The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-29 00:00:00

the Bellerophon, and was on board that ship in the esgegpmaent with
the French, when they were so signally defeated by Lead Howe on
the Ist of June. That he sailed with Captain is re Bounty,
on his voyage to the loath belltar, the purpose of transplanting the
bread fruit tree to the West Tsiee. That in the Retrace he went to
New South Wales, and sailed has Pert Jaime is with his
friend, Mr. Baas, in a email mid sPkrd 'ffismndelb. edpioral
George's River, and discovered the Strad wow egged denes Strait.
That he passed his examination as a lieutenant in lbs year 1717; and
in the year 1800 he was aggerted commands, edam eaddgelle,ard
under the direction of tialardraity he sailed ea a voyage ollatevery
to New Beath Wales. nut dr object of his voyage wiesegeredelly
perfornralmas
relseurraviredei and examined nearly the esti sort
ventsof New when the Invesdrator proving decayed, end 'nether
soilmilei the perm* being attainable at Sidney, heembestad
bassaset sawn and mew, on board two vessels, the Cato and Rand"
he Mk vine vessels were both wrecked on a coral reef, 7011 Idles
front Nor lisissL That anxious to convey his valuable paper to
Engird, bonded der Port Jackson, and crossed the douthernaccan
in a schoooer cor trrostpadne tans. That he entered Port Louis in the
Isle of France, when owes uncle prisoner by Governor de Case, and
was detained there MX yeas; and hs papers, being all sent to France,
were copied into the the French admiral, which was published
at that time, and all meets of Captain Flinders' discoveries were
ascribed to Captain Inssein; sad the names of Napoleon, Ciuntaceres,
Jerome, Currier, La Pines, be, appear on the French charts to places
actually discovered by Captain Flinders, and to which he had given
English names. That during his imprisonment be contracted that
most dreadfal disorder the stone, and his constitution being broken
by long confinement and painful eufering, added to the mortification
or seeing the beet years of his life wasted in inactivity, he Iran per-
mitted to return to his country, and on his liberation was promoted
to the rank of post captain. That by order of the Admiralty he wrote
an account of his voyage, and reconstructed his chart., and had the
honour of being introduced by Adm. Bligh to your Majesty, then his
Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, by whom he was received with
much kindness and condescension, and received your Majes-
ty's permission to exhibit some of his charts to your Majesty.
That close application to writing at this period completed
the ruin of Captain Flinders' health which his previous sufferings had
commenced, and the first copies of his voyage had searoely left the
press when he died, leaving your petitioner and one daughter,
for whose support, from the painful circumstances of his life, be hail
been able to make but small provision, having, during his captivity,
been only on half-pay, and on his return borne, while employed in
writing, being placed on the same list. That at the time sf Captain
Flinders' death your petitioner was, by Sir Joseph Banks and by the
First Lord of the Admiralty (lord Melville), led to expect some addi-
tion to the usual pension of a post-captain's widow, as in the ease of
Mrs. Dank ; but Captain Flinders, at the time of his death not being in
active service, and only on half-par, she had the additional pain of
finding that nothing could be done for her or her child. That under
all these circumstances your petitioner, now advanced In yews, most
humbly prays for herself and daughter some remuneration for the
services of the husband and father. —And your Majesty's most dutiful
subject will ever pray, de.

