The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-16 00:00:00

Hia grace, in returning thanks for his health, thus
alluded to the advantages conferred by agricultural
societies :
He was fully convinced of the great advantage of such
societies in bringing people together, who. perhaps, other.
wise might not so often meet, and of enabling them to
compare the different experiments they had made, as well
as to impart to each other the information that might
have been derived since the preceding year. With
respect to politica, he believed they had generally laid down
• rule which had not always been carried out in other
agricultural societies—namely, that whenever political
measures seemed to touch upon their interests, or upon
the general int Tests of the agricultural body, they should
form a proper subject to b:: discussed at their meetings.
The object of their society was the benefit and the extension
of agriculture, and they had therefore always considered that
whatever added to the prosperity of agriculture or took
away from that prosperity, was a fit subject for comment
at their annual dinner. At the same time he did not
think that at the present moment there were anyquestions
astir in the public mind which peculiarly affected the
agricultural interest. lie would therefore merely say
that, though there was much that he regretted in the past,
he looked forward with hope and confidence to the fatale.
He begged to give them " Prosperity to the Waltham
Agricultural Association." ( Cheers. )

In responding for the health of " The Members for
the County,"
Lord Joum MANNERS, having apologized for the
absence of his colleague, Mr. Farnham, who bad
attended the meetings of the society for twenty years,
on the ground of illness, took occasion to allude to
the social aspect of such gatherings :
It has been said by Mr. Gillett, and said very truly, that
at first the great philosophers of the day were apt to look
then
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down upon and affect to deride these agricultural meetings.
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efforts that were being made to aid and stimulate agriculture
in the country through the machinery of associations of
this character. But agricultural associations have now
established themselves throughout the length awl breadth
of the land, and I was enabled to-day by the kindness of
your corrcuittee to distribute prizes to the old warriors of
agriculture, and also to the strinliugs who have this day
won their spurs in the ploughing field, without fear of
the criticism of a hostile press, and totally disregarding the
philosophers who used to be so indignant at these meetings.
I, for my part, am disposed to attach very great importance
to social gatherings such as these. It is not only that
they bring together members of the various classes which
compose our rural community, but at these meetings hints
are thrown out and suggestions are made which I am bold
enough to say have tended in many instances most
materially to promote, not only the cultivation of the land,
but to increase the comfort and elevate the moral and social
position of those by whom the land is cultivated. I will
take one point by way of illustration. I can remember
some years ago the effect produced in this ball by a speech
of the admirable rector of this parish on the all-important
subject of the cottage accommodation of the labouring
classes, and yet at this moment I know no sight more
pleasing as one rides home from hunting than to witness
the progress which has been made in improving tho
dwellings of the peasantry. It is not only by these
endeavours that the social and moral condition of the
peasantry has been elevated, but we cannot help seeing
that the beauty of the landscape has also been materially
improved. I hope the position I now unworthily hold in
her Majesty's councils will plead my excuse in your eyes
if I say that in an architectural point of view it does not
cost a halfpenny more to erect a pretty than it dues an
ugly cottage.
Speaking of Cherbourg, the noble lord said :
My brother has touched upon a subject which un-
doubtedly attracted far more attention than any of the
measures introduced in the late session of Parliament, or
which had any connection with the subjects which have
brought us here to-day. He has said—and I entirely
coincide in everything he said in respect to Cherbourg—
that he did not see in the great and magnificent works
which were presented to our view anything to occasion un-
necessary alarm in the minds of the people of this country.
But although I quite agree with him that there is nothing
to create alarm, I confess that I did read with pain and
surprise some of the observations which have been made
in public by other members of that illustrious body to
which I, thanks to your kindness, belong. I can understand
a man being so essentially John Bullish in feeling as to
abstain from going to Cherbourg at all, but I can not
understand gentlemen in the position of rrembers of
Parliament witnessing this magnificent exhibition,
receiving, as we all did, the most hearty and cordial re-
ception, not only from the Emperor of the French, bat
from every one of his subjects there present, seeing the
cordial and amicable fooling.* whirl) pervaded all classes of
that vast assemblage, and then coming home and venting
all kinds of unmanly sneers and sarcasms against a great:,
a gallant, and a friendly people. So far from seeing the
erection of the great works at Cherbourg any pmcf of ill wig
towards England, or any sign of impending hostili
am myself disposed to see in the cordiality, frankness, andthe
openness with which all the works were submitted to n
inspection of the whole people of England, had they
to see in
disposed or able to go thither—l am disposed
these great works a pledge rather for future peace;
inasmuch as they afford, on the one side (with tbe_veprn
ePr:.
preparations which this country and her Majesty's u
ment may take on the other), a natural means of d ,'fence
from hostile aggression, and thus give a pledge and
security for future peace. (Cheers.)
Passing ou to the subject of education, Lord John
Manners proceeded to say :