The Press. — London, England, 1853-09-17 00:00:00

I ROYAL BUCKS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. Tuts society celebrated on Wednesday its twenty seeond anniversary. The meeting took place at Aylesbury, and WWI numerously attended by the landlords and agriculturists of Buckinghamshire. In the morning there was a ploughing match in a field -heated ul►out a mile from the town, and the distribution of prizes fur ploughing and other objects of competition WON made in the afternoon, 'mime fluently to the conclusion of the banquet to the Hi p ai b en4 of the association. The dinner took place in the tieorge Inn at half-past two, whets about one hundred members sat down, under the ',residence of Mr. lowndes, of Cheshant, who was supported on valor side by Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Du PrC, the members for the county. No fewer than fourteen clerks men were also, present. When dinner was over, the toasts of the " Duke of Buckingham, President of the Association," '" Army and Navy," and " Bishop and Clergy'," were duly honoured. %I r. Bernard then proposed " Prosperity to the Halal Itueks Agricultural Association," whose exertions during.. the one-und-twenty years of its existence hail, he remarked, . " given great Vill'lmnolmeist to agricultural industry, eilsciully autioig the bumbler classes, I() whom a stinite hint haul been held out by it to exert theniselies to better their cioalit kill ill lift'. Ile was it. ist happy In IS' able U, rongratitlate the company 1.11 the vontiatrative prespetity which lbr laratsisog itatoorest wall new enjoying—ii prosperity which was all the wore gratifying because elouxibtoit with that ut every ether industrial class in the country. ( fear, hear.) .11thotigh they naturally looked to flair own in terests in till. first instance, he was sure mane theta wished to prosper at the expense of any other industrial (lass ; I ii was it matter of great congratulation tea them to knew thou other classes were participating ill the pre valent prosis.rity. ( llre,, hear. )" The successful candidates, including shepherds, ploughmen, farm labourers, and others, were then introduced, and a sum of money wits distributed to them lay the eltotirnian, automating in the whole to :151. Each eloodolate was also handed a glass of wine, its which he drank prosperity to the society. The Chairmatt addressed a few words of eottf.,Tra- Inlotion tun' cites ittragetnent to each candidate, after which they retired, apparently much gratified with the decision of the judges._ The health of the " Members of the County" having been drunk with honours, the compliment was duly acknowledged, first by Mr. 1)u l're in a brief speech. Mr. Disraeli then rose to return thanks, and was received with loud cheers. The right honourable gentleman', when silence was restored, said:— " tientletniii, the relations between fill till. sit intimate *hitt 1 Hill it i% 1111111 . 1 . 1 . SSary ft or me to say that I attains appreciate in the manner and in the spirit which it 110 , 011 I's 1111 1 11011/1111' wllll`.ll you 1114 V t• I . ollfelTell 1111 in c. together with my colleague. in drinking our (('burs.) I iiitti• 111111 the buuuur now for some years of acting with tity friend, Mr. Int I've, in the !louse of Coin ll s , us pint' ; and, will t Met-ring to those political sul9ects which are not tit matters for dis- C lloo4i 111 l twl an oiwasion like the !resent, I can tnily say that on all questions where your bald interests were cole remelt I found in him a wise eotuubellor and a zealous and able supporter. ( ( ",With 1'11:111 . 1) 111 the society' that has brought us together this slat, I contras that I have ever felt for it those feelings which circumstances hate pertbetly justified. I leers.) I hail the honour, I think, uf being present at its first inviiing, and I have now the pleasure to•dity of in min g its majority toasted by the colonel of the Bucking. hanishire Yeomanry—a very proper person to introduce stall a subject 111 y • Hattie.'. (J . /wow.) This is a si'eiety the objev 1 of which ells much less ambitious than of 1111411) , agricultural bitchily% that have not lasted so lung. (Bear, hear.) 'Chere has lwen no society id' the kind whest. pur ruses 11101 whose objects more misrepresented tluw the resent, l 11, ftr,h,or ) It is one that from the first it was the interest of many rt. 11401111 to tleftellim . and 41'411,111We AS it Isolitie,d miti•liine. I think 11 may titirly say that during the twenty•ime year% that it has existed its cote duet has been such as to show that these neehtsat' haul uu us% km r)--ttuti tit the loresi'llt I 11111 l Wilt, when 1111 11111 ., •111111 111 . 