire, and the
word was repeated from man to man throughout the
country that she had ceased to be the "difficulty,," of
statesmen, and had become their " impossihility, ' we
saw how practicable it was to clear away this gloomy
atmosphere in the political sky, and how that small
streak of light, that almost imperceptible patch of
blue, not enough to make even an Irishman a pair of
breeches, might be spread out till in time it might,
haply, cover the whole sky. It was needful to begin
by cutting asunder those legal things which bound the
land to so many bankrupt familes, and bound the
unhappy proprietors to estates of which they
possessed only the anxiety and deep and bitter humi-
liation of providing for the claims of annuitants and
mortgagees. But it was needful also, when the land
was released from its entails, that there should be a
market for it. It found that market. Doubtless many
an estate was sold at far less than its value. Doubtless
some few struggling proprietors sank ;into beggary,
even worse than their previous lot, through the opera-
tion of the Encumbered Estates Act. But by their
loss the beggary of hundreds was redeemed. A wealthy
purchaser stepped into their shoes, and the estate,
which in many of its fine acres had produced no crops
for years and years, or such unworthy crops as were
only a satire on the cultic ation, began to show other
signs than those it had theretofore exhibited. A new
system of farming was introduced, and though, from
the unparalleled misfortunes which immediately pre-
ceded the passing of the Encumbered Estates Bill, it
is difficult yet to estimate the amount of good it has
effected ; no rational man doubts that that good has
been exttnsive, and that it has paved the way to an
amelioration of Irish suffering, so devoutly to be
wished.

But it was doubted at the time of this Bill's passing,
and it is still doubted to a very great extent, whether
the social state of Ireland is such as to sanction the
residence of purchasers under the Bill. It gives us
great pleasure, for the sake especially of our Pro-
tectionist friends, to repeat a testimony, which has
already been borne, to the perfect practicability of a
Saxon purchaser residing, with impunity, on his Irish
estate. The witness in question describes the natives
as " very amenable," though requiring a good deal of
looking after to keep them at work. We can under-
stand this perfectly. The Irishman in his own country
has unfortunately been so very ill paid, and has had
so few inducements held out to him to work, that it
would be an utter miracle if something like sloth had
not crept over him. But to show the mildness of
the people—and it is a matter of pride for an English-
man to think that such a virtue is not want-
ing in a race which the constitution of his
country has united to him as his fellow subjects—let
us quote the express words of this witness on another
point. He says, "t am living in a cottage without a
lock or bolt, sleeping on the ground-floor, without
shutters. I would not venture to live in England so
little secured. I have received the greatest kindness
and hospitality from all ranks." What, in Ireland !
a family sleeping without lock or bolt ! But the
fact is capable of explanation. The witness, in the
first place, is a resident landlord. In the next, he is
a man of honour and humanity. Entering upon the
estate he had purchased, his first step " was, to get
rid of the tenants off that portion of the land which
(he) determined to commence improving and farm-
ing." He resorted to no process of extermination. He
forgave them their rent—half a year's—paid their
rates and charges, and bought their crops by valua-
tion. " From such as wished to go to America, I
took their stock also by valuation, and for those who
preferred taking other farms, I allowed their cattle
to remain on my land until they found one. The
smaller tenants, who preferred remaining with him
he employed as labourers, averaging 75 men and 50
women daily. This explains the affection which has
grown up around the Saxon landlord ; he has shown
honour, and received it in return.

But in concluding his testimony to the practicabi-
lity of living in Ireland, he adds certain facts which
will be peculiarly agreeable to our Protectionist
friends, if they wish to know where to spend their
reduced incomes to the best advantage. " I have
grouse, woodcock, snipe, and hares upon my pro-
perty ; yachting close by. Geese and codfish are
brought to me at a shilling eadh, large turbot 23.;
soles one penny each ; fowls ls. a couple ; and every-
thing in proportion." Read this, Messrs. Young and
Newdegate ; " and then to supper with what appetite
ye may."—Morning Advertiser.

