The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-17 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 17,

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.,
LEWES, THURSDA.V.—Another day of dreadful heat has
been added to the reception of the Royal Agricultural Society
in Sussex. Never before has this society in the course of its
summer peregrinations experienced weather so overwhelm-
ing. Added to the influence of the elections and the secluded
position of Lewes, the chalk hills in the neighbourhood seemed
positively to smoke under the burning strokes of the sun, and
the public, under all the circumstances, will not be surprised
to hear tbat the attendance in the show-yards was smaller
than usual.
The award of implements has been so unavoidably pro-
tracted that the list is not yet filled up. The subjoined list
supplies the awards already determined :
For the plough best adapted for general purposes, 71.
Messrs. Ransome and Co.
For the plough best adapted for deep ploughing, 71.—Mr.
William Bushby.
For the best one-way or turn-wrest plough, 71.—Messrs.
Ransome and Co.
For the best paring plough, 51.—Mr. Thomas Glover.
For the best subsoil pulveriser, 51.—Messrs. J. Gray and
Co.
For the best drill for general purposes, 101.—Messrs. R.
Hornsby and Son.
For the best steerage corn and turnip drill, 101.—Messrs.
R. Hornsby and Son.
For the best drill for small occupations, 51.—Messrs. R.
Garrett and Son.
For the best and most economical small-occupation seed
and manure drill for flat or ridged work, 5/.—Messrs. R.
Garrett and Son.
For the best turnip drill on the flat, .101.—Messrs. It.
Hornsby and Son.
For the best turnip drill on the ridge, 101.—Messrs. R.
Hornsby. and Son.
For the best drop drill, for depositing seed and manure, 101.
Messrs. R. Garrett and Son.
• For the best manure distributor, 51.—Messrs. R. Garrett
and Son.
For the best portable thrashing machine, not exceeding
5-horse power, for larger occupations, 201.—Messrs, Garrett
and Son.
For the best portable thrashing machine, not exceeding
s
machine,
6-horse power, witb shaker and riddle, to be driven by steam,
20/.—Messrs. Clayton and Son.
to willb
For
best e
ts t
driven p
hr b eeps
tab
For the best fixed thrashing machine, not exceeding 6-
horse power, with straw-shaker, riddle, and winnower, that
prepare the
corn-dressing
nh-ed
steam,croes
sr corn
onflog. r—mt finishinghalecehsisnr
es:ol.
Garrettedressinglasnsdr s o
n.
FHornsby
and Son. '
For the best grinding-mill for breaking agricultural proe
duce into fine meal, 101.—Mr. Hurwood.
For the bestelinseed and corn-crusher 5/.—Mr. Stanley.
For the best chaff-cutter, to be worked by horse or steam
power, 10/.—Messrs. Richmond and Chandler. '
For the best chaff-cutter, to be worked by hand power,
51.—Mr. Cornea.
The proceedings of to-day reached their climax in the
dinner which took place in the pavilion attached to the
show-yard. It was not so well filled on the occasion as it
has been of late years, though the attendance was far from
being meagre. The Earl of Ducie, President for the year,
officiated as chairman, and among the company present
were—
The Chief Officer of Lewes, Viscount Palmerston, his Ex-
cellency the Chevalier Bunsen, his Excellency the Hon.
Abbot Lawrence, the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington,
Bart., the Earl of Carlisle, his Excellency the Marquis
d'Azeglioehis Excellency the Baron Bentinck, Major-General
Sir Harry Smith, Bart., his Excellency General Count
Groeben, Earl De la Warr, Lord Walsingham, the Earl of
Sheffield, Lord Berners, Lord Hastings. Earl Talbot, Count
Perponcher, the Chairman of the Maryport and Carlisle
Railway, Mr. Richard von Holtzendorf-Viel-Mansdorff, Mr.
Hampton Langston, M.P., the Chairman of the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway, the Chairman of the South-Eastern
Railway, the Chairman of the South- Western Railway, Mr.
Fay, from the United States, the Chairman of the Eastern
Counties Railway, Mr.. E. Vernon -Harcourt, Sir Edward
Baker, Bart., Mr. Davey, late Chief Officer of Lewes, Mr.
