The Cork Examiner

(150 Years Ago Today)

July 2, 1847
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

THE weather, which for several weeks past has been favourably tempered by alternate rain and sunshine, has for the last four days, been increasing in heat, unaccompanied by any showers. The glass, in the city, is up to 80. The crops under such circumstances, are growing rapidly to maturity; and we are very happy to state that, from every account and from all sides, we have assurances of their perfect health and vigor.

The potato-crop, to which especially the eyes of the country are continually and anxiously turned, looks as sound and as fine as ever it did. In a little time we may expect to see our old familiar friends in their usual places in our markets. Some time ago, a gentleman, writing from Cable Island, spoke of the existence of something like disease i nthe potato-gardens there. He now sends us the following comfortable assurances:--

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CORK EXAMINER.
Ring House, July 1st, 1847.
SIR-- Since I wrote to you on the 10th June, I have been an attentive observer of the Potato Crop in this neighbourhood, and am now truly happy in saying, that they have completely recovered from what I then conceived to be "the blight," and are now progressing rapidly to maturity, with every fair prospect of yielding an abundant crop.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
N. R. MACKAY.

July 5, 1847

The United States frigate Macedonian, laden with benevolent contributions for the poor of Ireland, sailed from New York for Cork, on the 15th instant. Her cargo consists of 30 packages of clothing, 210 tierces of rice, 6 tierces of peas, 1,132 bags of oats, 1,115 bags of corn, 2,103 bags of beans, 1,047 bags meal, 122 barrels of beans, 8 barrels of rye, 7 barrels of potatoes, 84 barrels of corn, 4 barrels of beef, 6 barrels of pork, 13 barrels of flour, 5,178 barrels of meal, and 10 chests of tea. This is quite a large cargo, and will be received with much joy by the people for whom it is intended.

July 7, 1847

We have been told that in a certain county in Connaught (which our informant declines at present to mention), £40,000 of the Relief Funds remain unaccounted for. --Limerick and Clare Examiner.
It is stated, whether rightly or wrongly we know not, that something of the same kind has occurred at Skibbereen, and that the sum unaccounted for is £2,000. We should not allude to the subject had not the rumour been for some days in circulation. It is said that an investigation is ordered, and that a government officer will come down to superintend it. It may be, after all, that the supposed error results from miscalculation in Dublin, for we have heard that the books of the Board are in a state of almost inextricable confusion. --Constitution.

July 9, 1847
THE POTATO CROP IN KERRY.

The following resolution, passed at the last meeting of the Tralee Board of Guardians, will have some weight in confirming the favourable anticipations of the potato crops for the coming harvest. It was proposed by Col. Stokes, and seconded by Charles G. Fairfield, Esq., D.L.: --"Resolved-- That from the information given at this Board of Guardians and others from every district in this, the second largest union in Ireland, the Board is convinced that, up to this period, the state of the potato crop in their Union is most satisfactory." --Tralee Post.

July 12, 1847
THE WORKHOUSE CEMETERY.

AN investigation was held on Saturday, according to adjournment, before the magistrates at Douglas Petty Sessions and an Assessor, upon information presented against Mr. George Carr, for having buried several thousand bodies at Monees, under such circumstances as to create a nuisance. A great deal of evidence was given as to the offensive and dangerous effluvia proceeding from the burial ground, which caused the road passing near to be deserted. After a consultation the Bench decided to receive informations in the case. Pressure of space excludes the report this day.

July 14, 1847
POTATOE DISEASE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CORK EXAMINER.

Liverpool, July 9th, 1847.

SIR-- I have read with considerable attention the carefully selected accounts you have given of the favorable state of the potatoe crop in your country, and its freedom from disease. Your numerous correspondents appear to judge of the soundness of the crop by the external appearance which, you say, shows in every case health and vigour, and the tubers keep pace with the stalks and leaves. I wish I could agree with you, that sound external appearance is always indicative that the disease does not exist, but unfortunately I cannot, from what I witnessed in this country during the last 8 days. I will merely give you an account of what I witnessed, and allow your numerous correspondents to judge how far my facts will bear their test for accuracy.

