From the Home News, March 25,1847.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 120, 24 July 1847, Page 3

From the Home News, March 25, 1847.

Facts about the Famine.— The reports of assizes give terrible evidence of the distress. For instance, at Limerick, William and Margaret Casey, a miserable couple, whose wretched appearance called forth the commiseration of the entire court, were indicted for stealing one sheep, value ten shillings, the properly of Arthur Hassett, at Castle Ttoberts, on the Ist March. The clerk of the crown having asked what the prisoners had to say to this indictment, William Casey replied, "We are guilty, my lord ; two of our children died of starvation, and we had nothing to eat either for ourselves or the other three creatures* Sir David Roche knows me my lord." (Here the prisoners burst into tears, which much affected the learned judge.) Sir David Roche (High Sheriff)— " Indeed, I know the poor man for many years, and am sure that nothing but the blink of starvation would have led him to be guilty of the act, Two of his children died." Prisoner :— "They died my lord, of the hunger.'' Mr. Sergeant Stock : and where are the other three children — what has become of them ?" Both prisoners (in tears) : "We don't know my lord ; may be, they are all dead now.'' Serjeant Stock (deeply affected) : "Would you bu any service to them, if you were set at large?" Prisoner: *' I would, my lord." Sergeant Stock : " XAt them be discharged." Scarcity of food, and consequent riots to prevent exportation, still prevail in many parts of France, as well as in ISclgium and Switzerland; but there is generally speaking, an increased provision. Paris, it is observed, has rood for eighty days, and considerable importations are expected.