Lover, late Chief Officer of Lewes, the Earl of Leicester,
Viscount. Gage, Sir Henry Shiftier, Bart., Colonel Davies,
the High Sheriff of Sussex, Professor Simonds, Professor
Way, Junior Chief Officer of Lewes, Captain Stanley Carr,
Sir Archibald Macdonald, Bart., Captain Hepburn, Baron
Martens, Mr. Wood (of Culmington), Lord Rivers, 111,Malezieux, Captain Mark Huish, Mr. C. A. Saunders, Mr.
R. Moseley, Mr. Slight, Mr. Sturt, Mr. Bridgeman Simp-
son, the Earl of Darnley, the Earl of Chichester (Vice.
Chairman).
The usual loyal toasts were appropriately proposed and
acknowledged, Prince Albert's health being pleasantly asso-
ciated by the chairman with his claims as a farmer.
The Chevalier BerNsEle.replied to the toast of "the Foreign
Ministers,"and in doing so expressed his confidence that he
stated accurately the feelings of his colleagues, as well as
his own, when he bore testimony to the importance of the
Royal Agricultural Society. They.saw there united not only
the landlords and tenants of Sussex,' but warriors and dis-
tinguished 'civilians and statesmen of all parties, all assem-
bled for one good and great purpose.—(Cheers.) The repre-
sentatives- of foreign Powers in such an assembly became
aware that they had come to the heart's core of British life.
—(Cheers.) He attributed a large share of the enterprise of.
the United. States to the emigration of the agricultural
classes from this country—those classes which, in his opinion,
were carrying civilization round the world mainly because
their impulse was to solicit from mother earth a due reward
for labour.—(Cheers.) In Prussia there was no occupation
so much respected as that of agriculture, and in Piedmont
also great attention was paid to this pursuit. He had to
propose as a toast, " Prosperity to the Royal Agricultural
Society."—(Cheers.) As a proot of what had been done by
• the society he had only to refer to what had been done by its •
journal, the excellent articles in which were as much read
and known- in Belgium and Holland as here. Last year they
had in the Exhibitation a memorable display of what had
had been done in the way of machinery for agriculture, but
the chief exploit of the society had been to bring the land-
lord, the tenant, and the labourer more together than had
ever been the case before. It had inspired them with the
sense that they were members of a great community, and he
connected with this sentiment the event of the 10th of April,
1848. At that very moment there was an election going on,
which elsewhere would have shaken the very framework of
society, though here it hardly ruffled the surface.—(Cheers.)
There were events of which they read in past times which
changed the whole nature of things, and even now around
thorn . "es" 6.• ."."-.6 pt...not,aerv.d.
He alluded to the subject of emigration. If the Saxon
farmer went out to the ends of the world, he would carry
with him the love of order, the respect for law, and that feel-
ing of piety which• above all things distinguished the na-
tion. This society doubled the soil of the country when
it doubled its resources, but the future before it was far
greater than its past, career had been, and with the peace of
the world apparently secured by the combined prowess of
their forefathers, he gave them "Prosperity to the Royal
Agricultural Society."—(Loud cheers.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON gave the health of the President, the
Earl of Ducie.—(Cheers.) Though there had been subjects
on which the friends of agriculture differed in opinion, there
were other objects, Connected immediately with the Royal
Agricultural Society, in which every friend of the English
soil and of the British farmer were cordially and entirely
unanimous.—(Cheers,) All must feel that the highest con-
sideration of national policy required that the interests of
the landowner and .of the tenant-farmer demanded a com-
bined effort in order by any possible improvements in agri-
culture to produce from the soil the largest crops they could
yield.—(cheers.) Such ware the objects of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society, and there was no one more competent from
time to time to preside over these annual meetings than a
obleman who had rendered himself so conspicuous in the
cause of agricultural improvement.—(Cheers.) The Right
Hon. Gentleman eulogized the share which had been taken
by Earl Dude in teaching the British farmer by a good example.
Ile bore testimony to the beneficial effects
which the Noble
Earl's model farm .and his patronage of the best iniple.
merits had produced. The fame of these were not confined
to Gloucestershire, but extended over the whole country, and
he concluded by asking the company to drink the Noble
Earl's health.
