The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-13 00:00:00

Vrobincial.

THE WEST CUMBERLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
hell its annual meeting and exhibition last week.
The Earl Lonsdale, lord lieutenant of the county,
was present on the occasion, and at the dinner in the
evening, alluding to the rapid progress agriculture
had made of late years. said that the first step to
improvement was pipe-tile draining :

I have long since acted upon that principle, and so
firmly was I convinced that it was the best system that
could be invented that I commenced taisaufitoturing tilts

for my own use. This is what I wish to impress upon
the farmers of Cumberland; but I am sorry to see that
many of them still persevere in the old and erroneous
system. I have been a manufacturer of tile pipes a long
time, and such as I have not used myself have been dis-
posed of to those of my tenants who are willing to take
them ; and I assure you that should any one be disposed
to engage in the manufacture of these articles he will find
it a profitable business, and at the same time confer a
great benefit on the agricultural interest. Ido not wish
to enter into the trade myself, but whoever adopts it will
find it both remunerative and useful.

Mr. William Nicholson, formerly mayor of Melbourne,
Victoria, was also present at the dinner, and made
some interesting remarks upon the Australian colo-
nies and the result of the progress of agriculture :

Australia was a country which offered such advantages
that a person of ordinary abilities could not but meet with
success, if he were but steady and assiduous in his appli-
cation to business. He made himself acquainted with the
agriculture of the country, of which they all knew some-
thing by report; but the rapidity with which it progressed
a stranger would hardly give credit to. Previous to the
gold discoveries the colony produced all they required.
Everything that was necessary was produced in abundance.
The colony became an exporter of grain to a large
amount. With the discovery of gold there came a change.
Labour was not to be had for agricultural purposes, and
the land was neglected for the mines. Provisions and
other articles rose to fabulous prices, and they became
dependent on other countries for the necessaries of life.
Previous to the gold discoveries the annual value of the
exports of the colony amounted to about 3,000,0001. After
the gold digging commenced the exports increased to
23,000,0001. a year, and yet, strange to say, the embarrass-
ments of the merchants became so great that the colony
might be said to be insolvent. But the gold mania got
over after a time, and the colonists could now turn their
attention to agriculture. In another year they would not
have to import a single article of food. Instead of sinking,
the colony would shortly be in a position to export
5,000,000/. a year over the imports. This rut occasioned
by the increased attention paid to agriculture. The diffi-
culty through which Australia had passed was caused by
agriculture being neglected, and when it was not neglected
the colony enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity.

THE CRIMEAN bINN of the 6th Dragoons, 11th
Hussars, and E troop of Artillery, now stationed at
Folkestone, were entertained at a public dinner, at
the Pavilion Hotel, given by the inhabitants, on
Tuesday. The dinner was given in excellent style,
roast beef, plum puddings, and plenty of good ale,
with rum punch to conclude with. After dinner
the usual loyal toasts were drunk, with tremendous
enthusiasm. Major-General Sir H. Bernard re-
turned thanks for the army, Captain Heythorne for
the navy, and Mr. Raikes Currie, M.P., addressed
the soldiers in an animated tone, declaring that he
believed there was a good time coming for non-
commissioned officers and privates. At the conclu-
sion of the hon. member's address some of the
privates intimated their wish that this opportunity
should be taken of expressing their thanks to the
public for the sympathy shown to them :

Private DE CARTE said : We lost many a brave man,
but we never lost our good name or honour. We cannot
forget Miss Nightingale, nor can we forget Mis.
management. I promised, if ever I returned, I would
drink to the ladies who so nobly risked their lives for us--
let us do so now.

The health of Miss Nightingale was then drunk
amidst enthusiastic cheers, and the company
separated.