I dined on Monday last with a particular friend, Mr. H-----, residing in the neighbourhood of Crosby. This gentleman has during the last three years turned his particular attention to the cultivation of the potatoe, and watched narrowly every tendency it exhibited to disease, in the different stages through which it has passed. He took me through the different portions of his land under potatoes, which to me appeared in a very healthy condition, but which he said were mostly diseased. In the most luxuriant beds, he pulled several stalks, in every one of which the disease-- as he explained it-- existed.

There appeared in different parts of the roots, protruding tubers, a small fissure about a quarter of an inch long. This fissure in a little time bursts, and there exudes from it a portion of sap or moisture, which was essentially necessary for the support of the plant. The consequence is, that the tuber is immediately stopped in its growth, for want of its necessary nourishment, and the stalks and leaves begin shortly to wither. There were some portions of this crop that appeared very flourishing a few days past, that on this day lay prostrate on the beds, like plants that were exhausted for want of water. On examining them, the symptoms of decay above described appeared manifest, and must have been the cause of their exhausted appearance.

Mr. H----- attributes the disease in his potatoes to no other cause, than the worn out state of the producing root; and so satisfied was he of the necessity of having it renewed from the original seed, that he was in communication with Sir Robert Peel on the subject. It is only a Government that could well do so, the expense being about one thousand pounds, but for a national benefit-- no Government ought to hesitate to expend so much, by which millions would be benefitted.

In giving you the above facts as I witnessed them, I have no object in view but one of public good. Your correspondents will see, if their plants possess the same symptoms of disease and yet remain any considerable time apparently uninjured. If so, I shall feel delighted in believing that this decaying tendency is confined to England, and does not extend to the over-afflicted country you live in.

Your's truly,
B.

July 16, 1847
A GOOD LANDLORD.
Cooldaniel near Macroom, July 13, 1847.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CORK EXAMINER.

SIR,-- You will confer a vast obligation on me by giving place in the next number of your Journal, to this brief but grateful recognition of mine of the considerate kindness of my Landlord, James Splaine, Esq., of Gurrane, in this county, who, on his estate on the lands of Cooldrihy, has forgiven all the tenants 25 per cent of last September gale, which he did not demand till this week. There is also a running gale which Mr. Splaine says he will not require as long as the tenantry will pursue the same industrial course they have hitherto adopted.

Such conduct is a palpable and practical introduction of the tenant right now so extremely agitating the public mind, and calculated, to a certain extent, to afford the agricultural classes a moral certainty of compensation for their incessant labours in the development of the resources of the land.

I am Sir, with profound respect truly yours,
JOHN HALLAHAN.

July 19, 1847
EMIGRATION -- DEATHS.
(From the American Papers.)

IMMIGRANTS, &c. --There arrived at Quarantine, on Saturday, the schooner Boston, with 31 immigrant passengers; brig Russia, from Galway, with 80 (several sick); bark Abbot, Lord, from Liverpool, with 179; on Sunday, the brig C. Rogers, from Cork, with 59; and Monday morning, the brig Wasega, from Kilrush, Ireland, with 80, total 420. Up to Monday there were 237 inmates of the hospitals at Deer Island, which number will probably be increased by the vessels just arrived. --Since the 20th of May there have been 312 in the hospital there, 55 of whom have been discharged, as well, and 20 have died. At the Almshouse there have been no attacks of ship fever for the last five days; and those sick are mostly convalescent. We are sorry to learn that a young son of the late superintendent is very low of this disorder, and fears are entertained of a fatal result.

QUEBEC, JUNE 15. --Extract from a letter dated Chathat, Mirimichi, June 3-- "Captain Thain, of the ship Loosthank, 636 Tons, from Liverpool to Quebec, out 7 weeks, had, when she left Liverpool, 348 passengers on board of which 117 have died, and out of the ship's crew only five are able to work. Ship's sails are much split and the jib and fore sails are carried away. Within the last three days, 35 of the passengers have died, and out of the whole number on board only 20 have escaped sickness. The captain requires immediate assistance to bring the ship up the river. One hundred of the passengers are sick and the crew unable to work. The captain says that he and his crew will be compelled to leave the ship, unless assistance is sent, as they consider their lives in danger.

