The Express. — London, England, 1853-07-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 2R, 1853 fir Court. OSBORNE, it.7.T . 27. l'a ince Albert. the Prim* of ales : and Prince A • r t. t:kt ou , yesterday afternoon. Ib , 1116,11 'loyal and Princess ides drove round the thiclira. of Kent, attended by Lady Augusts Brace, •own yesterday mornind for her reeidance„ Fenimore. I a, c..iminisetoaers for anuitinsi the public accounta, with s t., o r o at, ttry, Mr. Uromila y, attendad the Chancellor of Es,`. later yesterday, et his odSci.al residence, is i i ,,,, Di c•t,ett, it the ball-yearly declarstain of accounts. deputotiuo, heeded by Sir benjarata M.P.,hai sit intriguer with the E tel of Aberdtea, yesterday, athis edictal roodence, in I),wainau street. Ihe Chaseellot of the Lschaqucr and Mts. Gladstone Psi a dinner party on To. nay, at the aerial nii•leice, in y ijaui s,r.stratit. The company roasisted of the Earl of A , . Ores, the Mishap of °erased. Lard de Tsbley, Lady blar.sa:Altoral, Lard Hada°, that Itireht Meat. Sidney end rts llos. Mrs. Ilcri,cr t, Mr. It. l'hilliasore, M.P.. sad Mr. ar 4 Mrs. Wilbrabara. la the evening Mn. Gladstone had sa ansisbly. TIIE s*TRIKE of TILE CAB-oWNEIIS. LONDON WITHOUT CABS. Ytatenlay the metropolis stood, as Eir Charles Wetherelleace phrased it, in a " perentbesie of TCIIICU. s er i:y." There was not only a dearth, but an absolute famine of locomotion, and never, since the days of Charles the &coed, usher. hackney coaches were first invented, have the 14M -seeing and out-going public been reduced to such u extremity of helplessness as by the cabmen's "strike" of yesterday. For once, the magistrates who fine and the legislaturo who settle the fares of "cabby" base been de feated. One man may take a horse to water, but a bun dyed can't make him drink. 3lr. Fitzroy may ordain what " cebby" shall charge, but the whole House of Commons Can't nuke him drive. The grievance that has so snug the eerfraught breast of "cabby," as to make him declare " a holiday," is said to be not so much the lowering the rate of charge pee mile to sixpence instead of rigbtpence, as the abolition el back fates, and the compromise desired is said to be that this back fare may be charged for elistances of three Wise beyond some fixed spot after nightfall. " Cabby" Mt plains that by the new system he starts from an ever shiftiag centre to an ever-receding point of distance, and may be compelled to travel anywhere at any time six miles from himself. " Cabby" wants something settled, even If it be nothing more than the restoration of that indefinite fixture known during the hit half century as " the plate where Hicks's Ilall formerly stcoil." S 3 .‘ Cabby" re solved to " play," and determined to " give labour a holi day," after the fashion e f the Lancashire chartist rioters in IMS. The cab proprietors gave their men notice simulta neously not to call at their stables after Tuesday, and ese Keeley morning the sun rose on a city without cabs. Of course much inconvenience has been experienced by the public in general through this determination of the ear owners, but more especially by those who had intended setting off by the early trains. When the vehicle was wanted not one was to be seen, and consequently resort was compelled to porters, carts, and carriages of yet beabier description ; but even with this assistance the parties is many cases had the mortification of healing themselves too late for the train. Much confusion and discomfort also arose to those coming to London, who, unable to engage the usual conveyances to carry them to their town locations, wire compelled to avail themselves of the assistance of those porters who were willing to eller their etc vices, although at a considerable advance on their accus touted rate of wages. A great number, both cf ladies and gentlemen, were to be seen walking by the side of their porters, heavily laden with all sorts of luggage, and were but too glad to secure their highly paid services. Among those porters were observed some of the waterside labourers of Southwark, who have struck for an advance of wages- The strike of the cabowners having become known, at most of the railway stations about 200 or 300 additional working men presented themselves, with the hope of procuring pro fitable employment as luggage porters. As an empties le the rule, however, about 12 o'cloek a cab was *banned wittier( for a passenger at Serjeant's-inn, Chancery-lanee This quickly attracted the attention of the scouts, and very soon some appearances of disturbance manifested their selves, which was only prevented by an assemblage of a dozen City policemen, *he guarded and protected die driver. In one respect this unexpected movement produced a very desirable change ; for the traffic of the metropolis has been carried on with greater facilities than has ever been previously witnessed, 'zed foot passeugen have been able comfortably and safely to cross the various streets without let or hindrance at any moment. In consequence of the absence of the cabs the omnihnses were well tilled, although there has been an advance in the fares. Several of the cab drivers were all day perambu lating the metropolis and its suburbs, for the purpose of seeing whether any of their fraternty should be guilty of an infraction of the strike, and of marking those whom tbey deemed delinquents; and in some two or three Judaism where drivers have not abided by the combination, riolesee has been offered, as will be seen below. • To 'nun the inconvenience as much as possible to the passengers who arrive by the South Eastern Railway, the directors of that company have promptly advertised a noti fication that they are prepared to receive tenders for a hundred Clarence cab., either new or second-hand, con structed to carry luggage on the root No doubt a similar re solution will be immediately adopted by the directors of all the other railways having their termini in London. In one instance an unfortunate cabman, more sen sible than the rest of his fraternity, accepted a fare, and had arrived in Fleet-street, when he was attacked by a lot of ruffians who hauled every bit of luggage from tt.e roof of the cab, turned out the fare, and the cabman having fled in terror, they marched off with the horse and cab in triumph. At an the railway stations crowds of men attended, some from curiosity, and others, and some of them cabmen, for the purpose of obtaining employment as porters. It was stated by a police inspector that the arrangements of the cabmen were, that if any cabman bad the temerity to ply for hire, be was to be engaged imme diately, and ordered to drive sit miles out of London, because under the new act he could not charge back fare. THE MAGISTRATES AND THE CAB STRIKE. At Bow-street Charles Hudson, a cabman, was charged w,th drunken and disorderly conduct, and annoying Thomas Hutchiosoo, another cabman. Constable F 40 stated that the ease arose out of the cab " strike " which had taken place that morning. As tome few men had not fallen into the general organisation, large numbers of the drivers were employed to watch for them, and, by threats, stratagem, or