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

TILE POTATO CROP 1N IRELAND.

The crop of this year (says the .Northern Whig)
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
carted 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,s Dudley, on Monday last, John Bower. charged Jas.
jais
a.
Wood, boat builder, with an. assault. Complainant, who
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 returned, however, on Friday night,
at ten minutes past eleven, and knocked at the doer of his
house. His wife was a long time coming, but a length ap-
peared in her night dress. 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 ho came back he saw the defen-
dant running cut 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 inquired what he thong at 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 chuged 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 fined both defendants £4 and
costs ; or, in default, two months' hard labour each.—
Trolverhamptoia Chronicle.