The New era. [volume], October 17, 1845, Image 2

About The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847

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''^THE NEW ERA.
What is it but a Map of bu-y Life?—Cott'ptr.
NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1845.
OUR FLAG!
FREE TRADE—LOW DUTIES NO DF.HT—SE
PARATION FROM RANKS- ECONOMY—RE
TRENCHMENT—AND STRICT ADHERENCE
TO TIIE CONSTITUTION.
W e are indebted to the New York Morn
ing News, and the Tribune, tor Extra containing
he news by I he steamer Oreat Britaint.
ELEC TIONS IN PHILADELPHIA.
The election on 1 uesday resulted in the non
choice of a Mayor, a majority being necessary,
and three tickets in the field.
Swift, Whig, 4.9G2
Page, Dom., 3.928
Keyser, Native, 4,524
That is in the rily, proper. The Pennsylva
nian of says the county, “ we have elected our
county treasurer, county commissioner, auditor,
recorder, register, clerks of the courts of Quarter
Sessions, of the Orphans’ Court, prothunotary of
the District Court, senators, members of the House
of Representatives—commissioners of the districts
of the Northern Liberties, Moyatnensing, and we
hope for Spring Garden; and have lost South
wark and Kensington, or rather the Natives have
held them. In the city the Whigs have been
successful.”
G FX> IlG IA ELECTIONS.
Contrary to our expectation Georgia has gone
for the whigs. But it is proper for us to state
that the canvass was not conducted on party 1
grouuds. The great personal popularity of Gov- !
ernor Crawford, as we have before stated on the |
authority of the Augusta Constitutionalist, retj- i
dered such a contest impossible, and the Savan- !
nah Republican, whig, says of the result, “we
hail it not so much as a party victory, as a victo- |
ry of the people who have risen in their might in
favor of good government—in favor of the fault
less and successful administration of an impartial
and honest ruler.”
The Legislature stands, so far as we have re
turns, as follows:
In the Assembly—Democrats 51
Whigs 54 I
In the Senate—Democrats 21
Whigs 16 ,
COL. G. W. HOPKINS,
Of Little T ennessee, lias been nominated by ■
the Mountain Whig as a fitting candidate for'
Speaker of the next Democratic House of Rep i
resentatives, in Congress. If nothing else, this:
endorsement of a Federal whig print, would blast
his hopes forever. But he stands no chance in !
that body, for good and sufficient reasons, which 1
may be gathered from the analysis below from i
the New York Morning News:—
i
“ Col. George W. Hopkins, of the ‘ Little !
Tennessee* district. Virginia, is warmly urged
by the Mountain Whig, as Speaker of the House
of Representatives. He was re-elected to Con
gress last spring, by obtaining the votes of the
Whigs in his district; Col. John B. George be
ing his opponent, who received the almost unani
mous vote of Democratic Tazewell. Col. Hop
kins was a Democrat in *36, a rank Conservative
in *37, then a Whig, and now again a nominal
Democrat. In 1837 lie also heat Col. George,
the Independent Treasury candidate for Congress.
He would doubtless he a very acceptable candi- !
date to the Whigs in Congress, but we <mess the
De mocrats will take for a Speaker, some man ]
who is satisfied to rely only on the Democratic]
party. ___
A FEW WORDS ABOUT WOMEN.
It was easy for the artist who had a sign to
paint, to represent the man lording it over the]
lion; but as the beast justly observes in the fable, j
“ if lions were the painters, the case might be re- i
versed.” Men, who have for many ages been
the writers, have taken good care to assert their
superiority, by every possible species of attack i
and ridicule levelled against the women; and if]
the latter, now that they are fairly competing '
the palm of authorship with their male rivals, j
have nobly abstained from every attempt at re ,
taliation, what a proof does it afford of their supe \
rior good taste and generosity ? What so easy
as to launch the light shafts of their raillery !
against onr boobies, chatterboxes, and dandies 7 j
What so natural, as that they should level their !
caustic satire against our drunkards, gamesters,
and profligates; or, morn especially, that ihey
should stigmatise and expose our sneering bache
lors. who have themselves created that very class
of old maids, which they pelt with heartless re
proaches, and pitiless ribaldry ? Bui no, our fe
male writers have disdained the proffered tri- !