otherwise, to keep them out of the streets. At shout 12 o'clock witnees saw a body of these cab-drivers ranged in front of the Euston-square Railway Station. Passengers were engaging costermongers' harrows and such things to convey away their luggage, and were themselves compelled to walk behind. If a cab by any chance arrived, one of the drivers thus grouped together immediately pounced upon it and get inside before any body else could secure it, desiring to be driven into Um extreme suburbs of London, or some other out-of-the way spot. In the present instance the complainant had scarcely arrived in the square with his cab, when the de fendant accused him of " plying for hire " in the street, and ordered him to drive to Bow-street, to answer the offence. Complainant took him at his word, and gave him into custody for being drunk. The cemPlainant, who seemed half afraid to proceed with the charge, said be was not plying for hire at the time, bu was going home. The constable said that many drivers who disapproved of the "strike " had applied at the station for protection to porsne their calling in the streets. Mr. J ardine said that cab-drivers would soon find the law too much for them if they punued this course. The defendant uid he saw complainant plying for hire without his license-plate, and therefore ordered him to go to the police court. Mr. Jardine said the act gave him no power to do so, and bound him down to keep the peace for two months. At Guildhall, Alderman Wilson having been informed of the proceedings of the cabmen, or rather of their obstinnte refusal to proceed, sold he was of opinion that the cabmen had forfeited their licenses. As be understood it, a cab license was like a public-house ►icense. Upon payment of a sum of money, a privilege was granted which uo one could exercise except upon certain conditions--the publi can, that he should keep his house open for public accom modation under prescribed regulations ; and the cab-driver upon condition that he did not overcharge, and that he treated the public with civility. It was his opinion that the present combination came under the head of misbeha viour, and that the licenses should be suspended, if not withdrawn entirely. There would then be introduced a new race of proprietors directly of a much better class, and It would enable Sir 11 Mayne to bring into operation the powers of the new act at once, for one-half of the cab horses, and driven were a disgrace to the country. If Sir Mayne would upon this strike issue new licenses to new wen and new cabs, of which there would soon be a suffi cient number, the public would have no reason to re gret the inconvenience they may be put to for the neat few days. CAB PROPRIETORS' MEETING. h the course of the afternoon a large body of cab proprie tors arrembled at the National Hall, Holborn, the principal of the Hasp Cab Company, Manchester-square, in t►e *hair. The CHAIIIMAN, in opening the proceedings, said they were met to consider their position, suffer*, under a most oppressive and usjust act of both houses of Parliament, as I mast be known to those who read the reports of what bad recently taken place In the police cruets, and especially of one ease, that of Phillip:, at the Dow street court. The act of which they complained had been made by country gen tlemen and Manchester men, not one of whom could give an idea as to the working expenses of a cab; and intro duced by a ministry guided by public opinion, having no meriu of its own, contrary to the expressed wish of the whole trade, and to the estimate which they gave of their expenses. (Hear.) The parliamc nt could not know the loss of horses to which cab proprietors were exposed. especially in winter, when a 23/. horse might be kept stand ing for hours at a corner, and die next day from cold. (Hear, hear) Why, be had known a proprietor to lose 120 horses in a year and a half out of a stock of 60 or 80. (Hear, hear.) Ile knew another case of a proprietor who had sent 4d horses to the slaughterer in six months. (Hem hear.) The hackney cab proprietors were not really an united trade. (Cheers) Three months ago, before that unjust and tyrannical law was attempted, they were codes Touring to tut each other's throats by competition, but now they would stick together. (Cheers.) Men had been in the trade for 23 years, and had scraped a little iodependenee together, sad now it was to be swept away by the act, for their business could not be carried on, and their property could not be sold,as horses were now worth 51. each lets than they were a fortnight ago. (Hear.) They had given the bill a fair trial; they bad tried it for a fortnight, and found that it could not be carried on. (Cheers.) They were told they might keep three horses; but they knew that three horses could not be supported at present prices. (Hear, hear.) Those who were there knew that a time was coming on (the winter) when the driver would not be able to earn suffi cient for himself, without carrying anything home. (Hear. hear.) Cabs would then remain at the stands for hours, and then be taken off for 6.1. (Hear, hear.) The govern ment, however, were beginning to find it out, for that afternoon Mr. Fitzroy had sent a messenger in a great hurry to say that the house had already Toted a shilling beyond the fare when the cab was four miles from the General Post-office. (Cheers.) He (the Chairman) was himself at a railway station that after noon, where he saw ladies and children crying, and going on in a way which no man could wish to see ; but the go vcrnment bad said that in all great improvements there must be sufferieg, and they must not be blamed if, in the endeavour to obtain their rights, they were obliged to op press the females to-day. (Hear, hear.) lie hoped, how ever, that it would not last, bat that the government would so alter the bill that they might go on again; but they would not go to work again until they could have such re gulations as they could live under. Mr. BEADLE moved, as the first resolution, "That forany distance within and not exceeding two miles the fare shall be one shilling." The people of London and the govern ment bad not expected to see that unity in the cab trade which they now saw. (Hear.) For his own part, he thought the public had no occasion to grumble at the construction of cabs now when compared with those used in 1(20, and even in 1830. They were dependent upon the public, and bethought it a great pity that they should inconvenience that portion of the public who were their supporters; but, at the same time, he thought that it would be considered they were only acting like Englishmen, standing up for their honour and liberties. (Heir, bear.) They were now entitled to charge 6d. a mile, but the return in reality brought it down to 3d. (Hear, hear.) That very dsy their movement had been re. (erred to in the House of Commons, and he would like to know whether any other trade in the country had been so soon taken notice of by government under such circum stances. (Hear, hear.) They had commenced a good work well, and let them finish it well, and keep their cabs at home till they got the resolution as