IRELAND.

Several official documents relating to the scarcity and the employment of the people have just been issued. Further instructions have been sent round to the Lords-Lieutenants of counties for the formation of Relief Committees. The object seems to be to confer a power of selecting really useful persons from the Committees of last year without bringing in troublesome members. The additional clause is this- " In those cases where local circumstances may require that persons not com- prehended in this arrangement should be appointed on Committees, it would be desirable to reappoint so many of the most efficient and respectable members of the Committees of the past season as may be requisite. In forming new Commit- tees where none had been named during the past season, and where the ex-officio members may be insufficient, the Lieutenant of the county will exercise his discre- tion in selections from the most respectable subscribers to the Relief Fund." The circular enclosing these instructions is dated the 14th instant. It urges promptitude in the organization of the Relief Committees, and en- joins the necessity of supporting the officers of the Board of Works "in the execution of their arduous duties," and "especially in enforcing the system of task or piece work."

In answer to a letter from Mr. John O'Brien, Mr. Labouchere speaks,out on the conduet of the people in some parts of Ireland. He says in a letter dated the 12th instant, "I fear that the distress in the district of Clare has been much aggravated by the refusal of the labourers to work by task; and I hope that persons of influence will endeavour to discountenance such re- sistance."

Sir Randolph Routh, the Commissary-General, has addressed an impor- tant letter to Viscount Bernard: it has tended to increase the popular dissatisfaction. He writes on the 10th instant, from "the Castle," as follows.

"The interference of the Government in the supply of food to the people is at all times a my delicate question. It is much better to encourage and even assist private enterprise than to interfere itself in such arrangement; for no means that a Government can employ can ever equal even a small part of the operations of trade. •

"The duty on Indian corn' and the uncertainty which attends the introduc- tion of a new description of food, are circumstances which prevented the adoption of this principle daring the past season; but as those difficulties are now removed, it is desirable to avoid every possible interference with the ordinary course of trade and Finranduscet7Holland, and Belgium, are in competition with us in the food market; and if we refuse to offer the value of the article imported from foreign countries, we shall certainly fail to secure our proportion of it in the market: and if, as the resolutions seem to intimate, I should attempt to control these high prices by sel- ling at a rate below their value, I should invite all descriptions of pressure on the depot or locality where such a system is pursued, and exclude mercantile assist- ance and speculation from it.

"I have reason to believe that her Majesty's Government continue to be de- cidedly of opinion, that the public safety, as well as the public faith, indis- pensably requires that the pledge given, that no interference will be exercised with the provision-trade in the Eastern division): Ireland, should be strictly observed.

"I trust that your Lordship, on consideration, will be disposed to give this opinion a fair trial; and that with the countenance of your Lordship's authority either by private subscription or by loan funds, or by such other individual exertion as may encourage trade, you may commence a system of operation which may not only be beneficial to those who have forwarded to you these resolutions, but be also an example to others. "I beg to suggest to your Lordship, that the country is nowhere destitute of supplies; that whole wheaten-meal may be obtained on reasonable terms; that barley-meal may also be profitably imported; and that the home produce may be brought into consumption very advantageously to the holders before the large importations now on their way shall come into competition with them. "The difficulty this year is to provide sustenance from this period until the let of January, and it is not to be denied that the main support must be the abundance of the late harvest now in the country. • "Towards the end of November these supplies will begin to arrive, and as the winter advances the importations will increase." Another document is a letter from the Treasury in London, on the ex- tent to which Government intend to dispense food. The Mayor of Cork had forwarded a memorial from the Magistrates and cess-payers praying the intervention of Government to reduce the price of food. dr. Trove- lyan replies much as Sir Randolph Routh has written.

In another letter of the same date, Mr. Trevelyan replies to an appli- cation on behalf of the Limerick and Ennis Railway for a loan to aid in prosecuting the works: he states officially, that after a full consideration of • the subject, it has been determined not to adopt loans to railway com- panies as a means of relieving the suffering arising from the failure of the potato crop. Following up the same line of refusal, Mr. Redington writes on the 15th instant to the Grand Jury of Limerick, that a presentment of 6,0001. to purchase Indian meal (to be afterwards retailed to the poor at a low rate) " could not under any circumstances be approved."

The Clare Journal makes this announcement-

" Her Majesty's Government intend to place seed rye, and barley or here, at the disposal of the Commissariat in Ireland; and the different Relief Committees will be supplied at first cost. A return of the quantity of seed required is to be sent to Mr. Stanley, Commissariat Relief Office, Dublin. The seed will be sent to the nearest point accessible by water to the different Committees."