11111111411 SW nrgyney and interest (4)11- 11441441 %%ilk the clioNsi.s that are chiefly ini•mbers of the moiety is in existence, a e find by this well-tillyd room to day, and this welbuttentled assembly. that the pritwiples which brought us together, and which have always lavaight its together, have been deep and sincere, mid have h'een perfectly independent of any of the transient passions id' the boor. Chrero.) _ _ . "'Those who have just now assembled anan►d our table I think 114.1.6•111) the character which I claim for this society, and utrtunrt fitr tlw interest which those ulnt an ill all urtlnuinh d with II& comity must ever r i m! iu it. ( 1 ',lc( rs.) I remember that even t)ie rewards which we offered have 15.11 ridiculed they are, no doubt, 1, 41 m. Me rewards, hut they are rt wards that gratify the humble. I 'hcero. ) They are not otit.red to those who have just re ceii 441 them with such heartfelt delight as rewards of %nine, hut they an• offered as symlstls on our part that we respect their virtues. (Cheer..) And when it is said that a num may serve for forty yeart, and receive at the end of it only forty shillings troth this society its a n.ward, the critics who make use 4.1 such comments slum themselves prilfoundly ignorant of the telling. of the peasantry of this eountry, alit' of the milti‘es that hate rtightectl soeit tics like the iirv3vut. (Heare r &lir.) Why, it once you taluit a nitre THE PRESS. pounds shillinise and pence estimate of human etateluct to govern rewerds in human life, I would like to know how many anomalies you might not point out, and Lott slimly ridiculous results you might rod hold up to public con tempt. ( ('heers.) It is only bee-Huse you choose yourselves to adopt the lowest test for that wineh we esteem to be the highest conduct that you offer this reward ; but it is unnecessary for me to make a remark upon the subject, because the best refutation for all those charges are the feelings of the labouring (leases of this country when they Hirer anstemst us, and their 111*Tit is recognised by the nu-ass that are at our dispomd, and in the unumer which we have:adopted here. (Hear. hear.) " I have no hesitation iu saying, and many of you with more extended information than myself NW have no betel. laden I AM sure in saying, that this moriety, limited as its influence must necessarily be, has produced during the tenn of its existence very beneficial effects ; and that the inducements it holds out to the labouring demotes of the ere looked forward tee with considerable interest, and with en estimate very different from that of those. who make 4.1164.0 remarks upon eiremnstancee of which they are very indifferent judges. !('!.errs.) Nut a shepherd, or ploughman. dairymaid enters that room to receive the reward who does nut etomprehend that it is offered to them in cousequenve of their tumid conduct, and as a reward for their skill and assiduity. (Near.) They do out at all 111111.+1111: the teeutryaitioAl by the mere amount -that is lonia them—though that is not elespieable—ltt they teal that they leuve the. mom. after having received that public recognition of their eunduet, elevated in their Islohere—(lfeac. hear )—and 1 know that our friends here, who have received the uniform of the society as an lese 4444 umble recognition of their labour., will go to church in the green cems you have given them with the /kerne pride—the same rational pride—as the nololeman will go to Celled ire u blue riband, if he has merited that badge. (('heers.) The principles that dictates the reward is rashly the same, and why should we nut give credit to them for being influenced exactly by the same feeling? ( Hear. hear.) My own convict' is that they are in tbietseed by the same feeling, and therefitre I have been always of opinion that societies like the present have a tendency to elm ate tine condition. because they elevate the feelings, of the labouring classes of the country. (('heers.) "1 have no doubt we might do more, but it is a great deal to do something vont' •ly fir twenty-one years. (('heers.) Matt) societies are starting with very great and commendable efliais. but where ure they at the end of five or even of three years ? ( 11 cur, hear.) Where do we see a society that, after twenty-one years spent under all imaginable eircummteincem, huue still eontrived to toting to gether in a room so largo. an assembly AM the present, for puristses su pillre, honest. and iaouourable as those which have bnaight UK together? (Cheers.) I say we have done that which