The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-30 00:00:00

THE SUN,

among all classes appear to approach more nearly to
an equality to one standard than in any other coun-
try of Europe."
Speaking of Zurich, where the peasantry cultivate
their own lands, Mr. Inglis observes—
" Anywhere in the neighbourhood of Zurich, in
looking to the right or the left, one is struck with the
extraordinary industry of its inhabitants. In the in-
dustry they show in the cultivation of the land
I may say they are unrivalled. When I used
to open my casement between four and five
in the morning, to look out upon the lake and the
distant Alps, I saw the labourer in the fields ; and
when I returned from an evening ramble, long after
sunset, as late perhaps as half-past eight, there was
the labourer mowing his grass or tying up his vines.
But there are other and better evidences of the indus-
try of the Zurichers, than merely seeing them late
and early at work. It is impossible to look at a field,
a garden, a hedge—scarcely even a tree, a flower, a
vegetable—without perceiving proofs of the extreme
care and industry that are bestowed upon the culti-
vation of the land." Speaking of the Engadine, in
which he states the whole of the land belongs to the
peasantry, he continues, " I did not sufficiently en-
large upon the industry of the inhabitants, but it
deserves a panegyric. There is not a foot of waste
land in the Engadine, the lowest part of which is
not much lower than the top of Snowdon. Where-
ever grass will grow, there it is; wherever a rock
will bear a blade, verdure is seen upon it ; wherever
rye will succeed, there it is cultivated. Barley and
oats have also their appropriate spots ; and wherever
it is possible to ripen a little patch of wheat, the cul-
tivation of it is attempted."
" The little spots of land, says Mr. Laing, writing
of Switzerland generally, " show the same daily care
in the fencing, digging, weeding, and watering. The
owners have a kind of Robinson Crusoe industry
about their little properties," &c.
"In Germany, says Mr. Howitt, " the land is for
the most part in the hands of the people, and par-
celled out amongst the multitude; the peasantry la-
bour early and late, because they fell that they are
labouring for themselves. There is not an hour
in the year in which they do not find unceasing oc-
cupation."
And so, let us hope, it will yet be in Ireland. The
Incumbered Estates Commission is a large step in the
right direction ; but its operation is necessarily very
gradual, and its beneficial effects will not be felt, on
an extended scale, for a considerable time. We re-
quire, meanwhile, some extraordinary aid, to restore
confidence to the people, to stay the tide of emigra-
tion that sets so strongly from our shores. Such an
association as that spoken of, under the auspices of
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, would, at the pre-
sent moment, work wonders for this country, not only
directly by helping to create a peasant proprietary
amongst us, but indirectly by its moral effects. And
this is a question not merely of Irish, but of Imperial
interests. If the population of Ireland continues to
melt away from the face of the land, where will be
Ireland's contribution to the Imperial Exchequer ?
where will be the Irish market for England's manu-
factures ? How different would it be if, remember-
ing that population is wealth, an exertion were made,
even now, to retain the millions in the country, to
render it their interest to remain at home ! Then
would Ireland gradually become, as from her natural
capabilities, she ought to be, a great and prosperous
nation, with her people all employed, well fed, well
clad, and largely contributing to swell the revenue,
and benefit the trading and manufacturing interests of
the empire.

The importance of this subject at the present junc-
ture must plead my apology for thus trespassing on
your valuable space.
I remain, Sir, your's, &c.
Cork, Oct. 25, 1851. I. N. M.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN

THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 1551.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*268
Diseas©s of Uncertain Seat 37
Tubercular Diseases 174
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... 126
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 43
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ...
... 109
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... ... 48
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. •• ••• ••• 17
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. ... 5
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles .. 6
Diseases of the Skin, &a. . 1
Malformations... ••• ••• ••• ••• 114 • 4
Premature Birth ••• ••• •• ••• • • 35
Atrophy ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• 27
Old Age ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• 43
Sudden ... 2
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance ~. 25
Causes not specified ...

DEATIIS FROM ALL CAUSES
Population
Enumerated,
18bl.
West Districts... 376,332
North Districts.. 490,441
Central Districts 392,986
East Districts ... 485,336
south Districts .. 616,545

Deaths in corre-
sponding week
of 1850.
• • 137 ...
.. 158 ...
... 144 ...
... 158 ...
... 248 ...

977
Deaths
in the
Week.
126
183
161
221
286

T0ta15........ 2,361,640 ... 845 ... 977
Males ... ... ... ... ... 512

...
Females ... ... ... ... 465