The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-06 00:00:00

EXPERIENCES OF A SCOTCH FARMER
IN CANADA.
Alwrdeenalkire farmur writes from Ontario, Norfolk,
:::th of April, 1874

. .
I have very little doubt that Canada is the order of Lord Houghton responded in eloquent terms, and
the day, and that your fine county, as well as Aber- cocludedhy proposing, "The Health of Sir Samuel
deen and Kincardine, '
are full of fine things about us Iker," as the representative ‘f the visitors.
such as free grants of land and high wages. Allow
Ins to clear away some of the cobwebs. I have Sir Samuel Baker, who was very warmly cheered,
resided forty-five years in Canada. Thirty-five years proceeded, by a graphic comparison of the condition of
I have been a farmer. I began in the woods two the newspaper press now and two hundred years since,
miles from a neighbour, and I may further state I to show the advantages which the Press affords in the
am an exception to the general rule. I paid £l.OO for interests of morality, education, and truth.
a half lot of 100 acres. I had 1:150 in money, General Sir W. Codrington, G.C.8., proposed,
a stroll • healthy constitution, a wife, and three "The House of Lords and the House of Commons."
infant Sildren. There was no school or church, and Lord Stanley of Alderley and Mr. Scourfield, M.P ~
we were fifteen miles to a mill, fourteen miles to a returned thanks.
store, and 1 had to carry my flour on my back two Mr. Edmund Yates next rose and said :My Lords
miles, and had to go seven miles to buy a barn, and and gentlemen, I have the instractiems of the President
that through the trackless forest, with the wolf, the of this institution to undertake the grateful task of
hear, and the deer. Now for my trials. I bought a . proposing to you the health of the noble Duke who has
yoke of oxen, and lost one by death, and was cheated been good enough to take the chair at this festival.
out of the other. My best cow got her leg broken, There are, of course, in such a distinguished assemblage
and I Ist her. My wife was taken sick, and was sofor i many gentlemen far more capable of performing this
three years, and could not wash a cap for her head. I duty, but I presume it is Lord Houghton's desire that
had almost lost my life when rolling logs on a heap . What has to be said in regard to this special toast should
WI had my neck almost broken and my teeth thrust he said not by any brilliant ornament of either House
oot by the blow, and for one year was unable to work. of Parliament, but by one of the rank and file of
I paid forty-two dollars for two visits to an M.D. I journalism, who for some years has earnedhis living by
hose lost ten cows, besides oxen, sheep and hogs. the exercise of his pen. In discharge of that duty. I
,
I have bad cropa I have got thirty bushels of wheat ask the permission of my literary brethren in their be-
to an acre, and at other times not two liushels. I paid half to thank the noble Duke for coming among us and
for the excellent speech which he has deliveretb In that
si•-teen dollars an acre for clearing and fencing, and
most charming book, " The Newetunes." Mr. Thacke-
many a night have had to work until nearly morning
ray tells the story of a neblemau who visited a little
fighting fire from ley clearing. After all I am con-
club of journalists and authors, and on his return said
sidered one of the most succeasful farmers. When I
he had been "to a monstrous queer place F , amonst a
look around and see how few of my old neighbours are
monstrous queer set of fellows, don't yen know, but
left, iam lost in wonder at seeing how many have that lie had enjoyed himself very much. I hope that,
died. There are just a few left, and our burying-
from his experience to night, the noble Duke will
grounds are well tenanted. We had ten children, nine
end :me the last part of that verdict. I suppose wears
of whom are alive, but the money bills for medicine are
incredible ; and, to tell you the truth, no pen can
a monstrone queer set of fellow*. We do not belong
do
to any of the so-called liberal profeseions ; we have no
jasthe to or pourtray thehardships of bush life. The win-
recognised status in society. Thinking over that great
ter is eacessively cold, and to-day we may plough but
question of precedence, which is understood to have
not sow. Sureanor is excessively hot. A labourer
recently caused heart-burnings among the salt of
with you can work out of doort, at all times. Not so
here. We have six months steady winter, and the earth, I learnt that we have no defined position
t deep and our fall wheat is bad y at all; and probably, if the ereat Mr. Debrett
ago was two fe..
about four months warm. The frost a few slayshimself were in the room, he would be unable to settle
~
whether a journalist's wife should be taken down to
winter-killed. It won'i. 1-0 half a crop. There is no hay ;
dinner before or after a pork-butcher's spouse. But
the grasshoppers took it all, and tha Colorado beetle
we have hearty gratitude for these great persons who
ate all our potatoes. There is nothing we slant which
take interest in our modest fund. and, if I may take
will pay for the labour, and our youth are leaving and
gou,4 401101 to the United States. And yet the liberty of saying so, it seems to me peculiarly ap-
we pay idlers to e.; end tell what a fine country ppyriate that the Duke of Somerset, trio husband of
iti hard Brinsley Sheridan's granddaughter, should
Canada is. Those who are perguading your people to
preside over a festival of literary men. My Lords and
come here are not your friends. They are paid to do so.
gentlemen, I have the honour to propose " The Health
lam not. I tell you, bcware, and look et% you leap.
I may send you the report of the (drown lands. That's of the Chairman."
are nearly seventy townships surveyed, but beware; Tha Duke of Somerset, in responding said: My
is. I:et too confident. You gain little by coining to Lords and gentlemen, I thank you fer the honour you
Canada, gild lose much. If I made a mistake in have done me, and I thank Mr. Yates very much for
coming here, I hope :Ahem may profit by my experb the kind way in which he has spoken of me, and con-
ence. lam from Aberdemedia.., nzol a graduate of the nected me with a name which is, of course, highly
unheniity. lam now the owner of five good farms, honoured by all who are associated with it in any way,
anti walad gladly sell to get away. For the farm 1. on Recount of its great ability—an ability unsurpassed
live on I was Gitere4 13,000 twenty years ago, and I in this country—l mean the name of Mr. Sheridan.
With regard to one point to which Mr. Yates referred,
cannot now sell at any prha, about the difficulty of precedence, I will jnst give him
a little hint which may help him. I was once dining
with Lord Melbourne, when he was Prime Minister,
or rather 1 v.... 6 dining with a number of dukes and
great people, and they wanted Lord Melbourne to go in
first, but Lord Melbourne said, "You know I am only
Prime Minister. I have no rank to entitle me to go in
first;" and there they stood, and there was a difficulty,
and at last Lord Melbourne said, "Never mind, you
khazt the greatest fool always goes first." That made
it more difficult tlain ever. Nobody would go. and we
were nearly losing our dinner altogethcr. 'That was
the way he settled a question of precedence, so you
will know how to do it in the future. (Laughter and

cheers.) _
Mr. Danby Seymour proposed the "health of the
artiates" who had given their services, coupled with
the name of Sir Julius Benedict.