urnph, as if determined to prove rhe superiority of
their hearts, at the same moment that they are I
establishing the erpiality of their heads. The '
frivolity, love of dress, and loquaciousness of
women, have afforded subjects to satirists and
jesters, from the literary days of ancient Rome
and Athens, down to the present hour. If, how- i
ever, their love of finery and garrulity, ever ex |
ceeded the same propensities in man, it was, at
least, a deviation from the ordinary laws of na- j
ture, for it is remarkable that, in (he feathered
and animal kingdom, the gaudiest colors, and j
lomlcst tongues, are invariably bestowed upon the
male. The peacock and the gentlemen pheasant
have all the fine clothes, and the proud strutting,
to themselves, and, if we may draw any further
analogy from this class of cjeation, it is worthy
of remark, that the hen bird invariably sits si- i
lently at home, attending to her household duties,
whilst the male is rhndytying his plumage, and j
chattering, crowing, and chirping all day long.
So low does this role extend in the scale of exis
tence, that the shrill incessant cry which salutes
us from the earth, like that which twitters from
the air, cornea front the male grasshopper only.
This fact was known to the ancients, hut, in
stead of it* leading them to distrust, from the
analogy that runs through nature’s works, the
superior loquacity imputed to women, it furnished
Xcimrchus, »he comic writer, with an additional
jest at their expense, by enabling him to exclaim,
“ How happy are the grasshoppers in having
dumb wives!”
THREAD LACE.
For the Iasi few days, says the New York
Morning Nows, in its running notice of the Fair
of the American Institute, two young girls from
Nottingham, England, have attracted much at
tention. They employ themselves there in ma
king l bread Lace—the modus operandi we can
not explain, hut the fact that one piece on which
one was engaged, had 104 spools, and that each
spool must be turned three times in making one
side to a mesh, and that a smart operative can
not make more than 1 yard per week, worth $2,
and to do that must work 12 hours each day will
need no comment. We can realize the fact that
the operatives of England are hardly tasked and
poorly paid.
We much regret to see the death of Orvile
Bradly, Esq., of Hawkins county, East Tennes
se, annuuced in the papers, lie had no family,
and devises a princely estate to a neice at whose
death it is to he applied to the education of the
poor children in Hawkins county.—Mr. liradly
was a powerful defender of the democratic party
and principles in the late Presidential election.—
Lynchburg Republican.
From the Tribune of Tuesday
THE IIOYT AND BUTLER CORRES
PONDENCE.
Mr. Stoughton, on behalf of Mr. Taylor, book
seller. yesterday before Vice Chancellor M’Coun,
moved that the Court dissolve the injunction as
related to Mr. Taylor, he being one of the par
ties against whom .Jesse Hoyt obtained an injunc
tion prohibiting him selling' the bonk. &c. Mr.
8. stated that Mr. Hoyt only claims for three let
ters written by himself to Marlin Van Horen, and
1 10 letters written to himself (the said Hoyt) by
other parties, and for whom lie is trustee. The
e aim is based on the said letters being his private
property, and not valuable to the public. &,c._
Mr. 8. contended that they were valuable, in
showing to the public what is doing by those
holding important positions in the affairs of the
Government, lie suggested to the Court wheth
er or not Mr. Hoyt could claim ownership over
the letters sent to him, as lie acknowledges, in
Ins bill, that the parties sending them had a right
to multiply copies as extensively as they pleased.
Mr. 8. also suggested whether it was consistent
with public policy, when a parly possesses litera
ry matter of such ‘ deep interest’ as is contained
in these letters, connected with the stated preach
ing of the Gospel, &c., whether they Ind a right
to prevent them being given to the public. Hut
any rate, even allowing that Mr. Hoyt has a claim
to those letters, he was not authorized to ask for
an injunction on tlie whole book, the letters only
constituting about one third of it, &o. The Vice
Chancellor stated that it would have been belter
that the injunction had been made in that way,
hut even so, the injunction would have had to rest
on the whole work, as ii was already printed.—
Mr. S. made the motion nearly at the time for ad
journment, and will continue his argument this
forenoon. Mr. Prescott Hall or Mr. Evarls will
reply. _
The Hutchinson Family.—The New York
Mirror publishes the following extract from a pri
vate letter received in that city by the Cambria :
“We are now in Liverpool, at No. 70 Duke
street. We had a happy voyage across the At
lantic, which we accomplished in eleven davs
and a half. We have already given two con
certs—the attendance was equal to our first con
certs in New York, but the enthusiasm of an
English audience is more thrilling and universal.
