The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-10-18

According to the following account, which
seems to be authentic, the condition of ire
land is improving. The potatoe crop for the
present year will be a much better one
than has been anticipated. 1t seems to be
pretty certain. that emigration is on the de-
crease, although on this point there is some
discrepancy in the Irish accounts. If it IS
diminishing, this is good sign for the coun-
try, as it shows that the inhabitants have
more inducements to remain in il than they
have had for the last seven or eight years.
The amount of the remittances from the
Irish in America to their relatives in Ireland
are of an astounding amount, being for the
last year between six and seven millions Of
dollars. This proves several things-that
the Irish in this country are, in general, in
dustrious, prosperous, and provident, and that
they are affectionate aud kind.hearted.L
This heavy remittance goes TO prove anoth-
er thing, which is not uldeserving of the no.
tice of the Know w-Nothings who want no
more Irish among us, and would be glad, we
suppose, to get rid of many that are now
here; that being prosperous themselves, they
must contribute greatly to the prosperity OF
this country, and add largely to its. material
wealth, otherwise they could not send such
large sums to their native country.
The annexed letter from Longford, in
Ireland, gives a view Of the conclusion Of
the harvest in that country :--Ddiy Globe.
8: As the season advances, and the people
begin to dig in the potatoes, better estimate
can be formed as 10 the amt unit Of damage
done by the disease during the present year
1t is very satisfactory to find that the loss
sustained will fall wonderfully short of what
was at first anticipated. That the growth OF
the potatoes has been considerably impeded
there can be no doubt; but, although much
smaller in size than usual, the quality is ex-
cellent, while the quantity actually destroy
ed forms but small percentage of the
whole. Making every allowance, however,
for the losses in this way, and taking into
consideration the great breadth Of ground
under potatoes this, year, there can be no
doubt that the supply will be quite equal to,
if not over, the average of former years. 1t
must be remembered, moreover, that prior
to the first year of the famine the population
of Ireland exceeded 100000, while now
it is little more than 100000; and that, as
this falling off is chiefly, if not entirely,
among the poorer classes, whose staple food
is essentially the potato, there are proper
tionably less to be provided for. The grain
crops, too, are abundant, and, now that the
farmers are getting them in, the utmost sat
isIaction is expressed by ALL"
"The annual report of the Emigration
Commissioners has just been published
From this 1t appears that the total emigra-
ton of last year was 9.937, being 38 1927
less than in 1852. There was a diminution
Of 26,4SO to Australia, and 1896 to the
United States, the falling off being account
ed for in the case Of Australia by the great
er excitement regarding the gold discover
les prevalent during the SUMMER and autumn
of 1859, and in that of the United States
by the departure Of the smaller number oI
Irish, the aggregate emigration of the latter
people throughout tie year being estimated
at l99,392 against 224,997 in 1852. The
remittances from their relatives in America
were, however, larger than in any previous
year, the amount sent through the various
banks. apart from private channels, being
El,439,OOO. With respect to the Austral.
ian emigration, the total from the united
kingdom to all the colonies was 6l,40l, OF
about one fourth OF that Of the United States.
Subjoined are the general figures .
United States 23O,895