a clause in the act. (Cheers.) If the public could do without them, they could do without the public. Their horses and cabs would fetch money in any part of the country, and if gentlemen wished to start cab compauies, they would drive for them. (Cheers.) _ _ _ Mr. MORETON moved as an amendment, "That the fare for the first mile be Is.; exceeding one mile, and under two miles, Is. 6d. ; two miles, and under three, 25.; three, and under four, 2s. 6d. ; for every additional mile, or fraction of a mile, 11." After a rather disorderly discussion, the original motion was put to the meeting and declared to be carried. A series of resolutions, as amendments to the act, were then agreed on, as follows : Sixpence to be paid for every mile, or fraction of a mile after the first two miles (as at present). For any distance beyond four miles from the General Post-office (or other central point), Is. per mile to be paid (at present 6d.) When two or more persons arc inside, any luggage which cannot be put inside to pay 2d. per package. (At present more than two persons must ride to render the payment compulsory.) When more than two persons shall be carried, 6d. to be paid (for the distance) for each additional passenger. (At present one extra 6d. only is paid, whether the excess of passengers be one or more.) In cases of dispute about distance, a book or list, signed by the police commissioner, to be held conclusive, except either party shall require the distance to be measured. Drivers not to be held responsible for " neglecting" to deliver a number ticket to passengers, but only for " re fusing" to do so (both words stand in the act at present). That a power of appeal spins: decisions of a magistrate or commissioner of police be allowed. It was announced that • communication had been re ceived from the great omnibus proprietors, pledging them to support the cabmen while they acted well. A subscription was commenced in the hall, and in a few minutes an amount of 1001. was acknowledged from the chair. A pledge was unanimously given to keep the cabs at home to morrow (this day), and to place fall confidence in the committee. wearied frames to-day and looking anxiously forward to what to-morrow is to bring forth. It must be admitted, then, that the owners of the cabs— great authors of this cab strike—have produced a crisis• If this admission is Ray consolation to them, they are at liberty to make the most of it. It might Dave been fore told that the sudden withdrawal of the great majority of the •ehicle, which are absolutely necessary for the use of • population of two millions and a half, would occasion inconveniecce at least, and sometimes injury and loss. The event has fulfilled the prediction. The etlect yesterday at the railways alone was remarkable. The cabowners have inflicted undeniable iojury on Londoners and their visitors. Is this the limit of their plan ? Have they struck a blow to show they can do dsmage, and ars they POW going to return to their usual avocations? We shall see. The cabowners have much to consider. If the strike is legitimate, it must be carried out. lite a ill of the legislature is something rather different from the will of an ordinary master of workmen. The cabowners to do any good must hold out until the new Cab Bill is repealed. At any time before that, if they return teethe stand, their men are liable to penalties if they ask or receive more than the decreed sixpence per mile. The strike, if it means anything at all, must endure until the obnoxious measure is uo longer the law of the land. "We refuse to carry pas sengers ►t sixpence per mile," say the proprietors; and in order not to be compelled to modify our refusal, we keep our cabs at home. " Very right," say the would-be-riders in cabs ; " but remember that this is a virtual abandon. meat of your business altogether." It is not to be hoped for by the most sanguine of cab proprietor?, that the Queen, Lords, and Commons will humbly beg him and his bre thren to resume their functions until such time as proper redress is afforded them. If the united population of Lou don were willing, in order to get rid of a temporary annoy ance, to pay the cabmen after the old tariff, the present law would interpose invincible obstacles in the way of such an arrangement. The proprietors have, therefore, impaled themselves upon the horns of a very ugly dilemma. They refuse to work unless fur rates which the legislature has de clared unlawful. At the same time, it is next to impossible that the taw would be repealed—certainly not this erasion. Cabmasters must abandon their strike or their trade. Will they like to do either? While condemning the principle of the strike, and feel• log certain that it will end, as strikes almost always do, in the disappointment of the parties striking, we have no hesitation in admitting that the various moot points of the measure ought to have been canvassed by the public, and decided upon by the magistrates in a spirit of fairness to the cabmen and their masters. This has not always been the case. Full compensation has not always been awarded to the cabman when right, while he has been harshly treated when wrong. We are not sure whether the scan dalous decision of Mr. Henry, which is not at all ex plained away by his subsequent declarations, or by Lord Palmerston's tortuous comments thereupon, may not have bad very great influence in bringing on the present collision. Whenever cues arise in which the legis lature is bound, for the protection of the public, to interfere in the slightest manner between the employers and the employed, the utmost care should be taken to render such interference as harmless as possible. It is incumbent, in such cases, on the interpreters of the laws to exercise a wise and lenient discretion. It is desirable that as few as pos sible of these cases should exist: nevertheleu there is no avoiding them. Railways, gas companies, water companies, are supposed to form exceptions to the ordinary rule that allows the most perfect freedom between the supplier and the purchaserof certain articles or accommodations, and there are very sufficient reasons for bringing cabs under the same cate gory. Government, however, has always shown itself ready to modify any obnoxious regulation in favour of parties who are injured by the act of the legislature; and what took place in the House of Commons, last night, proved that there was no disposition to depart from the usual rule in the present instance. The abolition of the back fare, an acknowledged grievance, has already been taken into con sideration ; and Mr. Fitzroy lamented that the " absurd !Asp " taken yesterday would greatly embarrass him in pro viding a remedy for the inconveniences of the clause in question. . _ _ _ It must be confessed that, in no strike which has taken place has so little public sympathy been manifested for the panics striking. It is known that cab proprietors do not make a less profit upon their investments than the ordinary mass of tradesmen. It is well known that they exact from the earnings of the cab drivers a proportion which leaves the latter but a bare pit tance, and that in consequence, they are but too often taken from the meat needy ranks of society. These men generally pass their time in incessant labour. They have no holidays, no Sundays. The hours not occupied in labour or sleep are preen.' in loses:as aboat fr041.1.10.