Many of our songs were most rapturously encored.
We were terribly scared,however, when we first
appeared before the John Bulls, but they cheered
us so much, and looked so good natureil (hat we
soon felt at our ease, and went through the pro
gramme as well as ever we did before a Yankee
audience. We were hailed with thunders of ap
plause when in the ‘ Old Hay Slate,’ we sung,
“ Wo are all Teetotallers.” We give another
concert here, and then proceed to Dublin, where
we have an engagement for five nights. We
intend to visit London during the month of Jan
uary, that being the commencement of the con
cert season there.”
From the Democratic Review for .September.
POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
The greatest of all things is Place; for all other
things are in the world, but the world is in it.—
Thales, the Philosopher.
The General Government of the United States
at Washington controls the appointment of about
14,000 postmasters, about 14,000 deputies or
clerks, about 3.000 mail contractors and agents,
and about 2,000 revenue and lighthouse officers,
making in all some 33,000 public dependents,
whose duties are local, and whose residences are
scattered through every township and village in
our country.
Every Stale government has in addition a pa
tronage averaging at least 2.000 appointments of
a similar character, making 54,000, which added
to the 33,000 already mentioned, make 87,000
men. This is of course entirely exclusive of all
Cabinet officers, Slate and national, and their
troops of clerks and dependents ; of the army and
navy lists, embracing tlieir thousands; of the
whole diplomatic aod consular corps; I lie regis
ters, receivers, surveyors, and other officers con
nected with the administration of our public land
system ; the Indian agencies, and of a most potent
and. perhaps, a more numerous class, the jobbers
and contractors upon Government works, and the
providers under G ivernment contracts. Exclusive
of these last, and confining ourselves, for ihe pre
sent. to our first figure, we find 87.000 men dis
tribtited over our country, more or less dependent
upon public patronage, or. rather, upon those bv
whom it is dispensed. This figure includes no
women or children. They are, or should be,
men arrived at their political maturity, and in the l
vigor of manhood. Supposing every sue It man to I
support three—and that is a rn (derate estimate of
the product of every man’s industry in society_
these 87.000 would represent the capital, the so- i
rial and political substance of 261,000 inhabitants I
As it has come to he pretty well established i
that political, like most other kinds of gratitude
is an emotion experienced for fav »rs to he rendered*
and that political friends will he preferred in the
public service to political adversaries, it is fair to
presume that every one of the 87,000 appoint
ments we have enumerated will be made, subject
to that preference. The public sentiment of the
country seems u. "-’stain such a policy, and even
tolerates, with marvellous patience, the more re
volting practice of ret loving from the most subor
dinate office for politi -al defection or differences
with which the duties of the office are not con
cerned. And when a state of things has thus
gradually arisen, in which all, or nearly all, the
offices hi the hands of one party are made sys
tematically points or nuclei of influence in support
of that party, whether by the direction of patron
age connected with them, by contributions of mo
ney fur political expenses, or by other modes of
influence exerted by rnen brought by official posi
tion into contact with large numbers of their fel
low’ citizens— it then becomes unreasonable to ex
pect that a new party coming into power will
consent to leave these fortresses of influence in
the hands of their opponents, even were it free
from the pressure of the great number «>t its meri
torious adherents, who often need them for suhtis
tence. and urge their claims to them for reward.
I'lins goes on the system from bad to worse, by
alternate retaliation ; its evils at every step both
increasing and multiplying, until it becomes im
possible to reach them by any other than some
radical, organic remedy, directed not against the
abuses, but the system—not against the symp
toms, lull the inner, deep-seated home of the dis
ease.
