The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-08-12 00:00:00

ANNUAL LETTING AND SALE OF SHEEP
AT HIGHER WATERSON.

The eleventh annual letting and sale of pure
Sonthdown sheep was held on Friday last, at Water.
son Farm, the hospitable residence of Mr. Harding.
The day was fortunately fine, though the early
morning gave anything but promise that such would
be the case. The well-known celebrity of Mr.
Harding's flock, and the unbounded kindness and
liberality of that gentleman, were never more fully
exemplified than on the present occasion, and drew
together a very large assembly of agriculturists
and friends from Dorsetshire and the adjoining
counties. As is well-known to most of our readers
Waterson Farm is situated about four-and-a-half
miles from Dorchester; the road leading to it com-
manding one of the best views of the county town,
and the superior manner in which the broad acres
on either side are cultivated gives the traveller a
very favourable impression of the state of agriculture
in Dorset. Arrived at the scene of the day's pro-
ceedings, we were heartily welcomed by the worthy
owner, and were most agreeably surprised with the
elegance and taste displayed in fitting up, what for
that day, was converted into a banqueting-hall. In
front of the house an awning had been erected over
the lawn, and from one end to the other festoons of
flowers and heath intertwined were suspended.
Facing the entrance the word "Welcome" gave to
all who presented themselves the assurance of a
hearty reception, while at the back of the Chairman's
seat a crown, with the letters " V. It." proved that
loyal:were blended with hospitable feelings. " Pros-
penty to Agriculture, Trade, and Commerce,"
"Speed the Plough," and other mottoes, with flags
and banners, ace. contributed to fill up and add to
, the beauty of the apartment. A great part of this
adorning, we truly surmised, was the work of fair
hands and loving hearts, and to Mr. Harding'
daughters great praise is due for their laudable
co-operation with him in making this re-union as
popular as possible. The banquet was supplied by
Mr. Yearaley, of the Antelope Hotel, Dorchester,
and did great credit to the cuisine of that well-known
establishment. The wines were of the choicest
vintage, and were supplied ad libitum.

The company began to arrive about one o'clock, and
proceeded to inspect the stock, which was penned in an
adjoining field. On the arrival of the last omeibas
from Dorchester, the signal for dinner was given, and in
a short space of time the pavilion was tilled. The
number of the guests being, as far as we could judge,
between three and four hundred. The ehair was taken
by John Floyer, Esq., supported on his right by John
Galpin, Esq , (Mayor of Dorchester), G. J. Wood, Esq.,
Athelharupton Hall, and J. F. Hodges, Esq., Dorches-
ter • and on his left by Major Astell and the Rev. Mr.
Pug. The vied-chair was ably filled by Mr. Dunning
of Friar Wadden. Among the guests we noticed M.
Devenish, Esq., G, Penton Esq., Tompkins, Esq.,
Captain Thresher, and Messrs. G. Lock, Blandford ;
Cunningtoo, Dorchester; Levi Groves, Knighton;
Fookew, Cerne ; Watts ; Fookes, Milton Abbey; C.
Mayo, H. Mayo, G. Mayo, W. Mayo Kent, C. Caines,
Allier, Fitch, Denman. Sykes, Rogers, Middle &c.,
its. Ample justice having been done to the good cheer
provided,
The CHAIRMAN proposed "Tie Health of the Queen."
We bad, he said, felt great interest in Her Majesty's
health, but during the past year that interest and
anxiety had been greatly increased: He believed they
would all join with him in expressions of thankfulness
that God had been pleasei to support her in the hour
, of affliction and distress; that her health had been pre-
served. (Cheers.) All would heartily join in an earnest
desire that the healing hand of time might tend to
assuage her grief, and that she might live many years
to reign over a happy and prosperous people. (Drank
with three times three.)
The next toast the CHAIRMAN proposed was "The
Prince of Wales and the other members of the Royal
Family," The Prince of Wales was one to whom the
nation looked with great interest, as being intimately
connected with the country. They had reason to
believe,f torn the many excellent qualities he had shown
during his youth, lie would become in his manhood an
ornament to his country. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave "The Bishop and Clergy
of the Diocese." Of the former he could speak in the
highest praise. He MRS a working bishop, and no doubt
all in that assembly had had opportunities of seeing how
heartily he co-operated with the clergy and laity in
every good work. The clergy of the diocese also took
an active part in every good work. He regretted he
could not call on the gentleman who was usually a
guest at that table, to respond, and he the niece re-
gretted it because he was prevented from being present
through ill-health—he alluded to the respected rector
of the parish, Mr. Templer. They had, however, a
gentleman present, who be was sure they would gladly
welcome. It gave him (the Chairman) very -great
satisfaction to see the clergy present on such festive occa-
sions as the present. He liked to see them mingle
with the people, and taking a part in all that interested
their fellow-men. He begged to couple with the toast
of the bishop and clergy the name of the Rev. Mr. ,
Pugh. (Drank with three times three)
The Rev. Mr. Yuan returned thanks. He said that
he felt the only reason so humble an individual as him- '
self had been selected to reapond on behalf of the
bishop and clergy was, because no other clergyman was
present It was to him • pleasing and an embarrassing
duty to perform. Pleasing, because the invitation he
had received from their worthy host to be present
proved that the clergy had, both by their life and doc-
trine, gained the esteem and affection of the people,
and be considered it the duty of the Christian minister
to join with the people of his charge in their rejoicings,
to associate with them, and thus to prove he felt an
interest in their prosperity, as well as sympathised with
them in their adversities. On the other hand, he (the
speaker) felt considerable embarrassment in addressing
them, because for a long time past lie had never had
the pleasure of joiningjm such a gathering, and therefore
he could but very imperfectly respond to the toast.
(Cries of "No, no.") He had been for a considerable
time chaplain to the Embassy at Naples, and therefore
knew but little of the kindness and hospitality, for
whish Englishmen were celebrated. In Naples there
were no such meetings as the present—nothing to
incite a spirit of emulation or sociality. It had been
a land debarred by its political and ecclesiastical
from enjoying that prosperity, happiness, and
ret;tuB ssy', so highly prized in this country. And here he
could not but admire the wisdom of our ancestors who
made the clergy an integral part of the people, and
who devised such a scheme of ecclesiastical polity as
allowed, and even encouraged, the ministers of the church
to participate in the social and festive gatheriags of
the people. He trusted that a brighter day had
began to dawn on that land he had lately sojourned in,
and he could assure them that attention was now being
given to the progress of agriculture; and he believed, in
the course of a few years, meetings such as they were
now participating in,would he held there also. He moat
heartily thanked Mr. Harding for his kind invitation to
be present that day, and he should always be most
happy to do all he could for the welfare and happiness
of those he was Galled for a season to minister to. The
clergy ought to be, an to speak, a leaven of good, leaven-
ing the whole mass of society. Thanking them for their
kindness in thus patiently listening to him, he heartily
drank to their future success and happiness. (Loud
cheers.)
. . . . .

