28. I have already mentioned the distressed condition of great numbers of the Irish people; and am sorry to have now to say that their misery has been greatly increased in the last three years, by the failure of the potato crops, on which the lower orders in Ireland depend for their subsistence. 29. This food they can, with two or three months labor in the year, grow for themselves; and as they are, unfortunately, contented with such poor living, it is a very sad thing for them when a bad season occurs, and the potatoes are spoiled; which happens generally once in six or seven years. 30. But there have now been three bad seasons following each other; and this calamity has caused so much distress, that thousands have died of fevers and other diseases, occasioned by want of wholesome and sufficient food. 31. The Parliament expended several millions of money in relieving their distresses, and providing them employment. Large sums of money were also subscribed by individuals in England, Scotland, and America, for the relief of the people in Ireland; and charitable committees were formed in many parts of that country to receive the money, and distribute the food and clothing purchased with it. 32. New poor laws have also been made by the government, to afford greater relief to the destitute; and every thing has been done, that humanity could suggest, to better their condition and relieve their wants. 33. The year 1848 will ever be memorable for the revolutions that have taken place in France and other parts of the continent. Louis Philippe, the French king, was dethroned on the 24th of February, 1848, and fled with his family, to England. 34. At Berlin, the capital of Prussia, there was also an insurrection in March, 1848, when a frightful battle was fought in the streets, between the soldiers and the people. 35. Great numbers of persons were killed on both sides, and many houses were destroyed; and although peace was restored by the king granting the demands of his subjects, yet that could not bring back happiness to those who had lost their fathers, husbands, or brothers, in the fatal conflict. 36. Besides those already named, revolutions, attended with great loss of life and destruction of property, have taken place at Vienna, the capital of Austria, and other parts of Germany. Italy, too, has shared in the spread of revolution; Naples, Milan, and Venice, having been scenes of fearful tumult and destruction of life. 37. In most of the places I have mentioned, the people having been fighting for a constitutional form of government, similar to that of our own happy united kingdom; conveying the strongest proof that we ought not to wish for a change. Yet there have been some attempts made to disturb the peace of this country, by ill-informed or worthless persons.