Earl DOCIE, in reply, said that his right hon. neighbour
had rather gone beyond the rigid line of truth, and had
allowed his colonial associations to lead him into sweetening
him (the President) in their eyes.—(Cheers, and laughter.)
He expressed his regret that there was not a larger attend-
:ance on the occasion. The • display of cattle was moderate
ne merit, but the display of implements had been unprece-
dentedly good. There was but one thing which was a draw-
back, and that was the extreme fatness in which they showed
their animals.—( Hear, hear.) He had not heard of any
beasts that had become beef, but he had heard of many pigs
that had become pork since the meeting.—(Cheers and
laughter.) He wished to know their opinion of the State in
which animals were • shown, for these annual meetings were
not only an exhibition of the best animals, but they drew
together a number of the best purchasers, and if that class
was disappointed they would, like wise men, cease to come.
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Now, it was a most difficult
thing to change customs that time had sanctioned, and
which had the approbation of public opinion.—( Hear.)
It was impossible suddenly to run counter to existing pre-
judices, but he thought, and he asked them to consider and
reflect if it was not possible, not to stop and change the ex.
isting current of opinion, but gradually to lead agriculturists
to show animals in a more natural state.—(Hear, hear.) It
Was out of the question asking any stewards or judges to
immolate themselves on the altar of their country's good in
this matter, and therefore the only means of reformation was
to ask the council to have a spare stock class. The breeders
would soon find that the wealthy purchasers would go to that
class, and where the money went there the
breeders would be
gathered together.—(Cheers. ) The society had been doing its
best for the interests of agriculture, and in no respect had It
been more practically useful than in the lectures delivered by
Professor Way and Professor Simonds at the ordinary meet-
ings of the council in town. The lectures had been ably
summarized by the indefatigable secretary and right-hand of
the society, Mr. Hudson.—(Hear, hear.) The society had
also taken into • consideration the enormous price now given
foe guano. As they were aware, a deputation had
waited
d in the
en the Prime Minister to induce him to give his ae
Matter. He promised to do all in his power, bat he (Earl
n
Ducie) did not believe that much w—
had,
"h Lei htilelefworeer, t e
subject.--(Hear, hear.) The society
had
the matter into their own hands, and theyproposed a
premium of 1,0001., and a gold medal for the discovery of a
manure equal to guano, and capable of being sold at a mo-
derate priCe. He was informed that if the price of guano was
reduced to one-half, it would be of the greatest benefit to the
tenant farmer; and whether success was attained or not the
society would have shown to the public, and to the culti-
vators of the soil that it was anxious to support them in
their exertions in the •cause of agriculture,— (Cheers.) The
introduction of poultry into the show-yard he feared would
cause dissatisfaction, and difficulties were to be encountered
froth, the season.of the year. .The society, however,
to encourage this source of profit by showing the
best• wished
of poultry, which would lay most eggs and I breeds
fat.
_(Cheers,) . The .Noble Earl sat down,thankingay on most
y for tho.cordial manner in which comeaa_ the
they had drunk
his health.
Lord WALSINGITAM Proposed as a
oast, g4A-
ricult ure, ma-
nufactures, and commerce."
The toast having been cordially drunk
,
ed with vocif
erous
applause, PALM was received ERSTON rose, and
,
applause, which was renewed several times after silence had
been established, and when he He said
was about to speak.
—My Lord Ducie and gentlemen top repose a
, I beg leave
toast, which lam sureith pleasure and
you will accept ay
drink with the greatest to you to 'drink
"Pr • cordiality. I propose thanksto the
esperity to the boro , and
enough of Lewe•
worthy magistrate wh seisteci the operations
of this day."—(Cheerselhas so
greatly ailed gentlemen, that
lam the. management those who have had to) do h the •uesnagement of the ar-
rangements of this • w no justice to the
meeting no other place, a at
authorities of Lewes, and will fa .!`
intties afforded for'and
no former period, were greater the ar-
e:-ng of this kind—(Cheer )
rangement necessary fora In„seersivaded, independentl fans—
and upon that account aqh.'ibei pleasure in off •y oy
other eonsideration, You wl t-to the chief Ina • ering your
gistrate of the
testimony of acknowie4gm
deeed, gentlemen, thi
town.of Lewes. •1311% mration. For I be!' this town has pe-
culiar claims to cons!
