The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-28 00:00:00

THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

Moxnxy, 26.—Government Three per Cent. Consols,
953-, ; Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock, 1011 101/; Na.
tional Bank, 231; Steam ship Building Company scrip, 54 ; Great
Southern and Western Extension, 13 1:2e,t1,-; Dublin and Belfast
Junction, 10?-ei; Dublin to Mullingar and Athlone, 4 Ai; Dublin
to Galway, 41 4 ; Belfast and Ballymena, 81 ; Dundalk and En.
niskillen, 5 ; Waterford and Limerick, S ; Wexford and Car-
low, 4 ; Cork and Bandon, 8i , Derry and Enniskillen, 411 ;
Dublin, Belfast, and Coleraine Junction, 2i7 ; Limerick, Ennis,
and Killaloe Junction, 51; Limerick and Ennis, 31.

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUi
Slll,—l see in The Sun of the 14th current, an extract article
from the Times, headed " Kirkmichael and Cullicudden," beginning
with—" The Friiniatcr writes," and concluding thus : " He states
that none of the heritors contribute anything to the poor funds,
except an occasional small contribution on the Sabbath."
Will you permit me, as one who ought to feel, and does feel,
a deep interest in the poor of Kirkmichati and Cullicudden, to
correct an erroneous impression, which the concluding statement
in this paragraph is calculated to make, and which might prove in.
jurious to the poor.

The paragraph bears to be in reply to an address of the House
of Commons, inquiring into the " Management and Support of the
Poor, from 1836 to 1841 inclusive." I was not minister of Kirk.
michael and Cullicudden until 1843, and would not advert to any
statement made by its former minister—it being but fair to as-
sume that he knew what he stated, as he is responsible for its accu.
racy—did I not suspect that many might read the statement, as
showing ;not only the present condition of the poor, but also as
proving heard-heartedness and cruel indifference in the owners of
the soil to their present privations.

In justice to them, and with the confident hope that I may have
continued proofs of their charity In benefactions to the poor, whilst
they depend, as they do now, on the contributions of the charitable,
I have to state that the heritors of this parish do give more to the poor
than an " occasional small contribution on the Sabbath." Most of
them, in proportion to the extent and population of their estates, have,
regularly, since I became its minister, made very liberal money
donations to the poor. The principal heritor, besides his money
donation, annually, gives meat and fuel to the poor; and from two
heritors, whose estates add only one to the number on the poor's
roll, I have regularly had donations for general distribution.
These are facts which justice demands of me to state, and which it
might be injurious to the poor to suppress.
Doubtless the poor in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland are
numerous, and occasionally their privations are severe ; and it
forms an important part of the duty of the Legislature of the
country to make a searching inquiry into their condition, and to
devise the means for its improvement—which should be means, at
the same time, to release the soil and to relieve its owners from the
heavy pressure of pauperism—whether a legal assessment be, or
not, the best means to accomplish that important end ; but surely
this may be set about, and ought to be effected, without denying
the merit which really belongs to any set of men, or injuri,,usly
affecting their character.

If the proprietors of other Highland parishes were `...0 heartlessly
indifferent to the state of their poor as those of this parish are
said once to have been, I have had the good fr,rtune never to have
come in contact with such. For tweli'l years that I have been
pa-'s of the Duke of Sutherland's
minister of a parish, forming a
domains, I witnessed the mos' munificent liberality to the poor,
and to many representatio:is in their behalf I never received an un.
favourable reply.

Hoping that you will, in justice, give a place to the above few
lines in your intelligent and talented journal, I am, Sir, your obe-
dient servant, JOHN BIACKENZIE,
Minister of Kirkmichael and Cullicudden.
Manse of Kirkmichael and Cullicudden, May 19.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE sup
should be much obliged if you would be good enough
to correct two: errors which have accidentally crept into an
article, in The Sun paper of the `2•2d inst., connected with the
Austrian and Sar.linian Railway, the original line, and which,
for the sake of distinction, is called Parken's Original Line. The
errors consist in my name being given as Parker, instead of Mr.
John P. Parken, and in the name of the Ambassador being called
Count Pillon, instead of Count de Pillon.
I am sorry to give you so much trouble, and remain, Sir, your
most obedient servant,
JOHN P. PARKEN.
New Boswell.court, May 24.

E Qi

,UEEN'S BIRTHIIA Y.--Yesterdav being the
day appointed for the celebration of her Majesty's birthday, the
London District and General Postmen, in accordance with annual
custom, shone forth in all the glories of new hats and coats. The
mail-coach guards and the few remaining coachmen were
similarly
decorated. The precession of mail coaches through the City has of
late years been di,continued, in consequence of their number being
reduced by the powerful competition of railways.
We understand that A. Macpherson, mail-guard
between Thurso and Helmsdale, stands fully committed for trial,
on the serious charge of opening the mail-bags, and abstracting
money the' efrom..—Ross.shire Ativcrtirer.