The next toast from the Chair was "The Army and
Navy, Yeomanry Cavalry, and Volunteers." We were,
the Chairman said, under great obligations to the army
and navy. They had on every occasion when called
upon nobly done their duty. We were • peaceful
people. We did not, as a nation, like vat; but when
our liberties or our hommerce were endangered, or our
flag insulted, we always found the army and navy ready
and willing; and he believed that for many years to
come, whenever their good friend Mr. Harding invited
them over to Waterson, they would have no need to
fear, but would be able to meet together as peacefully
as at the present time. They were f..voured with the
company of a gentleman who had belonged to the army,
and he therefore begged to couple with the toast the
name of Major Aatell.
Major ASTELL said he could have wished some one
more competent than himself had been present to re-
spond, and he =rich regretted the absence of Sir John
Michel, who had been long in the service, bad seen some
rough work in it, end was, besides, a Dorsetsbire man.
He the speaker) !loped to be hereafter considered one,
as be expected to pass the remainder of his life in the
county. He believed he might say that the hearts of all
in the army and navy were true to their country, and
that whenever they were called upon they would do
their duty. (Cheers.)
Captain THRESHER returned thanks on behalf of the
Rifle Volunteers.
The MAYOR of DORCHESTER said he rose with very
great pleasure to propose the health of a gentleman who
stood very high in the estimation of all residing in the
county. He was ever at the post of duty, and was a
sincere friend to everything that was for the benefit of
his fellow-men. He proposed, araidvehement cheering,
"Th. Health of their respected chairman, Mr. Floyer."
The CHAIRMAN said it always afforded him much
pleasure to do what he could for the happiness and
welfare of thoee by whom he was surrounded, and be
thanked them for the enthusiastic manner they had re-
sponded to the tout, lie had other duties to fulfil of
not so pleasing a character as the one he was now
engaged in, but in whatever position, whether pleasant
or otherwise, be trusted he should always do his duty,
and thus gain the esteem and approbation of his fellow-
countrymen .
In proposing the next toast, the CHAIRMAN said it
had not been his good fortune to be present at one of
these gatherings for the last few years. He was glad to
find his good friend Mr. Marling enjoying his usual
state of health. Ile considered much praise and their
most hearty thanks were due to Mr. Harding for
sending, at considerable expense, some of his stook to
compete at the great agricultural shows. They all
liked to see the honour of Old Dorset upheld; and no
one, in this particular, had done more then their
I worthy host. He could assure Mr. Harding that all
now present desired his good health. He trusted lie
would have a good sale, and that from year to year he
might,me gathered around him such a goodly company as
had met that day. He would not detain them any
longer, but propose "The Health of Mr. Harding."
Mr:Fleur/um, in returning thanks, said he felt highly
flattered by seeing around him such • goodly company,
on this the eleventh year of his letting and sale of
stock. The stock which would be exhibited for their notice
that day, and which he had laboured to bring to per-
fection, was the pure Sussex Down—a breed he trusted
he should always be able to show; for he could assure
them be had no intention to have anything by way o
mixture with that great nogged-bead sheep—the
Hampshire Down. (Lairghter and cheers.) He had
no hesitation in saying, that what be had to offer to