The Press.
London, England, 1857-11-07 00:00:00

I'HE PRESS, NOVEMBER 7, 1857.

culture of this county was spoken of in language which I
amounted to contempt, as compared with that of neigh.
Louring counties. No doubt there was some exaggeration
and some little malignity in these criticisms, bat the
improvement which has taken place shows that there must
have Leen some foundation for them. Although there are
some things which we ought not to neglect any longer,
I believe there is no county in England that has made
such gradual but decided improvement as the county of
Bucks. It. was said at the meeting of the royal Agricul-
tural Society, the other day, that the main occasion of the
improvement of agriculture was that a county should have I
a variety of soil. Now, in no county in England have
you such a variety of chalk, sand, gravel, rich pasture,
fine meadow, and good dairy land. In every one of the
modes in which land is cultivated improvement has taken
place. and not the least of all among the farms of the
Chiltern Hills. No doubt these societies, if they save not
immediately caused, have sustained that spirit of imptove-
ment which has raised the county in the estimation of all
who are judges of that most vital point in the condition of
any county—its agriculture.
Mr. Du PRE, M.P., in responding to the toast of
" The County Members," took occasion to advert to
the great national calamity which had befallen our
Indian empire, and to eulogise the lofty courage of
our officers and soldiers engaged in quelling the
mutiny, and the endurance and heroism which had
inspired our unfortunate countrymen and country-
women there.
The company was also addressed by Mr. Caven-
dish, M.P., the Hon. and Rev. Lord Wriothesley
Russell, Mr. Bernard, M.P., and several of the resi-
dent gentry in the course of the evening.

LADY FRANKLIN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
THE following letter front Captain M‘Clintock to
Mr. John Barrow, F.R.S., has been published this
week. It will be read with interest :
Yacht Fox, lat. 71 deg., off Cape Cranstoun;
closed at Uppernavik, Aug. 6.
My dear Barrow,—Although I have but little news to
relate, I am sure you will he none the less rejoiced to hear
from the poor little Fox. Here she is off Cape Cranstoun,
in lat. 71 tkg., having on board an Esquirnaux and ten very
fine dogs obtained at Disco. She also is cmnplete with
coals, having filled up at the coal cliffs in Waigat Strait.
I have sent home one of my crew, who proved to be con-
sumptive, and, having proved the others pretty well, I can
answer for their soundness and willing cheerfulness. We
get on admirably—exactly as in the old Intrepid. At
Lievely I ,saw two whaler captains, whose ships were
crushed in Melville Bay last Jnne. They seemed to think
I should not experience any difficulty. I cannot find that
we have forgotten anything, great as was the hurry of sail-
ing. We are very comfortable ; our provisions are most
excellent. The Fox sails well, but steams slowly in conse-
quence of the screw being too small. As she gets lighter
she will go better. I have tried her among the ice, and
find that her sharp bow reedit, opens a passage where a
bluff one would knock in vain.
1 did not stop at ktonkerdluk, where the fossil wood
and leaves are, SO have none to bring home for your friend.
I write by this opportunity to beg that the Admiralty
may grant to my crew upon their return, if successful, that
their time for pension may be allowed to count. 1 am
most fortunate in my officers and crew ; all deserve my
praise alike.
Aug. 6.—Blowing strong from the southward. Hove to
off Uppernavik. We have got thirty dogs, and are about
to proceed on our voyage, so 1 must end rather hastily.—
Yours very sincerely, F. L. M'CusrocK.