The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-20 00:00:00

THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

DEPUTATION TO EARL RUSSELL

A deputation from a county meeting on the cattle
gconvened by the High Sheriff of Lancashire at
Zitict, on the 11th of January, and consisting of the
Marquis of Harlington, M.P., Mr. Charles Turner, M.P.,
Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth, Mr. Townley Parker, Mr.
Thomas Weld Blundell, Mr. Jonathan Peel, Mr.
Fazackerley Worthy, and Mr. John Hargreaves. had an
interview by appointment with Earl Russell, at his official
residence in Downing-street, yesterday.
Earl RUSSELL said that with respect to the first part
of the representations made by the deputation—viz., as to
the adoption of more stringent measures to prevent the
movement of stock, be conceived that one main difficulty
had been pointed out by Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth. He
had stated that the English people were little accustomed
to the SIMON of such authority as would be required
to enforce such restrictions. A large increase of the
police force would, therefore, be required, and with
that an act of iparliament to 'sable that new
force to stop cattle on the roads. His lordship said that
his own observation of the numbers of cattle which he had
himself constantly encountered passing over Hammer-
smith-bridge was a proof of the difficulty of stopping
such movement on roads without new powers from par-
liament, and an increase of the police. His lordship then
gave instances of the importation of the disease into certaio
counties by the purchase of diseased stook by cattle dealers
or farmers, and of the subsequent disastrous consequences.
The government could not, however, without deliberation
determine Waxily for an increase of their powers of restraint,
or for authority to require peremptorily an increase of the
police force. Bat the matter was one which was worthy of
consideration. Thee, as to the sword part of the sugges-
tions, the government were well inclined, if such a mammye
were generally desired by agriculturists, to introducean act
of parliament enabling them to grant loans upon satisfactory
security, and under proper regulations, to meet losses from
the cattle plague. They conceived that welleonetituted
societies for mutual assurance from losses from the cattle
plague might be formed in counties, with a view to
avail themselves of such a loan. Bat the government
had great difficulty in conceiving bow such a system of in-
surance against these losses could be made to work
efficiently in a wider area than counties. The deputation
had assured him that they did not seek say grant of
public money, nor any guarantee from government that
the compensation for lenses from the cattle plague for
which such association would become responsible should be
paid, nor any charge on any kind of property except farm-
ing lands. That assurance was very satisfactory to him, and
it induced him, therefore, to hops that the public loan for
which the government was disposed to ask the sanction of
parliament might be made to harmonise with some system
of voluntary mutual assurance in counties. He bad no doubt
that ample security could be given for the repayment of
such a lean, and that the charge could be made a subject
of equitable adjustment between owners and their tenants
on the principle suggested by the deputtaioo. That arrange-
ment might have the unction of the law. His lordship
further said that the statements which had been made to
him by Sir James on behalf of the deputation as to the
great loss already incurred, and as to the probability of
even greater calamities. did not seem to him to be open
to serious question, and the deputation might feel assured
that the several suggestions which they had submitted would
have the most attentive consideration from her Majesty's
government.
Mr. Weld Blundell, Mr. C. Turner, M.P., and Mr. Town-
ley Pecker stated several objections to the existing regula-
tions.
Mr. JONATHAN PEEL then said be had recently had very
extortive intercourse with tenant farmers, and they, with-
out soy exception, bad emphatically expressed their convic-
tion that the time wsa come for the hone of a general order
by the government securing uniformity and greater stria.
geocy of seder).
The Marquis of HurrueoroN thought that the Privy
Council already bad power to issue such an order within the
limits of the existing law, though an act of parliament
might be required to invest them with further powers.
There were many tenant farmers present at the Lancashire
county meeting, and he had no doubt whatever of the gene-
ral otinviction that the time was come for most stringent
action under such a general order.
Earl Hamm. said that without an act of parliament
many of the suggestions of the deputation could not be
carried into effect, but no doubt could be entertained of
their importance, and they would have the immediate
attention of the government.

The 'Mosey of vaccination u a preventive of cattle
plague isl being made the subject of careful experiment by
the Commissioners. With a view to the assistance of per.
sons in various parts of the country who may wish to make
the trial, they have further thought it well to issue some
plain suggestion as to the performance of the operation
sad its results which have been drawn up by a member of
the Commission, Mr. Cooly.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE AT FINCHLEY AND BARNET.
—Mr. Farmer, Government Inspector for Finchley, Horn-
soy, and Thorn Barnet, reports thus :—" In the parishes of
Fincbley and Friers Barnet alone there have mane under
my notice, from the 15th September to the 31st Decem-
ber (15 weeks), the following, viz.—Cattle attacked by the
plague, 142 died, 83 ; slaughtered, 33; recovered, 2G. Of
this number, 101 grazed in fields that were irrigated with
sewage, or through which were watercourses contaminated
by sewage. Of the 101, 14 recovered by treatment ;of the
remaining 41, 12 recovered. Those attacked baring par-
taken of food impregnated with sewage, their breath yea
offensive in the extreme, and they were speedily carried off.
When dead, putrification set in at once, requiring Lome.
diets burial. I offer no opinion on this, I merely relate the
facts as they have arises."
THE SURREY MAGISTRATES AND THE CATTLE
BLAClLM—Yesterday the adjourned meeting of magtstrates
of the county of Surrey was held at the sessions-hove,
Newington, at which it was determined to withdraw the
notice given on the 4th inst., and to publish in lieu thereof
• notice to the effect tbat from the 24th inst. until the Ist
March next no cow, heifer, bull, bullock, ox, or calf should
as brought in any way into the county, or, except under
certain conditions, be removed over, along, or across any
highway or public road (not being a raiload), from place to
plane within the jurisdiction of the county, and that say
pennon acting in contravention of than notice shall be liable
to • penalty not exceeding 201., if he has not obtained the
license of two justices for the removal of such cattle for the
purpose of being slaughtered ; and, further, it was pro-
vided that any person with • like license might remove any
such animals from any land or plats to anot
y her land or
plies in his own occupation, it being satisfactorily proved
that the cattle plague has sot for two months existed in
the lands or places from, to, or through which such animal
will hove to 111.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOUTH Kla-
KENOTOIL—At the scientific and general meeting of the
society, to take place on Tuesday. the 23rd January, • di..
cession will take place on the artistic arrangement of fruit
and flower shows. Mr. J. Hungerford Pollen, N.A..
F.R.H.S., will open the proceedings by delivering• short
address on the subject.
Tax lavisrom. Cou. TlADl.—Lzviaroox, FRI-
DAY.—The market is steady, sad the demand active, part'•
cularly for steam coal ; and as the differences between
, the masters and man have been arranged, there are now so
isflossoes at work to impair the trade. As the weather
during the week, though boisteress, bee not besa cold, the
demand for boas" coal has been considerably less. The
export trade elbows iatiressa. From the Bth to the
13th the expecte from Liverpool to foreign countries were
20,965 teas, and the coastwise shipment' amounted to
1,193 toss. During the men period of left year the export'
did not exceed 13,811 tons to foreign countries, and 2,654
taw aossarim