MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF POLITICS.

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.

IRISH.

be invited to dine together with the Corporation, at the Donegali Arms; that there be a Ball in the evening, and general illuminations. The latter part of the motion was strongly objected to by several gentlemen, on account of the rioting and mischief which usually take piace on occasions of illuminations, and also from the expense, and danger of fire to which it gives rise, and that it would be a more suitable mode of expressing gratitude, were the inhabitants to be requestd to attend divine worship on that day. After some further conversation, it was finally moved, seconded, and unanimously resolved, that the inhabitants, with the corporation, be invited to attend public worship in the parish church, to return thanks to Almighty God for the long-continued life of his Majesty; also, that there be a public dinner at the Donegall arms, a ball in the Exchange-Rooms in the evening, and bonfires and fireworks'in the streets. A committee was also chosen for carrying the resolutions into effect.

MELANCHOLY EVENT.

A few weeks ago, a young lady of high accomplishments and pleasing manners, in the town of Derry, had for a considerable time been strongly attatched to a young gentleman of the same town, with whom she had been imprudent, and had become a mother. Her disgrace was concealed, only a very few confidents knowing it: she still flattered herself with becoming the young man's wife; but finding his affections about to be transferred to another, she took the desperate resolution of taking his life; which she effected by infusing poison in a bowl of milk, which he was in the habit of drinking at or before breakfast. After he had swallowed the milk, he took unwell, but did not die till some days after. From some previous expressions, the young lady was suspected, and when enquired for was missing; in a few days, however, she was discovered, and being permitted to go home to dress, before being committed to gaol, she took a portion of the poison she had kept for herself; and as she was going into the prison gate, a second dose out of a small bottle; this she effected in so hasty a manner, that her guards could not prevent her. She then stubbornly refused all medical assistance, and died a few hours after, a melancholy victim of jealousy and illicit love. It is also rumoured, that poison was attempted to be given to the child, by the father, a few days previous to his death, and that this circumstance determined the resolution of the mother for his destruction; though, strange to relate, she is also reported to have made a similar attempt herself, after having administered the fatal dose to the young gentleman, but to have been turned from her diabolical purpose by the innocent caresses of the infant: the gentleman, it is said, was several years her junior. AGRICULTURAL REPORT. From August 20, till September 20.

On the afternoon of Sunday the 24th inst. at Lambeg, a stook of oats was set on fire by the lightening; it instantly blazed up, but was prevented from being consumed by some persons who were present. There was but little thunder, but a heavy shower of hail immediately succeeded.

ARMAGH...Married....H. D. Brooke, esq. of Dublin, merchant, to Miss Dobbin, of Armagh.

ANTRIM....Married....Mr. T. Read, of this town, to Miss Walkington, of Ballinderry. W. Arthur, esq. to Miss A. Stevenson, daughter of W. Stevenson, esq. of this town. Rev. J. Kelso, to Miss R. Johnston, both of Maragall.

Died....At Colerain, Mr. J. Thompson, surgeon. Near Whiteabbey, Mrs. M'Crea, wife of Mr. J. A. M'Crea. At the Falls, Belfast, Miss Jane Cavert.

FOR more than a month past, the weather has been extremely unfavourable for the business of the husbandman; the heavy and almost continual rains, that have fallen, have exceedingly injured the wheat crops. Mildew and blast are

much complained of in every quarter; and we have experienced a most extensive loss by the wheat vegetating in the ear, as it did in 1799; not only where it had lodged and came in contact with the earth; but also when growing perfectly upright. From these circumstances there is great reason to fear that the wheat crops will prove very defective both in quality and quantity.

The oat crops, although rather thin on some of the light soils, will probably average at a fair produce: such as were cut early, or had lodged on the strong grounds, have suffered by the rain,

Barley is complained of in several districts for being thin, particularly on the light gravelly soils, in some other quarters it is considered a good crop.

A greater quantity of hay has been lost by the floods this season, than for many years back; very little of the late crops, even on dry grounds, have been got up in good order.

Great as the necessity was for saving of flaxseed, we are apprehensive it will not be accomplished so effectually and extensively as was expected. Few seasons have proved more unfavourable for the purpose than the present one; the almost continual rains have baffled the exertions of the most active and skilful farmers, and obliged them in many cases to relinquish the common mode of drying it in stooks, and to spread it on the ground to prevent the flax from rotting, although a good deal of the seed was lost by that means.

Many of those who rippled off the bolls, and had not good floors for drying them on, have either lost the seed altogether, or had it so damaged as to be very unfit for sowing.

It is thus that the natural humidity of our climate will frequently throw obstructions in the way of our attempting to render ourselves less dependent on other countries, but these difficulties ought not to discourage the farmer, from persevering in the attempt. It is most certainly an object of great national importance, and if entered into extensively and with spirit, we shall be able to raise so great a redundancy in favourable seasons as will secure us from feeling the disappointment of an adverse one.

It is an easy and pleasant task to put forward all the different branches of agriculture, in a fine dry season; but it requires much skill, patience, aud perseverance to carry them on in a season like the present.

