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

NAVAL SURGEONS.

The naval administration of Sir Charles Wood has
been signalised by an act of justice end common sense.
Tile privileges which were pertinaciously refused by his
predecessors to the assistant-surgeons of the navy, iu
defiance even of a vote of the House of Commons, have
been conceded to them. The assistant-surgeons are in
future to be wardroom officers from the 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 some time to eradicate. It is much to be re-
gretted that the obstinacy of Sir James Graham, mid 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 those whom the Admiralty were obliged, faute Je
mieux, to enter for 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 pi oper 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 ont
that if such a measure were carried he would thus sacri-
fice himself for thelgood 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.

MR. MECHI'S 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
aff,thility and unaffected hospitality for which he is so
highly esteemed. Shortly after their a►rival, accom-
panied by the proprietor of the estate, they commenced
nspection of the crops, and at all times, and at every
Mr. Mechi was to be found furnishing a fund of

poin

'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, The numerous 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 bas practically tested, and his

experience cannot but he invaluible to farmers generally,
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 Garrett's steam-
thrashing machine, and Lord Dundonald's steam drain-
ing plough, which in its progress, digs the earth to a
Ilepth, if necessary, of five feet, and lays down the pipes
'1 perfect order ; a patent liquid manure distributor, or
w.atel' cart invented by Mr. Isaac James, was also on
view ; and'imn„ a highly ingenious seed separator, by Mr.
'onvitmerican, attracted considerable attention.
Wright's patent reaping machine, and of
Salmon,
Modelsa.
steam-- -
cultivater," were exhibited ; the latter is pro-
duced by Mr.
0-laent, and provides a regular and
satisfactory motion, and a series of working spades, the
efficacy ofc whiche, can
scarcely tp- Phillips, engineer in the works of
Mr. lie om i
by proved by so small a
le.
model.
At three o'clock, the visitors, amongst whom were a
number of civic celebrities, and
persons of scientific
-4rquee, placed on the
lawn, 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.
distinction, sat down in a great
After grace had been said, and "Non Nobis Domino"
sung by Mr. Ransford, Mr. Genge, and several other
well-known vocalists,
Mr. MEM', the chairman, gave the usual loyal toasts,
and subsequently called upon his guests to drink t?,
"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 bad 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 the 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.
Tie 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 had 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.

1855.

44,827
56s Od
to —s Od
2,468
13,665
1,749
10,777
563 6d

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 had ex-
hibited in the cultivation of Tiptree Hall Farm.
Mr. MECHI, upon 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 bad done in ordi-
nary business pursuits. He spoke of the condition in
which he found the land upon his occupation of it, and
said that he had only applied to it what he believed
necessary to all land—drainage, manure, and attention.
He declared his conviction that large profits would re-
sult 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
a•zricultural purposes. He had seen a steam plough at
Carlisle, which bad 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. CHOLMELET proposed, " Prosperity to Agri-
culture and Commerce," and pointed out the fortunate
results of their combination.
Alderman Finns, 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 bad raised himself in the cor-
poration.
Mr. MECHI next gave, " The Health of the ford
Mayor," and alluded in a complimentary manner to
civic authorities.
After this toast bad been duly acknowledged, and had
the
rd
been followed by one or two of minor importance, maul
of the guests departed, highly gratified by the cordiality
a.
with which they had been received, and by the very.iae,
structive and pleasing spectacle which had been afford
them.

At the Marlborough Police Court on Friday Beneditto
Spin°la, otherwise the Marquis Spinola' 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 Brmenegildo Guintini,
forarid this delay post-
poned.
of the Sabloniere Hotel, Leicester•square. The prisoner
pheenensatoivoenr over again
reserved his defence, and was fully committed.
Mn. SMITH O'Brars. —The unaccountable delay of
Lord Palmerston in answering the memorial for the re-
answer, for
re-
turn of Mr. O'Brien begins to be painful and almost in
additional security it gives of a favourable
is the
it is not possible that the Government tolerable.
The
ee
only
yly
compensation
would keep Mr.
OBrie's family and friends in
weeks, and, in the end, dis, • suspense for so many
inquiries on the subject, therefore,7ppoint them. To the many
answer that his return to we feel entitled to
delayed..-7-Nation. lreland cannot now be long

The ship Eupliemus arrived off the Start, on Thurs-
day, from Bombay and Kurrachee, for London, with
part of the 22d regiment of foot on board.
A QUICK PASSAGE.—Later Australian advices men-
tion the arrival at Portland Bay, on the 28th April, of
the ship Frances Henty, after a quick passage of SO
days from the Isle of Wight.
M. Alexandre Dumas has been fined 100 fr. by the
Paris Tribunal of Correctional Police for some indecent
verses, entitled " Les Villas," published in his journal,
the Mousquetaire, on June 18th. M. S. M., the author
of the verses, was fined in a similar amount, but the
printer was acquitted.
[ADVERTISEMENT.I Holloway's Ointment and Pills
a Perfect Remedy for the Cure of Scrofula.—Extract of
letter from Mr. P. M`Kenna, of Emyvale, dated May
24, 1854.—" To Professor liolloway.—Sir,—Many per-
sons in this neighbourhood have derived equal benefit
from the use of your medicines. One young man in par-
ticular, who had suffered between two and three years
from scrofula in his arm, and whose case was entirely
despaired of, has been soundly cured by the use of them,
after various other remedies had failed. These medicines
are equally efficacious in curing wounds, skin diseases,
burns, and scalds, and should be kept in store by every
family. Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Ilollos
way's establishments, 244, Strand, London, and 801
Maiden-lane, New York.