The Express. — 1847-10-09 (London, England)

STATE OF THE COUNTRY. The Limerick Reporter relates the murder of Mr. John Lowe, a gentleman of fortune, in the County Limerick. The papers of one day's tater date say nothing whatever upon the eubct. The Mayo paper as usual presents us with its hebdomadal picture of wretchednese. The crops, it states were seized on the ridges by orders of the landlord, the beiliffe following the reapers as they proceeded in their work. The law of last year prevents the seizure of standing or growing crops in Ireland. Thus the tillage is already taken into the custody of the landlords, and the farmers' barns and yards show no sign of harvest. The Roman catholic clergy around Castle bar have called upon the high-sheriff to convene a county meeting to represent to the government the condition of the county, so wretched and hopeless, where in a few weeks there will exist no means of paying rates, and where there is no independent labour. The prevalence of fever is of course alarming—it could not well be otherwise in such a state of physical and social misery, and what is to be regretted, though we must expect such consequences, the usually patient and peaceful inhabitants are beginning to manifest a condition of disorganisation which was entirely absent last year, and a few nights since were guilty of flogging a bailiff, it it said, very severely. In the meantime the markets are reasonable; good new oats sell from ss. 6d. to 61. per cwt., and excellent potatoes can be had at 6d. per stone. But of what avail is this reasonable condition of the markets to men who have no money-wages, and consequently not wherewithal to purchase The Limerick papers give the inquest on the two peasants, O'Donnell by name, who fell in the contest with the police. The circumstances appear to be these A " bene• fit" party, as it is termed. was given at the house of Loughlin, a smith. At this party the sergeant, commanding I the neighbouring police-station together with four of his men, were present. In the course of the night a quarrel arose between two of the peasantry, one of whom fell in the subsequent affray. That quarrel the police suppressed, not without an fry words and some blows. The police party staid some time longer and withdrew to their barracks. Some few hours after, and about six o'clock in the morning, three policemen returned to Loughlin's, armed and on patrol, a duty to which they had been regularly sent by their sergeant. Two of these had not been at the beaefit, one had been, and quarrelled with O'Donnell, one of the deceased. This person was at Loughlin's when the police returned there, and, on their entering the house, he invited them " to take a seat," which was ungraciously declined. The police called on their own account for three bottles of porter, and during the discussion of these, the altercation of the previous night was renewed between the policeman, who is named M'Cannan, and O'Donnell the former insisting that the latter should fight him. This, it appears, O'Donnell declined, adding that he would fight him next day. M'Canmin, eager for the fray, then tookstruck him on th off his MlSbelts, and making • blow at O'Donnell e