The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-28 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF IRE-

LAND.

The returns of these statistics for the present
year, although containing some apparently unsatis-
factory details, are favourable upon the whole.
Thus the total extent of land under crops continues,
as in former years, to show an increase, the num-
bers being 5,882,492 acres for the present year
against 5,829,117 for 1857. The meadow and clover
land exhibits an increase of itself above that of the
entire land under crops, being 1,424,578 acres for
1858, against 1,369,892 for 1857. This gives a de-
crease for the total of acres devoted to esculent
crops, a decrease which has fallen upon the cereals.
The natural root of the country, now that the ex-
treme depression arising from the disease has passed
away, continues steadily to progress. The acreage
ander potatoes is this year 1,160,056 against I
I
1,146,647 last year. This progress is, as we have
said, a steady one, the number of acres devoted to

potatoes being 981,301 in 1855, and 1,104,704 in
1856. The other items of increase in the present
year over the preceding are mangel-wurzel, carrots,
parsnips, and cabbage ; while pulse, turnips, and,
we arc sorry to say, flax, have diminished.

The most curious consideration is the state of the
cereals, of which the acreage has diminished in the
present year for every article. The acreage of
wheat has fallen from 559,646 in 1856 to 551,386
in 1858 ; that of oats from 1,980,934 to 1,976,929 ;
barley from 211,288 to 190,721; and rye from 21,371
to 16,489. Wheat, however, still shows a considera-
ble increase both over 1855 and 1856, the acreage in
those years being 445,775 and 529,050 respectively.
The other cereals show an acreage udder that of
1855, barley especially, which in that year was cul-
tivated on 226,629 acres. The decrease is most con-
spicims the pros ince of Leinster, where there is
a falling off in every kind of cereal and even in po-
tatoes. Munster and Ulster show an increase on
wheat, Ulster on oats, and Connaught on barley.
With these exceptions, the decrease is regular
throughout every province.
It is, however, satisfactory to perceive reason for
believing that if the quantity of acres under culti-
vation for the higher esculents has diminished, the
quality of that cultivation itself is improved. It is
gratifying to find a considerable increase in the
number of horses, a proof everywhere of more
active cultivation, but more especially so in Ire-
land, where so large a portion of the land was once
cultivated by persons who could not afford horse-
labour. The .iiumber of horses has 'risen front
099,782 in 1857 to 610,717 in 1858, and this
progress has been regular since 1855, the numbers
for which year were 556,287, while for 1856 they
were 573,408. The increase is further to be found
in every province, and, with slight exceptions, in
every county, the diminution in these eight being
so trifling as to be clearly accidental. There
is not a more significant fact in the po-
sition of Irish agriculture than this, more especi-
ally as the principal increase falls upon horses de-
voted to agricultural purposes.. These in Leinster
have risen from 121,044 to 122,582; in Munster
from 108,012 to 110,377; in Ulster from 147,095 to
148,392; and in Connaught from 75,015 to 77,497.
As these animals are principally required in th •
cultivation of cereals, we can come to no other con-
clusion than that to which we have arrived when
comparing the increase in the number of hores with
the decrease in the cereal acreage.
The number of cattle shows a considerable in-
crease, especially as regards mulch cows—another
proof of the better mode of living prevalent amongst
the people. Ulster, for whatever reason, does not
share in the increase of cattle, which is largest in
Connaught, where, in fact, there was most room for
improvement. The number of sheep has increased.
from 1,004,724 in 1857 to 1,035,875 in 1858. That
of pigs from 173,840 to 191,034. An increase is
likewise found over 1855 in every species of animal
except sheep—a proof of the regularity of the pro-
gress of the country in this particular.
We are therefore able to point to this return
with great satisfaction, seeing that the only falling
off of importance which is to be found in the acre-
age of cereals, may be fully explained by the more
improved and expensive modes of cultivation in-
troduced into the country. The impulse which has
been given to the agricultural property of Ireland is
manifestly producing fruits of which we may ex-
pect yet more striking evidence in future returns.
The Registrar-General bears testimony to the
cordial assistance which he has received from all
classes in the preparation of these statistics. It is
a pity that we have less confidence in the genero-
sity of English farmers, which has prevented simi-
lar returns being made out for our own country.
However, they are more necessary for Ireland, and
we see great reason for congratulation, both in the
facts shown by the documents themselves, and in
the facilities and opportunities given for their accu-
rate preparation.