-IsOnles. WHO Ili nil CIIHICE`S against them, it is, in one sense, creditable to them that more outrages are not laid to their charge. At the same time it is evident that the proprietor, as long as he gets his stated sum at the end of each day, has no direct interest in securing the services of respectable men. Mr. Fitzroy's bill, by introducing a system of rea sonable fares,and thereby iacreasinv the demand for cabe,by paving the way for a possibility of accurate measurements by providing for a better mode of deciding disputes, would, it was hoped, tend to diminish the opportunities of specu lation, which induced many men of indifferent character to act as cabmen. Cheap fares render the employment of cabs more certain, and proprietors will be able to calculate pro bable receipts more surely. Well ascertained distances diminish the chances for a dishonest driver. Certainty of detection and punishment in ease of ill-conduct make these chances still less. It *ill not be worth while for men of bad character to apply for employment; and we may hone that a better clue of cabmen will arise ; men who are not &COIF I t oil ed to risk their places and their good name for the sake of a sixpence. If the proprietors think these changes will be prejudicial to them, they will meet with little sympathy on the part of the public. We should have wished to see them endeavour to co-operate honestly with Mr. Fitzroy in the endeavours he told them—as we learn from his speech last night—he was willing to make to alter the obnoxious clause involving the abolition of the back fare. They have not done so, and we fear that they have pqt themselves in a position from which they cannot retreat without loss of honour or money. In the meantime there is one point worthy of their serious consideration. They have been conspiring to render useless an act of the legislature, under the provisions of which they hold licenses. Is it not com petent to the authorities to suspend or forfeit these licenses ? This question will assuredly be asked. A VOICE FROM A STAND. TO TUZ EDITOR OP TIM EXPRESS. Sta,—l regret to observe that the cab proprietors Lave taken the very ill-advised step of withdrawing their ve hicles from the public stands. Such a proceeding can only be attended with injury to themselves, not only from the want of employment for a day or two, but in the ultimate, and, it may be, permanent lots of regular customers, who, having been in the habit of riding short distances, find, on being obliged to walk or patronise the " bus," that in neither cue is their strength or comfort materially affected, while the saying is considerable. In my cue the saving, ' even under the new act, will not be less than 10s. a week. I am, air, your obedient servant, A RIDER OF SHORT DISTANCES. Leaden, July 27. STRIKE AT THE NEW HOUSES OP PARLIAMENT. —About half-past one o'clock on Tuesday the bricklayers working at the New Palace of Westminster struck. The trowels were laid down, the jackets put on, baskets taken up, and the men walked out. The labourers were Outage obliged to follow in the wake of the bricklayers, and the New Pekes has been deserted by both bodies of men. The cause of the strike is said to be a demand, on the part of the men, and a refusal on the part of the master, for an increase of wages. The men assembled in clusters in New Palace-yard and the neighbourhood, consulting as to ulte rior proceedings. STRIKE OF CARPENTERS AT LEEDS.—The joiners and carpenters of Leeds have this week struck work, in order to obtain an advance of wages and an abridgment of ' the hours of labour on Saturdays. Their demand is for Is. per week in addition to a recent advance of the same amount on their wages, and the cessation of labour at four instead of six o'clock on Saturdays. The muters are will ', inw to give the advance in most cases, but they refuse to close their works at lour o'clock on Saturdays. LANCAsUIRE REGtsvn.tvtoN.—The liberals of LAU cashire have this year been extremely Reties in revising the registers of electors, under the management of Messrs. James Moorhouse and Son, and have succeeded in making not lees than 2,000 new claims fir the southern division of the county, and 1,000 for the northern division. Not con tent with this, they have industriously examined the de scriptions of qualifications of freeholders already on the register, with a view to counteract any objections that may be urged by the other part) on the ground of misdescription. The number of re-claims sent in by the liberals on this ac count will be about i,OOO. WESTERN DEBATING SOCIETY.—The tenth anni versary of this society was celebrated last evening by a supper, provided by Mr. Frampton, the host of the West moreland Arms, George-street, Manchester•square, and of which a numer sus party partook. The chair was filled by Mr. F. llullam, Mr. C. J. Smith occupying the vice-chair. This is one of the many debating societies scattered over the i metropolis, and which are fast taking the place in many instances of card•playing societies, formerly so popular. IRELAND. Drsims, Jrzr 27. Strangers are pouring in from all directions to visit the Exhibition, and at no time have the Dub lin hotels been so crowded. One of the last steamers from Holyhead brought over three hundred visitors, and all the boats arriving at Kingstown are crowded with passengers. It is said that some thousands of French people purpose availing themselves of an ex cursion trip on a large scale during the time of her Majesty's visit to Ireland. The Irish government has appointed Mr Creighton, Q.C., and Mr. Finch White, barrister, commissioners to inquire into the forfeited estates and chattels of William 11. Kirwan, convicted of the murder of his wife on Ireland's Eye. 'rho commission will be opened at Longford in the course of the ensuing month. Ihe statement that Kirwan has been al lowed to enjoy certain privileges at the convict depot in Spike Island, and that he was actually on board a convict ship fur removal to Van Diemen's Land, but I was withdrawn through the influence of friends, is most positively denied. William Thorne, a man of gentlemanly appear ance, and believed to be of respectable connexions, has been convicted of shoplifting at Cork, and sen tenced to ten years' transportation. He carried on a most extensive system of plunder, the articles found in his possession at his arrest being almost sufficient to set up a bazaar; and at the time that he perpetrated these depredations he visited, and was visited by, highly respectable persons in the neigh bourhood of Cork. COLONEL SIBTIIORP ON CABS. In the House of Commons last night Colonel Sibthorp said he was not down in time to put a question at the sitting of the house, owing to his not being able to get • cab. He had since heard complaints of inconvenience to a most alarming 'stint which had been suffered by individuals coming up to town front the country. The Under-Secretary of State had taken a deep interest in the management of those vehicles : he believed the bill which he had carried through the house had been solely for the public good and convenience ; and he trusted that the hon. gentleman's attention would be directed to the drivers of those vehicles, for he never saw such a set of ruffian= in his life : they were all slike,frem Temple-bar - to Regent-street. They kept the middle of the streets; three or four of them drove abreast; and they used language of the most disgust ing nature to unprotected females. He called on the go vernment by no means to give way to them. He con sidered that the greatest blame attached to the proprie tors—they ought to be found out. The proprietors ground the drivers down to the uttermost farthing, so that they could hardly earn • livelihoood at all. