A Plan of Colonization for Ireland.

Copy of a letter presented to Lord John Russell, with the accompanying Memorial.

"14, Park Street, Grosvenor Square, London, March 31, 1847.

"My Lord-We have the honour to present to your lordship the enclosed memorial, with the list of names which we have been authorized to append to it. "The main propositions which it embodies, and to which those who have signed it consider themselves pledged, are-1st, The necessity of systematic colonization, on a very large scale, from Ireland to Canada, and of the assistance of the state to promote it; 2d, The necessity of making religious provision for the emigrants; 3d, The advantage of enlisting private enterprise, in the form of agency, to carry out the plan; and 4th, A willingness to accept an income and property tax for the purpose of defraying the cost of the emigration.

"We hope to procure numerous adhesions to the principle of the memorial; which we will do ourselves the honor of transmitting to your Lordship after the Easter holydays; but we have thought it more respectful to your lordship to send it to you at once, without waiting for its circulation in Ireland.

"We have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's very obedient servants, "W. H. GREGORY, M. P. M. J. O'CONNELL, M. P. J. R. GODLEY." "To the Right Honorable

Lord John Russell,"

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Names authorized to be attached to the accompanying Memorial.

The Archbishop of Dublin; the Marquis of Ormonde; the Marquis of Ely; the Earl of Devon; the Earl of Desart; Lord Farnham; Lord Jocelyn; Sir A. J. Foster, Bart.; Colonel Wyndham, M. P. Evelyn J. Shirley, Esq, M. P.; Lieut.Colonel Taylor, M. P.; Alex M'Carthy, Esq., M. P.; Sir Charles Coote, Bart., M. P.; R. B. Osborne, Esq., M. P.; Hon. James Maxwell, M. P.; Major Layard, M. P.; J. H. Hamilton, Esq., M. P.; Hon. S. Spring Rice, M. P.; M. J. O'Connell, Esq., M. P.; Wm. H. Gregory, Esq., M. P.; John Robert Godley, Esq.

Extracts from the Memorial to the Right
Honourable Lord John Russell, First
Lord of the Treasury, &c. &c.

My Lord.--We the undersigned, being desirous of promoting emigration as a means of giving effect to other measures for permanently improving the condition of Ireland, beg leave to submit our views to your lordship, as the head of her majesty's government.

We must request at the outset, that our signatures to this address may be receiv ed as expressing only a general approval by each of us the plan which it recommends-not an adoption by us all of every particular opinion and statement contained in it. On matters of opinion rela

ting to its main subject there are differences amongst us, and on matters of fact various degrees of information, such as to preclude us from professing an exact agreement except with regard to the object in view, and the means of attaining it. On these points, as both are here set forth, we entirely concur.

We are persuaded that emigration alone, on whatever scale, and however admirably conducted, would not merely fail to remedy the social evils of Ireland, but would be quite fruitless for that purpose.

It may be questioned, moreover, whether any practicable amount of employment on public works would be sufficient to permit the establishment of a real poorlaw without confiscating the land.

It is perfectly notorious and undeniable that the destruction of the potato crop in Ireland must produce, not only an immense amount of temporary misery, but a complete revolution in the agriculture and social economy of that country. Hitherto, the great mass of the Irish agricultural laborers and their families (who constitute nearly threefourths of the whole population) have depended almost entirely for their support on potatoes; that is, on the lowest and cheapest kind of food. Henceforward they must cease to do so; and, consequently, means must be found for supplying them with cereal food-that is, with food 'more than twice as expensive' as potatoes. This sudden and compulsory transition from a lower to a higher kind of food constitutes a phenomenon unparalleled in history; and we believe that public attention has not been sufficiently drawn to its inevitable consequences.

It follows from it, that the fund applicable to the payment of wages in Ireland must be suddenly more than doubled, or that a large proportion of the present laboring population must starve if they remain there. Now, it has been proved by the most incontestible evidences, that in order to provide this absolutely necessa ry increase in the wages-fund, a sum would be required considerably exceeding the whole rental of the country; so that, even on the hypothesis of the entire produce of the soil of Ireland being equally divided amongst its inhabitants, it would not suffice to satisfy their indispensable necessities.

