The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-22 00:00:00

SIIN,

metropolitan contests have been, the most remarkable
amongst them is surpassed in interest, as well as in
importance, by the contest for the metropolitan
county—terminating yesterday with the re-
turn of both the Liberal ex-reprelentcives, the
principal source of delight in the victory
being the total defeat by Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE of
the Derbyite Marquis of BLANDFORD. There is
something more in this, as we have already intimated,
than the success of a man, or even the advancement
of a party—there is the recognition of a great prin-
ciple by the most influential constituency in the
United Kingdom, and that great principle the prin-
ciple of Religious Toleration.
The struggle, which closed thus happily yester-
day afternoon, had narrowed itself at last to a con-
test between the advocates of religious freedom and
the champions of sectarian bigotry. It is in this
respect that we regard the re-acceptance of
Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE by the people of Middlesex
as a cause for earnest gratulation, infinitely more
than for the circumstance of the defeat of Lord
BLANDFORD being another feather in the cap of the
Opposition. Tce advantage gained by the gallant,
free. sc oken, large-hearted BE ZNAL OSBORNL is
an advantage not so much over the general
character as it is over the Orange-fanaticism of a cer-
tain section of her MAJESTY'S Government. By
choosing BERNAL OSBORNE instead of the Marquis
of BLANDFORD, the electors of Middlesex have not only
scouted the hypocrisy of a Mmisty, which enters office
upon one principle and retains it upon another,
they have protested with noble and conspicuous in-
dependence against that red-hot No-Popery agitation
which led to a riot in Stockport, and very nearly
to an insurrection in Liverpool. The effect of
the course pursued in the first instance by
Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE, and afterwards by the
electors of Middlesex, cannot, we believe, in this
respect, be lost upon the cooler and calmer judgment
of the population. When the excitement
very naturally produced by the contentions
arising ant of
the general election bas sub-
sided,
the significance of the decision thus
pronounced by the metropolitan county will be
more clearly recognised and appreciated by the ge-
neral community. It will then be perceived that the
result of the polling on Tuesday, the 19th, and on
Wednesday, the 20th of July, was evidence that
the majority of the county voters of Middlesex,
after electing one Liberal candidate, in the person of
Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR, elected a second in the
person of Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE—because the con-
stituency were grateful for the eminent services per-
formed by the latter as their representative, because
they admired the consistency of his unflinching inde-
pendence, because they liked the keenness of his
slashing and trenchant rhetoric, because they con-
sidered him as one of those few Members who
could ill be spared from the deliberations of the
popular branch of the Legislature, because
they regarded him as at once a goad to the Govern-
ment and a spur to the Opposition, but especially be-
cause they saw in him an embodiment of the two
principles to the maintenance of which the English
people are at heart, we believe, entirely devoted—the
divine and venerable principles of civil liberty and
religious toleration.

A tradesman of the city of London has rendered,
and is rendering, more important service to the cause
of agricultural improvements than the wealthiest
squire or most extensive farmer in the kingdom.
Mr. MEcHI, of Leadenhall-street, has undertaken
the task of proving to the owners and occupiers of
the soil that they are not absolutely ruined, but that
they may still earn their own bread without taxing
that of their neighbours—that they may have abund-
ance for themselves, without compelling their fellow-
subjects to endure privations, arising from a scarcity
of food even of the simplest description. It was a
thankless and unpopular office. Nothing was more
soothing to the bucolic mind than the notion that the
farmers were innocent victims, ruthlessly sacrificed
on the altar of free trade. They would not, if they
could, be saved. It consequently required no ordi-
nary degree of hardihood to run counter to their
prejudices, more especially when the daring innovator
had not been an agriculturist sib initio, cultivating
the soil in the mode which his father and grandfather
had pursued, and observing similar rules of rotation
of crops, manuring, feeding, &c., to those transmitted
by his venerable progenitors.
A retired tradesman might become a farmer, but
he was expected to be a prey to hi: servants and a
laughing-stuck to his neighbours. If he could afford
" to pay for his whistle" he might do so , but the
idea of his becoming a public instructor (!), of teach-
of the vicinity how their lands
iug the occupiers
would be cultivated (!), of pointing out errors in their
and farming rendered profit-
rnanugernent and showing how great savings
might be effected (! !),
able (I !), why the thing would be. too ridiculous to
so would be a
on the part of a man who still
be seriously thought of', and, a fortiori,
similar attempt
retained a connexion with "the shop," and devoted
a considerable portion of his time and attention to
trade transactions.

Mr. MECIII, however, was not discouraged by these
difficulties. He believed that the farmers were mis-
taken, that they had been to a certain extent spoiled
by a long course of monopoly, and that all
that was required was that their eyes should be
opened to the real extent of their resources, aad to
show them what could be accomplished by zeal,
activity, skill, and enterprise. He felt that the same
qualities which had enabled him to succeed in
trade, and to acquire a handsome independence
thereat, would likewise succeed in agricultural
pursuits. Capital was required, but that he had, and
ha felt that he could not employ it more beneficially
than in such a cause. He accordingly, in a true
spirit of patriotism, devoted himself to the
task, and boldly entered on his new sphere of
duties, in cultivating what should be to all intents
and purposes a model farm, not merely for the parish
or district in which he resided, but for all England.
In order to accomplish this great desideratum it
was necessary to obtain publicity, to have
the attention of agriculturists directed to him-
self and his proceedings, that they might
know how far the latter were worthy of imitation,
and see whether they would follow in the
path on which " the strop maker of Leadenhall-
street" (as he was first termed in derision) had en-
tered.
general i
For this purpose he offered his farm
account', as well as his farm itself, for
accuratel nspection,
.ead'si
.e
that the results might not only be
y ascertained,
he
the exact cost thereof to
the very farthing
every description w h very best machinery of
ntroduced, the price of each
article was clearly set
forth, together with the saving,
whether of labour or otherwise, which it was calcu-
Wpasri.roent affording a fair
promise of useful results
ha baalleinusly tested. In
some cases, of course,
encounter failures,
and when such was the case he submitted
diminished good humour, not only to the with un-
‘, GoPoedrary loss,
of cases, for as we have Stated, 2°
but to the undisguised grins of the
the locality. But when he succeeded, and houegdh•s" of
the
majority
yere judiciously tried, the benefit of
his experience was freely bestowed upon all. The
bitterest scoffer was allowed to profit by what had
einxpethriemmenaits
been achieved at his expense.
Mr. MEcui is no longer laughed at. Those who
formerly sneered at, or openly scoffed him, now look
on with respectful attention. They gladly partake
of his hospitality,
which is displayed without stint
or limitation, and there they acknowledge that he
exhibits therein the true spirit of the English farmer.
There is an annual gathering, at which men of all classes
attend, giving!and receiving instruction on all matters
connected with the cultivation of the soil. Noble-
men and gentlemen of
rank and station, ministers of
friendly nations, menibers of scientific societies, pro-
fessors (,f agricultural chemistry,agricultural imple-
ment. makers, breeders of stock' an.d others celebrated
in any branch of agriculture,
mingled with sturdy
yeomen, flock to Tiptree Halli
assured of
a cordial reception and hearty Wwell
lelcome from
to part on
the enterprising proprietor; and
mistaken, for it is accorded, and y ahreearnteodt
that Co a
manner which renders those even wh
for the purpose of fault-finding disposed come
the best terms with their friendly and kind Part

All honour, then, to Mr. MECIII, who has proved i
himself a national benefactor in no
nconsider-
sble degree, aria has eminently twined himself