eh- hole island. t ew—
ieve it is one of the
most
ancient towns
' of..historical (Hear.) I believe
tr. a events which carry back
that it hats even to the t'
our recollection
.1, Romans, astime of the Romans. Now,
we ,
gentlemen,, in, were a great people,
unstiipasseathings—in literature d an the
arts--a

people who made great works. Those great works, indeed,
were, as we have been told—

" Imperial wonders wrought by nations spoiled;"
and though we cannct, perhaps, surpass them in literature,
or in the fine arts, yet I think we may boast that we have
surpassed them in our public works. (Hear, hear.) They
could boast of nothing to compare with the railroads which
multiply the communications of this country; and those
railroads, instead of being the work of " nations spoiled,"
are the works of individuals who, I trust, have not been
spoiled—(Laughter)—but will be ample gainers by their in-
vestments.—(Cheers and laughter.) Now, gentlemen, the
Romans also were great agriculturists, and I believe they
drew great supplies of grain from this island. But to them
was closed that wonderful book of knowledge which the
scientific investigations of the present day have opened to
you in that mysterious science of chemistry, which to them
was an unknown book ; and if ever there were a case in
which it was true that " knowledge is power," that maxim
is peculiarly true in reference to the aids which chemistry
affords to agriculture. My Noble Friend has alluded to the
question of guano, and he has mentioned what is per-
fectly true, that when I held an office which would have
enabled me, if it had been possible, to assist the farmer
with regard to guano, my endeavours proved fruitless. In
fact, the Peruvians were not more disposed to let us put a
price on their guano than the British farmer would be dis-
posed to put a price upon his corn.- -( Great laughter.) But,
gentlemen, I cannot but think tha- the progress of chemical
science, and the applicati, n of that science to practical agri-
culture, may lead you to something which will render you
less anxious and solicitous about. this same guano, and that
instead of sending to the other end of the world for more
manure for our fields, we shall find something nearly. if not
quite, as good within a tew hundred yards of our dwellings.
(Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I have heard a definition of
dirt. I have heard it said that dirt is nothing but a thing
in a wrong place.—(Hear, and laughter.) Now, the dirt of
our towns precisely corresponds with that definition
(Hear.) The dirt of our towns ought to be upon our fields,
and if there could be such a reciprocal community of interest
between the country and the towns—that the country
should purify the towns, and the towns should fertilise
the country (Laughter)—l am much disposed to think
the British farmer would care less than he does,
though he still might care something, about Peruvian
guano.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Now, we all acknowledge
that there are certain laws of nature, and that those who
violate those laws invariably suffer for it. Well, it is a law
of nature that nothing is destroyed. Matter is decomposed,
but only for the purpose of again assuming some new form,
useful for the purposes of the human race. But we neglect
that law.—( Hear.) We allow all decomposed substances in
towns to poll Ute the atmosphere, to ruin the health, to pro-
duce premature misery, to be pestilent to life, and destructive
of existence. Well, gentlemen, if, instead of that, there
could be a system devised by which these substances, which
are noxious where they now are, could be transferred so as to
fertilise the adjoining districts, I am persuaded that not only
would the health of the town populations be thereby greatly
improved, but the finances of the agricultural population
would derive considerable benefit from the change. You all
know, gentlemen—all who have attended to the subject and
read recent publications must know—that for an expenditure
per acre far less than that which produces one manuring of
Peruvian guano, you may establish permanent arrangements,
by which, bringing from the towns fertilising liquids, you
would improve your property, and a permanent improve-
ment would be made in the land at a far less expense than is
now required to produce a single crop.--(Hear, hear.) I
therefore recommend you, gentlemen, to ponder the maxim
that" knowledge is power;" and, as the diffusion of the
most useful kind of knowledge is one of the main objects for
which the Royal Agricultural Society was established, I am
persuaded it will tend mainly and most efficiently to the ad-
vancement of the interest and the power of the agricultural
class of the country.—(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, there is
only one other topic to which I shall take the liberty of ad-
verting; and it is a topic which has already been alluded to
by my respected friend the representative of the kingdom of
Prussia. I remember to have read in a book published by a
foreigner, who visited this country at a period when Parlia-
ment had been dissolved, an account of the dreadful disorders
of an English election. Here we are, gentlemen, in the
midst of an English election—(Hear, hear) —and I would ask
any man who should have dropped from a balloon and found