Nothing can be more mortifying to the farmer, than when he has collected all his reapers, and promised himself the satisfaction of accomplishing a great day's work, to be beat off by a heavy rain, and obliged to send them home, wet perhaps to the skin, after a few hours work; and it is no less mortifying, to find when the rain is over and a dry day succeeds, that his stooks, which he had set up dry, were tossed by the wind, and so drenched with wet, as to require the sheaves to be opened; this often happens when the greatest care has been taken, but it is more frequently occasioned by the imperfect and slovenly manner in which the stooks are constructed. The writer of this report has for a series of years paid particular attention to this part of the work, and has experienced the best effects from it: the men employed to put up the stooks ought to be careful to set the standard sheaves so as to have a gentle lean or inclination to the centre, that one end of the stook may not overbalance the other. They should then put the cut end of the hood sheaves to their breasts, and with both hands pull up the band or strap as near the head as it will bear; and having opened it completely up to the strap, the two heads ought to be put on at once, and made to meet each other over the corn ends of the standards.→→ By this means the corn will be completely covered, and the heads of the hood sheaves being short and low, the wind will make a smaller impression on them and be less likely to blow them off, than if they were high.

The crops of turnips in many places, have been much hurt by the wet, especially on heavy or retentive soils; in flat lands, a similar injury has been done to the potatoes, but we hope the crops will be good in general.

Oat-meal has experienced within the last week a considerable advance in price, but as the markets will probably be soon supplied with abundance of new meal, it may be expected to lower again.

The following is an extract of a letter from a gentleman in the neighbour. hood of Liverpool, dated September 4, 1809.

Oats

"We have fair crops of wheat, a little mildewed in some places, but by no means general; and that I think not to injure the quality of the grain. are an uncommonly fine crop, and of excellent quality. Barley upon good land, full, and fine. Beans good, peas partially so. Potatoes very great crops; and clover and grass very full as after math."

COMMERCIAL REPORT.

In addition to the innumerable military b'unders of the present day, we have another instance of imbecility in the state of the commercial negociation with the

United States of North America. As might have been expected, when the nonratification of the agreement made by the British ambassador, was known to the American executive, the President has withdrawn his former suspension of the nonintercourse act, and we are again left in a state of commercial hostility with that country, and to a renewal of all the inconveniences, which we lately suffered by the interruption of our intercourse with them. This failure in the negociation, at the present juncture, is the more to be regretted, as the Americans, disgusted with the conduct of France, were inclined to draw closer the bonds of friendship with Great Britain, but there is now reason to fear, that the conduct of our cabinet will give a decided preponderance to the interests of France, in the councils of the American government, and that through this system of blundering, the favourable period for reconciliation has been lost, and a closer alliance formed between America and France. American produce has considerably advanced, and the lottery of speculation has again commenced. From the large quantity now on hand, coupled with the stagnation of trade, a very high advance will probably not be permanent.

The sanguine hopes, and the speculations founded on them, that British and Irish manufactures, would find their way to the Continent, through the island of Walcheren, are now likely to end in disappointment. Its possession, either as a military or commercial depôt, is not likely to be of long continuance. Yet we understand large quantities of British manufactures are introduced into the Continent, from the island of Heligoland, and that Scotch muslin, through that channel, makes its way to Paris. In consequence, the cotton trade in Scotland is represented as being at this time very brisk.

It is probable that we may soon obtain some relief in the article of timber. In addition to the vessel from Norway, mentioned in our last report, to have arrived at Belfast, others have arrived at different ports, and more are shortly expected. It is said that the Danish government, conceding to the necessities of the Norwegians, who were greatly distressed by the want of provisions, have relaxed in the severity of their restrictions on trade, and permitted an intercourse under neutral colours, for the space of three months.

From the injury sustained by the harvest, by the wet weather, both in Great Britain and Ireland, and from the probability, that no importations from America or the continent of Europe can be depended on, it is likely that the restriction on distillation from grain will be continued. It appears a necessary precaution, and is only holding an even balance between the growers and consumers of grain. A few interested speculating merchants may complain, but the price of grain during last year, fully justified the propriety of the restriction, and afforded sufficient profit to the farmer, and there is no ground to suppose that prices will be lower during the ensuing year.

We understand that some obstacles to the purchase of the Lagan canal, yet remain to be removed, and till their removal no plan will be likely to be matured for remedying the inconveniences of the present line, either by improvements on it, or by an entire new cut. As it stands at present, this canal is of very little use to the country.

We subjoin, for the information of our readers, an account of the completion of the Crinan canal, in Scotland, with the present rate of tolls, for vessels passing through it, so as to avoid the danger of going round the Mull of Cantyre, viz: “Crinan Canal, in Argyleshire.—It is long since the dangers and difficulties attending the navigation round the peninsula, or Mull of Cantyre, suggested the im portance of a canal within that peninsula, by which these perils might be avoided, and in 1792 a Subscription was opened for that purpose. The canal is now finished from Loch-Crinan to Loch-Gilp. The vessels which have already passed, have acknowledged the great facility and safety of their passage, which advantages are open to all vessels employed on the western coast of Scotland, western coast of England, and eastern and northern coasts of Ireland, besides affording them imme diate shelter from a stormy sea, and an opportunity to be laid dry to repair any damage received. The length of the canal from sea to sea is nine miles.

The

present depth of water is eleven feet. The locks are ninety-six feet long, and

twenty-four feet wide, in the clear.