The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-24 00:00:00

et) 231111;

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1852.

Well, after all something does " loom in the future"
for the distressed farmers. They really begin to de-
serve it, too, for never have they complained less
since the repeal of the corn-laws. Beyond the normal
amount of agricultural grumbling, chiefly on account
of blight, mildew, or rain, we hear of nothing, at least
on this side St. George's Channel ; no after-market
Protection meetings, much less county gatherings ;
nothing, indeed, but the sulky sobbings of a few agri-
cultural journals, who, like perverse schoolboys, will
allow that although beaten they are not to be con-
vinced. Indeed the chief complaints which we hear
now are, not that wheat is so cheap, but that estates
still sell at such enormous prices, and that farms let
SO dear—in other words, that there is too little land
to sell and too few farms to let, and that to get a
farm is, after all, deemed a privilege. Probably many
of the farmers begin to learn by experience that cheap
food is not all loss to them, that they can keep their
establishments for less, as well as other people, and
save something in that way. Then they find
the union-houses unprecedentedly empty, almost
d l
of able-bodieabourers, and
wholly clearpoor-rates
a much easier burden. The tithes, too, begin to be
paid at free-trade prices—another relief, since land-
lords have not the face to raise rents in proportion ;
while wool and meat have been at prices which they
certainly cannot complain of. Circumstances like
these, combined with the uselessness of re-agitating
for Protection, probably unite to calm the agricul-
turalhoeful calm, the
mind. It is, we believe, the p
calm after the storm, to be followed by settled fine
weather.
are quietly
Perhaps many of the farmers
glancing, ever and anon, towards Rughenden
Manor, and hoping for something to appear where
the only busy Minister is too busy to attend their
meetings, too busy to " spare a moment for
health or recreation ;"—busy with the mighty
task (according to the Times) " of making something
out of nothing—of propitiating the farmers--with
nothing." Well, a little may, nevertheless, come
from that quarter ; if the community is for too much
awake to permit a shifting of burdens from land to
bade, it is quite ready to get rid altogether of any
burdens which Genius in office can take from their
shoulders; quite willing, too, that landlords should
PaY legacy duty as well as other people, and that
the income-tax should even be increased, on con-
dition of . its
being made just, and the articles of
consumption relieved from duty. If Mr. Dis-
kAELI can dare to be original, by daring to
be honest, he has
the genius to be a
thorough farmers' ;
-r'end, by befriending them
in common with the rest of the middle classes. Some,
it may be, are looking to le
-"II, and hoping that that
perverse Government will let them have guano at a
reasonable price, and that other barren isles will yet be
found rich in this fertilising article,
or that Lord
PALMERSTON'S promise of an abundant substitute in
liquid manure may soon be realised—and
we hope so
too. Many, we know, are beginning to
demand a
voice in the Legislature by means of secret voting,
and look for something from the abolition of unjust
privileges enjoyed by their landlords, in all Which
We
fully sympathise with them. This they have but to
will, and it is theirs. Now all these lesser thing,
will tell for something—not one of them should be
overlookA. It is no magical change, but a patient
laying hold on every advantage, however small, on
which the farmer must rely—so doing he will do
mach gradually to improve his condition. But it
is neither in the direction of Hughenden Manor, nor
of Peru, nor of Reform Bills that we now see the
great something looming in the future. It met our
eyes while glancing towards the lakes and romantic
.„4E*viatains of East Cumberland. It appeared in the
ibt'M *'Mast Cumberland
. Agricultural Cattle
wi...„an'ala the good city of Carlisle, as reported
St,ro Monday. The facts stated at this
e suggestions offered, are indeed full
1:1t0311.6, rmer.h The chief speakers were the
_
t'saiaii , • :LE and Sir JeraEs CateenAsa, and their
AZ
•