TIIE MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT CAMBERWELL.—
Last night, Mr. Wm. Cartter, the coroner for the eastern
divisien of the county of Surrey, resumed, at the Vestry-
hall, Camberwell, the adjourned inquest on the body of a
man found lying with his throat cut in a garden, in the
New-road, in the parish of Camberwell. After hearing
the evidence, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased
committed suicide, he being at the time in a state of tem-
porary_insanity.
A BRAVE CLERGYMAN.—During the day of the
18th inst. the Welsh coast was visited by a severe gale of
wind. With the dawn of next morning the Rev. Owen
Lloyd Williams, curate of Barmouth, saw from his bed-
room window a wreck on the Bar, with two men in her
rigging. He immediately dressed himself and ran down to
the lifeboat of the National Lifeboat Institution. The boat
was at once manned by Mr. Williams, who is an expert
oarsman, and 10 other men. The sea at the time was very
rough, and the wind blowing hard from W.N.W. The
wreck was! however, soon reached by the noble lifeboat,
and the ship's exhausted crew were brought ashore in half
an hour afterwards. Mr. Williams's family has always
been conspicuous for devotedness in the rescue of ship-
wrecked crews; his father, the Rev. James Williams, and
his late mother having been engaged in this philanthropic
work on the Anglesey coast for nearly 30 years.
GOVERNMENT E MIGRAT lON .—The. Government
emigrant ship Admiral Lyons, 1,133 tons, Captain S. Dun-
can, sailed from Liverpool on Saturday the 25th inst., for
Sydney, New South Wales, in charge of Surgeon Superin-
tendent Edward Kearney, with 447 emigrants. The Emi-
gration Commissioners have given notice of their intention
to receve tenders next Thursday, the 30th inst. for a ship to
proceed to Melbourne, Victoria, to be ready for the recep-
tion of passengers on such day as they may fix upon be-
tween the 17th and 24th of November.

THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON'S NEW TABERNACLE.
There appears to be at last every probability that the taber-
nacle so long talked of and so much needed by this popular
preacher will shortly be commenced. On Sunday last Mr.
Spurgeon informed his immense congregation at the Surrey
Music-hall that he had already signed an agreement for a
freehold site of ground opposite the Elephant and Castle,
Southwark, for the purpose of erecting a spacious edifice iu
which the thousands who listen to him every Sunday might
be accommodated with every convenience for worshipping
God as Particular Baptists. The 'building committee were
to meet the representatives of the Fishmongers' Company
yesterday, for the purpose of getting the matter completed.
£5,000 is the sum to be paid for the land. The edifice will
necessarily cost many thousands for its erection; and al-
though the sum left in hand, with the numerous liberal
promises of donations, will yield a good amount, still the
congregation was urged to continue in its efforts to effect so
desirable an object. Mr. Spurgeon was very earnest in his
appeol, and no doubt his friends will do their utmost to
complete the undertaking.
THE TWO DISSENTERS.—When John Brown,
D.D., first settled at Haddington, Scotland, the people of
his parish gave him a warm and enthusiastic reception ;
only one of the members of that large and influential church
and congregation stood out in opposition to him. The rev.
doctor tried all the means in his power to convert the
solitary dissenter to the unity of feeling which pervaded
the whole body, but all his efforts to obtain an interview
proved abortive. As Providence directed, however, they
happened to meet in the street, when the doctor held out
his hand, saying, "My brother, I understand you are
opposed to my settling in Haddington ? " Yes, sir," re-
plied the parishioner. "Well, and if it be a fair question,
on what grounds do you object to me ?" " Because, sir,"
quoth he, ' I don't think you are qualified to fill so eminent
a post." ,4‘ That is just my opinion," replied the doctor.;
"but what,„sir, is the use of you and me setting up our
opinions in opposition to the whole parish ?" Tho brothers
smiled, and their friendship was sealed for ever.—Chester-
field Courier.
THE PEER AND THE TOLLGATE-KEEPER.—At
the Shipston-on•Stour Petty Sessions, on Saturday, before
Mr. Wm. DickMs,,Mr. F. Colville, and the Rev. William
Evans, Nathaniel French, toll collector at the Furze-hill-
gate, in this parish, was summoned by the Right Hon. Lord
Redesdale for an overcharge of toll. From his lordship's
statement it would appear that, on the 21st of August last,
his lordship was riding towards Shipston, and on coming to
the toll-gate he tendered 6d. The collector said he had no
change, on which his lordship remarked that he ought to
keep change. In reply, the collector said that his lordship
ought to have brought the right toll with him, but he could
have the sd. on his return. His lordship, however, not
returning that way, summoned the collector for detaining
the change, or charging more than the usual toll, in order,
as the noble peer stated, to prevent if possible the practice
of such imposition upon the public. After a long and
attentive hearing, the case was dismissed. His lordship
then asked the defendant for the 5(1. due to him. The de-
fendant coolly replied that he had no change, but if his
lordship would give him the penny he would return the
sixrenee ; rr! 11,1(.F,-;.- 114 s bead en cn3 side, es if attentively
said, Did your lordship wish me to drink your
health with the change ?" No reply being given, the de-
fendant pocketed the coin, and left the court evidently satis-
fied with the decision that a toll-collector was not com-
pelled to give change.—Birmingham Journal.
BAKER'S PROMENADE TUNNEL.—There is ex-
hibiting, at M'Clean's-buildings, Shoe-lane, a model of a
plan for the sewage of the Thames, which presents several
features well worthy consideration. Among these is the
practical suggestion that an iron tunnel should flank the
whole course of the river's margin, and that in this the
transit of the sewage should be provided for, while the top
should be devoted to the public as a promenade, or a con-
tinuous highway to lighten the now plethoric traffic of our
principal thoroughfares. Mr. W. Baker, of the well-known
firm of Henri and Co.' of Hull, is the designer, and it
would seem that he has not placed his notions before the
public before he was prepared with sufficient minutiae of
detail to satisfy the most fastidious engineer of the practica-
bility and amplicity of hig, golnalor-blettinYixt.per,