The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-05 00:00:00

SURREY.

EAST SURREY AGRICVLTURAL ASSOCIATION.—
The annual meeting of the above association took place on
Thursday, at Croydon. The number of persons present was
smaller than on previous occasions, and not more than forty
sat down to dinner at the Greyhound. The Right Hon. B.
Baring took the chair. After the usual loyal toasts
had been proposed and duly responded to, the Chairmen, in
proposing the toast of the day, " Prosperity to the East
Surrey Agricultural Association,"mid—Perhaps it would
not be unsuitable to the occasion if I were to make some re-
marks upon the strictures which have lately been paused
upon associations of this nature. In the fist pace, it is im-
puted to U 3 that our objects are altogether selfish: I deny
this. Let us compare them with the objects of 'other
associations. We are not associated to conspire, like the
ironm.asters of Staffordshire, or the coal-owners of the
north, to raise the price of our produce to the public;
nor do we !reek to shift the burthens of taxation from
our shoulders to them of our neighbours. Our object
is to improve the cultivation of the land, to produce abun-
dance of food, to strengthen thereby the resources of the
country. And let it be remarked here, that our improve-
menu are not accompanied by the mine drawbacks which
accompany improvements in manufactures. Improvements
in machinery dispense with labour, and for a time produce
distress. If our objects, therefore, are public objects, such
as every soul in the country must sympathise in, where is
the selfishness imputed to us ? We are not selfish either as
regards our conduct one towards the other ; we make no
secrets of our discoveries. Is this the ease in all other pro-
fessions ? We are ridiculed for the unwieldy, unseemly, and
unprofitable size to which we fatten our beasts. Now, what
is the object of our prizes ? It in to encourage those breeds of
cattle which fatten upon the smallest expenditure of food,
The proper, the direct teat would be to tie up the cattle com-
peting for the prize for some weeks, to feed them upon the tame
food, and compare their respective weights. This would un-
doubtedly be the correct test, hut we have not the means of
applying it, to we are obliged to resort to an inferior test,
founded upon our knowledge that the beast which fattens in-
ordinately upon unstinted food, would also fatten for the
market upon the least expenditure of food. We do not con-
sider inordinate fat u a merit in itself, but we value it as the
outward and visible sign of merits which we cannot ascertain
by any other means afforded to us. I come now to the last
point of attack. We give a prize of 3/. to the moat independent
labourer, and a premium of 301. to the fattest oz. It is in-
ferred from that, that we set ten times as much value on the
fattest ox, as we do on the independent labourer. Now, just
let us consider why we give the premium for the fat oz ; we
do it for the same reasons that the country gives a 1001. plate
for the fasted horse ;:we do it to encourage the breed; we do
it to induce private men to do a public good at their private
coat. We give the money, to a certain degree, in compensa-
tion for the expense incurred. But we give the prize to the
labourer upon other ground, ; upon the same grounds on
which the Humane Society give their medal to the lieutenant
who leaps off the quarter-deck of his ship to save a seaman
overboard in a gale.

THE lICROLARY IN ESSEX.—Yesterday a reward
of 1.501. and her Majesty's free pardon were offered for
the discovery and conviction of the men who on the 17th
ult. broke into the dwelling-house of Mr. Abraham Ofttn, in
Hutton-green, the whole of whom had their faces covered
with black and wore long black cloaks ; one of them pre-
sented a pistol at Mr. Offin, and threatened his life, whilst
the others ransacked the house, carrying off above 701. in
money and a large quantity of silver plate. 100!. is offered
by Mr. Odin and 501. by government, with pardon to any
accomplice net being the person who pointed the pistol at
Mr. Off.n.

INCENDIARY FIRES.—This county has once more
become the soene of incendiary outrage. During the past
week two fires have occurred in the Woburn district, one of
which threatened the destruction of a whole village. It
took place on a farm belonging to the Right lion. Sir G. Rose,
Bart., in the occupation of Mr. Charles Gale, and abutting
on the village of Little Brinkhill. Soon after Mr. Gale had
retired to rest he was aroused by cries of fire, and perceived
flames issuing from two different parts of the rick-yard.
They spread with rapidity from stack to stack, and the heat
became so intense so to render approach to the rick yard
wholly impraeticeble. Messengers were despatched to
Woburn and Fenny Stratford fur the engines, but owing to
the distance it was a long time before they arrived, sod when
they did they were nearly useless, on account of the dfficulty
of obtaining a sufficient supply of water. At this time the
granary, barns, stabling, and other farm buildings were
blazing fiercely, the refletion being visible for many miles
round. The discharge fi om the engines was too feeble to
make any sensible impression on the main body of the fire,
but the dwelling house was fortunately preserved. It was
then discovered that premises at the skirts of the village were
on fire, belonging, respectively, to Mr. Penrose, surgeon, Mr.
Tomkins, and Mr. King, =hater, and =leas speedily
arrested at this point it was evident that the whole village
must be involved in the conflagration. Happily the efforts
of the villagers were favoured by a ehaage of wind, and the
flames were eventually subdued at all points before day-
break. The loss cannot be far short of 30001. Mr. lisle is
partially insured for his stoat, end the farm. buildings,_ the
property of Sir George Rose, are fully covered. K
ing
is not insured. It appears that when Mr. Gale re
the night, the premises were left in perfect eafety,d.foder
_
various circumstanced tend to show that the fire was not
the
re of accident. The ssoond fire took plats at a farm, near
the village of Wavendon, in the occupation of Mr. J. Lew-
icy. It broke out soon after midnight, and though speedily
discovered, and aid promptly afforded, the chief. part of the
homestead was reduced to mho. The Ices u said to be
nearly 4001.