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS. Stß,—The senate and the people of England are re duced to their lege. The cabmen have retreated from the stands. The long streets resound no longer with the noise of the wheels of any other vehicle than the patrician carriage, the middle-class omnibus, and the plebeian cart. The cabs, the only class of carriage open to all—the glory of the streets—have departed. An unnatural silence reignr in the majority of our public ways. Hundreds of persons who have for years past slept soundly amidst the din produced by rushing cabs in the streets below—will to-night—like the miller, away from the roar of the mill-stream, be deprived of rest by the unwonted stillness. Oxford-street may be crossed with impunity. London bridge may be traversed considerably under the half hour. For the first time in our lives, we can have uninterrupted views from the top to the bottom of streets, out of the line of commercial traffic. The cab stand—that wonderful com bination of queer hones, cabs, and cabmen—is a myth. Cabmen are no longer heard indulging in speeches which range from the highest grade of objurgation to 1 the lowest of expostulation from the indignant " A pretty gentleman you are," to the humble " What's this for 1" The question " What is a mile" in abeyance. The wearied measurer, like Ixion, " rests upon his wheel." Magistrates have half their time unoccupied, and the whole of the cab-riding population of the metropolis, terrified at the prospect of being com pelled to use their legs for the future, are reposing their MUSIC. SIGNOR GUGLIELIII'S CONCERT. Signor Gug liehni is a singer of considerable merit. The concert given by him last evening at the New Beethoven Rooms, in Queen Anne-street—apparently the last concert of the season—was an agreeable concert, though it did not present any remarkable feature. Signor Ouglielmi's own per formances consisted of several favourite airs from modern Italian operas, well executed, and favourably re ceived. lie was assisted by several eminent vocal and instrumental performers:—Madame D'Angrl, Miss Mcssent, M. Lefurt, Madame Doris, Signors Bin zini, Piatti, and Bottesini, and the two juve nile prodigies whom we have already noticed, Tito Mattel and Arthur Napoleon. Among their performances the only novelties of any interest were a charming Italian ballad, " II Mendico," composed by Piatti sad sung by Signor Guglielmi ; and a grand duet for the violin and contrabasso, composed by Bottesini and played by Signor Barzini and the author ; a very beautiful composition, superbly executed by both performers. The concert wu numerously attended. NAVAL. PORTSMOUTIL JULY O.—Count Walewski, the French ambassador at the British court, arrived at this port this afternoon from London, on a visit to the fleet at Spit. head. He embarked on board the Fire Queen steam vessel, and proceeded out in her to Spithead, going on kneed the Prince Regent, 90, flag ship of the commander-in-chief of the Channel squadron, which vessel fired a salute, hoisting the French flag at her mast head, and her crew manning yards, as did also those of the other ships of the fleet. Count Walewski was to take luncheon with Admiral Corry, and afterwards to go on board the Duke of Wel- Hinton. 131, screw steam-ship, Captain H. B. Martin, C.B. The Vulcan, screw steam transport, Commander Vein Lotion arrived at Cowes this afternoon from Halifax and the Vest Indies, having the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers on board. She proceeded with them down to Cowes, and there she will disembark them (or Parkhurst Batracks, where the depot of the regiment is stationed. The Despe rate, 8, screw steam sloop, Captain Chambers, was taken out of the steam basin to-day, aad the Sphinx, 6, paddle sloop, was taken in. The Owen Glendower, Indianan, sailed this afternoon from Spithead for Calcutta. SPORTING. 000DWOOD RACES.-WEDNESDAY. As though to recompense the racing world for the disappointment caused by the cheerless state of the weather on Tuesday, this morning opened all smiles and sunshine. and tempted many a Londoner to taste the fresh air upon the Sussex Hills. The special and ordinary trains from London-bridge conveyed during the morning troops of racing amateurs to Chichester and Drayton-road Station, from whence to the course—a distance of five miles— visitors usually proceed by public or private vehicles• Considerable delay and inconvenience was, however, occa sioned in London by the unexpected strike of the cab owners, who took this opportunity to show their dissatisfaction at the recent Hackney Carriage Act, by not permitting a single cab to appear in the streets, so th►t hundreds of persons who had calculated upon reaching this station by cab in time for the departure of a certain train were unable to procure a vehicle at any price. The Goodwood Stakes, to which, next to the Goodwood Cup, the greatest interest attaches, was the most important of the day. A large amount of money bad been invested on it, and, contrary to expectation, Adine, an outsider, cut down the favourites, and bore away the prize, to the great delight of the fielders, who thereby netted a considerable stake. The attendance on the course and on the grand stand and enclosures was very numerous, and the extreme fine ness of the day enabled the ladies—of whom there was a brilliant assemblage—to display their elegant summer costumes in the d portion of the enclosure at the extremity of the grand stand. The following are the names of the distinguished guests who have accepted invitation to Goodwood House during the race week :—His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, his Berens Highness the Duke of Saxe Leiniegen, Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe Weimar the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and Lady Hen rietta Somerset, the Marquis of Exeter, the Earl and Countess of Darby, Lady Emma Stanley, and Hon. F. Stanley, the Earl and Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementine Villiers, Earl and Countess of Chester field, Earl and Countess of Eessborough, Earl of Glasgow, I Earl of Uxbridge, Lord and Lady Maidstone, Lord Canter bury, Lord Enfield, Lord George Manners, Lord Villiers, Lord Clifden, Lord Arthur Lenin:, Lord William Lennox, Lord H. G. Lennox, Lord