The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-24 00:00:00

a farmer who does not do his best to improve his
land, is stigmatised as neglectful of his business
and of the interests of his leandlord. Farming, like
other trades or professions, usually demands a con-
siderably outlay, before much return can be ex-
pected, and the large? the farm the greater the
capital required. Agriculture, too, pays slowly,
but surely. Its low rate of interest being, as Mr
DISRAELI said the other day in Buckinghamshire,
compensated for its security. But the security of
a farmer on a short lease is a very different thing
from that of the occupier of his own farm, or of a
tenant who holds his ground a long term
of years. In speaking on this sui,ject, Sir JOHN
PAICINGTON remarked that tenants often objected
to long leases on the ground that they had confidence
in their landlords, while landlords disliked them
because they were anxious to retain their power
over the land. Sir JOHN, with his plain English
sense and straightforwardness, soon disposed of both
these objections. Tenants, he said, ought to treat
the matter as any other commercial transaction
would be treated, and to put their trust in written
documents, Certainly the man who undertook any
other costly business on the mere faith of another
man's word would be looked upon as sufficiently
simple; and although tenant farmers generally
know something of their landlords personally, and
are therefore less Quixotic in trusting to their pro-
mises, the principle on which they do so is not
sound. Without any intention to deceive or over-
reach on either side, casual words may be relied
upon, or meanings misinterpreted, while shortness
of memory and a dozen other chances combine to
render verbal arrangements a fruitful source of dis-
sension even amongst well-intentioned persons. On
the principle of the proverb—' Short accounts make
long friends"—it is wiser and better to have written
evidence of every business transaction, and we ses
no reason why farmers should not have the same
protection against mistakes and forgetfulness that it
is usual to have in other dealings. The influence
of the landlord is an awkward matter, but Sir JOHN
faced it boldly. He said that landowners wished
to keep their power over the land, but if that
power referred to game, he thought that any man
man who kept an excessive quantity of game ought
to pay for it—an opinion which the non-sporting
community will readily admit the truth of. As to
politics, the right hon. baronet very justly said, the
exercise of such power was a mistake, and support
so obtained would not long keep any party in power.
Further, he offered evidence of the correctness of
his views by quoting statistics which showed that
in the north farmers had offered much higher rents
for farms on 21 years' leases than for the same farms
on 15 years, which proves that tenants, at least, are
awakening to the advantages we have been dilating
on. Also, it appears from the same evidence that
farms let for long terms are much more productive
than those let on short leases, a fact clearly indi-
cating that tenants are naturally reluctant to make
the necessary outlay for the best possible cultivation
of their farms, while uncertain how far other men
are to reap the profit of their labours, The new
&team implements, admirable as they are in their
effects, are very costly, so that the man who is
unable or unwilling to expend much capital on his
farm, will soon be left behind by his more specula-
tive and adventurous rivals. It is clearly the duty
of tenants to make the most of their land, but it is
manifest incumbent on landowners to offer them
every facility for doing so. We hope before long
to see this system generally recognised, and that
the landowners may show that fairness and kindli-
ness in his dealings with his tenant and the farmer
with his labourer!, without which the condition of
the agricultural interest can never be sound or
flourishing.

Lord BRGtTGIIAM'S address at the National Asso-
ciation for the Promotion of Social Science is
one of great interest. It is certain to delight
many by its perusal, and apart from its excellence
of purprat, eloquence of language, and philosophy
of ideas, there remains the reflection that he who
uttered it is of an age that makes his achievement
really remarkable. It is a very satisfactory sight
to see a man thus pass a long life in the prosecution
of all that makes existence honourable and distin-

guished, and devote the evening of his days to the
calm pursuits of science. The noble lord's address
was most encouraging, and he was at great pains
to do away with the impression that much had not
been done since the Congress last assembled. He
showed how all progress must be slow to be sure,
and how nothing really effective can be done in
vehement haste, His remark may prove of service
to many well-meaning persons who are always de-
feating their own objects, by pushing on is despe
rate speed, thus confusing others and bewildering
themselves. To these the warnings of one who has
been one of the greatest reformers of his day
are very appropriately addressed. It seems
strange to hear One who mixed personally in some
of the most exciting scenes of political strife now
cammenting upon the absence of party in our public
life. " The voice of party has been for the most part
still," he says, and adds that this circumstance tends
to show that improvement has been made, and
public opinion become more enlightened. It is not
surprising that Lord BROUGHAM should dwell at
length upon the subject of education, and the great
efforts that have been made in that direction of late ;
he himself presented more than one hundred and
twenty petitions to the Lords upon the subject, and
was, doubtless, mainly instrumental in bringing
about the salutary change that has been
wrought. The noble lord's strictures on
the very great carelessness that is displayed
in the choice of persons who are to be teachers
were most admirable, and it would be well if they
could have due weight among those to whom they
apply, for the incapacity and want of knowledge
displayed is most astounding, The noble lord said
that such gross negligence was not suffered to exist
in other departments,
"Care
di is taken that no
unfit persons shall practise
provision is made for the educationecnoef
lawyers : is
medicine
it less important to see that fit persons shall be in-
trusted with the mental and moral health of the
community than with its bodily health or its pro.
perty ?" This simple statement exactly expresses
the leading features of the case, and represents
the very faulty notions entertained on the subject ?
Thus he goes on to add that it has now become a
saying, if any one fails in everything eke, " let him
keep a school," or " let her be a schoolmistress."
If inspectors are appointed, it is almost certain
that the greater part of the schools will submit
to the examinations for the sake of gaining the cer-
tificate&, and thus a great advantage will be
secured to the community. Lord BROUGHAM
considered the reform that has taken place at the
Post•OffiCe to have been of great benefit in
the way of education. Enabling poor per.
sons to send to their friends at a cheap
rate of postage has held out great induce-
ments to them to learn to write, and the cheap
conveyance by post is a great advantage to literary
and other members of the community. Lord
BROUGHAM adverted to the superiority of great
over ordinary men in the history of the changes in
the Post Office. Thus we hear that "Mr PITT
istood by Mr PALMER in his introduction of mail
coaches when all the authorities of the Post Office
we" ag%just him, tua4 that the Dak : of Ws.LLINO•