The correspondent of the Morning Chronicle confirms the statement, that although destitution is increasing, there is something like a corresponding advance in remedial measures. "The public works," he says, "are com- mencing in almost all quarters; and the system of voluntary relief, so well commenced in Kerry, is now adopted pretty generally." He mentions as a fact not unworthy of note, that of the hundred and fifty-eight workhouses now open only four have their full complement of inmates: in these four the numbers are in excess; the others generally falling so far short of the allotted number as to be capable of containing many thousand more persona The Lord Primate has issued a circular letter to the clergy of the dio- cese of Armagh, appointing the 30th October as a day of humiliation, and directing the form of service to be then read.

Among the most notable instances of practical liberality on the part of landlords, we have to mention Mr. Sidney Herbert's announcement to his tenantry in the vicinity of Dublin- " The Roorer population of this immediate neighbourhood, though not generally engaged in agriculture, and therefore not suffering directly by the loss of the crops, must still be most seriously affected by the enhanced price of all articles of food. I shall consider it to be my duty to provide employment wherever it is possible, by which our poorer neighbours may be enabled to earn the means of subsistence; and with that view I have given directions for the commencement of works in different parts of my property.

The Earl of Charlemont, Lord Caledon, Sir James Strong°, Mr. Robert Cope, and Mr. Richard Rely, are to be added to the list of landlords who have met the present crisis by a reduction of rents.

Mr. Evelyn John Shirley, M.P., has written a letter to his tenantry in Monaghan, advising them to put their trust in Providence, make the best of the present calamity, and pay their rents. The concluding paragraph is curious-

" Let us by cheerfulness and firmness moth the timid and encourage the ac- tive and industrious; remembering that this affliction is intended as a trial for our good, and must borne with resignation to the Divine will. But above all things, avoid the counsel of these bad men, who, with their rents in their pockets, delay in paying it., while they endeavour, for their own selfish purposes, to in- crease the alarm in the minds of the poor and weak. If such should be found in Farney, let them beware; for, if detected, neither their wealth nor their station shall secure them from the utmost punishment an injured landlord can inflict."

[Mr. Shirley gives no hint of a probable reduction or allowance of rent on his part.]

At the adjourned Presentment Sessions for the barony of Raphoe, on the 14th, Mr. John Doherty, of Killygorden, proposed that the presentment should be 166,0001., instead of 30,0001., the suns that had been moved; he then came down to 90,000E; and finally called upon Major Humphries, agent to the Marquis of Abercorn, to subscribe 20,0001. to assist in buying cheap food for the destitute. Major Humphries hoped the people would not be disturbed by Mr. Doherty's declamation: he would procure employ- ment for all persons on the Marquis's property; no one should starve.

A curious scene is reported in the Cork papers as having been enacted at Macroom on the occasion of an extraordinary Presentment Sessions held for the barony of West Muskerry. The meeting could not agree upon some of the items; and after a fierce discussion, the proceedings closed in the following manner—

Mr. J. B. Warren—" Hear me ! hear me for a moment! I shall now bring this scene to a close. There is but one coarse we can adopt, and that I propose—that the presentments be passed en masse. (Great cheering.) The devils thing else can be done here."

Mr. Coulthurst—" I second that. It is the only course left us." (Great uproar.) Mr. J. B. Warren—" Hear me ! do hear me for a moment! (Great yelling.) See what a scene you have here today; look around you. Is it not utterly im- possible that we can go through these applications dispassionately—that we will be permitted to consider them calmly or quietly? For God's sake, then, pass my resolution, granting them all, whatever they may be, and leave them to our guar- dian angels the Board of Works. (Great shouting.) I more that the applica- tions pass en masse. Does any one second me? (Shouts," We do ! ") Mr. M`C. O'Leary—"l second you, with all my heart." (Tremendous shout-

Mr. J. B. Warren—" If you carry that, you may go home to your dinners: if you reject it, prepare to stop here for a week." (Yells)

Chairman—" Who's for passing them all ? " (Tremendous shouts of" All!") • Mr. J. B. Warren—" Mr. Secretary, bundle them all up, and cut away as fast as you can." (Great uproar.) .Mr. J. E. BrCarthy— I object, I object, I object 1 (Hisses.) I move that we go to the consideration of the applications in alphabetical order. (Uproar.) Some of us did not come here for mere humbug." (Groaning, hissing, and

aimitra.7.13. Warren—" Some of us did not come here to make speeches. My itroposition is carried at all events." (Tremendous shouting.)