we have reason to congrandatc ours e lv e s upon. (Cheers.) It may lead to greater consequences, mud be tin- foundation certainly of welder efforts to amelionde the emelitien of the working elasses of this country ; but no one esti deny that the principle **hid' we adopted twenty-one you* ago was a sound principle—that the results with:le have aecnied frem putting it in practice have been satisfactory mud benetivial—and that the general effect of this seciety has been to elevate the feelings and audition of the labouring classes of the county of IluckittgllAlll. ( 'lacers) That is a subject of eonsideralde interest, and at no tune of greater interest than at the present. ( Ilene, twee.) "We knew well that very great changes are taking place, and the whole tendency Of those cluniges appears to Wes- Miami viTy gnat changes in the condition of the labouring classes of the country generally. For example, if it be true, it is more than prelnelole that a very considerable ele%ation in the condition of the labouring classes of the country only occur, upon whirls I will now give no opinion. be-elitist. it is a SillijeCt that lends to great argument. stood one no doubt of considerable coutroversy. (Hear, hear.! it is something fist 104 to be able to say that before that change has taken place we have shown our sympathy wills the hasn't-Mg elastics. and have prepared them for that mom elevated position which perhaps they may be called upon to assume. ( Cheers.) Here is the machinery. and hem has been the unwhinery now for a considerable mem ber of years, which has shown to the people abut us that we wolfish++. their claims and the respectability of their position, and that we have always been, AS far as lay in our power, prepared to reward theta for meritorious conduct, and to give them inducenients to tehow they were worthy of the etympethy of the community. 'leerti.) " Now - , no one c an tell. in an age etf rapid change like the present, what may be the condition of that particular (lass with whose tint tines and condit ion we an' to-day TV immediately interested. (Near. hear.) Our proceedings have been stopped for a 1111 l Lent le-cause wet have been told that the candidates of the day were not prepared to receive that humble but very sincere recognition that we am going to make them fir their achievements. The ploughmen are not going to appear immediately. though we may soon are then' ; but how do we know what may be the condition of the ploughmen in the course of the year? ( War, hear.) I have recently mad, and I dam say your also have read, the opinions of a gentleman who is con sidered to Ie an anthority en this subject, and who states that the plough is in tact c o mpletely superseded. We always thought that whatever revolutions occurreel, either in our cirentustances or even in our opinions, we should always say,' speed the plough ;' but now we live in au Nee autl we bale ani‘ed tel a period alien it is very doubtful whether ire PH iug, ' speed the plough,' we might not be as old-fashioned as in saying ' success to a jarvey; (('hens and laughter.) Although those great material changes are taking place. wheat I want toimpress upon you. though indeed the line principle of this asset-union which brings us together shows nu- that it is Ullttece , stoy to bap press it upon you, because you aro swam of it—what I SATURDAY, want to impress upon you is, that, whatever may be the change in material af airs. let there he no change in our moral principles, and, though the plough may be super seded, let us make the English labourer understand that, though he may cease to be a ploughman, be is still the mender of a community that respects his virtues, if he shows them—(cheers)—of a community that is prepared to recognise and reward his good qualities, if he proves that he is entitled to its respect and its rewards. I 'haw's.) " f consider, therefore, that this society—which I ant glad to say has listed for twenty-one pars—is founded upon the right principle. (Cheers.) Witut is that princi ple? It is a principle that acknowledges that there is a sympathy of sentiment and an identity of interest between the employers and the employed. (I.:here's. ) That is really the principle that brings us together—that is the sentiment that we contribute by our devotion and adhesion to uphold. and that we consecrate by our conduct, and by taking every opportunity of proving that we are faithful to it. (Cheers.) Then you may rely upon it, gentlemen, that whatever changes may occur—and in this age you must be prepared tar the greatest and even the wildest changes—so long as