himself in the showyard, and thence have come to this meet-
ing, whether he could have supposed it possible that there
was any topic of diccussion or difference existing among the
people of England.—(Hear, and cheers.) It is our good
English rule, gentlemen, for men to shake hands before
they fight—(Cheers and laughter)—and if they have no
malice in their hearts they shake hands after the fight is
over.---(Renewed laughter.) But, gentlemen, we are
shaking hands in the midst of the fight—(Cheers and
laughter)—for during the elections—aye, and during the
elections for the counties, which, for reasons that I shall not
dilate upon, naturally excite a peculiar interest among those
who have turned their attention to agricultural pursuits—
(Cheers and laughter)--in the midst of the county elections,
which take place all over England in the course of this week,
here you have assembled men of all parties, differing upon
every possible subject, and I would defy any man who came
as a stranger among you to find any difference whatever, ex-
cept as to the merit of some particular machine, or as to the
over fatness or indifferent breeding of some animal which has
been exhibited.—(Cheers and laughter.) Well, I say this
is a glorious day, if on that account alone, for the Royal
Agricultural Society, and it is a fine moral lesson given to
• the world, to show that Englishmen, however they may
• differ on subjects which are deeply interesting to them in a,
material point of view, yet can lay aside all their party
Animosities, and can meet upon common and neutral grounds
as brethren and as mutual friends, with no party but their
country and no interest but that of the nation.—(Cheers.)
Mr..NEAL, the senior chief officer of Lewes, briefly re-
turned thanks.

Lord BERNERS proposed, " The stewards of the yard and
judges of the show.'
Mr. THOMPSON said—ln returning thanks for the compli-
ment that had been paid to the stewards and judges of the
show, I beg to state that the great object of the stewards has
been to make such arrangements as should secure to every
exhibitor a fair field and .no favour; and the judges have
endeavoured to make their awards strictly in accordance
with the merits of the animals or the implements brought
before them. The opinion formed respecting the general
character of the show is, that though in the classes of short-
horns and Herefords the numbers are not so great as on
some previous occasions, the horses, sheep, and pigs about
make nn the werl the riedit:37 of the of ,e 1: in
some classes is remarkably good, especially the Heretords,
the female classes of shorthorns, some classes of
Devons, and the Southdowu sheep. In the implement
department the stewards and judges are unanimous in
thinking that the present is decidedly the best show that
has yet taken place, that, not only is there less rubbish,
but that many of the standard implements have had im-
portant improvements made in them, which add much to
their value without at all increasing their cost. On the
whole, therefore, it may be considered more than an average
show. The facilities given by the town and neighbourhood
deserve to be gratefully acknowledged by those who have
taken any part in the arrangements, and I am only aware of
one cause of complaint--viz., that the elements should have
conspired with our good friends of Sussex. and lent their
aid in giving an unusually warm reception. A few days
ago I had the pleasure of seeing at work, on the farm of
a neighbour in Yorkshire, a threshing-machine made by
Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth, and the owner of
the farm informed me that this machine threshed,
winnowed, and weighed the corn into sacks at a cost
of Id. per bushel. Now, by the old process of flail and
winnowing machine,
the cost would have been, ou an aver-
age, about 6d. per bushel, making a difference of 12s.
6d. per acre on a
crop of 30 bushels merely in pre-
paring the corn for market..--(Cheers.) No long period has
elapsed since the time when; throughout a large district not
many days' journey from the fair town of Lewes, any farmer
who was rash enough to set up a -winnowing machine was
pretty sure to receive notice of a speedy visit from a certain
Captain Swing, whereas at the present time it is difficult to
find a farm of any size where a threshing machine is not
used. —(Cheers.) Twenty years ago the flail was universally
recognised as one of the standard emblems of agriculture; in
twenty years more, if anyone curious in antiquities should
wish to see a flail, he will have to seek one in a mu-
seum, where it may possibly be found side by side with the
bows and arrows of the ancient Britons, or other similar
relics of bygone days.—(Cheers.) These proofs of rapid
progress might be extended to considerable length, but I
will confine myself to one which I should be very sorry to
omit, because it involves a principle of importance viz ,
the adaptation of the more important implements to the
means of small farmers. Three years ago we were told it
was impossible to reduce the price of the better class of
implements, but we live in an age which makes us doubt
whether the word "impossible" ever ought to have been
admitted into the English language. Messrs Garrett have
this year brought out a. drill, small but efie_ tive, and at;
such a price as really to bring it within the means of sins!!