THE RETFORD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
RETFORD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, WEDNESDAY.
The seventh annual meeting of the above society
was held on the Spa Common, at Retford, yesterday, under
the presidency of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, at
whose request the meeting had been postponed for some
weeks beyond the usual period, in girder that his Grace
might be enabled to attend. The proceedings commenced
by several ploughing-matches, which took place on a farm
at Babworth, a few miles distant, and which were contested
by a greater number of competitors than usual. The show
of stock was not considered so good as on some former ism-
sions—a fact which was accounted for by Mr. Gylby, the
honorary secretary, by the prevalence in the neighbourhood
of the late epidemic amongst cattle of almost every
description.
The company on the show-ground was numerous through.
out the day. and amongst the number present were several
of the leading noblemen and influential agriculturists in the
neighbourhood. Amongst the winners of the premiums for
the best animals were Mr. Watson, of Walkeringham, Mr.
Hodgkinson, Morton • C. Thorold, Esq., Benton, &c.
After the show nearly a hundred noblemen and gentlemen
sat down to dinner in the Town-hall, which was provided by
111 r. Dennett, of the White Hart, and gave the greatest satis-
faction. The chair was taken by. his grace the Duke of
Newcastle, the president of the soctety, who was supported
on each side by Viscount Galway, Lord Henry Bentinck,
M.P., Granville Harcourt Vernon, Esq., M.P.' Granville
Vernon, Egg., the Rev. Evelyn Harcourt Vernon, W. Cham-
pion, Esq., E. W. Wilmot, Esq., &c., &c.
The Noble CHAIRMAN, on the removal of the cloth, pro-
posed the usual loyal toasts, which were followed by " The
Bishop of Lincoln and the Clergy of the Diocese ;" and
"The Duke of Wellington," and the "Army and Navy."
The Duke of NEWCASTLE next rose to propose " Success
to the Retford Agricultural Society ;" and after commenting
in no very flattering terms on the exhibition, he stated his
opinion that agriculture is the basis of the prosperity
et this country. If agriculture were to decline, in what
position would the country be placed? Where would be
that fine race of men w to were so respected, and were not
to be matched by any other country in the world ? lie
could say with the greatest confidence that such men as the
English farmers could not be found elsewhere. (Cheers.)
And if anything were done tending to the injury of that
class of men, the mischief would be more than he could con-
ceive. Ile recommended them to keep together. It was
too much the fashion of the present day to run down the
farmers, and to effect that mischief which the overthrow of
the farmer and of agriculture, must bring with it. The
farmers were a peaceable, loyal, and quiet people; and
he hoped that in their loyal, quiet, and peace-
able manner, they would keep well together. (Hear.)
Let them keep together, and not be deceived by
specious pretences of any kind, It was not for him, on the
present occasion, to enter into political matters, but he
thought that if their interests were in the slightest degree
trespassed upon, it would not only tend to the destruction of
themselves, but of the country at large. But let them not,
at the same time, do anything which might tend to destroy
that character for plain downright honesty of intention,
which bad so long been the characteristic of the English
farmer. No doubt they were highly indebted to the gentle-
men who were so good as to try various experiments,
but besides that the intelligent English farmers had
arrived at a point of practical agriculture which he could
fearlessly my, was not to be equalled in any other
region of the earth. In the European countries he was
convinced that they could not be surpassed. lie had
just returned from a part of the Continent where he had seen
a good deal of the wretched mode of cultivation caused by
the great subdivision of property, by which the holders cul-
tivated more for their own than for the public benefit. He
could safely say, after what he had seen there and at home,
that our system was far superior to that practised on the
Continent. He could not conclude without saying how
anxious), and sincerely he prayed for the good of the coun-
try, and that the English farmer might never be depressed;
but that he might always see agriculture flourish, and this
country remain as it was, a great, moral, and powerful
nation. (Hear, and cheers.)
Lord GALWAY proposed "The Members of the County
and of the Hundred of Bassetlaw."
The toast was acknowledged by Lord HENRY BENTINCIL,
M.l'., who proposed the earth of their noble Chairman.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. U. H. VERNON, M.P., alluded to his recent visit to
Canada and the United State', and to the superior state of
farming in this country and Scotland in comparison with
what he had witnessed across the Atlantic. He had met in
America with a farmer who had gone front Lincolnshire,
who had told him that he had not succeeded in getting a
farm, but that he had got a dollar for a day's ploughing ;
and the man declared that he could do as much work in one
day, as a man there could do in two, or even three, days.
They had, in fact, scarcely any knowledge as to ploughing ;
and there was no comparison between them and the men in
this country in any one point of view. He was sure that so
long as this country prospered, agriculture must prosper
too; and that, if there were a failure in regard to agricul-
tural prosperity, there must be a failure in all other respects.
(Hear, and cheers.)
The health of the noble Chairman having been drunk with
all the honours,
The Duke of Nnwestrat rase to acknowledge the com-
pliment. His interest and theirs were bound up together,
and it was therefore natural that they should be willing to
befriend and assist each other. He hoped that times would
soon be better than they had been ; but, if they willedpot, he
could only say that that which he possessed 16dlild be
in a great measure devoted to themselves ; and that any
surplus which he could obtain should go as far as he could
mate it go to benefit the farmers and the constitution of the
country generally. (Hear.) It would be his delight to see
those
w
y
person in his neighbourhood would ever go to the poorhouse.
hwarreurendqhiuirininhgapapiT. andliweinhofoprettbthlea,tanndott4onreehdeevsee rvthinmeg
(Hear, hear.) And he trusted that the farmers would do all
in their power to benefit the poor around them. It must be
obvious to every one that the honest and bold independence
which was so proverbial as the character of the English
peasants should never be broken in upon; but that
it ought to be perpetuated, and that they should re-
main their country's pride and glory. (Cheers.)
He trusted that nothing would be done which would have a
tendency to throw poor land out of cultivation ; and if so,
no harm could be done. But if the poor land were thrown
out of cultivation, then mischief would-arise which it might
be difficult to avoid. But they had good British spirits to
good British hearts. Don't let them be cast down. Make
such efforts as were still in their power; keep well together;
and perhaps thing' might turn out well yet. He hoped that
every blessing would attend their exertions.
Several other toasts were proposed and replied to during
the evening.

IRELAND.
DI:BLIN, OCT. 27.
TEE STATE OP IRELAND.—It is this evening, and not
Saturday last, as I announced toyou on that day from public
rumour, that Mr. Labouchere sets out for London. I under-
stand the right hon. gentleman has been summoned to attend
a Council of the Ministers to deliberate upon the state of
Ireland. The greatest anxiety exists in Ireland as to the
result of his mission.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
The Cork Examiner, just come to hand, mentions that
fears were entertained on Monday last of a popular distur-
bance in that city, but that after some three or four of the
leaders of the party. were apprehended, the rest dispersed.
Lord Lorton has issued the followingaddressto his tenantry
in Roscommon
Mr ralleiDo sun TEN orr..—in the course of the 48 year+ I have
been your landlord, and nearly the entire time a resident among you,
employing during that period upon an average between 2Oi and 300
persons daily, and expending above 300,000 f. in carrying on improve-
ments—lt has unhappily at different times become necesury for me
to warn you wing the machinations of wicked and designing men,
of which description there are now many scattered near your dwell-
ings, who are using every effort to turn the awful infliction which it
has pleased the Almighty in his infinite wisdom to visit upon this tin-
py land to their own account ; and which, if not checked in tin*.
will -bring such calamities upon the unfortunate people a+ they cannot
have tae slightest idea of. It is, therefore, my paramount duty to
warn you in the strongest manner ,:and I trust with the same FLICI*6.I
as formerly), against the schemes of your enemies—one of these is to
induce y to resist the payment of rents. Now, if you should an-
y fall into their snares the utmost ruin would be the corm-
.