Alexander G. Lennox, Lord George Gordon Lennox, the Hon. General and Mrs. Anion, Admiral Roue, Hon. Major Macdonald, Hon. F. Mr. Des Vous and Lady Sophia Dee Vmux, Mr. and Mrs. J. Stanley, Colonel Peel, Captain Pettat, Captain Williams, Mr. Payne, Mr. Greville, Mr. Somerset, Mr. Stun, Mr. Curzon. At Molecomb House (Lord March's), were Col. Newton, Mr. Milner, &c. Besides the above distin2uished per sonages and patrons of the turf there were preeent, the Earl of March, Captain Thellnaon, Earl and Countess Of Strathmore, Lord Exmouth, Marquis of Waterford, Earl of Wilton, Hon. C. A. Ellis, Mr. Driekald, Sir Joseph Hawley, Capt. Higgins, Count Datthyany, Sir Frederick Smith, Sir Robert Pigot, Col. Windham, Mr. Etrall, Mr. Batson, jun., Capt. Little, Sir George Armitage, Lord Anson, Capt. Archdall, Mr. J. Stanley, Lord Drumlanrig, Mr. Ileathcote, Mr. King, Lord Bateman, Capt. Bastard, and a host of others, whom the demands made upon our attention by the number of races, prevented us from " taking a note of." SWEEPSTAKES of 300 sots. each, h ft; for fillies, tist 71b each. Craven Course. (4 subs.) General Anson's Mayfair by Bay Middleton (F. Butler) 1 Mr. Oreville's Exhibition (Flatman) 2 Lord Exeter's Mrs. Nutrias (Marlow) 3 Mr. Powney's Amason ( Macon ) • 4 Betting : 5t02 on Mayfair. Mrs. Nutting start edwith the lead; Exhibition, Mayfair, and Amazon, following in the order named. When just below the distance the lot closed. At the stand, Exhibition obtained the lead, but in the last three or four strides lost it to Mayfair, who fuelled is and won by half a length. A length between second and third. Amazon was tailed off. HANDICAr PLATE of 50/., for 2-yr•olds and upwards. Lord Clifden's Cheddar by Cothentone, 3 yrs, Bst 31b (Sly) 1 Mr. Jordan's Jessamine, 2 yrs, bat 71b .. (Quinton) 2 Mr. Y. King's Narcissus, 6 yrs, bat Nib (Bartholomew) 3 The following also ran:—Leybourne, Gold Dust, Home brewed, Anteverta, Prevention, Janina, Evening Star, Mayfly, Anne rage, John o'Bruges. Betting: 3 to 1 eget Janina, 4 to 1 agst Leybourne, S to 1 each agst Antevcrta and Cheddar, Bto 1 agst Anne Page, 10 to 1 age. Homchrewed. Won cleverly by half a length, A head only between second and third. Leybourne and JaMna, well up, were fourth and fifth. GOODWOOD STAILEri of 25 WIC each, 15 ft, and only 5 if declared. &c. ; certain winners extra ; the second horse to receive 100 sore. Two miles and a half. (105 subs, 65 of whom pay 6 ems. each). lir. Grevillo's Adine, by Slane, 4 yrs, 7st 81b (Flatmal 1 Mr. T. Pan's Trifle (It b), 4 yrs, 7st 41b..(Aldcroft 2 Duke of Richmond's Antigone, 6 yrs, bet 121 (Ashman) 3 Mr. VAnson's Haricot, G yrs, Tat 21b (Charlton) 4 The following also ran :—Kingston, Buckthorn, Gor , earner, Joe Miler, Retail, Waterfall, Abdallah, V index, Lambton, Hobby lorae, Ireland's Eye, The Kaffir, na b o by The Emperor—Coral. Betting at starting :-7 to 4 agst Hobby-horse, 3 to 1 agst Jo* Miller, 12 to 1 each &est Haricot, Vindex, and Kingston, 13 to 1 agst Trfie, 14 to 1 eget Retail, 15 to 1 agst Adios (t to some money), 20 to 1 each agst Ireland's Eye and Abdallab. Muscovite was scratched at 12.2 J p.m., Little Harry at 12 30, and Father Thames at 1 p.m. After a brief delay, occasioned by the resitiventsa of Adine, a good was effected. Windex, Trifle, and 005- samer were the first to show in advance ' but they had scarcely proceeded a h un d re d y ar d s w h en Lambron rushed to the front, and in going out of the straight he increased his lead several lengths, Joe Millar, Viudee, Trifle, Adine, Hobby-horse, and Haricot being the bean st portion of the ruck. On rounding the further turn, near the clump, Lambtou began to drop off, and by the end of the neat hundred yards Joe Miller had passed him, followed by Adine, Trifle, Hobby-horse, Antigone, and Ilrrieot. As they approached the turn into the T.Y C. Hobby-horse ap peared to be gaining groun , ', but he gradually fell back in descending the hill, and when just below the distance Joe Miller's chance was qi.ite extinguished. The race was now evidently left to Trifle, Adine, Antigone, and Haricot. At, the Stand Adine took pow ssion of the lead, which she maintained without difficulty the remainder of the dis tanee, and vb , n by two lesion., the second beating the 1 third by a length ; two lengths between the third and fourth ; i.e Miller was fifth, Valdez and hubby-horse sixth and seventh, Abdallah and lirl find's Eve the next two, followed by Waterfall, 0, &sumer, and Kingston. These, however, pull. d up before they reacktd the post. Coral colt and Retail were in the sett.* me rear. SWEEPBTAKES of 300 SOU hach, h It for colts, Ebt 71b each. Certain winners a sera . Craven course. (4 subs.) Mr. Howard's Eulogist by Birdcateher.... (A. D a y) 1 Lord E4linton's Vanderdecken Marlow) 2 Lord Exeter's Cobnut (Flatman) 3 Bettina: 3tol on Conant. Eulogist made the running with Cobnut second. On coming down the hill the latter was passed by Vanderdecken, who obtained a slight lead at the distance. Eulogist, however, quickly regained his posi tion in front, and won rather cleverly by half a length. Cobnut beaten off several lengths, Srisweau's CUP Of 300 Bova, Added to a handicap sweep stakes of ,5 a: vs. each. T.Y.C. (55 star.) Lord Derby's Longbow by 4 yrs, Ost 4th (F. Butler.) 1 Mr. Drinkald's Nabob, 4 Alf., 7st 13ib (Altlcroft) 2 Oeueral Anson's Nerva, 3 yes, ost 7lb (Wells) 3 The following also ran :—Kuight of the Shire, rabic, Redmond (Manion, Eaat, Phstold, The Deformed, Cla verhouse, Snowdon Dunhill. alichaelmas Maid, Mr. Sykes, Octavio ' The Black Swan, Old Rowley, Puritan, Beverlac, St. Faith, Jullien, Surprise, Flycatcher, Youtig Norval, Hy bla, Allington, Anne Page, Apostate, Ernestine, sad Cyrus. Betting: 4 to 1 agst Pelion, 5 to 1 agst Longbow, G to 1 sgst St. Faith, 8 to 1 each agst The Deformed and Nabob, 10 to 1 each apt Octavia and Nerve. Beverlac jumped off with the lead, but after running about 300 yards, Jullien, The Deformed, and Surprise took up their positions in front ; Longbow lying about fourth or fifth until ctose at the stand whtn he came out followed by Nabob, the latter made a good tffort but failed, and was eventually beaten two lengths. Some distance between second and third; the others widely scattered. Sum after starting Pelion blun dered and tell, and slipped up several yards before he could recover himself. Ile trotted in last and did not pass the post. FIRST YEAR OF THE GREAT NORTH AND BOVTII OP ENGLAND BIENNIAL STARES of 10 SOTS each, b tt with 200 added, fur foals of 1851; colts, Sst lib ; fillies, tist 41b ; certain winners extra; bones having started in 1853 and nut won allowed 3ib. The owner of the second horse to receive a sum equal to 10 par cent. on the whole stake, and the third a sum equal to d per cent. on the whale stake. (174 subs.) Mr. Kuowles's Marsyas by Orlando, Sst 101 b (Barham) 1 General Anson's Scythian, Ss. 71b (Butler) 2 Mr. Thellusson% King Tom, Bst. 71b (W. Day) 3 Thefollowin! also rm .. ; Ponehbeix ' Naomi, The Field Marshal, Dunndana, Dr. O'Toole , Vignette, bc by Van Tromp out of Ri el, Trump Queen, King Tom, and fby Robert de Gorham out of Boum Tomacha. Mamas jumped off with the lead, hut was quickly beaded by Trump Queen, who carried on the running to half way up the distance, when Idersyas went in advance, followed by Scythian and King Tom ; an interesting race in with the three ended in favour of Marsyes by three quarters of a length, a head only between the second and third ; Trump Queen was a pie tcy good fourth. DRAWING ROOK STARES Of 2.5 save., with a bonus, &c., for 3-yr-ulds ; colts Set 71b, fillies Sat 21b. Once round. (12 subs. to the stakes, and 8 to the bonus.) Lord Easter's Nntpecker by Nutwith, Set 71b (Norman) walked over. SWEEPhTAYES Of 10 goys. each, for 2-yr-olds and up wards ; two, 6it ; three, b-t ; four, Sst filb ; five, list 121 b ; six and aged, Vat; jmares and geldings allowed 31b; the winner to be sold for 300 sou. if demanded, &c. Half a mile. (10 sub..) Mr. Howard's Vanitreas by liirdcateher, 3 yrs 'Wells) 1 ( \ 3 ) Mr. Magenis's Maidstone, 4yn (J. Manoo) 2 Lord Exeter's Hazienut 3 yrs ..