THE CLOSE OF THE SESSION.
The termination of the annual session of the great
council of the nation is, of itself, a fact suggestive of
weighty considerations. On the results of the deli-
berative wisdom of this assembly depend, under
Providence, to a considerable extent, the welfare of
the large and increasing population of these king-
doms, the prosperity of those gigantic dependencies
of England upon which the sun never sets, and, it is
not too much to say, the social and moral progress
and civilization of the whole world. An Englishman,
therefore, naturally pauses on the prorogation of
Parliament to ask what has been done and what re-
mains to do. The means of public intelligence are
now, happily, as we think, so numerous, and the
facilities which every citizen possesses of obtaining an
insight into public affairs so great, that we shall not
weary our readers by a repetition of the various mea-
sures which have, during the session now termi-
nated, been brought forward. The distinctive
measure of the session of 1851 is, undoubtedly,
that of the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption
Bill, by which Government, in obedience, we
may say, to the decided pronunciation of the
popular voice, has declared the determination of the
nation to resist the arrogant aggression of the Bishop
of Rome. Beyond this it is almost enough to ob-
serve that propositions for the improvement of the ad-
ministration of justice, for the health, education, and
social amelioration of the people, have been intro-
duced only to be withdrawn. We may at least hope
that the discufsion which has arisen on these subjects
will prepare the way for practical legislation at no
distant period. But as public journalists, and espe-
cially as discharging the duties of that responsible
position in a widely-spread agricultural district, we
cannot but express our regret that the session of 1851
should have passed away without any Legislative at-
tempt being made to relieve the depressed state of a
large and important part of the community. The
position of the agricultural body is still that of rusticus
expectans, while the stream of free trade flows on,
and, to all appearances, will continue to flow. " The
great race of nations," says our keen-witted contem-
porary, the Times," has scarcely yet begun." And how,
it is suggested, is England to " challenge the whole
world, with her huge debt on her shoulders ?" We beg
leave, in reply to this question, to remind our readers
that there was a time when England had not
only " challenged" the world, but stood in arms
against the world, and that at that time the progress
of the nation, under all the disadvantages of almost
universal war, was such as bad never before been
witnessed. Is it not within the bounds of probability
that the same cause which enabled this nation to
triumph in war, might also, aided by the indomitable
energy and enterprise of its children, enable it to
triumph in the great competition of the world in the
industrial arts of peace ? We know that it is a great
fact that the monetary system introduced by Wil-
liam Pitt carried this nation through the eventful pe-
riod between 1796 and 1815. Is it, we say, unsea-
sonable to suppose that such a system—improved by
all the wisdom of upwards of thirty years' experi-
ence—would enable the agriculturalist, the manufac-
turer, and the merchant, to enter the lists with the
world on the broad field of universal competition ?
This subject has recently been revived, and has ob-
tained the attention of thinking and practical men in
every part of the kingdom. We have no wish to
dogmatize on the question of currency, which all ad-
mit to be difficult and intricate, but we beg leave to
suggest that the circumstances of this nation render
the candid and impartial consideration of the possi-
bility of an amelioration of our monetary system a
primary duty both of constituents and represents-
tives.—Doncaster Gazette.

NEW INVENTION IN BRIDGE-BUILDING. Mr.
Samuel Perks, of Emerson-street, Southwark-bridge, engi-
neer, has registered, under the new Act for the protection of
inventions, his claims to a novelty in building timber bridges,
columns, masts of ships, &c., which consists essentially of a
combination of pieces irregularly crossing, overlapping, bind-
ing, and interweaving, whereby, when secured by bolts,
screws, or nails, and cemented., and made impervious to wet,
&c., by asphaltum, bitumen, or other convenient cementive
material, solid beams of any length, say 1,000 feet, may be
made, by even unskilful hands, of far greater strength (ac-
cording to his statement) than any single piece of beam
timber, and at far less expense of either time or money than
so much brick or stone work. There are other modifications
of the same principle claimed, such as the formation of masts
and keels of ships, the masts being made of concentric
pieces crossed and bound together to any requisite length
and girth. Specimens of the inventions are deposited in the
International Exhibition. Builder.
AN EXTRAORDINARY SHOT AT AN EAGLE.-14Mt
week, as Mr. John Hutton was shooting on Scratchmoor
Scar, about five miles from Penrith, he beheld, to his sur-
prise, a fine eagle soaring above him, apparently watching
the manoeuvres of his dogs, and laughing to scorn the weapon
which he wielded. Mr. Hutton, however, levelled his gun,
a double-barrelled one, made by Mr. Rowentree, of Penrith,
the celebrated improver of the percussion cap, took a de-
liberate aim, and brought the majestic bird to the ground,
and it was so severely wounded that it died almost instantly,
and what is more striking, the shot used was No. 5, which
is fit only for partridge, and the gun was of an ordinary
size. The bird measured 48 inches from tip to tip. He has
haunted this neighbourhood upwards of four years, and has
frequently been fired at, but always got off unscathed until
he came within range of the muzzle of the Penrith Alanton.
—Carlisle ,Patriot,

