The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-30 00:00:00

NAVAL S UEGEONS.

The naval administration of Sir Charles Wood has
been signalised by an act of justice and common sense.
The privileges which were pertinaciously refused by his
predecessors to the assistant-surgeons of the navy, in
defiance even of a vote of the House of Commons, have
been conceded to them. Tl.•e assistant-surgeons are in
future to be wardroom officers from tbe date of their
first appointment, and to be provided with cabins when-
ever that is practicable. It is to be hoped that Sir
Charles Wood will insist upon these judicious ameliora-
tions being honestly carried out. We understand that
they have been due in a great measure to the influence of
Sir John Liddell, the recently appointed director-general
of the medical department of the navy—an officer dis-
tinguished, we are assured, alike for his professional ac-
quirements, his administrative talents, his gentlemanly
feeling, and his common sense. But it must not be sup-
posed that, even under his able superintendence, a sud-
den improvement by a mere alteration of rules, or that
the pen of the First Lord can produce the effect of a
magician's wand. A strong feeling has been created in
the profession on the subject of,the treatment of naval
assistant•surgeons, and has given rise to a dislike among
the junior members to enter that service, which it will
require come time to eradicate. It is much to be re-
gretted that the obstinacy of Sir James Graham, and the
prejudices of Admiral Berkeley, prevented the measure
being sooner adopted, as a better class of men would
easily have been obtained at the beginning of the war
than these whom the Admiralty were obliged, faute de
viieux, to enter fur service during the last 12 months.
We trust a new era is dawning upon this important de-
partment, and that under the auspices of its able Direc-
tor-General, and placed upon a proper footing by the
Lords of the Admiralty, it may hereafter boast of men
in every way worthy of the service to which they belong,
and ornaments of their noble profession. It may be a
satisfaction to some of our timid friends to learn that we
have not yet heard of Admiral Berkeley having tendered
his resignation, notwithstanding the threat he held out
that if such a measure were carried he would thus sacri-
fice himself for the!good of his country. The threat was,
it may be presumed—like the celebrated one of dying on
the floor of the House of Commons—never intended to
be carried into effect.—Daily News.

MI:. MECHTS ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL
GATHERING AT TIPTREE HALL.

The most popular and agreeable assemblage of Mr.
Mechi's friends, and of noblemen and gentlemen inte-
rested in the progress of agriculture, took place at Tip-
tree Hall Farm, on Saturday. A special train started
from the Eastern Counties station at nine o'clock, and
carried the majority of the visitors expeditiously to
Kelvedon, whence they were conveyed by coach to the
residence of Mr. Mechi, who received them with all the
affability and unaffected hospitality for which he is so
highly esteemed. Shortly after their arrival, accom-
panied by the proprietor of the estate, they commenced
an inspection of the crops, and at all times, and at every
point, Mr. Me-chi was to be found furnishing a fund of
valuable information to those who wished to take prac-
tical advantage of his experience and of the varied and
costly experiments which he has attempted. The abund-
ance and admirable quality of the wheat proved con-
vincingly the vast benefit which has accrued from the
systematic irrigation with liquid manure which Mr.
Mechi has adopted, and from the perfect drainage which
he has been enabled to establish. These powerful ad-
juncts to the healthful working of the soil would, how-
ever, be of little avail, were they not directed by intelli-
gence, promptitude, and energy of no mean or ordinary
character. However opinions may differ as to the varied
detail of Mr. Mechi's projects, there cannot be a doubt of
the force and logic of his fundamental opinions ; nor can
we see without admiration the perfection to which he has
brought a soil which, at the time when he commenced
his labours, was of a most indifferent and uncultivated
description. Thenumerous and varied inventions in con-
nection with agriculture, which the progress of science
has suggested, have all received from Mr. Mechi due con-
sideration ; most of them he has practically tested, and his
experience cannot but be invaluable to farmers general'•y,
and to all persons who intend devoting time and capital
to the most useful and beneficial of pursuits. In the
course of the peregrinations over the farm several highly
important machines were set at work for the instruction
of the visitors. Amongst these were Gauett's steam-
thrashing machine, and Lord Dundonald's steam drain-
ing plough, which in its progress, digs the earth to a
depth, if necessary, of five feet, and lays down the pipes
in perfect order ; a patent liquid manure distributor, or
water cart, invented by Mr. Isaac James, was also on
view ; and a highly ingenious seed separator, by Mr.
Salmon, an American, attracted considerable attention.
Models of Mr. Wright's patent reaping machine, and of
a steam cultivator, were exhibited ; the latter is pro-
duced by Mr. J. D. Phillips, engineer in the works of
Mr. Kelecome, of Ghent, and provides a regular and
satisfactory motion, and a series of working spades, the
efficacy of which can scarcely by proved by so small a
model.