(Norman) 3 —.. The following also ran .LL;ybourae,DedMe, Olcfßosr ley, DJgobert, and John o' Bruges. Waitress made all the running, and won easily by a length and a half; two lengths between *mud and Oita'. Leybourne was fourth. Flatman weighed tot Yosas Norval, who, however, did not go to the Is st. LATESI BETTING ON TliE cur. 3 to 1 sgst Muscovite 4 to 1 rem 6 to 1 Jouvence Potion was friendless. HAM STAXES.—In the return of this race on Tuesday it should have been Mr. Gully's Aniover, and Mr. ILiland's Eccleston. this day at 12 o'clock. The races will IDLY. WEIGHTS for the Cu: MELD Cyr. CraTeu Course. (40 subs.) Age. st. lb. Longbow Ariosto Hobble Noble Daniel O'Rourke 4 8 6 KnightofthcShire 4 8 4 Little Harry Frantic Gossamer Yelion 3 7 13' Father Thames 4 7 11 Lambton 3 7 11 Datdolph Zephyr 'tattle 3 7 6 Poodle 4 7 5 Pharos 3 7 5 Nabob 4 7 3 Gossip 3 7 2 Nutpeckas 3 7 2 Seztas 3 7 2 Age. st. lb. Eulogist Enact Musca Snowdon Dunhill 3 6 12 Abdallsh 6 6 11 Lambay Lbrd Lieutenant 3 6 11 Greyleg Dagobert 3 6 9 The Friar King Pepin 4 6 9 Be‘erlac 3 6 7 Jouvenee Cornelius Golden Plover Cars-paw Allington Phrygia IThe Dandy Nerva 3 5 9 WElowre for the Nui t t subs.) st lb Wild Huntsman W00de0te...... S 7 Bribery 8 6 Ivan 8 Quisen's Own 8 5 Vignette 8 5 Astolpho Jack Frost 7 9 Colt by Van Tromp out of Reel 7 9 Colt by John o'Ciaunt out of Valentinia Student 7 6 Clio Royalist . 7 6 Village Lass .. 7 5 Lady Audrey 7 4 Calliope Kennyside Hero Naomi Cable cx STAKES.—Last mile (39 st lb Wan of Arc Wiuldleld Beauty .....? Epaminondas 7 2 Cyrus The Uncleared Spicey 6 12 Baiguine 6 12 Calinen . ... 6 12 Sister to Filius 6 10 Margaretta .... Vingt-tin Brigadier Adelaide Remorse 6 7 Lady Bird 6 6 Vixen Health Bunny Bairn 6 4 Jovial G 3 CRICKET. SUSSEX (WITH G. PARR) 'W. EXOLAND.—This match was brought to a conclusion yesterday in favour of England by 197 runs. Score :—England, first innings, 128 ; second innings, 227. Sussex, first innings, SO; second innings, 78. THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MATCIIES.—HARROW V. WINCHESTEIL—Thae two schools entered the field imme diately after the conclusion of the match for Lillywhite's benefit. Tlx3 following is the score:—Harrow, first innings, 92; Winchester, first innings, 82. KENSINGTON GARDENS.—The handsome gates which formed so conspicuous a feature in the transept of the Crystal Palace, in Hyde-park, during the memor able Exhibition of 1851, having been purchased by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, have been pl vied at the southern point of the gardens, at the extremity of the fine gravel walk formed some time since across the gardens in the direction of Eayswater, and which formed the equestrian ride in 1851, during the temporary privilege allowed in the Exhibition year. These gates, surmounted with the royal crown and other massive ornaments, show to great advantage at this spot, and will form a carriage entrance, u well as for toot passengers, if required at some future period. NOVEL ADVERTISEMENT.—The following notice, which was yesterday posted up in a most conspicuous por tion of the Exchange Newsroom, will convey a most Satis factory idea of the brisk state of the trade in tine goods at present carried on between this port and New York. We must premise that the Baltic only arrived in the Mersey on Tuesday night, and will not sail again till the 27th ins!. : Calgo for the Baltic, fur New York, will be received at the Iluskisson Dock to-morrow morning at S o'clock. In i coast quence of the great pressure of goods, shippers will have to determine their priority of shipment of goods now in town, and ready for shipment, by casting lots at Brown, Shipley, and Co.'s ettice, this afternoon.—July 20, 18.53." In obedience to this notice, about seventy persons presented themselves at M-ssrs. Brown. Shipley, and Co.'s (trice in the course of the afternoon, when a scene of unusual interest and animation varied the ordinary routine of business—the drawing of the lots exciting as great interest as would be displayed by a group of g ina".)lers round a rouged two . table. The Baltic carries about 7440 tons of goods ; the rate of freight, which has been raised V. since the Ist., being 01. The quays of the Huskisson Duck, during the last tew days, have been entirely blocked up with cats, loaded with fine gooda.—Lifieopiro4 Times. LITERATURE. Journal of the lloval Ayricaltural Society. Murray. While freely admitting that the results of the annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural society at Gloucester were in many respects highly satisfactory —the implements numerous and ingenious, the prize live stock perfect to as almost fabulous degree —the Cochin Chinas monstrous—the landlords con ciliatory and cot:riding—the farmers hopeful and enterprising—we cannot permit the proceedings of the great corporation which in efft ct monopolises the education of the English agriculturist, to close amid the applauding shouts of an audience too little accustomed to such gathcri..gs to be very critical, without passing in review the theory and practice of its policy which the book now before us brings forcibly to mind. After a career of ftttu n years, dur ing which the Royal Agricultural Society, with six thousand members, including every class from the peer to the humble tenant-tarmer, has become nu- . • merous, wealthy, and powerlul to a degree rarely varalicitd in any association of a non-commercial character, it cannot be said to be inopportune to in vestigate the mat hinery and the proceedings in which the nue and the intellect of the Society is absorbed and employed. In mash an examination there is nothing invidious. Tile records of the Royal Society, of the Society of Arts, and other similar associations, incontestably prove that in the absence of " pressure from with out," such associati.ms are apt to fall into one mill horse round of precedents, to lag behind the spirit of the age, and to reduce their exertions to a space likely to be agreeable to the moderate acquirements and requirements of their noble and wealthy pa trons. When the Royal Agricultural Society was founded, the pursuit of agriculture as a science was extremely