. J. E. M`Carthy—" I'll not give way." (Cries of" Poll, poll!" with "No, no! ") Chairman—" Shall I poll Mr. Warren's motion?" (" Yes, yes!" and deafening shouts of " No ! ") Mr. J. E. M'Carthy—" I'll never consent to sign myself down a fool? Mr. J. B. Warren—" You need never do that."

Dr. Baldwin—" Such a proceeding would be stultifying ourselves." (Yells.) Father Kearney—" Is it legal to pass them in this way ? "

CaO.ain Gordon—" You may do so if you please; 'tis as good as any other way here. Father Kearney—" Then away with them." (Vociferous yelling.) Secretary—" If you pass the presentments in this way, none of the drainage presentments can be carried out. Mr. J. E. WCarthy—" It is a miserable subterfuge to defeat the objects of the poor—to avoid feeding the people." (Awful confusion and shouting.)

Mr. J. B. Warren—" I have no application for a presentment for a job, but others may. (Shouting.) By my p4n I give all a fair chance. It is evident we are mere puppets here—we have no control: the storm is over powerful for us. (Shouting.) You are much mistaken if you think you can reject any present- ment; and it will in any way come to the same end. All we have to do into place our dependence on the controlling power of the Board of Works who will have useful works pressed upon them by the Relief Committees?' (Shouting.)

Mr. J. E. M`Carthy—" We must cheek jobs, we must upset jobs." Mr. J. B. Warren—" This observation seems to be aimed at me; now I don't care a fig for it—I can afford a laugh at it; for so far as jobs are concerned this day, I think I am the most innocent man in court." (Shouting.) Chairman—" I cannot stand this any longer; I must leave the chair." ( Yells.) Father Lee—" If you ask for quietness, I shall get it for you." (Here tremen- dous uproar ensued)

Mr. J. B. Warren—" Well, have it any way you like. For peace sake, I with- draw my motion: but in doing so, I must say that I am as anxious for the poor as any man, and perhaps more so than those who make a parade of humanity." (Cheering.)

Dr. Baldwin—" I'm convinced there's no more humane man than Mr. John Warren." (Shouting.) Secretary—" What sum will you assess?" Mr. Cronin—" Let us fix an amount in globo." Mr. J. B. Warren—" You may, or in nubibus; it willall come to the same.' (Great uproar.) Mr. J. E. M`Carthy—" I propose that 50,0001. be granted."

Mr. J. B. Warren—" You may as well make it 500,0001.; what signifies a nought?"

Amidst the most terrific tumult, the applications were taken up seriatim; and all real were passed. Father O'Dnscoll applied to build a chapel at Drishane, 5001. Dr. Baldwin—" I object." (Hissing.) Father O'Driscoll—" You should be the last to oppose it." Dr. Baldwin—" You should not divert the money from the poor?

Mr. M. H. Warren—" Poll it. ("Bahr) I care not for your hissing; I'm here on my oath. (Hisses.) Fin here sworn to do my duty. Nowt it is no part of my duty to tax the community to build chapels." (Great hissing.)

Father O'Driscoll—" Raise no discussion here in the face of the people." (Hissing.) Mr. 11, H. Warren—" I'll do my duty, though you hiss me to my house (Great confusion.) Chairman—" It's passed." (Shouting.) Father Lee applied for 1,0004 to repair Macroorn Chapel. Chairman—" We'll grant it. (Great shouting.) Look at the bundle of ap- plications still before me." Dr. Baldwin—" And all the Magistrates and cess-payers have deserted you." Chairman—" What am I to do?"

Secretary—" Really, the thing is too ridiculous to be continued any longer." Chairman—" Then I'll reject the rest." (Cries of " Nor) The Chairman, Secretary, County Surveyor, and Captain Gordon, it being half- past four o'cloak, here escaped from the court amidst much uproar.

The Board of Works has declared certain presentments forwarded from this barony to be null and void, for informality.

A letter published in the Cork Constitution, dated the 9th instant, and signed "H. B. Townshend," denounces the bad management in the modes of setting the people to work. Much misery, he says, is needlessly in- flicted by neglecting to provide the means of paying the labourers. Some have remained unpaid for nearly a fortnight; and a man named Ilegarty is said actually to have died of starvation in the public road, although eight days' wages were owing to him from the authorities.

It is not usual to find starvation and picksomeness associated; and yet we see that no sooner is employment found for the destitute population of Youghal, at tenpence a day, than they "turn out" for "an advance of wages "! This occurred on Tuesday last week. On Wednesday morn- ing, the overseers attempted without success to set the people to work. The labourers congregated in large numbers, marched through the town, shouldering their spades, and proceeded into the country to intimi- date the labourers of the adjacent district from working. There had been no actual violence, but a commotion was expected; and several of the ring- leaders in a gang, who marched to the farm-houses intimidating and laying down regulations, were arrested.