Extract from another letter: --CANSO, MAY 26.-- News reached here to-day, by a schooner, that a vessel bound to Quebec, with 400 passengers, on board, was totally wrecked on the Scatarie Islands during the easterly storm last week; and, shocking to relate, only six persons out of the whole were saved.

A pilot who came up from below to-day states that he saw a vessel ashore on Red Island Reef-- sternport out and full of passengers.

The bark Lady Constable, from Liverpool, arrived at Charlottetown, P.E. Island, on the 14th ultimo., with 419 immigrants on board. On being visited by the health officer it was found that 25 persons had died on the passage.

MORE IMMIGRANTS.-- The arrivals on Tuesday at Quarantine, amounted to 309-- 200 in the Coquimbo from Limerick; 74 in the Almira from Cork; and 35 in the Emily from Waterford. They are represented as being in a more healthy condition than most of the previous arrivals. No death has occurred, except in one instance where the individual jumped overboard. --Whig.

The arrivals at quarantine on Wednesday amounted to 364-- in the Mary Ann from Liverpool, 185; Bevis from Dublin, 40; Louisiana from Cork, 102; Lucy Ann, Liverpool, 37. There was no sickness or deaths aboard the first and none reported in the others.

The Montreal Pilot thus feelingly alludes to the doomed people of Ireland:--

Here, in Canada, they hoped to find a grave for all their troubles; nor was the hope illusory, for thousands of them have found graves on the banks of the St. Lawrence, --far, far, from the friends of their childhood, and from those early associates which, even in the dying hour, bring consolation to the sufferer. Alas! no mother's hand closed the pallid lip of the dying; --neither brothers nor sisters heard the agonising struggle of the spirit, eager to free herself from her loathsome prison, and wing her flight to the kingdom of her Creator.

July 21, 1847
HARVEST PROSPECTS -- THE POTATO.

COUNTY OF ANTRIM -- RANDALSTOWN, 13TH JULY. --I am happy to say that, from the general appearance of the whole face of the country, everything promises well. --On the 17th March, I set a small quantity of potatoes (Wellingtons), and this day I tried them, and found them perfectly free from all appearance of disease; those of my neighbours are equally fruitful and healthy. Northern Whig.

COUNTY OF FERMANAGH. --Fine new potatoes were sold in this town, yesterday, at 1-1/2 d. per lb. We have been informed by a practical agriculturist, and excellent gardener, that the diminution in the potato crop will be comparatively small this season, considering the quantity planted. The gardener of Captain Corry has tried an experiment on some seed imported from Holland. All are perfectly sound up to the present time. --Enniskillen Chronicle.

July 23, 1847
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THE LATE DONATIONS OF FOOD FROM AMERICA.

Mr. BROTHERTON moved an address to the Crown as a preliminary to some expression of gratitutde to the United States for their liberal contribution in aid of Ireland.

Viscount PALMERSTON had great pleasure in seconding the motion.

Viscount MORPETH joined in expressing his gratification at the token of good feeling and unity between the two nations, and the motion was agreed to.

July 26, 1847

OUT-DOOR RELIEF. --The Guardians of the Cork Union have received warrants, by order of the Lord Lieutenant, under the provisions of the Temporary Relief Act, requiring them to pay into the National Bank £1,100 a week for thirteen weeks, making over £14,000 the amount of the several estimates for the out-door relief of the poor in several electoral divisions of the Cork Union, for three months, from the passing of the Act.

July 28, 1847
NEW POTATOES.

OUR potato markets, which since the fatal blight of last year have been turned to other purposes than those for which they were primarily intended, are again assuming their former appearances. On Saturday, there were 119 loads of new potatoes in our markets, the prices varying from 14 to 11 pence per weight.
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