Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

9 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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GLAMORGANSHIRE ANB MONMOUTHSHIRE…

PRICES OF SHAKES IN CANALS…

IHIGH WATER AT CARDIFF.

AN ACCOUNT OF COAL AND IRON

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There is pictorial power in the following sketch of the com- bat of the bird and the snake, from the chapter on the Passions of Animah, in the" Sote Book of a Naturalist" :Htack and defence call forth perhaps some of the most beautiful combinations of effect and passion which can be conceived- as. for instance, in the secretary-bird and the snake. In in instant. the former circumvents its intended prey its escape is hopeless it instinctively feels itself in the presence of it; deadly enemy, and for tbe preservation of life prepares itself for the fearful encounter. Half erected, with glpaminj eve and its body coiled or straightened to meet the exigency of the moment, it faces its ever active foe; it writhes and sweeps the ground with the convulsive movements of its tail; and, like the skilful fencer, acts on the defensive till the opening for the fatal lunge presents itself. But the wary bird allows no such advantage for. dropping its wins shield-like before it, it repels every attack by prostrating the serpent by the powerful 1--1 action of its pinion and, leaping rapidly behind it, secures the victory and its prey by a well-directed blow on the skull. This is a beautiful picture: the issue of life is in the struggle of which Nature is the prompter, and in which the energies and passions of both creatuies are worked up to their highest pitch. Dreaded by every other living creature, the snake here encounters its mortal enemy, ordained by the hand of Provi- dence to keep its race within due limits." POOR IRISH: HELP YOURSELVES.—Mr. O'Comeii tells Ministers, that nothing can be done for Ireland while the peasantry remain in their present state of destitution. All measures he declares nugatory that do not go to remove tfji3 source of all other evils. From the Report of the Poor-law Commissioners, he stows that in Itfl4 ihe destitute poor in Ireland exceeded two millions and from the lleport of I.ord Devon's Commission, that in 1845 there are four millions a:nl a half. You are talking here of the mighty boon of educa- tion, while the people are starving. Feed them before educate them." But how are they to be fed ? Must a monger subscription or loan be raised in England and sent to Ireland to provide rations for the starving peasantry? An I if even abat would suffice for the current year, would it for the next, or the ten years after? The extreme poverty of Ireland is no the consequence of bad legislation alone: it cannot be iinmt diately or radically cured by any legislation. Statutes to ref- late the relation of landlord and tenant may remove obstacles from the way of Irish enterprise but the Irish peasant 111,11- self will need to put his shoulders to the wheel. The patient must in part at least minister to himself. The Irish peasant is willing to work, but he seems unable to make estimates anJ regulate his toil beforehand so as to produce results. He can only do the work that is set for him he overworks himself, and loses time while nature is recruiting itself. It is \vi>h him all hand and no head work. There are many steady, industrious, Irish workers in the factories of Scotland .j,«t we can remember only one instance in which an 1 rishman bad raised himself to an overseer's post. Some years ago, a bene- volent gentleman on the West coast of Ireland procured nets ■nd a boat, employed some of the neighbouring peasantry in fishing, and when be thought them sufficiently adroit, olfered them boats and nets to set up on their own account. The offer was declined, unless his Honour" would pay them wages. The men seemed incapable of being their own masters and turning a small capital to account. This character may have been impressed on the Irish peasant by external inila- cocMf In the rural districts of Ireland there can searedv !>o said to be any middle class there are only a few landlords amid hordes of labourers. This is a vestige of the lavs directed against the acquisition of property by Papis's. uenerations of poverty may have benumbed the spirit of invention and enterprise. Or it may be a matter of race. Something of the same kind is observable in the kindred- Highlands of the West of Scotland. While the Frith of Ford, is perseveringly fished by the industrious and skilful descen- dants of the Wanes, the Frith of Clyde, equally if not nnr re rich in fish, is almost entirely neglected. Various attempt* that have been made to establish fisheries there, as on the East coast, have failed, because the natives would fish themselves nor allow fishermen brought from the Forth to do it. The listlessness which leads men to sutler the ex-, treme of destitution, rather than adventure on nev. ments and a new course of life, may be a fcat u.ej)'/V Co',ti- character. But, whether natural or 8up$rtftittMTi by circum- stances, until it be overcome, leg is'*c'on can dp Utile t ¡ remove destitution.—Sprctntor