The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-25

pvuBhts anu VIII yet DIlnS, W many 6uiiihS
llearths and happy homes---the subject IN every
pi'Ase.in which il be viewed, requires the prompt
application Of practical, comprehensive, and sa-
gacious craftsmanship and it ought, nay, it must,
receive its,ssfonter, al the hands Of the powers
that beo
The same paper speaks of the frightful pros
pect of the approaching famine, in the following
terms:
"Famine-gaunt, horrible, destroying famine
seems impending. Fears having seized the
public mind, In Ireland matters look appalling
IN England gloomy. The granaries of the con
tinent are exhausted. The cornfields of the
Vistula, the Danube, and the Elbe, are scarcely
sufficient for the local wants Of the inhabitants.
The nation is in commotion; and the cry oi
''Open the ports and let in corn duty free /" is
heard on all sides reverberated from every part OF
the empire. The pressure from without" has
made itself heard in Downing street, and faith in
the sliding scale-Pee's scale--is gone forever.
A third Of the potato crop in Ireland is destroyed.
The government has sent scientific professors to
the scene of the mischief, and the awful TRUTHS
out that this large portion Of the peoples food is
unfit for public use. What is to be done in this
terrible, this unlocked for emergency "Open
the ports ~ is the exclamation; and there stands
the shivering Premier, like reed in the wind,
paralyzed between affection for his sliding scale
and the horrors of public famine. There he is,
balancing the pros and cons! But necessity is
superior to consistency, superior even to law.
HE PORTS MUST BE OPENED aiO O'Csnnell,
who assumes to be the tribune of the Irish peo-
pie, goes beyond this. He demands grant OF
public money TO the extent Of million and a
half, to be expended in the purchase Of food; he
calls for tax of fifty per cent on the absentees,
and a tax of ten per cent on the residents; he
asks for the prohibition of corn and provisions
leaving the island; and the prevention of distil-
leries consuming grain. X Large demands these;
will they be conceded "A day or two will solve
the questions; and in the meantime speculation
will find wide margin for the exercise Of its
'li gFl tasatt& Fiattq9i9J
The failure Of the potato in Ireland is complete
fields that one day presented the most healthy
appearance, the next were discovered to be
wholly ruined-he produce being even unfit for
the beasts. - Lgeg ~ f,,rs.sf s43I
Nothing very remarkable in the American pro-
vision market; there was limited quantity of
beef; pork was dull; cheese had fallen in price;
the market was bare Of lard aud the price was
high. 2iis tGiEg1l n1Af6x3i .il8h 1tgpsRlG
During the week preceding the sailing Of the
BrittaEia there has been repeated meetings Of the
Cabinet at the house Of Sir Robert Peel, the sub
ject of which, 1T is supposed, was the opening Of
the ports, and the expectation was on the q,i vipe
to know the result, The Cabinet is said to be
cd hut
to think that the ports will not be opened. The
great hope is in the United States and Canada.
The proof Of the scarcity exists in the fact, that
most of the Continental powers have already
opened their ports for the self same object, and
it is justly said, why should England be less
consderate for its citizens, than are. the Cont
METAL rulers for thers?" The real fact in all
probability is, that Peel is unwilling to act until
ne is armed with the strongest possible reasons
for doing 50; and in order 10 put cavi out of the
question, lie is said to be waiting for the report Of
the scientific commissioners whom he has sent to
Ireland to investigate the potato disease. Some
say that Parliament will be Immediately sum-
noned to consider what ought to be done in the
present emergency. egG iU jAaugBeHt gaslt
The Corn Market was very active, and the
price continued to rise. Cotton was in de-
pressed state.sgdmaio9 .liaH sWaiIi& boo
"a variety of circumstances will account for
the depression which prevails foremost amongst
the number is the apprehension of a general pa
nc, contingent upon the fearful state of the po-
lato crop; the deficiency or badness of the corn
crops; and the absurd pitch to which speculation
n'rails has been carried. Other branches of bu-
siness are suffering more or less from those COM
,ined causes, and as the winter approaches, this
feeling of alarm, there were too much reason to
,pprehend, would rather increase than abate.
Accounts of the state of trade in the manu-
acturing districts in England, show conside-
'able falling of from the average amount of bu-
,iness. The unexpected decline is attributed to
he unfavorable conclusion of the harvest.
The Share market is inactive, ahd the funds
ire fiat, caused by the rumors relative to the
opening of the ports. The Discount market
shows symptoms of 'tghtness,' and in taking
bills the discount houses show more than their
usual caution. Nothing of much importance has
occurred in the foreign market.
The iron trade continued brisk, and masters
and men were well employed In the price of
pig iron slight decline has taken place. t.Il
The West India markets appear to be in toll
srably healthy state; so far, the shock which pub
ic confidence has experienced can barely be said
% have affected them.
The return published by the Bank of England
or the week ending the 18th of October, gives
he amount of notes actually in circulation as
f22 2,O26, l5, being decrease as compared with
he previous week, of f227 $50. The public
deposits show decrease of ,fl64, ,757, and the
private deposits decrease of .f905, ,470. Against
L..