Besides these 87,000, who will have thus given
up their hearts to the administration which had
the discrimination to call them to the public ser
vice, ihero will be a certain very large number
in waiting, apprehensive that their aid will be re
ipiired when they are not at hand. What may be
the average number of these patient patriots at any
given time in the country, it is difficult to conjec
ture. We are informed that there were, on the
1st of August last, upwards of 4.000applications
tor places in the Custom House at New York
City. As there are but 1G0 officers about the es
tablishment, including tin* collector', any of the
simple arithmetics will furnish a rule to calculate
the proportion of candidates to officers in this par
ticular case. It the same proportion should main
tain throughout the United Stales, there would
be at the present time about SOO.OOO Democrats
actively engaged in impressing upon those in
whose hands are the issues of political favor, the
great advantage which the State would derive
from securing, with the least possible delay, their
valuable co-operation, and also the extreme devo
tion with which themselves and their fathers, un
til the third and fonth generation, had loved the
peculiar opinions entertained by the Government
upon whose elevation to power it was at this time
the special privilege of the whole world to con
gratulate itself.
" iinuui caring i<»r any nt the absolute certain
ly of figures. we wish only to remind our readers
ol what, when stated, their own experience will
promptly verify—that the political patronage of
our government is annually devoted to populate
the land with active partisans, made more active
hy influences independent of their convictions.
Secondly, that, of these partisans, hut a small
proportion hold office, or any official relation with
the Government. Indeed, it will occur to all.
upon a little reflection, that hy far the must nu
merous, noisy, active and devoted politicians are
those who are not enjoying, hut are seeking place
—who are earning their position—who are nut,
hut always “ to he blessed.”
Now let us glance for a moment ul some of the
consequences of this stale of things.
The theory of our Government make its pros
perity and success to depend upon the fairness
with which the people are represented in the laws.
Any tendoney calculated to refract or misrepre
sent the popular will, thereby becomes a public
calamity. 1 his is a position which no one recog
nizing man’s capacity for self-government will
presume to deny ; yet to fully appreciate it in all
its length and breadth, it requires more amplifica
tion than we have space or time to furnish. We
fear there is even in this country an imperfect
sense of t-he grave importance of having every
positive and accountable interest, however obscure
it may be, fairly represented in the making and
administration of the laws.
N. • w will any one for an instant pretend to de
ny that the 87,000 incumbents of office, and the
800,000 who aspire to be, are not influenced in
their political action by what they do, or hope to
enjoy ? Kven supposing them all to he honest, a
supposition which, like the geometrical straight
line, can only be used hypothetically, still will
they not have a selfish interest, separate from that
which belongs to them as citizens? and will not
that selfish interest lead them to select their opin
ions and their allies with some slight reward to
other considerations than the public good ? Will
they not talk louder, praise more indiscriminately,
conceal faults or errors with more than Christian
charity; labor and wrestle with neutral and flag
ging friends, «.r reclaimahle foes, with a wilder
zeal or more contagious enthusiasm, a inure capti
vating indifference to private and personal con
venience than they would if thoir action had been
inspired solely by philanthropy and patriotism ?
We shall have done them great injustice all our
days if it be otherwise.
i>ui IHI ns suppose any considerable portion of
these political probationers to be corrupt or cor
rnptible—and this supposition lets ns down at once
from the imaginary region at which we were sus
tained by the last hypothesis—suppose any con
siderable proportion of these to be unscrupulous
men, and what mischief may they not he compe
tent and tempted to do! All that vast floating
vote which has no fixed opinion, and which takes
Ms hue, like the unsheltered meadow, from the
cloud which happens last to he passing over it,
tails at once a prey to their solicitations. Bribery
is made to take the place of argument, and politi
cal influence is offered as proof of character. Men
who have never wished lo, or thought of doing
anything but attend to their own business, are dis
interred from obscurity, and flattered with illusory
promises—their ambition becomes a passion, and
hurries them on until they fall into some unholy
i political alliance, offensive and defensive, where
j by the Stale loses perhaps a useful and industri
ous citizen, to gain a misinformed, indiscreet, and
good fornothing politician. In this way every
nook and corner of society is searched In find out
any easy friend or susceptible tool who may be
availed of, to stronglhen that peculiar party or
sei't upon whose success the fate ef ibis “ officin
nitniinn nnfin c.andidatorum” are supposed to
depend.
