Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-18
IR E L A N D

Amongst the objects which momentarily rise to
excite the interest of mankind perhaps there is not
one other combining so much to awaken and exer
else reflection as the great Western Island of Eu
rope. All ages have had their change, prosperous
or adverse, as individual cases might operate. A
candid review of modern history must produce the
acknowledgment, that with much TO repress the in
diligence Of human pride, there has been greatly
more to encourage hope. The tendency of modern
mind is evidently improvement.
These remarks were excited by reading in the
English papers the notice of the arrival of the
American Minister in Galway, Ireland.
With all its claims to attention. there are few
parts of Europe Of which less is known than
Ireland, in proportion to its intrinsic Importance
and relative position 1t is however, evident that,
in the general development Of the capabilities of
the various parts of the earth, those of Ireland are
forcing themselves into general view. We cannot,
while the map of Europe is spread before us, avoid
recording some notes the relative extent and po-
sition of Ireland and to hint at how much it CON-
ports with the relations of the United States to re-
fleet on the consequences to their future policy of
giving efficacy TO the natural resources yet dormant
in Ireland. The comparative estimate set on this
jewel Of the ocean by British writers may be in
ferred from the share given to it in proportion to
its extent in their geographical works. What those
works do give, however, we may regard as in the
main correct, and from new and copious Gazet-
teer, published in the current year at Edinburgh,
we learn that Ireland is from northeast to south
west, in length two hundred and eighty-three miles;
greatest breadth one hundred and ninety miles !;
area thirty-two thousand square miles. But it
ought to be remembered that the real surface of
Ireland is of very difficult estimate, from the ex-
reme rregularity and deep ndentings of its coasts.
Remarkable as it is in many very important re-
spects, there is no other feature of Ireland so re-
markable as its climate, and especially when that
climate is placed in contrast with that of corrs-
spending latitudes in North America. Ireland lies
between latitudes 5lo 25' and $50 2s'. This dis
tance embraces within it the inconsiderabe space
of four degrees Of latitude. and the extreme east
ern Cape of Labrador and northern Cape of the
Island of Newfoundland. Though extending over
the same zone of latitude on the opposite sides of
the Atlantic ocean, the climates are contrasts and
arc ouCL HUN VIC HhucHCC VI piCNdhiuS WCSsCIu
winds. Therefore, the cause being permanent, so
is the effect.
II may be regarded curious phase of human
negligence that so little attention is paid to pheno-
mena which have had great influence in the history
of the world and which, as population increases
on Amerca-the northern section in particular
must in great degree decide the vicissitudes of
power. That class of phenomena alluded to is
the flow or motion of the atmosphere from the
west. This is subject which, from its immense
agency in the physical history of the earth can
not always remain the scof of ignorant ,cisdon,.
1t is now, when direct maritime communication
between the United States and Ireland is in agita-
tion, the great problem of the age. Time and the
perpetual action of circumstances will force atten-
tion to primary phenomena, which, on the western
shores of Continental and still more on Insular
Europe, give a climate of from twelve to fifteen
degrees higher mean temperature than on similar
la,iludes of North America.
Ireland, with its peculiar position, stands as a
great centre in the Atlantic ocean, which is now,
with steam and prevailing winds, little, if any, less
accessible to North America than to Europe The
political aspect of this subject deserves a more
searching notice.
MARoAREr GARRITr, the girl wao, in Newark, New
Jersey, stabbed her lover in the because he married
another had her trial last week for murder The