The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-12-26
OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.

n
Counties Ia Which the Distress is
chiedy fen. u Causes TO Which the
djsso, is dction is attributed. Queen
Ijcto,tts CuJinef and how IL is re-
ydldcd by The London Press, etc.
LONDON, Eng, Dec. 8, 1879.
I'm tflicinl report 10 the Government
Nv the Irish local government board as
"a the actual condition of Ireland has
been r'alc public. The report sum-
inarizcs the returns of the inspectors us
to the state of the potato crop, the gem
cral harvest, its supply of turf which
may be saved by the peasantry for their
wants during the next winter and
spring, and the condition aud prospects
, of the poor in regard to the potato crop.
AS to The latter point there is not much
variation in the reports, and potatoes
are described almost everywhere as de-
ficient in quantity, inferior in quality,
and affected by blight. There will not
be more than half all average crop
The general harvest appears to be infe-
rior and the crops deficient and below
those of last year. The oat crop is ev-
erywhere reported TO be good and plen-
tiful. This applies to all the four prov
inces, the exceptions, in which the gen.
eral harvest appears TO be fair, being
parts of Donegal and Londonderry, in
Ulster, parts of Cork and Limerick, in
Munster, and parts of Wicklow, in
Leinster. The supply of turf is every
where greatly deficient. Suffering and
sickness are anticipated from this
cause. A considerable quantity of turf
is stated to have been cut this year, but
itcould not be saved owing to the con-
tinuous rain. In parts of each of the
four provinces it is stated that coal
could be easily obtained at reasonable
prices, but this will not benefit the
poor in many districts in the western
and midland counties, where turf is
the only fuel used. In regard to the
prospects of the poorer classes during
the coming winter and spring in Ulster,
considerable distress and dcstitution,
as well as increased demands for relief,
may be expected, owing to the failure
of the turf supply, and the scarcity of
employment. In Munster much suffer-
ing and want is anticipated, aud unu-
sual demands for relief are expected
during the winter months, owing to the
want of employment, which is at
tributed to the straitened circum-
stances of the farmers in consequence
of tho banks and loan companies hay
ing refused to make further advances
of money, and to the low prices OBJ
tanned for cattle and butter. In Lem
ster large increase in the demands for
relief is anticipated, the farmers not
being in position to pay laborers,
and employment, consequently, being
scarce. In Connaught serious amount
of distress and increased demand fol
relief is expected during the coming
winter. On the coast, also, matters are
in the same condition, this being partly
owing to the decline in the employ.
ment of kelp burning. In other parts
: of the provinces much of the distress
is due to the reduction in prices obtain
: ed for cattle and pigs, and to the farmer!
being deeply in debt to money-lcndcri
and shop-keepers, and to the stoppag(
: of their credit.
In London, whatever may be the
feeling on the subject in the country
; the present government is far from be
ing unpopular. This is sufficiently
proved by the number of journals pro
, Tossing liberal principles which, il
D common with the Eastern question anC
: with foreign questions generally, sup
) port the Conservatives. Among thcs,
} may be mentioned one penny daily pa
8 per, Boosting of the " largest circula
{ ton in tho world" the Daily Telegraph
, one high-priced daily paper, which
owes such political reputation as be
, longs to its articles Oh foreign affairs
D the Morning Post, the principal even
ing PAPER, the Pail Mall Gazette, ant
| at least one weekly journal, the Exam
} liner. In the large Liberal clubs, more
over, eight members out of ten seen
, to be content with the present govern
! ment. They are satisfied, that is t
5 say, with its action in connection will
l foreign politics, and there is no do
5 meslic question just now before tn,
, country. One of the papers Just men
: toned is not, ii is true, a supporter OF
all points of the Government policy.
I mean the Pail Mall Gazette, which
= however, does not attack Lord Beacons
I fields government on the ground tina
e it does not follow the policy of Austen
i, ton In foreign allairs, so dear to Liber
: ais, but because il abstains too much
| and because its action has been fire.
f qucntly wanting in energy. The grea
mass of moderate Liberals hold tn
y same principles in regard to foreign af
D, fairs that were held by Lord Palmer
ston's cabinet at the time of the Cri
mean war. The opposition, mean
/ while, consists Of two extreme and al
( most antagonistic elements: The arts
y tocratic Liberals or Wings" as the,
might still be called, who would driv,
the present ministers from Office with
!. view to Redistribution of places, an,
the advanced Liberals" who, in tn
event of the government being defeated
would have no chance of attaining OF
flee, and who at least, may be said t
E condemn government measures wit
sincerity and from conviction.
, ALPHA.