The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY

THE POTATO DISEASE.
The following letter is copied from the Bristol Mercury of Sept. 6 :—;
" attention has been given to the disease which has, •
shown itself so extensively amongst the growing potatoes. I tind, iu
almost every instance, that the epidermis of the stalk below the sur-
face of the ground, is more or less in a state of decay, often disin-
tegrated, and completely rotten ; the leaves and branches accord.
with the state of that part of the stalk below the ground. The tuber,
beneath the outer skin, is first spotted brown (like a bruised apple) :
these spots extend and penetrate towards the centre, quite changing
the nature of the potato. Those near the surface are most injured ;
in some cases the lowest on the root are not at all affected, while the
upper ones are useless. I should therefore expect that the longer the
crop remains in the land, the greater the Injury will be. It seems,
from the microscopic appearances, that the starch escapes injury for
a long time after the skin and cellular parts are gone; and as the
whole of the nutritive powers of the potato reside in the starch, I
shoularecommend that wherever the disease has shown itself to any
extent the crop should be dug whether ripe or not, and the starch ex-
tracted by the following simple process :
" After ;washing the roots, let them be rasped fine and thrown into
a large tub or other vessel ; pour a considerable quantity of water,
and well agitate and rub the pulp with the hands ; all the starch or
fecula will, from its great weight, fall to the bottom, while the skin
and fibrous matter will be carried away by the water. Wash the
starch with one or two more waters, allowing it to fall after each
washing ; spread it upon cloths in a warm room to dry--in this way
about 201 b. or 211bs. will be obtained from every 1001bs. of potatoes,
and it contains as much nourishment as the original roots ; it will
keep any length of time, and might be used with flour to make bread,
pies, puddings, &c., as well as farinaceous spoon-meat.
" This is much -better than throwing away the diseased roots, and.
will furnish food for_tens of thousands who might otherwise want it.
" WILLIAM HERAPATII."
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sit,—The free use of potatoes being inadvisable, disease having
destroyed so much of the crop, I have adopted rice as a substitute, and
I find it most palateable and nutritious. It should be simply dressed
by throwing it into boiling water, boiled for half an hour, and them
strained ; serve it up instead of potatoes, and add gravy, pepper, and
salt, according to taste.

These few remarks may draw attention to an article which, though
generally used only for puddings in England, is the most important
article of daily food to a great portion of the world.—l am, Sir, your
obedient servant, A HOUSEKEEPER
September 12, 1845
C.

- BENDIGO AND CAUNT.-A full
report of this battle, and all the particulars connected therewith, aro
given to the extent of five of the Bell's Life folio columns. Price or
Bell's Life, 6d.

ACCIDENT 9T GREENWICH PlER.—Last night Mr.
Bedford held an inquest at the St. George, Holten-street, Watdour.
street, Soho, on the body of Jane Eedinore, aged sixty-four. -Oa
Sunday last, about two o'clock, deceased and her husband started.

from llungerford-bridge to Greenwich, which place they were about
leaving in the evening, when deceased, in stepping from the pier
into the boat, missed her footing and fell into the water. She waa

extricated in about two minutes, and conveyed on shore to the Rea
Lion, where she was placed in bed. On the following afternoon sl.a
was brought to town, when she appeared very ill. On Tuesday
morning It was suggested that a medical man should be called in, t
which she objected, and, rapidly sinking, died the same day at teat
o'clock.

A post I;zortein.eiarnination proved that death was tha

result of a diseased heart, no doubt accelerated by the excitement
consequent on Immersion in the water. Verdict—" That the de-

ceased died of disease of the heart, accelerated by falling into Ilia

water."

FATAL EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS.—Yesterday'
morning, between two and three o'clock, a man named Arthur Wil-
mit, and his wife Mary, came home to their residence in Charles-

street, Drury-lane, in a state of intoxication. Wilmit in endeavour-
ing to carry his wife up stairs, who is a very heavy woman, slipped,
and both of them falling down two flights of very steep stairs, were.
picked up in a state of insensibility. Medical assistance was pro-
. .

cured, when it was ascertained that Wilmit's right arm was braen,
and his wife's skull severely fractured. No hopes are entertained of
the woman's recovery.