that principle is acknowledged by us we may look at those changes without apprehension, be cause we shall all of us be members of a society founded upon principles of public virtue, and upon an acknowledg ment that, whatever the circumstances we may have to meet may be, we recognise that between all classes of men the principles of justice and of good feeling shall lee the governing principles that regulate our conduct. (threes.) • Gentlemen, with this feeling I can only repeat that it is with the greatest gratification I find myself again by the side of my excellent friend the chairman to-day as your guest—if I may call myself a guest who um at member of your society. (1 Vers.) There an very few of our meet ings that I have been unfortunately not present at oar formation. (Hear, hear.) I believe my absence has always been aceounted for by rests lIIS that were considered Hear, hear) ;—and you may rely upon it that so long UM 1 have the high honour of being your representa tive I never will permit any circumstances but those over which 1 min have no control to prevent me from being present at the annual meeting of the society. the general effect of which i believe has been most beneficial in the county of Buckingham." The right hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud anal long-continued applause. Various compli mentary toasts followed afterwards, and the company broke up. MODERN POPISH MIRACLES. " miraculous " isitxtion, which in France has given rise to a new legend and a new institution, under the title of "Our Lady of Salette," is now re commended to the pious and benevolent Roman Catholics of Great Britain. Even on the Continent the story was somewhat too incredible to go down comfortably. The French police are said to be on the track of the woman who personated the Virgin Mary when appearing to the two peasant children whose report first originated the modern miracle. Sundry suspicions are also existent respecting an innkeeper at palette, whose worldly fortunes have indeed pros pered to a remarkable degree, from the influx of visitors and pilgrims which the legend has attracted to the locality. Notwithstanding these doubts and dangers, and in spite of the outrageous triviality and incredibility of the original story, it was adopted by the late Bishop of Grenoble, for whom the excuse of utter dotage might justly be pleaded, and through his intervention represented in such colours to the Vatican that it received the infallible sanction of the Pope. Thus finally adopted as an article of the Homan Catholic faith, the visitation of Our Lady of Salette was made the centre of a new association, and the medium for exciting the pious feelings of the faithful and the contributions of the wealthy. The same advantages and gains are now to be se cured in England, according to a species of encycli cal letter in which the Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham, under the guise of granting the peti tion of a certain Mr. Alfred .1. Dayman, gives his episcopal sanction to the establishment of a "branch establishment " in the same business in England and Wales. his " lordship's " letter is published in the Tablet of Saturday last : " IN THE CHAPEL OF NOTRE DANE DR ILA SALETTE, AT STRATFORD-O\•AVUN. " William Bernard, bv the grace of God, and the favour of the Apostolic See, bishop of liirmingliam, to all by whom these presents shall be heard or read, health and benediction ni the Lord. " taken into our consideration the petition ad- dressed to us by 11w Rev. Alfred .1. Dayman, missionary priest at Stratford-on-Avon, praying us that ue would canonically erect in the chapel of Notre Dame de la lette of the said mission a pious association of prayers and good works under the title of ' Our Lady of Reconci liation of La tiabite; ' " Having diligently considemd the devout ends contem plated by this association, and the tenour of the brief of our Holy Father Pius IX., of date September the nth, IKe2, whereby the Stoereign Pontiff emits into an arch caufrateniity the pious assciat• of Our Lady of Ileeon• ciliation of La Salette,' established in the sanctuary of that Hume in the diocese of Grenoble, in France: " Hui ing moreover in view the design of humming more and more the ever-hlessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and of manitesting our confidence in the efficacy of invoking her intercession tinder the title of 'Our Lady of Recoil ciliation of La Salette,' and of opening to the faithful of our thoce:,e a new means of obtaining the grace and Mess ipso tit Almighty Lied, especially a the evayeral t al of 1,111-