rare among the tenant farmer class. There were then, as now, plenty of good farmers who worked by tradition and experience, but there were few induce meats for making, and indeed few means of record- ing, experiments and exchanging experiences. The mere cost of travelling was a serious bar to private visits or public gatherings of tenant farmers. The mass of farmers knew how to grow wheat and fatten bullocks, as their fathers had done before them, but they did not know how to explain their art to others, and their employment of the aids of science was rare and empirical. They neither wrote books nor read books, nor communicated, as they do now, the results of their experiences to Agricultural Journals. Indeed, those farmers who ventured to follow at a distance in the path of one of the first of English agricultural authors—Arthur Youpg—were looked upon by their brethren with marvellous little favour. Many glasses of gin and water asd much hard riding was required to extinguish the stain of having u ritten to a newspaper. The consequence was that the Coun cil of the Repel Agricultural Society, which was intended to represent the intellectual part of the agricultural interest, fell almost entirely into the hands of agricultural amateurs, who, possessing landed qualifications of the largest, had almost all o l i t k .a h e i rvoyrn late hd E beau a rd r t a l act S qh uek p e uir r goc i .crAmeeireae,nt knowledge n o, dna of tfm h h e obbuet present their knowledge of th e cu lti va ti on o f t h e so il to l earn . v h A D u f e w l e l a k t e r b aov e f without taste and zeal for the encouragement of the pursuits which they professed to direct and revivify with "practice and science." We do not say ono word against the original arrangement which filled the Council with Peers, M.Ps., and other large landed squires, and presented a few stray farmers as salt to savour their dilettantism. It was inevitable. Farmers capable of taking part in a public semi-scientific movement were so scarce that it was necessary to gather together, and welcome and place in seats of honour all who were ready to work and to subscribe, whether they under stood the difference between wheat and barley or not. It has been the same in the infancy of many other associations and in the organisation of other sciences. At one time every railway director considered himself competent to give practical suggestions and direc tions to the engineer in the employ of his company; and very recently the Royal Society, which professed to represent the science of Great Britain, was overrun with ignorance, which re presented nothing except stars and garters and the chemistry of the kitchen. But public opinion reformed the Royal Society. The Earl of Rosse owes his place as President, less to his Earldom ' than his astronomical studies. The growth of Civil Engineers into an organised profession has checked the inter ference of amateur mechanics. We do not find Peers taking the lead, or holding the most prominent offices in the Institute of Civil Engineers ; yet there are several, like Lord Lovelace, who have scientific qualifications very far superior to those of prominent officers of the Royal Agricultural Society. We do nut object to—we even see advantages in the inter mixture of the amateur landlord with the better instructed tenant farmer—in the system which en lists the young nobleman, and at an early age places him in the Council to become inoculated with fever for agricultural improvement ; but we do say, that now that fifteen years have produced and brought into notice a large crop of tenant . farmers who unite "science with practice," who are as capable of explaining the rationale as carrying out the details of farming operations, either the pro portion of the Council should be altered, or its num bers shoul4l be enlarged, so that the multitude of councillors whose qualifications lie only in their terri tories should be interleaved with intelligent farmers and stock breeders. A strong impression prevails that independent men, however highly qualified in agricultural knowledge, have little chance of admis sion into the Council, unless endorsed as land agents to a nobleman, or qualified by a large estate. And even of the few untitled and unaristocratically con nected who find their way into the charmed circle, it is to be observed that they very soon fall into the beaten path, and are led away separately, like a wild elephant between two tame ones. The Council has absorbed the whole power and influence of the Society. Simple members can prac. tically neither propose nor oppose anything—whilo the Council, self-elective, consists, by a large ma jority, of well meaning gentlemen, with about as much real knowledge of the practice of agriculture as they have of the practice of art. Thus we had among the Stewards iu the Implement Department at Gloucester a gentleman who until within the last two years condemned and contemned the use of horse-hoes and similar substitutes for hand labour, and in another prominent officer a gallant colonel, whose profound chemical knowledge led him to reject a powerful artificial manure on the ground that it made weeds grow too vigorously.' Amateur agriculture has had its day, and done good service, but now that in every branch of agri cultural pursuits there are to be found a plenty of educated intelligent farmers, their services ought to be called into requisition. Such a thorough know ledge of agriculture as will enable a man to direct the agricultural education of the nation, requires more attention, and more experience, than the ma jority of the Council can spare from their legislative, magcsterial, and other local duties, incident to a landed position in this country. There are exceptions in the persons of highly in telligent and enthusiastic country gentlemen like MY Piney, of whom it is impossible to speak tco He is an honour to his class, and to his generation. But such exceptions are very rare. Nothing sharpens a man's wit so much as having to live by the pursuit he follows; and there can be no reason why amateurs in agriculture should occupy a peti tion they are not permitted to occupy in the associa tions of artists, or lawyers, or engineers, or physi cians. We have no fault to find with men like SON of Norfolk, Hobbes of Essex, Jonas Nein, of Cambridge, and Turner of Devon, who now occupy seats in the council, but we think there should be more like them,—it not fewer amateurs. Next in importance to the composition of the Council are the reports of the discussions which take excluded on the ground that full reports might reproduce and perpetuate un pleasant dis cussions , and also perhaps injure the mo nopoly the Society's journal now enjoys. if the transactions of the Royal Agricultural So ciety were of no more practical importance than those of the Societyof Antiquaries,thisclosesystem would be of little consequence. But as the papers'and discussions public eie ty ar are t w the atc h e meetings n Fends with the view of making practical use the facts and opinions there eliminated, it is essential A m gri ade cu i rtu rt ra ia l l 4 dstudoifedthteiyilloiyoual- T