THE CROPS IN LANCASHIRIL—The gathering of
the crops has made great progress in South Lancashire during the

present week. The oats In general are carried, and the Wheat I; cut,
and nearly ready for carrying. The disease amongst the potato
crops has shown itself to some extent both in Lancashire and.
Cheshire, but hitherto it is not very serious. As far as we can learn.
the Southport and Rufford district, from which Manchester receives
large supplies by canal, has escaped.—Leeds Mercury.
MAYNOOTIT COLLEGE.—The only improvement at
present contemplated and in progress, are the general painting and
whitening of windows, doors, halls, &c., and the enlargement of tho
refectory and chapel of that portion of the establishment occupied by
the junior students. Tho Concursus, or public competition for the
various vacant professors' chairs, commenced in the Great Hall of
the College on Tuesday, the 9th inst. These chairs are—firstly, a,
_ _

Fourth Theology Professorship, created under the enlarged grant ;

secondly, the Cliair of Logic, Metaphysics, and Ethics, vacated by the
elevation of Dr. Whitehead to the Vice-Presidency; and, thirdly, the
Chair of Humanity, void by the appointment of Dr. Russell to the
newly-created Professorship of Ecclesiastical History. The =di-

dates who have already declared themselves are, the Rev. nomad
Furlong, of the diocese of Feme (he entered tha college in 1809, and,
atter a very distinguished course, was Junior Dean, and successively'
Professor of Humanity and Rhetoric and Belles Lettres)—tha
Rev. John M'Evily, of the Archdiocese of Tuam (a distinguished
student of Maynooth), at present Professor in St. Jarlath's

College, Tuam—the Rey. John Guthrie (also an Alumnus of May.
nooth), at present curate of Ennistymon, Diocese of Kilfenora—the
Rev. Daniel M`Gettigan, of the Diocese of Raphoe (after some years
in Mayuooth, he proceeded to Rome, where he was much distin—
guished), formerly Professor of the Irish College at Paris, and at
present curate to his uncle, the Bishop of Raphoe—the Rev. Mr.
M`Gargan, of the Diocese of Meath (a Maynooth student), at present
Professor of Philosophy in the Irish College, Paris ; the Rev. Messrs.
11`Quade (Kilmore), M`Carthy (Kerry), and M`Mahon (Clogher), at
present students on the Dunboyne Establishment, and the Rev. Mr.
Behan, of the Diocese of Meath, who has just completed the ordinary
course of the College. It Is generally believed, that from respect to
his long standing, profound learning, and exalted piety, no one will
compete with Dr. Furlong for the Chair of Theology ; but a very
animated struggle is likely to take place amongst the seven juvenile
competitors for time two other vacant Chairs The Concursus 11111
close on Friday, the 12th inst., and the successful candidates will ba
. _

declared, In all probability, on next day.—Dublin Paper.

IMPORTANT RAILWAY AMALGAMATIONS. - ;
learn from undoubted authority that the Great Grimsby, the Shef-
.

field and Lincolnshire, and the East Lincolnshire Railways, of
Thursday last amalgamated at par with the Sheffield and Mambas-
.