And again. Ibis imperial patronagp, running
through and uniting both the National and Slate
(i jvernmenis by the alliance of common interests,
common dependence and common faculties of co
operation, arid subordinating as it does the judg
merits of such hosts of men to their interests,
tends to divide the nation into two or three great
parties upon a few controlling questions, by which
the minor, but not the least important interests of
the people are entirely swallowed op. Interested
rather in the success of the party than in the |
beneficial influence of its measures, these Govern- |
ment retainers frown upon everything which
savors of insubordination, cherish passive obedi
ence to caucus ordinations, and proclaim from
every house top that party organization and regu
lar nominations are the vitality of patriotism_
The consequence is, that they attach to those
questions on which patronage ia to depend, every
local question, however distinct in its character*
and whoso believes in one, must believe in all,
and defend all, or be content to be shouldered
aside as an unsafe friend ar a factious disorganizes
In this way. parties who might agree perfectly in
their county and town legislation, are divided by
their differences on national questions, in which
the great body of them perhaps, have only a fac
titious interest. The party which succeeds may
lug with it the county or the town, against the
judgment and the interest of all who are concern
ed in its affairs, and all through the machinations
of men whose only object is to establish that dy
nasty from whom they have the largest expecta
tions of official bounty.
I here is no room nor reason longer to doubt
that by influences such as we have indicated, the
popular will is often grievously misrepresented or
perverted, and the public interests most unscrupu
lously sacrificed. When we consider upon how
close a vote some of our most important local as
well as general elections have turned, that the
largest majority ever given on any presidential
election since the establishment of the government,
was not five per cent upon the whole vote cast,
anil when we further consider that these moderate
majorities, tlipse tremendous minorities, have de
termined the adoption of measures and systems of
legislation having the most serious bearing upon
the destiny of our country, we feel that we are
chargeable with indulging no premature alarm nur
groundless anxiety about the consequences which
may result from the operation of such disturbing
and depraving forces upon our political instilun
tions. It is our faith to defy every consequence
of popular sovereignty if the popular will is im
partially represented in the laws. By virtue of
that faith we also distrust every government just
in proportion as that will is misrepresented, and
we abhor every tendency or institution which
contributes to the sacrifice.
Again, ii is impossible for one man to dispense
the vast patronage of many of onr Stale govern
ments, much less that of the general government,
with any considerable confidence that'he will do
it wisely or fairly. It is not a very bold nor a
very novel proposition that in the aggregate of
rases every man understands bis own business
better than a stranger. That principle might
authorize the inference that the residents of a
country knew its interests hotter than a non resi
dent 5 but lest that might to some seem questiona
ble, we will limit ourselves to a statement about
which there can be no question, that the inhabi
tants of a district are much more competent, in the
aggregate of cases, to select their officers to rule
over them from among their number than a stran
ger can be, who has to be directed by the repre
sentations of others. Now the Executive tins
either to rely, in the majority of instances, upon
the representations of others, if he makes his se
lection from the district in which the duties are
to be discharged, or he must adopt the infamous
system of proconsul a rah ips and satrapies under
which the victims of Roman and Persian tyranny
were made to groan in elder days. But this lat
ter practice need not be. considered, for in our
country it would never he tolerated in a second
instance. Being obliged, then, to judge of a can
didate from the letters and statements of friends
and of foes, of parties and of partizans—others
rarely trouble themselves with applications for
office—what security has the appointing power of
making a righteous selection ? Mow can he know
all the various interests which depend upon the
success or failure of a given suit—how can he
(ai rly weigh (he value of recommendations beset
with motives of which he knows little or nothing,
with certainty? The Executive patronage of the
Slate of New* York alone requires the appoint
ment at the rale of from seven (o ten officers every
day for a whole year. Mow or when is a Gover
nor to find time lo make any adequate examina
tion for these appointments alone, letting alone
all other business? The thing is impossible.