At three o'clock, the visitors, amongst whom were a
number of civic celebrities, and persons of scientific
distinction, sat down in a great marquee, placed on the
la,wn, to a splendid dejeuner, provided by Mr. Donald,
of the City of London Tavern ; the dessert was especially
remarkable, and was universally admired and appre-
ciated.

After grace had been said, and "Non Nobis Domino"
sung by Mr. Ransford, Mr. Genge, and several other
well-known vocalists,

Mr. MEcur, the chairman, gave the usual loyal toasts,
and subsequently called upon his guests to drink to
" The Health of the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese,"
coupling with it the name of the Rev. Mr. E. Sidney.
In returning thanks, Mr. SIDNEY dwelt in the most
eloquent and inteligent terms upon the manner in which
he had endeavoured to combine the functions of a clergy-
man with agricultural pursuits, and in a highly instruc•
tive and practical manner offered a variety of hints on
the growth of corn and the best method of doing away
with the injuries of £tho animal blight, known as the
wheat-midge.
The Earl of ESSEX, in appropriate terms, proposed,
" The Combined Forces of the Army and Navy, and the
Health of Lieutenant-Colonel Holland," who returned
thanks in a short and expressive speech.
The next toast, " Success to Agriculture," was given
by the Lord Mayor, and was replied to by the Marquis
of Drogheda, who expressed his satisfaction at the sur-
vey of Mr. Mechi's farm, and hoped he bad learned some
lessons which he might be enabled to apply with advan-
tage in his own country.
The Earl of Essex then gave, "The Health of Mr.
Mechi, and Prosperity to his Undertakings," which was
received with loud and continuous cheering ; he spoke
with considerable force of the conduct of the worthy gen-
tleman's perseverance, energy, and talent he bad ex-
hibited in the cultivation of Tiptree Hall Farm.
Mr. MECUM upoii rising, was hailed with perfect ac-
clamation. He modestly disclaimed much that had
been ascribed to him, and stated that he had done
nothing more in agriculture than he had done in ordi-
nary business pursuits. He spoke of the condition m
which he found the land upon his occupation of it, and
said that he bad only applied to it what he believed
necessary to all land—drainage, manure, and attention,
He declared his conviction that large profits would re
stilt from his farming during the present year. He then
dwelt with emphasis upon the advantages which he be-
lieved would accrue' from the application of steam to
agricultural purposes. He had seen a steam plough at
Carlisle, which had not received a medal, but he looked
upon it as the beginning of a consummation devoutly to
be wished, and as a bright hope for the scientific im-
provement of British agriculture.
Sir M. CHOLMELEY proposed, "Prosperity to Agri-
culture and Commerce," and pointed out the fortunate
results of their combination.
Alderman Firrins, in returning thanks, gave a pleasing
account of his youthful days, and informed the com-
pany of the gratifying fact of his having been apprenticed
in the City of London, and the architect of his own
fortunes. He also alluded in flattering terms to the
proud position to which he had raised himself in the cor-
poration.
_ _

Mr. MECHI next gave, "The Health of the T.ord
Mayor," and alluded in a complimentary manner to the
oivic authorities.
After this toast had been duly acknowledged, and had
been followed by one or two of minor importance, many
of the guests departed, highly gratified by the cordiality
with which they had been received, and by the very in-
structive and pleasing spectacle which had been afforded
them.

At the Marlborough Police Court on Friday Beneditlo
Spinola, otherwise the Marquis Spinela, son of the ex-
Minister of Piedmont, was brought before Mr. Hardwick
for final examination, charged with stealing about 7001.
in notes and gold, the property of Ermenegildo Guintini,
of the Sabloniere Hotel, Leicester-square. The prisoner
reserved his defence, and was fully committed.
Mn. SMITH O'BRIEN. —The unaccountable delay of
Lord Palmerston in answering the memorial for the re-
turn of Mr. O'Brien begins to be painful and almost in-
tolerable. The reply has been over and over again post-
poned. The only compensation for this delay is the
additional security it gives of a favourable answer, for
it is not possible that the Government would keep Mr.
O'Brien's family and friends in suspense for so many
weeks, Ind, in the PM, disappoint them. To the many
inquiries on the subject,. therefore, we feel entitled to
answer that his return to Ireland cannot now be long
delayed.--Nation.
The ship Euphemus arrived off the Start, on Thurs-
day, from Bombay and Kurrachee, for London, with
part of the 224 refitment of foot onboard.