The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-08 00:00:00

Royal Agricultural Society,

THE ANNUAL MEETING.-THIS DAY.

This afternoon the general meeting of the members
of this society was held at their rooms in Hanover-
square—Sir E. Kerrison, Bart., M.P., in the chair.
Mr. HALL DARE read the report, of which the
following are the principal portions :
The Council have to report that during the past half-
year the society has lost by deaths and resignations 35 of
its members, while 478 new members have, during the
same period, been enrolled on its lists, which is now con-
stituted as follows : —7B life governors) 80 annual do., 1,373
life members, 4,465 annual do., 17 honorary do. ; making
a total of 6,013. The Council have elected Mr Wm.
Burgess, of the firm of Burgess-and Key, to fill the vacancy
caused by translation of Major-General the Hon. A. N.
Hood to the list of vice-presidents of the society.
The half-yearly statement of accounts to June 30, 1864, has
been examined and approved by the auditors and accoun-
tants of the society. The finances were never in a more
satisfactory condition than at present, the sum of £2,000
having been lately added to the funded capital of the
society, which now amounts to £18,768 is 10d, stock in the
New Three per Cents. The Council have appointed a com-
mittee to consider the subject of the "Improvement of the
education of those who depend upon the cultivation of the
soil for their support," and in order to obtain information
on this important subject the Council have offered a prize
of £5O for an essay on agricultural education, and they have
authorised their educational committee to invite examining
bodies such as the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,
the Royal College of Preceptors, the Society of Arts, &c.,
to appoint one of their members to confer with the committee.
The meeting at Newcastle-upon-Tyne was highly success-
ful in the amount and character of the live stock and im-
plements. The means for testing the power given off by
agricultural machinery having this year been perfected in
a striking and satisfactory manner, by the consulting engi-
neer, Mr Amos (of the firm of Easton and Amos), wb.o in-
vented a dynamometer, a description of which will appear
in their Journal. The Council deemed it right to appropri-
ate a largo amount of money to the trials of steam cultiva-
tors, and feel convinced that the members generally have
every reason to be satisfied that this was a judicious appropri-
ation of the funds of the society, and a thorough test of the
advance of this important branch of agricultural machinery.
The general meeting of the society, held in the show-yard,
conveyed to the Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle, and
to the local committee who had so zealously co-operated
with the council on the occasion, their cordial thanks for
the kind attention they had paid to the wishes of the society,
and the admirable manner in which they had made every
arrangement required for promoting the success of the
meeting, The society aro indebted to some railway com-
panies for the arrangements they have made at their annual
show, but regret to say that in some instances facilities have
not been afforded to exhibitors for the conveyance of stock at
reasonable rate. The council have decided that the'Plymouth
meeting shall be held in the week commencing Monday the
17th of July, and the Prize Sheets will shortly be ready for
distribution. Land for the trial of drills, manure distribu-
tors, mowing, haymaking, and reaping machines, and
horse-rakes, has been already placed under the necessary
cultivation, and prizes amounting to £440 will be offered
among these classes of Implements, and £2,815 for Stock.
The Council have from time to time been favoured with
various communications from Earl Russell, her Majesty's
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the substance
of which have been made public in the published pro-
ceedings of the meetings at which they were read,
Professor Simonds has delivered a lecture before the mem-
bers of the society on small pox in sheep, which will appear
in the journal of the society. The governors of the Royal
Veterinary College have presented their annual report,
by which it appears that more animals have been admitted
into the hospital of the college for treatment; also that
there have been more consultations—and that other arrange.
ments have been made tending to the further development
of the veterinary art in respect to the pathology of cattle,
sheep, and pigs.
On the motion of Mr. MORTON the report was
adopted, and officers for the ensuing year were
elected.

University Intelligence,

OXFORD, Dec. 7.

An election to a law scholarship on the foundation of Mr.
Viner will take place next term. The examination of can-
didates will commence on Thursday, February 2, 1865.
Candidates are required to deliver their names, together with
a certificate of permission to offer themselves from the head
of their respective colleges or halls, to the superior bedel of
law on or before January 30. And such persons, and such
only, who could have cffered themselves in the present
term will be admissible as candidates next term.

In the convocation to be holden on Tuesday, December 13,
at two o'clock, it will be proposed that the university seal
be affixed to powers of attorney for the sale of £6,000 Re•
duced 3 per Cent. Annuities, such sale being rendered
necessary on account of the late purchase of the Clarendon
buildings.
In the convocation to be holden on Tuesday next, the
13th inst., at two o'clock, it will be proposed that an offer
made by the trustees appointed under the codicil of Lord
Hyde's will, so far as such offer relates to a "Manager or
academy for riding and other useful exercises in Oxford,"
be declined by the university. Members of convocation
will observe, that if no such institution as the academy
above-mentioned be accepted by the university, the funds
may be applied to such other uses as the said trustees shall
judge to be most for the honour and benefit of the univer-
sity, and most conducive to public utility. It is suggested
that the interest of the fund might not inappropriately be
applied to the maintenance of the parks as a place of recrea-
tion and exercise.

