The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-29 00:00:00

• "

7

A law has been passed in CaliforMa for the due o 1"
servanee of the Sabbath, and the proprietors of eirceseg
and gambling dens readily succumb, and advertise that
they shall do everything
according "to law and order.
A CENTENARIAN.—A master mason, named
just died at Epinal (Vosges) in his hundreth year. Up
possession of
to the moment of his death he was in Ogar, has
all his faculties, both mental and
bodily. He perfectly
recollected the reign of Louis XV. ; and, though in
easy circumstances, he used, within a year before his
death, to go daily to a wood at a kilometre's d.;.stanos
from his dwelling to make himself a faggot.

, 06' Prf-LPFE
MR. 13/M7ABLI AV, -A PER4nri)tr' 7•-:11-'1..J,-.k • r2t,'
•
ci" riee—d4 fraien na a -Trimtfrig-&-tuatiolY6l b" s • )4
Agricultural Association was held' at Aylestairrsa. The • Pea
"el
preceedings of the day commenced with a plouglaiag ,•
match at Crown Leys, in the immediate vicinitf -3f sae
to we, on the property of Messrs. Parrett. rocriein
teams were entered for general competition, in addition
to two lads' teethe for the prize given by Mr. Dupre,
one of the members for the county. The ploughing was
pronounced by the judges to be highly creditable to the
competitors, and the exhibition was witnessed by a
largenumber of the gentry and yeomanry of the county.
In the afteruoon prizes to the amount of nearly 501.,
including three given by Mr. Disraeli, M.P., were
a warded to agricultural labourers and farm servants for
having brought up large families without parochial relief,
for length of service, and for general industry, sobriety,
and good conduct.
Tha society's coat and buttons, of' the value of 21.,
were awarded to fotir farm servants who had served their
masters with fidelity for the greatest number of years.
The members and their friends afterwards dined toge-
ther at the George Inn, under the presidency of 31r.
William Lowndes, of the Bury, Chesbam, supported by en
the Rieht Home Mr. Disraeli, Sir Harry Verney,
T. T. Barnard, and other gentlemen of the couuty. et
After the usual loyal toads had been given and re- • a
speeded teal .•
The Rev. E. N. YOUNG, Deputy-Lieutenant of the
County, on returning thanks for " The Bishop and
Clergy Of the Diocese,— expressed his regret that there
wes no other clergyman present to reply to the toast.
Living as the clergy for the most part did among the
people, it was impossible for them not to feel and recoe-
nise the salutary influences of such societies. It had
been said that agricultural associations, or rather the
giving away prizes, had, if not a demoralising, a de-
grading effect upon the labourers. He, for cne, did not
hold that opinion, and he could not see anything either
in the distribution of the prizes or in the annual dinner
afteresan's which could prevent either the clergy or
country gentlemen from taking part in those demon-
strations: 'lt was true that the excitement of politics
had passed away, and that there was no inducement of
that kind to draw a better attendance • but he must
he felt disappointed to find that the Chairman had
only Hobeente choice when be called ui on him to return
thanks for the clergy of the diocese. (Cheers.)
Mr. BERNARD proposed "The Ilealth of the Members
of the County," and stated the pleasure he felt at the
presence of their di-+inauished representative, Mr. Dis-
raeli, nn that occasion. (Cheers.) He (gr. Bernard) was
intimately 'acquainted with all the members for the
county, but for Mr. Disraeli he might say the right boo.
gentleman had already shown a deep interest in the suc-
c, ss of the society, and had felt it a duty to be present
at all its anniversaries, except on occasions when public
business demanded his presence elsewhere. (Cheers.)
Mr. Desaame, on rising to respond to the compli-
ment, was enthu-ieeticalfy cheered. The right hon.
gentleman Chairman and Gentlemen,—I beg
to return you, upon the part of my colleagues, Mr.
Dupre and Mr. Cavendish, as well as of myself, what I
am sure must be their feelings when they are told of
the kind and handsome manner in which you have re-
ceived the toast, their cordial and grateful thanks for
the sentiment which you have exhibited this day on their
names being mentioned. (Hear.) Gentlemen, I can
truly say that, although circumstances have prevented
them from being present here to-day, there is no occa-
sion, when a regard for your interests or rights will
demand their presence, that they will be found want-
ing in their duty to their constituents. (Hear, hear.)
I myself take great interest in these societies, because I
think I may remind my kind friend who proposed my
health to-day that we were present on the first anni-
versary which celebrated its institution. Now, these
societies, as my friend Mr. Young has mentioned,
have sometimes been subjected to ridicule ; and
I hardly know anything in a country remarkable for its
freedom of speech, as well as for everything else, which
has not at times been subject to observations of a depre-
ciating character. But these societies, notwithstanding
those remarks of ridicule, which are generally made by
those who are not acquainted with the subject, and have
no personal experience of their bearing and influence—
these societies, I say, have continued to flourish, and the
one of which we are members counts, I believe, a quarter
of a century of existence. (Hear, hear.) I never my-
self could discover any valid ground for these charges
and sneers that are sometimes indulged in. Now, with
respect to the instance mentioned by my friend Mr.
Young, who said that it was held as degrading to a
labourer to be called up to receive a special reward for
his services, it appears to me to have very little founda-
tion in reason. I read in the newspapers the other day
that one of the ambassadors of her Majesty appeared in
a very interesting scene—l allude to the Crimea—and
called together half-a-dozen general officers who had pre-
eminently distinguished themselves in order to confer
upon them, by command of her Majesty, a decoration
to express a public sense of their public services.