ANOTIJER INCEA DIARY FIRE AT OVER.
Scarcely two months have, elapsed since the last fire,
and it is now our painful duty to record another; and
from the circumstances of the case, a more audacious
and diabolical act of incendiarisrn we never remember to
have heard of.
On Tuesday night last, about nine o'clock, the alarm
of fire was given by Mr. Thomas Mustill, a farmer, of
the above village and it was soon discovered that a straw
stuck in the very centre of the farm yard of Mr. Silk, op-
posite Mr. Mustih's, was in flames. No time was lost in
getting out the engine; but before that was done the
whole of the buildings were in flames. A large boarded
barn, which had been recently tarred, burnt, with such
rapidity and brightness, that at a distance it presented a
most beautiful appearance. The fire then spread to Mr.
T. Mustill's house opposite, which it totally consumed,
as also some outbuildings adjoining. It then spread to the
Red Lion public-house, at the opposite corner, which,
with stables, piggeries, &c., was also destroyed; and
proceeded thence down the lane, and in its fury swept
down the cottages on both sides, destroying altogether
three farm-houses, home-stalls, twelve cottages, and out-
houses, together with furniture, clothires, &ea belong-
ing to the cottagers, several of whoa barely escaped with
enough to cover themselies. What renders the circum-
stances of the above fire different from the other is the
fact that the diabolical incendiary went at nine o'clock
into the middle of the stackyard, and deliberately set
fire to a straw stack—in the teeth, as it were, of the
owner, Mr. Silk, some of whose family were in the sit-
ting-room, the window of which locked on to the stack
in question. We understand a strict inquiry will be
commenced forthwith, and we hope the villain will be
discovered. Every man in the village should be made
to account for himself, and where he was at the time the
fire broke out.
The following is the correct account of the insurances
effected upon the property, but we understand they will
not cover the losses sustained by the different parties :
Sarah Mustill (Royal Exchange), cottage, bakehouse,
and buildings, 5501.; Mary AIIII King, tenant (Suffolk),
house and stock in trade, 2251.• Thomas Mustill (Nor-
wich Union), house and stock in trade, 731.; ditto
(General), farming stock, 40/.; James Mustill (Norwich
Union), house, buildings, and furniture, 2101.; ditto
(General), farming stock, 601.; William Garside and
Francis Tookey (Norwich Union), cottages and fur-
niture, 2201.; James Wright (Norwich Union), cot-
tage (tenant uninsured), 50/.; Thomas Earl (Suf-
folk), Red Lion public-house, 4001.; Thomas
Brown (Norwich Union), furniture, &c., 15/.; Isaac
Wright (Norwich Union), house damaged, and build-
ings down, 304; William Bicheno, Black Horse (Nor-
wich Union), furniture, 11.; Jamea Chivers, landlord,
damage, 3/.; Benjamin Silk (Norwich Union), house,
furniture, buildings, and farming stock, 6401.; William
Trigg (Sun), cottage (tenant uninsured), 100/4 Joseph
Carter (Law), double cottage and blacksmith's shop
(tenants uninsured), 90/.; Underwood Adams (County),
furniture and stock in trade, 26/.; John Brown (insu-
rance unknown), cottage and meeting-house, 1001.;
William Burling (Norwich Union), stock in trade, 10/.
—Total, 2,843/.
The following is a more detailed account of the prin-
cipal property destroyed:—
Farm-house and premises, consisting of large barn,
thatched with reed, boarded and thickly tarred; grana-
ries, pig-styes, bullock-hovels, stables, and other out-
buildings; stack of straw standing in the centre of the
yard in which the fire was first discovered; large stack
of new hay; quantity of beans, and other thrashed corn
—the property and in the occupation of Mr. Benjamin
Silk.

Farm-house and tenements, stables, flour house, cart-
hovels, piggeries, &c.—The property of Mrs. Sarah
Mustill, occupied by Jonathan Payne, labourer, and :lir.
Thomas Mustill, farmer, and Mrs. Mustill, the pro-
prietor. The furniture of each was principally con-
sumed. The property and furniture are fully insured in
the Royal Exchange, with the exception of Payne's.
Fortunately the granaries, large barn, two stacks of new
hay, and a small stack of new wheat were sa,,d.
The old established public-house and premises, the
Red Lion, which has been kept (till within the last week)
for many years by Mr. Thomas Brown; property of
Thomas Earl, brewer, of St. Ives, totally dei,troyetl.
Insured in tho Suffolk-office. The present tenant, named
Sansome, brickmaker, who had just taken the house, with
the fixtures, and a portion of furniture, which is nearly
all destroyed, is not insured,
Farm-house, barn, stables, piggeries, and twenty tons
of hay, quantity of poultry, and greater part of the fur-
niture—in the occupation of Mr. James Mustill.
By the exertions cf Mr. Moses Silk, Mr. Joseph Gif-
ford, and others, the poor cottagers have been placed in
temporary homes, and their wants otherwise provided
for.— Cambridge Chronicle.