But there is another difficulty in the way which
prudent statesmen should provide against. VVe
refer to the perpetual temptation to ask qualifica
cations in candidates which the duties of their
offices do not require, to give more consideration
to their political availability than to their official
competency. VVe shall not trifle with our readers
by adducing pr<x>fs of ibis perversion of Executive
patronage. It is not so long since the highest as
well as the humblest p ditical honors of the nation
were openly offered as the price of political devo
tion—since the public press was subsidized with
scarcely an affectation of concealment, and even
the judiciary prostituted to the most scandalous
nepotitm—that we need bring proofs of the infa
mous uses to which official patronage may he put,
when it falls by an act of God, or the blindness of
bis creatures into the hands of wicked and de
signing men. Nor is this perversion of official
influence confined lo those feeble and dishonest
men whose elevation is the accident of an acci
dent, but it has entered into and become a part of
the very science of politics among ns. The
availability of a candidate is just as inevitable a
condition of his appointment, tube discussed and
established, as his constitutional qualifications.—
I he number of votes he can control is as sure to
be inquired about as his fulness of age or his citi
zenship.
[To be continued.]
From the Haiti more Sun.
ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.
Decline, in Cotton—Deplorable state of the Har
vest— The Markets, frc., Sfc.
Wn jare indebted to Messrs. Adams &, Co.’s
Express, per their active messenger, Mr. Gorman,
for a copy of the Boston Adas, from which we
make up the following summary of the newa re
ceived. The steamer had not reached New York
when the mail left
We have just received intelligence by special ex
press, from our attentive correspondent at Holmes’
Hole, that the steam ship Great Britain arrived
there at 1 o’clock on Monday, with thn loss of
her foremast. She was reported as having been
! seen at 7 o’clock on Monday morning, with stg
nils of distress flying, and firing signal guns,
within two miles of the shore, to the southward
of Long Point Light.
The Great Britain left Liverpool on the 27th
nit. She has experienced very heavy gales of
wind for thn last ten days, and had run short of
coal. The schr David Coffin, of New Bedford,
happened to be at Holmes’ Hole, from Philadel
phia, with a cargo of coal, and at dark on Mon
day evening was alongside the Great Britain,
tof-mpply her.
The Great Britain has 103 passengers, among
whom is Leopold De Meyer, the distinguished
pianist:
The Cotton Market has been dull throughout
the week, with the slightest perceptible decline in
its (price*. The qnotations can scarcely be said
to| have changed, but there had been more incli
nation to meet buyers, and the common and mid
dling descriptions were freely offered. The de
clared prices for the week, by the committee of
. brokers, for fair Cotton was4 5-8d : Mobile.
5 3-4d ; Orleans, 5 l-8d.
The produce market continued active. For
rice, owing to the causes already assigned, there
was much inquiry, at greatly improved prices.
The stock was getting low, in consequence of the
large demand.
The iron trade continued brisk, owing to the
requirements of the new undertakings, and rail
ways bars were consequently much sought after.
I* rom the same cause, boiler plates, used in the
construction of iron shipping, were improving in
valuo. Pig iron was also selling at good prices,
ami the make of ihe metal was greater at present
tlnn it was ever known.
Ihe continental news of the week is without
much interest. The King of Saxony has opened
the Diet in a speech which reflects his anxiety
respecting the recent occurrences connected with*
tho religions movement. The Prussian govern
ment views the Abbe Ronge with the same sus
picion as before, and ho was prevented from*
sleeping in Manlieini. when he passed through it.
1 he Queen and the Queen-Mother have arrived
at Madrid, and although the capital is quiet, fears
of an outbreak existed. Switzerland is like a
smothered volcano—an explosion may be looked
for.
We understand that the Hon. Louis McLane
is progressing most favorably in his new position
at the Court of St. James. We anticipate the
bests results from the honorable gentleman’s mis
sion to this country. None more than ourselves
desire to see the bonds of friendly and commercial
intercourse between the United Stales and Eng
land closely cemented. Our friend, Ritchie, of
the Union,” thinks otherwise, however._
“ Jyout verront.”
Both Upper and Lower Hungary have been
completely laid waste by dreadful inundations, at
the beginning of the month of August. Upward*
of a million of the inhabitants are threatened with
all the horrors of famine in consequence of this
dreadful misfortune.
Accounts from the central province of Russia
state, that the potato crop there was free (rum dis
ease, hut that the corn was still quite green, and
that it was suffering from the ravages of a small
; insect resembling the common flea.
