The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-17 00:00:00

STATE OF IRELAND.

(From the Dublin Mercantile Advertiser:)
It has not often fallen to our lot, unfortunately, to con-
gratulate the readers of the Mercantile Advertiser on the
state of the country. That pleasing task now,
_however,
devolves upon us ; for, certainly, we scarcely remember a
period in which all the interests'of this Island, commercial
and agricultural, promised so fair as they do at this moment.
Nor is there any drawback as• to the state of the rural
population. We read of few outrages, and these entirely
of a partial, not insurrectionary character : no combina-
tion—no prwdial agitation, and as to political agitation it
seems to be confined to one section of our countrymen,
and not likely, we are thoroughly persuaded, to produce
any sensible effect on the tranquillity of. the country, though
it may, and it will, we think, be productive of injury to
one very valuable and respectable class of the community:
On this latter subject; 'however,• we ,content ourselves
with this hint, being no means disposed to enter into topics
of a merely angry and political nature. Our more agree-
able province will be very briefly to sketch an outline of the
advances which the country, in spite of all impediments, is
making in the road of improvement.

The harvest promises to be an average one, and all the
misgivings which were felt during the course of the summer
as to the prospects of the potato crop, have, we are much
gratified in stating, altogether given way. That crop will,
perhaps, be more abundant this year than it has been for
several seasons previously.
Prices, however—owing partly to the abundance, and
partly, as we are still inclined to believe, to the gradual
curtailment of the circulation—prices, we say, must dimi-
nish. But in the meantime there is fair employment for a
great portion of our population.
Public works are progressing in many places—in the
South, West, North, and at home. One of the most im-
portant of these is unquestionably the Ulster Canal. The
land being purchased—and owing to the admirable arrange-
ments of the Company, and the talent and knowledge of
their solicitors, Messrs. Mahony, all parties being speedily
satisfied—the work is now merrily proceeding, and hun-
dreds of the industrious poor are employed in excavating
the ground.

The Shannon Navigation, under the superintendence of
the active, talented, and highly intelligent gentleman, Mr.
Charles Williams, is advancing rapidly to a completion—
thus opening the heart of the finest corn country in the
world to the markets of England, and introducing the bless-
ings of industry and civilization to what has been considered
hitherto among the wildest districts of Ireland.
In the west of Ireland, particularly in the counties -of
Mayo and Galway, an equal activity is shown in laying
down roads through the mountainous districts—in building
bridges and erecting piers.
Most certainly there can be no just complaint against
Government for want of aid. Every demand, properly
backed, has been promptly answered—as promptly as is
compatible with a due advertance to the securities prof-
fered, so that ultimately no loss should be incurred by the
Exchequer. And it is only doing common justice to the
officers of the Board of Works, and particularly to Colonel
Burgoyne, their Chairman, to admit that no persons have
evinced more zeal, more cautious intelligence, or a more
thorough knowledge of the wants of the country, as well as
a more lively disposition to second the efforts of the Go-
vernment and the people than these gentlemen.
We add, and we do so with particular pleasure, that
never since the various Mining Companies commenced
their operation did the mines of Ireland promise so favour-
ably. In Waterford the copper mines are progressing with
a rapidity which, a few years ago, the most sanguine cal-
culator Wouldlave, scarcely ventured to promise. It is fair,
however, to say, that the recent impetus, and the results
likely to follow, are due, in the first instances, to Lady Os-
borne, whose conduct merits all praise. Her Ladyship at
once reduced the royalties from a 10th to a 20th, a process
creditable at once to her generosity and her intelligence.
Her generosity,,: for Lady Osborne was the first that set
the exanaple Of this liberality to other owners of royalties ;
and her ititellignce, for beyond a doubt, her Ladyship and
her family will live to enjoy the benefits flowing from her
conduct. We are happy in being enabled to add, that the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners now administering the tempo-
ralities of the Diocese of Waterford, have imitated Lady
Osborne's conduct, by reducing the royalties of the Bishop's
land to an equal amount—a plan which the Bishop himself,
had there been one, could not have followed, if he were
ever so liberally inclined. For he-would have been bound
up by the terms of his tenure to afford no accommodation
whatever.
A circumstance, however, which affords us the greatest
satisfaction is this, that the coal country in Tipperary pro-
mises to yield an abundant harvest, and to be not only a
source of profit to the Company, but to that fine county a
source of comfort, industry, and prosperity. It is well
known to all that know the county, that the absence of
fuel was a great drawback to its rapid rise, not only in com-
fort, but we will add in civilization ; for both must co-exist.
Several pits are already open, and coals are now selling at
the pit's mouth, for twenty shillings a ton. Several more
will be at work in the course of a month or two, and Tip-
perary and the adjacent counties, we sanguinely expect, will
be relieved from the greatest privations which a country can
endure—the want of sufficient fuel. •
We should add that there is a road opened from the
Slate country in the County of Limerick to the Shannon,
and we anticipate, in these building times, a brisk trade in
this article, which will supercede the necessity of applying
to Wales or other places for this necessary commodity.
The Dublin Railroad is rapidly drawing to a completion.

THE SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD.—There is at
present to be seen in the window of the Lock and Key, in
Smithfield, near Long-lane, kept by Mr. Procter, the follow-
ing written notice :—" A concert held hear everey evening
dureing the fair. Conducted by profeshenell Gentlemen.