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In order, then to enable Ireland to feed her inhabitants, there are but two alternatives which can be suggested; first, the introduction of capital ab extra' to such an amount, and its application in such a manner, as will immediately and greatly increase production; or, secondly, such a diminution of the numbers to be fed as will preserve them within the limits of the existing resources. Capital will not flow into a country where the whole social system is in process of revolution, where millions are struggling for life, and where consequently there cannot be security or protection for person and property. Nor is this all if the capital were on the spot, there is not the skill to make use of it. Farms must be enlarged, labor must be combined, a whole population must, in short, be educated afresh and induced to alter their habits, character, and mode of life, before the most lavish application of capital can produce the desired result. In England, only three laborers are employed on every hundred arable acres-in Ireland, eight. It follows, then, that if the agriculture of Ireland were brought up to the level of that of England, the change must be accompanied by such an increased economy of labor as would increase, to a proportionate extent, the surplus of laborers which even now exists.

These considerations suffice to show the utter inapplicability of the first alternative which we have stated.

The present emigration is good for the emigrants; but it has no closer relation to the cure of Irish distress, considered nationally, than a spark has to fire as a means of giving warmth.

Amongst the poorer classes in Ireland, there is a disposition to emigrate and set

tle in new countries, which has no assignable limit. If, at this time, the power to emigrate were co-extensive with the inclination, millions would seek a home in countries where land is cheap, and the wages of labor and the profits of capital are both higher than anywhere in Europe. In that case, the entire process of an effectual social reform in Ireland might be commenced without delay. But the power to emigrate has obvious limits; it cannot exceed either the demand for immigrant labor in new countries, or the means possessed by the Irish poor of paying for a passage. The aim of our plan is to extend these limits-to cause such an increase of the new country demand for labor, and of the means of removing, that the prevalent disposition to emigrate shall be unchecked.

But we must emphatically declare that it is not our object to increase mere emigration from Ireland. The going forth of the poorest and most helpless class of people in the world, to be hewers of wood and drawers of water in distant countries, is only not to be deplored, because, on the whole, it is better than the existing alternative. But, though for that reason not to be regretted, still it is attended by circumstances which render it so unsatisfactory and displeasing as to produce comparatively little desire for its extension. Nor can there be a doubt that emigration from Ireland, in order to be much extended, must be altered in character. As well, therefore, from a feeling of repugnance to the present kind of emigration-which has been justly termed a shovelling out of our paupersas from a conviction that the mode must be greatly changed in order to increase the quantity, we trust that her majesty's government and Parliament may see fit to treat emigration as but a part of something else that is, as one of the elements of colonization. We are not the advocates of an augmented emigration from Ireland, but of an Irish colonization which would comprise increased emigration.

That part of the Irish nation to which a measure of colonization would be chiefly applicable, consists, for the most part, of the descendants of the ancient native population as distinguished from the Anglo-Irish, and presents a social aspect widely different from that of the latter. (To be Concluded.)

Interesting Incidents in the Life of a Statesman.

DEAR BRETHREN.-Perhaps I should sooner have communicated to you the following reminiscences, which bear attestation alike to the value of one of your excellent publications, and to the Christian character of a distinguished and much lamentec statesman.

It was my privilege during a residence in Virginia, to enjoy the friendship of the Hon. Thomas Walker Gilmer, late Secretary of the Navy. Being on a visit at his house in Charlottesville, I was convering with him respecting your volume enterprise, in which he took a deep interest, (as letters which I have from him would abundantly show), when he was led to speak of Mason's treatise on SelfKnowledge. He said he was in Washington prosecuting some business before one of the committees of Congress; time hang rather heavy upon his hands; and he went into a bookstore to procure a novel, or some other light work to drive away the ennui. As he was looking over the titles of various works, his eye was arrested by the word "Self Knowledge." He took down the book-read a brief portion-became more and more interested-purchased and carried it to his room --and was permitted to thank God very soon after that it was the means of acquainting him, not only with himself, but also with the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal.

He then proceeded to speak of other instances of good effected by means of that book, through his own and others' exertions. Among these was the following: Some time after the period referred to above, he was a member from Albemarle county in the Virginia house of delegates. Going one morning to the Capitol before the hour of meeting, he met on the steps Mr. P, a member from one of the lower counties, possessed of many excellent qualities, yet unhappily addicted to the dissipation too prevalent among many of those who are separated during the winter months from their families, and exposed to the temptations of that beautiful city. Accosting him, he said, "Gilmer, how is it that you. and Gen. B. come here in the morning looking so fresh and vigorous; while others of us feel so exhausted and wretchedly unfit for the duties of the day?" Mr. Gilmer replied, "If you will

