The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-23 00:00:00

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF
ENGLAND.

Tax annual general meeting of this society was
held on Monday, at the aecretary's house, in
Hanoverequatre, Sir E. Kerrison, M.P.. in the chair,
supported by Lord Tredegar, Lord Faversham,
Lord Walsingham, Sir Walter Stirling, Sir J.
Boileau, Sir A. Macdonald, Colonel Kingsoote,
M.P., Mr. Aoland, M.P., Mr. E. Holland, M.P.,
Mr. J. Dent, M.P., Hon. General Wood, Sir T.
Western, Professor- Wilson, &o.
_ _

After the usual preliminaries Lord Tredegar was
elected as president of the society for the year
ensuing, „

Mr. Hall Dare, the secretary, read the report,
which stated inter alia

"Since the last general meeting, in December, 41
members have died, and 'n -the ames of 220 members
have been removed from the list by retirement, nearly
the whole-number of these having joined the society
for the Newassile meeting only ; while three governors
and 96 members have been elected, so the society now
conshits of —Life governors, 79; . annual. 81; life
' members L 386; annual, 4,190; honorary, 16; making
a total of 5,752. The council have elected Sir Massey
Lopes, Bart, M.P., a member of lammed, in the room
of the late- Mr. Buller, MP. The funded capital has
been increased by a further investment of £2,000, and
now stands at £21,027 19s. 6d. in the New Three per
Cents. £l,OOO remains on deposit with the society's
bankers, and the current cash balance in their hands on
the let of May was £1,981 17a. 2d. Papers have been
read at the weekly meetings by—Mr. lAwes, on
Sewage;' Mr. Ellman, on ' The Management of a
Breeding Flock of Sheep;' Professor Voeloker, On
Natural Deposita of Potalhin Germany;' Mr. T. Beale
Brown on ' Flax ;' Mr. Morton, on Agricultural
Education.' The council, in deciding upon the course
of action to be pursued on the important subject of
education, have found it attended with much difficulty,
and indeed considerable diversity of opinion has been
expressed as to the best mode of procedure. The
council after much deliberation have decided for
this year to /holt their prizes to candidate; examined
at the local examinations held by the Universities
of Cambridge and Oxford. They consider that
sufficient attention has not hitherto been given to the
general education of the sons of agriculturists. A good
sound education once obtained, special education may be
properly rewarded. The groundwork of chemistry,
botany, zoology, geology, and mechanics, and the study
of mathematics, are included in the subjects for examina-
tion both of Cambridge and Oxford. To oandidatee who
shall be recommended by any member of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England, and who must be per.
sons in some way dependent on the cultivation of the
land for their support, or intending to make agriculture
their profession, the council offer the following prize,
viz. :—£l.oo in prizes amongst those who shall pass the
Oambridge or Oxford senior or junior examinations;
£lOO to those at the Cambridge and Oxford examina-
tions who, having passed the preliminary examination,
shall have distinguished themselves in mathematics, me-
chanics, chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, or geology.
In addition to these prizes the committee are in nego-
eiation with the authorities at Cimbridge in order that
papers bearing upon special subjects connected with
agriculture may be set at the next examination in De-
°ember. Should these negotiations be successful, • sum
of £6O will be offered for two papers—one on agricul-
tural chemistry, and one on mechanics as applied to
agriculture; which papers will be prepared by gentle-
men appointed by the Royal Agricultural Society of
England, and reported upon by them. Candidates not
exceeding 25 years of age may compete for these special
prize'. The objects which the council hope to attain are
to improve sound general education and to encourage
proficiency in such branches of science as are applicable
to the study of agriculture, and calculated to prepare the
mind of the student for the proper reception of that
prastical education which can only be completed by ob-
servation of the working of a farm, where he may be
enabled to test the value of such theories as may be pre-
sented to him. The arrangements for the Plymouth
meeting, to be held during the week, commencing Mon-
day, 17th July, are progressing satisfactorily. A very
large entry is already made of implements, and the en-
tries for stock, which will close on the Ist of June,
promise to be equally numerous. The council have de-
termiued that the country meeting in 1866 shall be held
at Bury St. Edmunds. The district for the country
meeting of 1867 will include the counties of Derby,
Leicester, Lincoln. Nottingham, and Rutland."
Mr. Morton moved a resolution to the effect that
I whilst receiving the report presented by the council
they merely expressed a desire that all efforts in
connection with the educational dance of the charter
should be especially directed to the promotion of
professional education.

Mr. Beale Brown seconded the proposition,
-- •

The Chairman aaid that this m'etiOn would come
as an amendment or rider to the resolution for the
adoption of the report.
Mr. Fowler then formally moved the adoption of
the report as presented by the council.
Mr. Bentell seconded the motion.

Avery lengthened discussion then maned, in the
course of which it was strongly urged by the ,
supporters of Mr. Morton's proposition that the
money of the society should be devoted in promot
tog professional education to the sons of farmers
suitable to their future avocations in life ; while, on
the other hand, it was contended that the counoil,
and also a committee upon education, had fully
gone into the whole question, and given it due con-
sideration, and arrived at the conclusion set forth in
the report. Eventually, upon • show of hands, the
rider of Mr. Morton was negatived, and the report
adopted by a large majority.
The members of the council having been elected,
a vote of thanks was passed to the auditors for their
services during the past year.
Upon the motion of Lord Fevershain, a cordial
vote of thanks was passed to Sir E. Kerrison (the
president), and the meeting separated.

