The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-16 00:00:00

[Stamped, ld. Additional.]

ia themselves were heavier than the loads which they were
intended to convey—which it was quite unnecessary to
make so large and heavy—which were not stronger by
TOMOS of their weight, because their weight destroyed their
usefulness, and which were dearer. (Hear, hear.) A great
improvement has taken place in that respect. (Cheers.)
Many complaints have been made this year that the crop
of turnips has been scanty—not because the crop of Cher.
lock has been scanty. (Laughter, and criesof" Hear, hear.")
I have seen • good deal of the variety of colours that
ornament our stubble., and I think if then is one thing to
which the energy of our agriculturists may be directed more
than another, it is to the extirpation of those weeds, which
draw from the soil those elements of growth which ought to
be devoted entirely to corn, grasses, and other useful things.
(Cheers.) I will not detain you longer, except to say that I
am very proud of having the honour to preside on the
present occasion. I trust this is a fresh point of delimiters
for Bonney, and that we shall be able to mark this day as •
day of increasing progress in agricultural prosperity in this
district. (Cheers.) I now propose the health of the choir-
man and committee of the Ramsey Corn Exchange, and
prosperity to that institution. (Loud cheering.)
The toast was responded to by Mr. PURCHASE, and Mr.
CRESSET acknowledged the toast of the honorary secretary.
Sir C. RAWLDISON then proposed the health of the mem.
her for the county, mentioning the names of the Hon. Mr.
Dutton and Mr. Sdater•Booth. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. DUTTON, in responding to the toast, congratulated
the town on the possession of such a building as the Corn
Exchange, and hoped that its inauguration would be the
inauguration of • season of prosperity to agriculture. At
the present moment the times were 'somewhat depressing.
A short time ago Mr. Disraeli made a speech on agricul-
tural matters, the effect of which had been, according to
the statement of a friend of the right hoc. gentleman, to
*end down the price of wheat N. per qr. (Laughter.) When
it got down it had been kept down, and he could not flatter
himself that there was any prospect of its ruing at present.
(Hear, hear.) Connected with this question there was
another of no less importance : the agriculturists were turn-
ing their attention to the breeding and fattening of stock,
and he wished to congratulate all press ut on the preeenPex-
hibition, which was far abovetbe avenge in Ramsey. (Cheers.)
He believed that for the future the farmers would have to
tarn • good deal of their own into meal. Many large farmers
instead of sending their grain to market had ground it into
malt, and sent it up in the shape of west. (Hear, hear.)
Although he believed that wheat and all sorts of grabi could
be sent into our markets at • lower price than we could
grow it, still it was • fact that English beef and mutton
could not be surpassed in any part of the world and sent
into our markets at a remunerative price. (Cheers.) As
long as our stock was kept up be did not think we should
have much reason to complain, and if the Chancellor of the
Exchequer would grant a relaxation of the restrictions upon
barley he had no doubt the farmers would go on with every
prospect of swam. (Cheers. )
Mr. SeLATER.BuOTiI also responded to the toast, and in
doing so said that the eight years which he had represented
the northern division of the county in parliament had been
characterised in the main by a remarkable absence of party
conflicts in the House of Commons, and by • still more re.
markable absence of political acrimony amongst people out
of doors. (Hear, hear.) That was a happy state of things.
Although there were some discontented people telling us
we ought to be uneasy because there was nothing to be
uneasy about, that was not his opinion. He considered
that that happy state of quiescence was due in • great rues,
sure to the fact that during a great portion of that eight
years we bad been living under the mild and temperate
sway of the noble lord now at the head of her Majesty's
government. (Cheers.) He said this without the slightest
affectation of wishing to present himself in the light of one
of the noble lard's habitual supporters. He sat in a
quarter of the house which yielded to no other in respect
to Lord Pahnerstoo's character and position, and from
which, one way or another, his lordship had received,
said no doubt would hereafter re rive, • considerable
amount of moral support. (Co. ers.) Congratulating the
frequenter. of Romsey Market on the accommodation
which had been provided for them, he begged to assure the
noble.lord that if he would visit Basingstoke on a similar
wearier' be would receive as hearty • welcome as that
which haul been aczorded to him on the present occasion.
(Loud cheers.)
Lord PALMERSTON, in responding to the toast of "Lady
Palmerston," end—l beg on behalf of Lady Palmerston to
return you my most sincere thanks for the manner in which
that toast has been received. (Cheers.) I beg now to pro.
pose the last twat, and when I mention the word which re-
presents that toast, I am sure you will feel that in that one
word mere is contained than io any other word in our lan-
guage. The toast which I give you is "The Press."
(Cheers.) Permit me to say, that we who live in a free con-
stitutional country know that the press is the true support of
civil and religious liberty. (Cheers.) Without a free press
liberty of any of these kinds would to but of a fleeting *Ware.
With a free press that can be destroy. d ; and I may
say with regard to the free prose of tee country, that it is
deserving cat the admiration of mankind for the ability with
which it is conducted, and for the high and exalted prin-
ciples by which it is animatcd. (Cheery.) The press of
Eugland does honour to the nation, and lam sure that all
present will have great pleasure in combutioe with me in
drinking the Press, connecting with the toast the name of
Mr. Falvey. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. FALVEY briefly responded, and the company then
separated.