walk over with me to my room I will let you into the secret." The hour of meeting had not yet arrived; and so taking his friend by the arm, he drew him over to his chamber in the Powhatan house, and throwing open the door, pointed him to a small table on which lay his Bible and his copy of Mason on Self Knowledge. "There, Sir," said he, "there is the secret which you seek to know." Mr. P. was prevailed upon to remain alone in that room during the day, and the Rev. S. T, a Presbyterian pastor in that city at the time, and still living, will not have forgotten with what anxiety and earnestness he was waited upon at an hour "out of season," (though not unseasonably for him,) by a distressed sinner begging his prayers, and to know what he must do to be saved. If I mistake not, that gentleman is an active and useful member of the Presbyterian church. Comment on these facts I leave for others. Yours, very truly, S. B. [American Messenger.

PERILOUS VOYAGE ON A TABLE.--When the Chesapeake was about going down, Mr. A. M. Stem, of Green Spring, O., Mr. W. H. Higgins of Farmington, O., and Mr. Geo. Van Doren of Lower Sandusky, O., left the wreck and attempted to reach the shore supported by a table, to which they clung. After they had floated a few rods from the wreck, Mr. Wm. Steele, of West Mill Creek Penn., thinking that all would be sucked down with the then fast sinking craft, took his chance of escape by leaping into the lake astride the tiller stick. Mr. S. being a large, resolute, muscular man, and somewhat familiar with the water, soon overtook the persons clinging to the table, and joined his fate to their's. Not long after a sea knocked off his hat in which he had placed his pocket book containing valuable papers, when he left his hold on the table and tiller stick, swam after and secured his hat, and returned to the table. His pocket book and tiller stick, however, were lost in the daring adven

ture.

The four found it difficult to keep the table balanced; and the action of the waves frequently plunged some of the number under. In one instance, Mr. Van Doren was swept completely under and came up on the opposite side of the table. He was much strangled, and af

ter this failed fast in his efforts to keep his head above water. About an hour after leaving the wreck, as Mr. Steele thinks, Mr Van Doren succeeded in raising himself upon the table face down, and lacking strength to support his head, he soon drowned, and his body rested upon the table some minutes after life was apparently extinct, before the waves washed it off. He said but little after leaving the wreck, and was divested of all his clothing except shirt and pantaloons.

After losing Mr. Van Doren, Mr. Stem and Mr. Higgins occupied one side of the table, and Mr. Steele, being a heavy man, balanced them on the other. The table was without a leaf, and bottom up. By drawing their breasts up against the edge, they could reach over and clasp the legs of the table with their hands, and in this way they kept afloat for hours. Mr. Steele urged his companions to exert themselves constantly in order to prevent chillness and stupor, but by daylight both had become nearly unconscious, and when picked up by the Harrison, Mr. Higgins had been insensible for some time, his hands fixed to the table legs in a death grasp.

Mr. Steele informs us that he relaxed no effort to work the float towards the shore, until the Harrison came in sight and gave hope of rescue, and that until that time he did not feel much exhausted or chilled, nor did hope for a moment forsake him. But when the Harrison passed by without hearing or heeding his cry for help, his heart sank and he nearly gave up for lost. Still he struggled on, and fortunately the boat soon returned and rescued himself and companions from the very jaws of a watery grave.-Cleveland Herald.

POVERTY IN THE CITY OF PARIS.-The efforts made by the city authorities of Paris, during the past six months to relieve the poor, have been very great. The object at which they aimed has been to enable the poor to obtain bread at a cheaper rate than the market price. They have already expended eleven hundred thousand dollars, and nearly four hundred thousand more will be required before harvest. On the first of May there were 422,410 persons in a population of 945,731, who were numbered as receiving bread tickets. This is almost one half the population of the city.

The number of paupers is one to fourteen inhabitants; and the number of those receiving bread-tickets, 44 to the 100, or 1 to 2 and 2-10 inhabitants.

MACHINE FOR TURNING STATUARY.-One of the most remarkable inventions of the age is that of Mr. Thomas Blanchard, of Boston, for turning busts in a lathe. The art of turning cylinders, balls, and anything of uniform circular form, in the common lathe, has long been practised by ordinary turners, and is familiar to everybody. But the idea of turning in a lathe articles deviating from circular forms appears, at first blush, preposterous and absurd. And yet precisely such a machine has been invented for turning forms of various irregular shapes, such as gun-barrels and gun stocks, spokes of wheels, shoe lasts, wig blocks, tackle blocks, and last, not least in importance, busts of the human form! Machines for all these purposes have been invented by Mr. Blanchard, and one of the latter description is now in full operation in Bos

ton.