Mrs Ellen Hope, widow of the Rev. Frederick William
Hope, M.A. and D.C.L., late of Christ Church, the muni-
ficent founder of the Hope professorship of zoology, and
donor of a large collection of engravings, having offered to
increase the foundation by a further gift of £1,666 13s 4d,
New 3 per Cent. Annuities for the purpose of augmenting
the present salary of the keeper of the Hope collection of
engravings, for ever, with an especial view to enable him
to defray the salary ct an assistant, and other necessary
expenses which he may incur in procuring additions to the
said collection of engravings—in a convocation to be holden
on Tuesday, the 13th inst., at 2 o'clock, it will be proposed
that the university zeal be affixed to a deed for the accept-
ance of the aforesaid gift for the purposes stated therein
and in the same convocation it will be proposed that the
university seal be affixed to a letter of thanks to Mrs Hope
for her munificence.

CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 7.
TYRWHITT'S HEBREW SCHOLARSHIPS.

The Board of Oriental studies at a meeting held at Queen's
Lodge on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1864, proposed the follow-
ing changes with regard to the Tyrwhitt's Hebrew scholar-
ships, and have submitted the same to the consideration
of the senate :-1. That a candidate who obtains a scholar-
ship of the second class in any year shall be allowed to
compete for a scholarship of the first class in the year fol-
lowing, provided ho is not disqualified by regulation 2,
passed by decree of the senate, April 29, 1836. 2. That,
in the event of his obtaining a scholarship of the first class
at his second time of ,trial, he shall vacate his scholarship
of the second class already obtained, and shall hold the
scholarship of the first class for two years, the remainder of
the time for which the scholarships are tenable, 3. That, in
the event of his failing to obtain a scholarship of the first
class at the second time of trial, he shall not be required
to vacate the scholarship of,the second class which he has
already obtained. 4. That the time of examination shall be
altered from the second Wednesday in May to the first
Wednesday in June. 5. That these proposed changes
shall be immediately put into operation.
The vice-chancellor has invited the attendance of the
members of the senate, in the Arts' School, on Saturday,
Dee.. 10, at two o'clock, for the discussion of the above re-
port.

FIRE IN HATTON-GARDEN.—Last night a fire
broke out in Hatton-garden. The premises in which the
disaster commenced were in tho occupation of Mr Baker, a
cabinetmaker, and Mr Palmer's (builder) workshops were
at the rear and adjoining. The flames spread with unusual
rapidity, and in the course of eight or ten minutes the
building was wholly in flames, which were not quite extin-
guished at 1 o'clock this morning. The property was insured,

MR SPURGEON AND THE GLASGOW POLICEMAN.
—A rather good story, for the authenticity of which
we can vouch, is just going the rounds of the city, As our
readers are aware, a great many persons obtained admission
to the lecture delivered by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon (or
rather " Mr" Spurgeon) in the City Hall last Tuesday
evening, by presenting forged tickets. In consequence of
this unprincipled and dishonest conduct, large numbers
who had provided themselves with bona fife tickets were
unable to gain admission; it having been necessary to close
the doors before 8 o'clock, the hour at which the proceed-
ings were advertised to commence, Amongst the "latest
snivels" at the South Albion-street entrance to the hall
were Mr Spurgeon himself and Dr Joshua Paterson, who, on
demanding admittance, were informed by a tall Highland
policeman stationed at the door that the hall was already
crammed to suffocation, and no one would be allowed to put
his foot within the threshold. " But we must get in," said
Mr Spurgeon, attempting to pass. " I don't sea that," re-
plied the constable, barring the door with his burly frame.
"But wo must get in," reiterated Mr Spurgeon ; "my
friend here is Dr, Paterson, who is to act as chairman to-
night; and,' struck in the doctor, " this gentleman is
the Rev. Mr Spurgbon, who is to lecture ; so you sec if
won't do to keep us out." The policeman shrugged his
shoulders, and regarding the applicants with a knowing
look, said, " Do you really think I'm so jolly green—move
on." Fortunately at this juncture a member of the Protes-
tant Laymen's Association, who had been on the look out
for Mr Spurgeon, came to the rescue, and having explained
matters to the constable's satisfaction, that astonished func-
tionary stepped aside, and with a polite salute permitted the
famous London divine and the learned doctor to pass on,-
1 Cqasgow Citizen,