Mr. Berkeley will bring forward his annual motion on
the Ballot on the 13th June.
THE Owl states that the proposed pension to Mrs.
Cobden will be about £lOOO a year.
New CHURCH AT CARLISLE—Miss Burdett Coutta
has erected, at her own cost, a beautiful church, in a
destitute portion of the City of Carlisle. It will be con-
secrated by Bishop Waldeerave. on Wednesday the 31st
May. The new church is dedicated to St. Stephen' as
that is in Westminster, which owes its erection to the
I munificence of the same lady.
MARRIAGE WITH A CONDITION.—A curious case is
reported from the Transvaal Republic. One De Villiers
1----who left a wife in the colony—married again at
Rustenberg, but the landrost, in marrying him, im-
posed the condition that he should, within six months,
produce proof of his having a divorce from his first wife,
or otherwise the second marriage should be declared
null and void—South African Advertiser.
THE DEPREDATIONS ON AMERICAN COMMERCE.—The
Owl says, that the question of paying an indemnity
for the losses the Americans sustained, by the depreda-
tions of tbe Alabama, has reached an unpleasant point.
In reply to the Government at Washington, the British
Cabinet has intimated it is not intended to pay these
damages; and that International Law is on our side.
The rejoinder from Washington alludes to compulsion.
THE trial of Dr. Pritchard on the charge of murdering
his wife and mother-in-law by means of poison, will
take plaoe at Edinburgh. for certain, between the 15th
and 20th of June. The Lord Justice Clerk is expected
to be the presiding judge. The Lord Advocate win
conduct the prosecution. The prisoner will be defended
by Mr. Rutherfurd Clark, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Brand.
The case will probably last over several days as the
scientific witnesses for the prosecution and defence are
numerous.— Glasgow Morning Journal.
REFORMATORY AND REFUGE lINION.—The music sung
at the opening of the Exhibition at the Agricultural
Hall, Islington, on Friday, by a choir of 1000 des-
titute children, respecting which his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wake was pleased specially to express his
great gratification—also the popular pieces so enthusi-
astically encored on Friday—were repeated on Wed-
nesday evening, May 24th, under the direction of Mr.
J. Proudman, of the Tonic-Sol-fa Association.
Iris understood, that Mr. Jackson Haines, "the cham-
pion Skater of America," is now on his way here, from
St. Petersburgh. Mr. Haines has we believe, made en-
fragements for appearing before the English public, and
it is expected he will be well received here. He has re-
cently appeared before the King of Prussia, and the
Emperor of Russia, when his performances attracted
unqualified admiration. From the "Neva Skating
Society," of St. Petersburgh he received a medal, com-
memorative of his performanoe, and from the Emperor
a diamond ring. In St. Petsrsburgh his performances
were unequalled, and far surpassing anything of the kind
before witnessed there. Will he bring the ice along with
him?
THE Prince of Wales on Tuesday morning reviewed
several militia corps in Hyde-park; amain the afternoon '
laid the foundation stone of the new wing of St. Mary's
Hospital, Paddington. Fifty-five purses were Presented,
and an aggregate collection was realised of £3OO.
Wednesday morning the Prince visited the Great
Eastern steamship, lying in the Medway off Sheerness,
' and inspected the works in connection with the shipping
of the Atlantic telegraph sable on board that vessel. At
night be dined with Lord Palmerston, in celebration
of the Queen's birthday.
CONSUMPTION OF SNAILS IN PARIS.—The consump-
tion of the escargot, or COMMOII snail, has within the
last few years increased to such an enormous extent at
Paris that they enter into serious competition with
oysters at the wine shops in that metropolis. It is esti-
mated that the breeding grounds in the provinces of
Proton, Burgundy, and Champagne now send every day
no less than 400,000 dozens of snails to the Paris markets,
where they readily find purchasers. Mr. PAyen, the
celebrated analytical chemist, has demonstrated that
these molluscs., when boiled, furnish a subePance in.
finitely richer in nutritive matter than that of oysters.
*fie Grocer.
THERE is nothing of striking interest in the intelli•
gence -brought by the Bombay mail. The Viceroy
and staff had left Calcutta for Simla. The re-capture
of De wangiri is stated to have caused much conster-
nation in the Bhootan Proper; but Tinsgoo Penlow is
determined on war, in opposition to the wishes of the
courtiers. The heat was excessive in all parts of India,
and a great many cases of cholera had occurred. A de-
tachment of Royal Artillery had been attacked with
the dreaded malady while marching from Mhow to
Kirkee' and not less than 30 died out of 116 of which
the detachment consisted. Great blame is attributed
to those in authority who ordered the march in such hot
weather.
THE DRAM'S DOG. —A. few days ago the Dean of
Carlisle went into the High School during lesson hours,
and his dog, a pretty little terrier, followed him. The
dog caused a slight disturbance by getting under the
desks, and as the dean left he jocularly observed that
he should expect a Latin epigram on his dog as a punish.
' meat. The boys accordingly sent him the following :
" DECANE DECANL
" Colmar; CANINUN.
"Cerberns inferni tneatur regna tyranni ;
Eat tibi* caslestis, vir reverende, cams.
Sok bane in pneris ludos dare gandia fermis,
eve =tem frusta-a, °aro Deosne, =am."
• A Sky terrier.
Need we add that the dean, with his usual good humour,
took the hint, and asked for a half-holiday top the
. .
tuthOrt?