The process of casting busts in a mould, after a model, has long been practised, and they may be produced of lead, brass, iron, bronze, or any other malleable substance, as readily as pewter spoons, or bullets may be cast in a mould. But the idea of turning out busts from beautiful marble, by machinery and steam power, in any quantities and of various sizes, and with the most perfect accuracy, after a single model, is truly astonishing, and would never have been dreamed of but by a creative genius like that of Thomas Blanchard. Imagine, gentle reader, a steam engine, in rapid motion, whirling round, and turning out the human head and face divine, with nose, chin, lips, forehead, eyes, ears, neck, breast and shoulders, of perfect proportion and accuracy to nature! Imagine such an eccentric machine, and you will have some idea of the wonderful stretch of invention which conceived and completed such a faculty.

Such a wonderful machine is now in successful operation in Boston, and if any person will take the trouble to search, he can see a bust of Daniel Webster rapidly revolving in one end of the lathe, and at the other he will see 'facsimile' heads of the great expounder, of any desired sizes.--Boston Courier.

BUCKTHORN. (RHAMNUS CATHARTICUS.)

Although this print does not show all the features of this plant with perfect accuracy, it will serve to accompany a more correct description. This species of Buckthorn is particularly recommended for general culture in our country for hedges. The following is an abridgment of the principal facts we find on this plant in the "Trees of America."

The genus Rhamnus derives its name from the Greek word rhamnos,' a tuft of branches. This, and the Latin ' ramus,' resemble the Celtic word 'ram,' which has a similar signification. The species are numerous, and some of them evergreen, and all of them shrubs, except a few, which attain the height of low trees. Several of them are ornamental, possessing handsome forms, foliage and fruit, the latter being a round or oval berry, sometimes of a bright red. In some species it is valuable for dyeing; while the leaves of several are used for a variety of purposes. The wood of Rham. Frangula is preferred in France for making charcoal for gunpowder; in China the leaves. of R. Theezans are sometimes used for tea; the berries of R. Ziziphus are substituted for the fruit of the Jujube in the south of Europe; while R. catharticus, represented above, has valuable medicinal properties.

In the wild state this species grows about 8 or 10 feet high, and when culivated 12 or 15. It requires pruning to give it a strait and slender form; the old wood bears short thorns; the leaves are about an inch long, nearly oval, and bright green. Our young plants are of twice this size. The flowers are small,

cluster in the wild state and are yellowish green. The berries are bluish black, and contain four seeds in distinct cells, ripening in our northern states and in Britain, in the month of October, often remaining after the fall of the leaves.

It is indigenous in Europe and Northern Asia, and has become so in the neighborhood of Boston and West Point. The oldest plant of this species known in this country was in the garden of the venerable Dr. Holyoke of Salem, Massachusetts. He long used the fruit as a cathartic in his medical practice. Several trees are now in that town, 30 or 40 years old, and 12 or 15 feet high, which bear abundantly.

This buckthorn may be readily propagated by seeds, cuttings and layers, like most other species. A rich, moist soil and shady situation are best adapted to it; but it will thrive wherever gooseber ries or currants succeed Dr. Derby of Salem planted a hedge of young buckthorns, chance-sown, in 1809, which was in a state of the utmost perfection_in 1842, having never lost a plant or suffered from the attack of any species of insect. He pronounced it the best hedgeplant in the country. He had, at the latter date, 160 rods of such hedges. It endures the severest winters there, puts out its leaves early and loses them late, is not disfigured by dead wood, may be trained and clipped in various forms. Cuttings sent by Mr. D. to various states had all succeeded, and roots will live a long time out of the ground. He sets the plants nine inches apart, in spring or autumn; and trims the latter, the next spring, to within six inches of the ground. This forces out numerous shoots, and makes it grow thick at the bottom a thing of great importance in hedges. The fruit of this species is the French or Red berries of commerce. When unripe they give the color of saffron ; and when ripe, the juice, evaporated with lime or alum, forms a favorite color of the painters, called sap green. Twenty or thirty ripe berries, when eaten, produce a trong cathartic effect: but being attended with pain and succeeded by thirst, other remedies are now generally preferred. The inner bark affords a yellow die, and has both cathartic and emetic effects. The syrup of Buckthorn, however, is now the only medical preparation in use from this plant.