ter Railway ; the last-mentioned railway paying 5 per cent. on silt
calls upon the three railways until they are made, which will be
within two years.—Leeds Mercury.
FOREIGN CATTLE AND PROVISIONS.—The
dif-
ferent steam-ships which have arrived in the river from Rotterdain
during the last three or four days have brought their usual cargoes of
live cattle, fruit, and different sorts d provisions, and those from the
Belgian and French ports the usual quantities of edibles for con-
sumption in the metropolis, the whole of which have arrived in ex-
' eellent condition, been found on landing to be of very good quality.
and delivered immediately to their destinations. The Dutch steam-
ship Batavia, which arrived in tke St. Katharine steam-whiff in the
middle of the day on Wednesday, after the quickest passage she has
made during the season, from Rotterdam, brought 70 head of horned
cattle and 70 sheep, besides 340 packages of plums and other
descriptions of fruit, a quantity of yeast, melons, and other kinds
of Dutch produce. The General Steam Navigation Company's
vessel Earl of Liverpool, from Ostend, on the same day, brought
a large quantity of live poultry, eggs, butter, &c. The
same Company's ship, William Joliffe, which arrived at the
Brunswick-wharf, Blackwall, on the following day front
Rotterdam, brought 9 oxen, 4 cows, 18 calves, and 64 sheep, a quan-
tity of yeast, and other Dutch produce. This vessel did not bring-
any fruit with her on this occasion. The Tourist; from Calais, on
the same day had a quantity of poultry and other articles ; and the
Rainbow, from Havre, also brought in a quantity of fruit, eggs, met
other French produce. It will be seen that the Rotterdam vessel, in
the latter instance, did not bring any fruit, and the Havre vessel
brought a very entail quantity in comparison with that which has
been imported from that quarter for several weeks past, so that we
may fairly conclude that the importation of stone fruit, pears, &c..
from that and other French ports has in a great measure'ceased fo-
the season. Notwithstanding the quantity of foreign cattle brought'
over to this country from Holland and other places, it is notorion4
that all descriptions and qualities of buteher's meat is dearer in alt
parts of the town than it has been known for a considerable time ;
but although there are various opinions expressed as to the cause, we
believe that the real and correct one is not generally understood. The
fact is, that the weather last winner was ge severe, and there was
such a scarcity in consequence of every kind of provender for cattle
generally, that the proprietors of them found it politic to seed then;
to market, and to slaughter rather than keep them on their hands,
with the probability of their becoming impoverished and less valu-
able from the want of nourishing food. This caused a perfect glut of
meat in the markets about the time, and the necessary re-action.
scarcity, is now for the present taking its place. Another undoubted
fact is, that the population of the country, particularly in tile mid.
land counties and manufacturing districts, has gradually increased.
and the supply of animal food is unequal to the demand, which even
the extensive importation from the Continent is unable entirely is
counteract, thus rendering it necessary, as it would appear, on the
part of the owners of the scarce stock to advance their prices ac-
cordingly. This is the opinion of one well able to express it on such
matters, and which will in a measure account for the present high
price of meat in every district of the metropolis in particular, and.
generally throughout the country. Some time must elapse, with
continuation of favourable weather for grazing, &c., before any ines
portant reduction may be reasonably expected.
FALL FROM A SCAFFOLD.—Yesterday a serious
accident occurred to a man named John Macdonald, aged 43, a brick-
layer. It appears that he was engaged on a scaffold erected in front
of some new houses at Sydenham, and, whilst walking along the
outer board, he missed his footing, and fell with fearful violence to the
ground. He was picked up quite insensible, and carried to the nearest
surgeon's, who, after a few minutes, ordered his removal to the hos-
pital, whither he was taken in a cart. Upon examination he was
found to have received a fracture of the right leg, and dislocation of
the collar-bone. He is going on favourably.
FIRES.—This morning, a tobacconist's shop in.
Albert-terrace, City-road, caught fire about one o'clock, and with itS
contents, was destroyed.—The stock of Mr. Aaron; a Sheffield dealer.
James-street, Covent-garden, was also destroyed by tire this morning.
The house is insured in the Royal Exchange.
The guardians of the Greenwich Poor-law Union