occupiers. This step having been taken, I trust its success
will be such as to lead to its being generally followed by the
'other implement makers, I beg to eirpress our sincere thanks
for the compliment that has been paid to the stewards and
judges.—(Applause.)
The Earl of CARLISLE proposed "The labouring classes."
hich they
If there were any one feature of the timesliargraitifiwcation, and
lived, which ought to give them 1)!
which he should be tempted t.onratnhkeepaubroogvreesesvoefn
scienceits striking
and marvellous improvemenatas-i
the increased thought, care,
agriculture, that feature
and honour bestowedutptoonwlabour and the labourer.—(Loud
labour, .he believed it was every
cheers.) With respect
found and felt to be a Di-
vineday more. and
tm
the heaven-ordained means and
appointment,
main material of human wealth, human happiness, and
human virtue.--(Lotid cheers.) With regard to the
labourer, he felt there were few indeed who would not
recognise the truth, that the workman should rank in
value above the work—(Hear, hear, and cheers)—that
heehould not on the one hand be considered, by the mere
feudal rich, only as an item in the retainer of the landlord—
(Hear, hear)—or, on the other hand, in the mercantile light
of a machine, out of which 8,) much work was to be ex-
tracted, but that as he did much for others, so other should
do much for him.—(Cheers.) He must also remind them
that the Legislature itself had shown by a recent enactment
that it entertained no unworthy jealousy of the English la-
bourer. It had shown that it aid not scruple to put arms in
his hand, and to entrust to him the defence both of our hum-
blest and our proudest homes. Should any invasion ever
take place on the southern shore, they might trust to the
men of Sussex to take the post of honour.
His Excellency the AMERICAN MINISTER proposed "Agri-
cultural societies throughout the world," and in doing so he
expressed his regret that that was probably the last occa-
sion on which he would enjoy the opportunity of attending a
meeting of the society.
Mr. SHAW, proposed " The Railway Companies, and
thanks for their-co-operation in promoting the objects of the
society." • • •
Mr. CHAPLIN, chairman of the London and South-Western
Company, returned thanks.
The company' then separated.
LENVEs' FRIDAY.—The proCeedings of this year's country
meeting terminated to-day, and, in a pecuniary point of
view; the results are leas-satisfactory and successful for the
society than they have been for many years past. Partly
owing to the situation of Lewes, which certainly was not a
happy selection as the scene of such a display; partly owing
to the extreme heat, which rendered locomotion, even in its
most convenient forms, oppressive, and sight-seeing, however
attractive, a bore ; chiefly, however, on account of the elec-
tions, which naturally preoccupied everybody's attention, this
show has gone off 'with less than the usual éclat. Nit more
than 5,000 people visited the yards yesterday:o,aon,dtthoo-udgahy,
tthhe
de
numbers could not have much-exceeded 15 ou(sides
anand
charge for admission was only a shilling, and stock and
plementa were both on view. There was no crowding
round
round favourite animals or novel machines,
g j
O dexterous
and eager handling to ascertain the prospective
beef, mutton, or pork; no twisting of tails,of
other devices to make recumbent prizes stand, pigs
squeak, and
public cenkeepers sullenly indignant at the exit t
puriosity. A languid listlessness pervaded th theinghnoessof
animals and their visitors; the shaded aid
were alone frequented eople saunwteinredd abeosuot thefthe
yards, stalls
turning gratefully toeverypuff' of
hats' 'and " wide-awakes' of the coolest ble w ;
construction '
that straw
abounded, and it was no unusual spectacle to see pigs and
their keepers snoozing comfortlbly
shelter of the tarpaulin. Natural together under the
4N7acannot be violated