The Missing Packet Ship England.—Grett
interest has been excited in England, since the
departure of the Cambria, in consequence of $ bot
tle having been picked up, on the 16th of Sep
tember, at sea, four miles southeast of Douglass
Head, by the fishing smack Kite, Captain Morri
son, containing a piece of paper, on which was
written, in pencil, an intimation that the vessel
was then in lat 45 10, long. 98 7 ; that she had
lost her quarter boats; that there was 10 feet wa
ter in her hold, and no vessel in sight.
/ rospects of the Crops.— I’he reports receiv
ed from the northern parts of the kingdom speak
m a very desponding tone of the probable efTects
ofthe extremely wet and boisterous weather ex
perienced during the waek on that portion ofthe
crops still outstanding. That injury to au extent
difficult to be remedied at this advanced period of
the year has been done, is greatly to be feared,
and, unless we have an immediate return of dry
weather, the consequence may be serious. Even
if the northern harvest had been got in well, the
yield of wheat could scarcely have been expected
to prove an average ; and, under existing circum
stances. the deficiency in quality, if not in quanti
ty, is likely tube much greater than was previ
; ously calculated on.
Notwithstanding the fine weather experienced
three consecutive weeks, there is still a «reat
quantity of grain abroad south ofthe river Hum
ber ; whilst further north much is yet uncut. Of
the total produce of the United Kingdom proba
bly two-thirds may have been saved ; but it is
needless to remark, that the manner in which the
other third may be secured must greatly influence
the whole. Our previous estimates of the proba
ble result of the harvest, have therefore, we fear
been too favorable; and wo now apprehend that,
besides the already admitted deficiency in wheat
and potatoes, the crops of barley and oats, as well
as those of beans and peas, may prove inferior to
what we were induced to hope.
As threshing is proceeded with, the complaints
of ,l,e yWd wheat certainly increase; nor do
the accounts of the quality improve. The loss in
weight alone is a serious consideration; suppose
the same to be 3 lbs. per bushel on the entire
quantity grown—which is a moderate computa
tion and taking the whole produce of wheat of
the United Kingdom, in an average year, at 20,
000,000 quarters, this item alone would make a
difference of a million of quarters.
Not only is the crop short in this country, but
the harvests have been defective over the greater
i part of the continent of Europe. In Holland and
Belgium the fact is so well ascertained that the
Government of the former country has deemed it
prudent to reduce the duty on Gram to the mini
mnin point; whilst all restrictions on the import
of Corn into Belgium has been removed for a given
. period.
Already, numerous orders have been received
from Rotterdam, Antwerp, See.; snd the moder
ate storks of bonded Corn are likely to be shortly
reduced into a very narrow compass, if not ex
hausted by shipments to countries from whence
we are, in ordinary years, in the habit of drawing
some portion of our foreign supplies.
In tho Baltic ports. Great Britain mnst expect
to be outbid by the Dutch and Belgians; and in
the Black Sea. wheat has lately been bought np
lO'Xupply Italy, where the crops are said to have
yielded indifferently.
It seems, therefore, that, unless prices ad vanre
materially, in this country, we are not likely to
draw any quantity of wheat from abroad.
Irei.and— 1 he death of Mr. Davies, the prin
cipal editor of the Dublin Nation, in the prime of
life—for he had only attained his thirtieth year,
has produeed in Ireland a general expression of
sorrow. He was followed to the grave by all the
leaders of the party in Dublin.
The Irish Collegiate Bill is again being revived
in all the intensity and virulence of discussion, by
the protest, on the part of tho Irish Catholic Bish
ops and Archbishops, against the measure. It ap
1 pears that seventeen of these ecclesiastics are
I against, and nine in favor of, the bill. The for
mer have published their views to the world,snd
have thus shown the divided councils to which
l the new measure has given birth.
Amongst the minority is the Primate. Dr. Crol
|y, and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Murray—
| The Government, in the meantime, nothing daun
ted. are taking prompt measures for the erection
of the new seminaries, and in the course of twelve
months from this time they will probably be ir»
existence, if not in operation. The unanimity
which hav long marked the proceedings of the
[Catholic body in Ireland it thus broken, and the
heart burnings to which tho new act the Bequest
Act, have given rise, are pregnant with important
consequences as regards tin future.