But we would not say that it was more degrading
for those general officers to have come forward
and received the public expression of the value of
their services than for the peasants of the country who
had shown their integrity and ability in their vocation
to have come forward publicly to receive the respects and
marks of regard of those present on an occasion like this.
(Cheers.) It is quite unnecessary for rue to trouble you
with any arguments on this head, because every one
present must know from his own practical experience
the beneficial influences of these institutions. I think
there bee been a very great error on the part of those
who male comments upon the influences of these socie-
ties in having an idea that they are scientific institutions ;
whereas the fact is they are social institutions. We do
not pretend to make any scientific discoveries, nor do
we suppose, in our limited and contracted sphere, that
we can revolutionise the agriculture of the country.
Such are not our objects, but our aim is to cherish and
encourage good feeling and brotherhood among the
various classes of the community—an object which we
believe to be highly important to the general welfare of
the country. In my opinion, these societies have been
eminently successful in this respect, and I am certain, as
you all must be, that this association has in its peculiar
sphere exercised a very beneficial effeet upon the feelings of
the labouring classes of the district. If this be our convic-
tion, I am quite persuaded that the Royal Bucks Agricul-
tural Association will sustain itself with credit and influ-
ence. I quite agree in all that has fallen from my rev.
and most respected friend, Mr. Young, with regard to
the absence of the clergy to-day ; but I think we are
very much indebted to the clergy of this county for the
spirit in which they have supported this society on vari-
ous occasions. I attribute their absence to-day to acci-
dent ; but you know we can find a sufficient excuse by
all agreeing—clergy, farmers, and country gentlemen—
to be present next year, and by using our influence
among our friends to induce them to become members of
the society. Gentlemen, allow me again to thank you
for the honour you have done my hon. colleagues and
myself, and to drink success to our future efforts. I
trust that the Royal Bucks Agricultural Association may
long flourish, and continue to exercise its beneficial infiu•
ence over the society of which we are members. (Cheers.)
Sir H. VERNEY, who'was cordially welcomed, said he
was privileged to propose a toast which he was sure
would meet with the hearty concurrence of the company
—it -.vas "The health of the President of the day.
(Cheers.) It had been truly observed that the welfare
of the agriculturist had been overlooked in these days,
when so much had been done to improve the condition of
the wee-king men in large towns. The importance of
the promotion of' agriculture could never be overrated.
The increased amount of food in the country, the gene-
ral health and well-being of all classes, the amount of
employment, with fair remuneration, to the artisan and
labourer, and a fair amount of work given in return,
better co, tages for the poor, better medical treatment—
these and everything that could improve the condition
of the community were in a great degree promoted and
maintained by the advance of agriculture and the ame-
lioration of the agricultural classes. (Cheers.) For his
own part, he would be very happy if the time had arrived
when there would be one general association for the pro•
motion of agriculture in the county of Buckingham.
(Hear, hear.) There was no other county in the king-
dom which was better calculated to take the lead in all
matters connected with agriculture. It was peculiarly
an agricultural county. It could not, like other coun-
ties, boast of manufactures, but lying, as it did, between
the manufacturing districts and the metropolis, there
was no reason why it should not be the centre of agri-
culture, or why Aylesbury should not be a central de-
pot for supplying the metropolis with food. (Hear,
hear.) If they had a railway passing from one part of
the county to the other Aylesbury would become a
town of considerable importance, and the beautiful val-
ley which bore its name would soon become studded
with the elegant villas of the citizens of London.
(Cheers.) On the Chiltern hills they had an inexhaus-
tible supply of the manure best adapted for clay dis-
tricts, but unfortunately they bad no railway for the
export of the chalk with which a portion of their county
abounded. The London and Birmingham Railway was
already overcrowded with traffic, and the directors of
the company did not, he was sorry to say, pay as much
attention to the wants of the agricultural districts as
they deserved. Ho hoped that the agricultural districts
of Buckinghamshire would not lose sight of the neces-
sity of a railway from Banbury to Aylesbury- Such an
undertaking would be of the utmost importance in an
agricultural point of view, and there could be no doubt
that it would prove of great benefit to the locality, and
highly remunerative to those who might be engaged in
it. There was another point in connection with agri-
culture to which he wished to direct their attention, and
that was the costly and tedious process necessary for the
transfer of landed property. From the present state of
the law it would appear tbat it was desirable to throw
obstacles in the way of the sale of land ; but it was
evident that it would be greatly to the advantage of
agriculture if facilities were given for the cheap and easy
transfer of landed property. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment.
In the course of the evening the chairman read a letter
from the noble Pre of
isin gtheforAhsissocgiraatn,
graces
sinthabe Duke
of oaftteßnucleiktisnagntne)-ersary meeting on this occasion, and
stating that be looked forward with pleasure to the
time when he should again be able to preside over their
festivities.
Several complimentary toasts followed, and the nom•
pang did not separate until a late hour.