The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1847-02-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DESTITUTION IN SCODLAND.  Last night Dr. Mackay delivered an address in Great George-street Chapel, detailing the distress in which the Highlands and Islands of Scotland are at present plunged. He said that of 400,000 souls inhabiting the Highlandef about 60,000 are at this moment totally destitute of daily food, and are supplied by charity ; and that number will, in a short time, be doubled. Before next summer arrives the Highlands and Islands of Scotland will contain,. 300,000 totally dependant upon charity. The failure or the potato crop has been universal through the Higi,land4 and the whole of Scotland ; and the population of the Highlands and Islands are totally dependent . upon that crop. From 120 districts accounts had been received stating that potatoes formed seven-eighths of the food of the people. This calamity has fallen upon a population who are totally destitute of money to buy other food, and who have no resource in their extremity. The population of the Highlands was divided into two classes ; pf cot' ters, paying no rent to the proprietor of the soil, but being permitted to build huts and plant their little patches of pro' tatoes, which furnish them with the means of humble exist' ence throughout the year, and of crofters, or small tenanter paying rents of from ss. to £l2 to the landlords, but raising little more than is sufficient to meet those rents and their wants. This class too live almost exclusivell upon potatoeS. The loss had come suddenly and unfored seen. The Highlands and Islands never looked brighter and greener than during the past summer; and in maul localities the blight came in a single night. He had seen fields blackened which a week before were flourishing in luxuriance. The finger of God'was evidently upon themThemenofscientific attainments, in the pride of theit!knowledgeroverlooked the working of God in this matter. ' (The rev, speaker here detailed the circumstances and extent of distress existing in September in the Island of Mull, scores of whose population Must have perished if not assisted with meal supplied by the committee, and read another letter from a gentleman in one of the islands, stating that in ordinary years the condition of the population is one of detni-starvation.) The crop of the year before last (the reverend gentleman stated) had been 0 most abundant one, and had been sold at high prices. Last year, in consequence, a greater breadth of land had been sown, which, however, had proved a total failureThey had taken -the utmost care, in the distribution of relief, to provide against fraud, and no distinction of sect had been permitted to interfere in their operations. Thel had been endeavouring to get the able-bodied poor to come into the lowlands to procure work ; and now upwards of three hundred were at work on railways and other works, who regularly sent their earnings to 'their families at home. The reverend gentleman proceeded tO, give a number of interesting descriptions of the state of poverty in which the population of various localities were. sunk, and their excellent conduct under the pressure of affliction, and concluded by a powerful appeal for assistance in the efforts of the committee to save them,froto perishing.  Accounts from Madrid to the 21st ultimo state that th• Marquis of Casa Itujo has resigned the task .of forming S ministry, and M. Mon persists in his refusal to do so. The Rev. G. Ireland, chaplain of the Northleach House of Correction, Gloucester, has committed suicide by cuttinghis throat.  The dreadful gale of wind, which prevailed on Wednesday, has done considerable damage to the wood viaduct in course of erection at Denby Dale. The damage estimated at about £sooo.—Leeds Mercury. • Sir William Massey Stanley is appointed one of the stewards for the grand French steeple-chases which take place near Paris on the 11th of April next. The'first prize amounts to 12,500 francs, (£500,) and the second to 2,500 francs; (X 200.) A letter from Mulliugar communicates g the tif .11% announcement that at the market held thereon"Ztit'day, oats, which that day week fetched 255. to 275., wcrs sf)ld at 18s. per .barrel, while a correspuncing reduction took place in the rates of meal—namely, from 275. to.2Bsper cwt. to 205., and speculatws very tardy in effecting purchases. Accounts from Riga, down to the 21st instant, state the grain market to be very brisk. 74-751 b. oats are now. held at 90rs., and 89rs. are offered in vain. This is equal to about 245. per quarter on board. Courish Wheat hag been done at 168r5., being 545. 6d. per quarter. The exchange is 401 d. to 41d. per rouble silver on London. Mr. Henry Smith had a rapturous reception at the Coacert Hall last night.  FASHIONABLE RESTAURANT and