on Thursday resolved to send a deputation to the Poor-law Come
missioners, to urge on them the inexpediency of forming an asylum
in that district, and to request them to rescind their order relative to
Greenwich.
Sir Hugh Munro has given liberty to his tenantry
to shoot all kinds of game, on condition that they guard his estate
against poachers.—Scotch Paper.
We would caution against giving the blighted
potatoes to pigs without first paring off the dead parts. Bottomless
is never wholesome, and the rottenness of disease cannot fall to be
pernicious. Such food must check the growth and fattening of the
animal, and injure the quality of its flesh.—Devizes Gazelle.
STEAM FOR THE MILLION.--Some enterprising'
speculators, jealous of the success of the fourpenny fleet, have
started an experimental squadron of twopenny
have been advertised as steam for the mitionbustteasampeernsn, which
y boats
have since commenced running, we presume that " steam for th
billion" will now be the cry of the company. If the mania for this
kind of navigation increases, we don't know where the names are
to be found for the various vessels that are being daily launched on
the Battersea billows, to be tossed on the waves of Westminster,
and find a haven at Hungcrford. We have already had the flower-
beds exhausted to provide titles for the Daisy, the Primrose,
the Pink, and the Daffydowndilly; but we are told the
Polyanthus is now upon the stocks, and the keel of the
Cr2cus is already laid down in the Fulham Dockyards.
The social relations have been used up by the iron boats, which
rejoice in the titles of Bridegrooms, Brides, Bachelors, Fathers and
Sons of the Thames; and the various shades of Moonlight, Daylight,.
and Twilight, have been applied to other craft belonging tdo
thistle
same Company. Entomology is now being resorted
dtea,
Ant and Bee were placed on the Adelphi station a
efedwthatygs".ssol.o4
carry penny passengers. We have heard ith7chhispwe
I'll shortly coma
is to supply another series of steamers,
Ichtyosaurus, and Anti-Megatheriumf
'rem Lambeth Palace to the
forth with the astounding names of Megfaawrthteirlieumii.,
rpDoesienootfhetarikui:;:r.
people at the rate of three a penny
Temple.—Punch.
wasth the possibility
rauded out of
some hundreds khAwMasopNiaDy.ed—.Aff
aNfeEwlVdaDysofgOo E.—ona
n'ToL.O
gNeD C.i.ustiTtrip.
follpowliAngMiOn
s, by
that wphriecchl uhdees of Lie
„wag his loss the subject of judicial investigation. It would
rious receivered sofin : stlmenangnoeord
appear that a pack of swindlers have for some time past been purs
suing a very successful game amongst the pawnbrokers in the
country by pledging metal watches, chains, seals, and other article s
of a very superior manufacture (strongly plated with gold Ly
the, galvanic process) for the pure metal. The game having become
completely "blown," the parties were left with the remainder of
their stock, which they were unable to get rid of, upon which thee
anticipated realising upwards of 8001., but which intrinsically wet a
not worth 1501. To get rid of them the following ruse was le-
sorted to. The goods were packed up and sent per mail to London.
On their arrival one of the party called at thecoach.office to which
they were directed, and possessed himself of them. On the sue.
ceeding day another of the party called, and hearing they were
gone, pretended they had been stolen. Bills were printed, de.
scribing the property, and offering a reward for their recovery. The
party who had possession of them then called upon the receiver, and
showing him a bill, led him to suppose he had stolen them, and
by those means induced him to give nearly 4001. for the goods.
The receiver kept them some time, and then gave them to a watch.
maker to alter their appearance, when, to his utter dismay, he was
told that he had been duped out of above,2ool.
SALMON FISHING.—The fishing in the Ness durirg
the past week was excellent, with the rod in particular. One -at
the best anglers in the north informs us that our river has yielded
better sport this season than it has done for five years previous.
notwithstanding its extreme unproductiveness during the summer.
Another highly-accomplished angler, Mr. Lowe, has within the
last five weeks caught forty-two salman with the rod in the rival
Ness. The price of salmon here is Bd. to lod. per lb., grilse 61.,
and trout 4d.—lnverness Courier.
MILAN.—Miss Birch has made a most successful
debiit at La Scala in a new opera, which is not spoken of
in any favourable terms; but the audience testify their ap•
probation of the prima donna by calling her forward at the
end of each act. Miss Birch
in s
is engaged to sising gaged tudying
preaching Carnival; slid ON is bud ly vt)
pew put. at the sp•
.