IFESTMINSTER IVORKING MEN'S CLUB AND
READING ROOM.

Yesterday evening the fourth annual meeting of
the patrons, friends, and members ollthis:instituties was held
at the room, Duck.latur Westminster. The establishment
was (menial in December, 1840, was enlarged in the following
year, and neenlarged at the end of 1863. It has been
placed in union with the Society of Arts and the Metropoli-
tan Association for promoting the Education of Adults. It
is open every evening, SJoilisys inclusive, and comprises a
weld club-room. fur coffee, smoking, Re., • penny bank, en
enrolled Friends of Labour Loan Society, a temperance
somety with • sick fund for member., • barrow club for
costencongers, • cricket club, reading, writing, and cipher-
ing clusee, • Ltible chin, • singing class, a labour registry,
lectures on interesting subjects, and facilities for draughts
and chess. A large number of periodicals are supplied for the
use of members. A weekly subscription of one halfpenny
only is required of members. Numerous regulations are laid
down for the preservation of order, and the ordinary details of
the club are teenaged by a committee of twelve members.
No less than 1,050 members had been enrolled on the
books, but the number actually existing is about 700, the
average Wendel:um weekly being shoot 240. The following
is the balance-sheet for the year Ib64:—" Penny Bank de-
posits, r.ll. 4s. Id.; withdrawn, 521. 17a. 5c1.; since the corn-
meocement. Jeamery, 1861—deposits, Z.C.I. Is. './.1.; with-
drawn, 2151. le. 3d. Labour Loan Society, 75 members.
Amount of stock, 112 f. 14e. 2)d.; loans granted during the
year, amount in circulation since commencement,
fed/. Itia. Id. Temperance Society Fried c week). Re-
caned ii. 55.; paid in sickness, W. Ila. 3;4; balance in
hand, 71. %a. 80. Barrow Club (for costermongen). Fifteen
memoers have become proprietors of their barrows since
October, 1862, cost 50a. each, instead of going on all their
lives pay* Is. 3d. and Is. aid. • week for the hire of one.
On the present occasion the meeting was largely attended
by men. wire, who appeared principally in their working
dresses ; conspicuous in a place net &part for them were •
number of representative members of tempennace societies,
who wore Abend" and badges distinctive of their order. The
chair way taken by Sir R. W. Cardeo, who was supported
by the 1t.,. J. B. Owen, 11. A. ; the Rev. W. Conway,
Rector of St. Margaret's ; Rev. J. Wright, M.A. ; J. 0.
Gent, Esq.. &military of the Ragged School taker ; Mrs.
Cooper. Miss Adeline Cooper, the laundress attic institution,
and several other ladies uud gentlemen. The proceedings
mmo:wince-I by the singing by the assembly of the 67th
Psalm, followed by prayer delivered by the Rev. Lir.
Owen. The secretary, Mr. E. Stephens, • member of the
club, road the report,which stated the continued success of
the tostitutioe both in regard to the vendee oat its ob-
jects, tint of affording means of recreation to working
men, and promoting good feeling and kindly intercourse
amongst that body io the district, and in the advancement
of each of the special advantages offered in the penny bank,
bitopereoce, and labour loan societies, the lecture', fee..
while the utmost order had bees preserved, as an instance
of whicu not • single work or periodical had been lost from
the cluterooar. The reading and writing classes had been
limed of great benefit to members. Regret was expressed
that, in consequence of the impmverneots which were in
contemplation, the building in which the club gnu located
was about to be pulled down, and there was a difficulty in
obtainir4 a new site for the erection of soother. Special
thanks were given to Miss Airline Cooper, the tenant's
and steady beuefectress of the institution.—The Chairman,
in his opening remarks, dwelt strongly on the benefits which
had been conferred on the institution by Miss Cowper ; ex-
pressed his great regret at the prospect of toe club-room
being swept away in the march of the so-called
improvements in the district, and urged the necessity of
providicg lodgments at the most moderate rent fur the
working &meat, an object which was much overlooked and
neglected, a want which was by no means supplied by
the establishment of what were called model lodging.
booms, rod he enlarged on the manifest advantages which
were presented to the body for whom it was established by
this club, the beet test of which wee to be found in its suc-
cess in its every department. Addresses were also delivered
by the Rev. J. B. Owen, the Rev. W. Coa-
way the Rev. J. Wright, Mr. Joseph Payne
and others, after which • vote of thanks to the
chairman and gentlemen who had attended was moved by
Mr. E. Bayliss, • blind member of the club, who vu fob
lowed by other members. "Mule Beimonia" was then
snag by the meeting, and the proceedings were concluded
with the benediction.

ORTOTILL PALACIL ONZ SHILLING DAT.-•-•
THCRBDIT. Dlr. 15 —Admissions on payment, SIG ; ditto
by season tickets, bBO ; 10444426.