Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-02-04
Foreign Nous.
% DAYS LATER FROM EU-
ROPE.

BY the Steamer Hi,crno, at Boston, London
papers of the 18th, and Liverpool Of the 9Th of
December have been received
SCOTLAND.
GREAT DISTRESS IN THE HIGHIANDs.-The
journals give most deplorabe picture of the
state OF the poor in Scotland. On the 25th Dec,
public meeting was held in the Music Hall at
Edinburg, to devise means of mitigating the dis
tress in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
The Lord Provost presided. The Reverend
Norman M'Leod of Dakeith, described the con-
dltion of the people
| Taking round numbers, there were 100000
souls, who, srlckly speaking inhabited the eight
! Highland countless From statistics furnished
from different parishes, this number were divided
in the following manner: those in comfortable
| circumstances, and who could not be affected
much by the failure Of the potato crop, amounted
to 100000; those who only depended for three
ourths OF the year upon potatoes, to 100000; those
who depended upon that crop for the whole year,
to 100000 These numbers were an approXim-
alton the truth. Mr.. MIeod read several other
figures OF which the result was, that in the High
lands and Islands Of Scotland there were 100000
i persons deprived Of the usual means of subss-
tence this year. OF these, 100000 required as
sistance to enable them to live over the season.
fthey did not assist them immediately these poor
persons would have to sell their COWS and eat
their seed-corn, and thus utterly destroy the pro-
vision Of the future. The other 10000 required
food Immediately to save them from starvation.
The accounts from the Western Isles are very
distressing. In South Uist, cholera and inllam-
alton of the intcsInes had become endemic, pro-
duced principally by eating small fish called
= "cuddics," to which the poor people were forced
10 resort us food.
Accounts from Paisley make mention of the
existence Of great suffering in that quarter; for
, although the trade in the town has not been de-
i pressed this winter, and even shows signs OF
T steady improvement, yet the high price OF pro-
| visions and the want of fuel are severely felt by
the poor weavers IN the surrounding villages,
who always suffer more in slack times than those
= resident in the town.
5 IRELAND.
GREAT DISTRESS --FEvER-STARvATIoN-
DEATHS FROM WANT!-DREADruL CoNDI-
: TIoN OF THE COUNTRY Most appalling are
the accounts Of desttution from all parts OF the
country; and even from the northern provinces
several deaths from starvation are reported The
Dublin Evening Post says -" Even in the me-
tropolls many thousands of the poorer classes
are in utter destituon. In consequence Of The
extremely crowded state of the South Dublin
!, Union Workhouse, and the miserable condition
i of the inmates recently admitted, dysentery aud
r. low fever have broken out, and the number OF
l. deaths has greatly increased, reaching nearly
}. fifty in the week. From the country the accounts
If are still more affecting than any that have yet
# reached us. We have letter from friend in
2 Sklbereen, drawing frightlu picture of the
4 condition of the poor in that locality. low
,r lever, which the poor people call the "plugue,
d has broken out, and from the terror of Infection
+. those afl cted 9th the distemper are Stunned
y by their neighbors"
: Another Journal says:--The destitaion still
l. advances, and " deaths by starvation" is stand
Ing head IN the newspapers, 1t is remarked as
: one Of the strongest evidences Of intense suffer-
y ing, that emigration is still in progress from Sill
= 90, even at this Indictment season.
n The Mayo Constitution publishes the reports
= of no fewer than eight inquejts held in one day
e on the bodies of poor people, all of whom, ac-
= cording 10 the evidences and verdcts, persisted
VI for the want of the common necessares of life
r The state Of that comfy is represented to be APP
pllling; and, so with other districts similarly
circumstanced, the greater the extent of poverty,
the greater the amount of agrarlan outrage
The same paper which tells the tale of starva-
ton has long catalogue of crimes
The Castelar, Telegraph says: "We have
before us return compiled and authenticated
. by the clergymen of this unlon containing the
y names and residences of thirty one human be.
ings who have recently died Of actual want"
I Another paper reports torty-seven deaths by
. starvation.
fore insufficient food, are The imputed causes of
destructive fever, which is carrying off large
numbers of the poor.
= The papers are rife with hororrs." Among
others, the Cork Examiner mentions a at
= Beenaen, Of two men who died from starvation,
: and whose bodies remained unbured until the
rats began to remove them piecemeaL. The
shopkecpers contributed, towards the purchase
, of coffin, sums amounting only to half penny
. and penny.
AIMING OF THE PEAsANrRY.- Extraordinary
as it may appear yet in the midst Of destituon
the peasanlry continue to purchase fire arms
= Large sales have been publicly made at different
fairs and almost every peasant is seen going to
. his house with a musket over his back
/ The arming Of the peasantry has attracted the
- notice Of the Government and circular has
been addressed by Mr. Labouchere 10 the mag
islrates, calling their attention to the subject
1nE PRoGREss OF REPEAL Mr.. O'Con-
nels repeal aff0rs are under a cloud. The
! Dublin Freeman gives some news of confer
= once between the Old Ireland and Young Ire
- land delegates. The Populations could not set
tie the terms of reconciliation. The a." Moral
Force" leader limited his view to the simply le-
gal question:; but the deputalon urged the me-
cesslty Of the settlement Of "other questions"
including a clearing up of the accounts, as
soon as the legal one should be adjusted. This
WI " NoHnSll pSItHlplOIuy lelusCu, aHu pIu
and Young Ireland are further apart than ever.
r FRANCE.
Distress prevails amongst the lower classes
t throughout France. 1t is stated that the amount
of food ON hand still furnishes matter for appre-
tension Notwithstanding the extensive impof
tations which have taken place, it is affirmed
, that the stock OF grain and flour on hand is de-
\ fcient by enly-tye days consumption of the
5 required amount. There must, therefore, be
9 further mportatons and consequently larger
drain of money Riots excited by existing or
g apprehcnded scarcity still continue in various
parts of France, and the undiminished pressure
7 upon the middle and lower classes is proved by
i continued drains upon the savings banks.
T The Moniteur publishes two royal ordinances;
$ one opening 4 credit Of a million of francs to
the Minister OF the Interior for additional aid, in
! consequence of the high price of bread, to the
Q hospices, bureaux de charlie, and Institutions de
bienfesance the other for credit to the same
Minister of 100000 francs for charity to dis
+ tressed individuals. The Monitcur also publish
: es royal ordinance for credit OF four millions
= of francs to the Minister Of the Interior, for
. grants to communes towards the employment of
+ the industrious classes in works of utility.