The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-07 00:00:00

TRE POTATO CROP 12 IRELAND.

The crop of this year (says the Northern Whaq)
has been extensively infected by the old disease, but
now that more accurate data exist for the formation
of a correct estimate, it does not appear that the
loss will, in any degree, reach the amount which
the heralds of famine would have had the public to
believe. Immense quantities of the gross produce
are totally unfit for human food ; a large proportion
of the balance will, however, be useful in cattle-
feeding; and it is:to be hoped that the portion unfit
for any purpose will not exceed a moiety of the en-
tire produce of the potato lands. Prices are very
high for the season, It is, therefore, evident that
the consumer will more than share the loss with the
grower. In olden times, and long before the destruc-
tive blight had seized on the national esculent, is.
per hundredweight was often the market rate for
excellent potatoes. Occasionally higher prices
ruled, but more frequently still lower ones. In
1833, for instance, choice varieties, which had been
' earted seven or eight miles from the country, were
sold in our market at the nominal rate of Bd. per
cwt., or one penny for each stone of 141bs. The
current rates this day will average 4s. the hundred,
or about six times the price paid 28 years ago. A
great alarm was raised some weeks since, and the
cry of impending famine re-echoed from the west.
That much suffering will be endured by the small
farmers and eottiers in that portion of Ireland,
there is no reason to doubt; but we trust that the
iegitimate sources of relief will be fully adequate to
meet the emergency. The landed proprietors—
and especially those living at a distance from the
scene of the disaster—have a duty to perform in
this matter which we trust they will not fail in
discharging.

AN UNFORTUNATE SPOUSE'—At the petty ses-
sions, Dudley, on Monday last, John Bowen charged Jas.
Wood, boat builder, with an assault. Complainant, who is a
boatman, deposed that he lived at Netherton, and that he
was on a journey from which he did not expect to return
till Saturday last. He retarned, however, on Friday night,
at ten minutes past eleven, and knocked at the door of his
house. His wife was a long time coming, but a length ap-
peared in her night dross. Complainant told her to go
back and put her clothes on, and she turned back accord-
ingly. Complainant then went to move the horse he had
been riding on, and when be came back ho saw the defen-
dant running out of the house, holding his trousers on with
one hand, while he carried his boots in the other. Com-
plainant went up to him, and inquited what he thought of
himself. Defendant replied by striking him on the eye.
Complainant was dragged into the garden, and then both
his wife and her paramour grossly assaulted him. Com-
plainant also charged his wife, Caroline, with assaulting
him in conjunction with Wood. She held him for ten
minutes, while Wood struck him. Eventually, however,
Bowen got into his house, and locked both his wife and
Wood out. The Bench lined both defendants and
costs ; or, in default, two months' hard labour each,—
Wolverhampton Chronicle.

Judging from their letters the mercantile com-
munity at St. Petersburg do not attach any importance to
the University eineute. A trifling recovery had occurred in
the rate of exchange ; but it is still as low as 34d. The
weather was mild, and several large steamers had arrived.
g A HIGH-SOITLED BEGGAR.—The other day a
Yankee gave a beggar •woman a couple of cents. " Two
cents 1" exclaimed she ; take them, back, sir : I asked for
charity ; " I can't do anything with two cents." "My dear
madam," said the polite donor, " I beg you will keep the
cents, and give tb,egu tc, seine poor person."