THE EDINBURGH CRIMEAN BANQUET is fixed for
the 31st October. It will take place at the Corn
Exchange.
COLONEL Monais, of the 17th Lancers, has been
presented with a " sword of service " by the gentry
of North Devon. The ceremony took place last
Saturday, at Torrington. The gallant colonel in
returning thanks, alluding to the appointment of the
Duke of Cambridge to the command-in-chief, said
that he had rerved under the Duke of Cambridge
far a number of years, and in his opinion there was
not a man in the army better acquainted than the
duke with the duties of the service. As a cavalry
officer, he knew the use of every strap and buckle,
and could put on a saddle and mount his horse with
any man in the service. He also thoroughly under-
stood horses, and was skilful in the use of his
weapon. He ,the colonel) was also informed by
officers of the artillery and infantry that his Royal
Highness was also equally well acquainted with every
detail of their arms of the service.
THE REV. J. Lrru.rnor, 8.A., curate of Shearsby,
near Lutterworth, the Leicestershire papers an-
nounce, has resigned his connection with the Church
of England, for the purpose of joining the communion
of the Church of Rome.

Mn. TOLLEMACHE, M.P., presided last week at the
dinner of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, at Nant-
wicb, and, in the course of his speech on the occa-
sion, referred to the discussion upon agricultural
statistics, and said :

1

874

._ _ >.~,_

This was the subject on which he could freely express
himself. as he differed on it from many of his political
Mends in the House of Commons. The consumption
and production of wheat in this country was not really
known. Men wise men thought they knew, but calcula-
tions differed to the extent of twenty-five per cent. The
people of this country ought to know what quantity they
required for their support—which was, in tact the con-
sumption of the country—and they also ought to know
what suppply they could reckon upon. The farmers were
interested in knowing what must be the value of their
agricultural produce, and thereby be able to sell it to the
best possible advantage. He therefore candidly told them,
had the Government measure called the Agricultural Sta-
tistics Bill been proceeded with, he should have felt it his
duty to vote for the second reading, though in committee
he would have proposed that certain clauses should be ex-
punged, which would have done away with its inquisito-
rial character.

Mr. Tollemache briefly referred to politics. Ho
said :

As a Conservative he would never be a party to any
move for upsetting the present or any Government, unless
he was first of all/satisfied that there were materials ready
on his own side to form a better and more efficient one as
a substitute.

TILE BIRMINGHAM FOLKS have been cruelly vic-
timised within the last few days. A Mr. Wyndham,
soi disant agent for the Queen of Oude, arrived at
the Clarendon Hotel last week, having been preceded
by a lady and gentleman, who had resided there for
some days. The lady and gentleman and Mr.
Wyndham claimed relationship. The two then de-
parted, Mr. Wyndham remaining and taking the re-
sponsibility of their bill. The next day paragraphs
appeared in the papers, announcing that the Queen
of Oude and suite were about to visit Birmingham,
and that Mr. Wyndham, their representative, had
arrived to make arrangements. Communications
were opened with the mayor, and his worship,
anxious to do suitable honour to his august visitors,
postponed a prearranged visit to Paris, in order that
he might be present to receive his guests the next
Monday. A magnificent suite of apartments was
engaged at the Queen's Hotel, and at some of the
principal manufactories intimation was given,
through the agency of the indefatigable Wyndham,
that a visit from the illustrious Asiatics might be ex-
pected. Mr. Wyndham was introduced to the
authorities and invited to dinner; but, failing to get
a 201. cheque cashed, suspicion became excited, a
telegraph was sent to town, the, truth soon discovered,
but Mr. Wyndham had fled, leaving a couple of
shirts and a long bill behind him at the hotel.
The police were set instantly in pursuit, but as yet
with no result.

ME. LEWIS MORGAN, a gentleman of property near
Merthyr Tydvil, yesterday night week dined with
some friends in Merthyr. He returned home on
horseback. On reaching the Taff Vale Railway at
Brandy-bridge as a train was coming up, Mr. Mor-
gan, excited with wine, endeavoured to get over the
line first; his horse refused, he forced him over, the
animal became restive and plunged, and before they
had quite cleared the rails the engine struck them,
threw down horse and rider, and dragging them up
the line literally mangled both to pieces. The
inquest has been adjourned till the 25th.