As a climax to the customary mode of expressing discontent in Ireland, we find horse-shooting, and firing at persons placed in charge of the public, works. The former novelty has been introduced in Limerick and Clare, and it will probably be adopted elsewhere; the latter has occurred in its proper place, Tipperary.

Another letter from Mr. O'Connell wag read at the Monday's meeting at Conciliation Hall. O'Connell recurs to his last idea-

" I should much regret that the plan for a national committee of landed proprietors, meeting in Dublin, should be buried in oblivion. It shall not be so, if I can help it. The memory of it at least shall live, even if it should fail to be realized for any active purposes. "It is quite true that there seems no kind of necessity for Parliament meeting sooner than the usual period; and on the contrary, a more speedy meeting might; in my humble judgment, tend to embarrass and retard the carrying out of the plans of the Lord-Lieutenant for an immediate supply of food and wages for the people. Rapidity inmost necessary; else the people will die of hunger before thi supplies arrive."

Referring to the late storms as aggravating the present calamity by in- terfering with the free transport of food in coasting-vessels, he urges the employment of Government steamers in this service. The Honourable Cecil Lawless, on his first appearance at Conciliation Hall, rose to defend himself against the attacks made on him by Mr. John Augustus O'Neill at the previous meetings— Mr. O'Neill seemed to think himself injured by not being chosen for ClonmeL (" No, no!" from Mr. (JNeill.) Mr. Lawless would endeavour to explain the matter. He would give a case in point. He would compare the town of Clonmel to some very attractive widow, who had a great number of admirers. Of course she would select one of them; and it would be much better for the disappointed expectant not to appear mortified, but content himself with the consolatory re- flection that "there were as good fish in the sea as ever were caught." Mr. Law- less added, that he had not been chosen for any merit of his own, but because he was the son of Lord Cloncurry. He promised to support the election of Mr. O'Neill for Dublin.

Mr. J. O'Connell called attention to the great question which absorbed all others, however important, the present state of Ireland— What had been done to save the people from destruction? The Lord-Lieu- tenant had done everything in his power but it was to be feared that the Govern- ment of England was too much wrapped in the fogs of political economy toe obsequious to the interested suggestions of the provision-merchants of Eng-

land, and was making a fatal delay in providing food to save the people from death.

He complained of these Government delays. The Government that placed any sum of money in competition with the life of one man should be driven with igno- miny from office. Let them drain the exchequer, but never suffer the people to starve.

Rent, 081.

The Tines makes an appeal to Mr. O'Connell's patriotism, urging him to prefer the benefit of his country to his own schemes of agitation. The appeal, it must be confessed, is snore powerful in writing than likely to be persuasive in effect; as may be guessed by this description of the Arch- agitator— "if Mr. O'Connell is not a mere political impostor, living on his wits, and abusing the credulity of a passionate and imaginative nation, his present position is by no means easy. The history of his life is fertile in projects; possessing no other merit and displaying no other skill than that they were adapted to keep up, from one day to the next, the influence of the projector. Posterity, which analyzes very closely, and which perceives a uniformity of motive often less per- ceptible, or at least less admitted by the contemporary age, will ascribe to the ruling motive all questionable actions. Posterity will not be cajoled .Phy the recommendation of Repeal or a Convention at Dublin, or any other political jimcrack, to a starving multitude. It will ask what Mr. O'Con- nell did to meet a present necessity? On an occasion when, to use his own language, all parties, classes, interests, sects, and persuasions, met as • one and forgot their differences, what practicable remedies, what actual sacrifices, did he offer? Here, then, is the difficulty which at last surprises the schemer and the enthusiast. He has drawn upon himself the dependence, the hopes, and affections of the multitude. A crisis comes. They all lean upon—their eyes are fastened on him. Their arms embrace his knees. With a solemn litany of faith- ful supplication they beseech his counsel and aid. An awful pause ensues; such a pause as there now is. He opens his mouth. Alas! it is only the old parrot strain,—" Repeal,' National Committee,' 'Conventions,' deputations," all classes, creeds, i and parties.' It nothing bat a clack of machinery. It is not a man; it is an idol, and they are all dupes."

Mr. Pottlett Scrope has again addressed the Premier in the columns of the Morning Chronicle, on the subject of a townland assessment, and on the reclamation of waste lands in Ireland. Mr. Scrope reminds Lord John, that he brought forward a bill for the latter purpose last session, which he only consented to postpone under the belief that the present Government would pass the measure.