A STUD FARM is about to be formed at Newmarket.
The committee consist of the Duke of Wellington,
Lord W. Powlett, Mr. C. C. Greville, and Mr. W. J.
Goodwin, of Hampton-court, besides many leading
gentlemen of the neighbourhood ; and the Hon. E.
T. Yorke, M.P., as auditor, and Mr. Alfred Dyson, of
Hambledon, as manager :

The soil and climate of Newmarket (says the pro-
spectus) are most favorable to blood stock. It is the
fountain source of racing. The best horses in the world
are to be found there, and it is the regular resort many
times in the year of that class most interested in pro-
rooting and encouraging the breeding of thorough-bred
horses. It is also easy of access by rail to foreigners and
colonists who visit England for the purpose of purchasing
blood stock.

Such establishments are of the utmost importance
in preserving our national breed of horses, and are
well deserving of public support.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN has consented to lend
to the Manchester Art Exhibition, for next May,
portions of the Windsor and Buckingham Palace
collections. The list includes works by Titian,
Rubens, Rembrandt, Paul Potter, Gerard Dow,
Ostade, Cuyp, and other great artists.

THE POOR-LAW BOARD is in hot wnter now with
St. Thomas's Union, Exeter. It appears that the
guardians, on the death of one of their relieving
officers, did not wish to fill up the vacancy, but to
pay the remaining three better salaries, so as to en-
able them to keen good horses and do the work
efficiently. The Poor-Law Board sent their assis-
tant-commissioner, Mr. Gulson, to confer with the
guardians, and the result is that a peremptory order
has been received, requiring the St. Thomas's
guardians► to proceed to the election of a fourth re-
lieving officer, notwithstanding their request to be
allowed a trial of three for six months. Mr. Keko-
wich, the chairman of the board, has resigned ;

mule

THE PRESS.

but the guardians have signified their intention to
resist the order of the Poor-Law Board to elect a
fourth officer.

THE MANCHESTER MECHANICS' INSTITUTE was
opened on Tuesday, as arranged. Viscount Palmers-
ton was unavoidably absent. Mr. Oliver Heywood,
the president, in a brief opening address alluded to
the circumstance, and said the society hoped that
the visit was only postponed. _
...

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL
was celebrated at Sheffield by a festival in their
Vauxhaltgardens. In the evening the Crimean men
of the 4th Dragoon Guards were each presented with
a handsome knife, and addressed by Mr. Roebuck,
M.P., who expressed his pleasure in beholding them
again in times of peace • " not that he regarded the
peace with very great pleasure, though he was a man
of peace, and knew full well the blessings of peace;
but he appreciated men of war, for it was by their
efforts that those blessings were maintained." The
hon. member further alluded to the public confidence
in soldiers as protectors of freedom, expressed his
love for the 4th Dragoons as "men and brethren,"
and concluded his brief address amid:loud cheering.
THE NORTHUMBERLAND FISHERMEN complain that
the French coasting luggers have lately been fishing
within a mile of the south coast, and have inflicted
much injury upon our men. The Government have or •
dered a man •of-war steamer to cruise off the coast, and
protect the fisheries.
THE SITE OF A ROMAN VILLA has been discovered
at Linley•hall, in Shropshire. Two of the smaller
rooms, strewed with tiles and pieces of stucco, have
been opened up, and, so soon as harvest is over, the
excavations will be continued.

THE BUCKS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION will hold
its annual exhibition of stock and roots at Bucking-
ham on the 30th instant. The entries are reportsd
as very numerous. His Grace the Duke of Bucking-
ham will preside.

THE PORTSMOUTH BANQUET TO THE CRIMEAN
AND BALTIC OFFICERS AND MEN promises to be a
brilliant affair. The funds are very handsome, and
the intentions of the committee extend to 2,5(X) men
and 200 officers, among whom are the distinguished
of the high ranks of the army and navy, as the Duke
of Cambridge, Sir Fenwick Williams of Kars, Sir
Colin Campbell, Sir Harry Jones, Sir R. Dacres, Sir
John Burgoyne, Sir William Codrington, Generals
Windham, Rokeby, Scarlett, &c.
THE DISTANT PROVINCES of an empire are, we
know, usually below the average civilisation of the
capital, but in England we were scarcely prepared
for the following, which is given in the Manchester
papers as the copy of a placard extensively circulated
at the recent races at Wilmslow :