The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-08 00:00:00

LORD PALMERSTON AT ROMSEY.

Yesterday the annual! meeting of the Labourers'
Encouragement Association for Romsey and the
surrounding district was held in the Town-hall at
Romsey. Lord Palmerston presided, and distri-
buted the awards.to the successful candidates.
The proceedings commenced with a dinner given
by the association to the successful competitors,
upwards of 100 in number, consisting chiefly of
shepherds,etimsinicril'
m together labourers,
men in the cottage and special classes. The repast
was of the good old English character, as substan-
tglothugthhmee w ves of the prize-
ni and other farm
substan-
tial as it was bountiful, and the amplest justice
was done to it by the happy guests. Indeed, if
the committee had added to their prize list a reward
for gastronomic achievements, a keener emulation
in the use of knife and fork could hardly have been
evoked. When this part of the business was de-
spatched Lord and Lady Palmerston entered the
hall and were received with loud and general cheer-
ing. They were accompanied by Mr. Monckton
Milnes, M.P., Capt. Buckworth Powell, the Mayor
of Romsey, the vicar, and other principal inhabi-
tants. A large number of ladiesand gentlemen were
also present to witness the ceremony.
The list of premiums having been handed to his
lordship by the secretary,
Lord PALMERSTON then addressed the labourers
as follows :—My Friends and Neighbours,—l can
assure you that it gives Lady Palmerston and my-
self very great pleasure to be present at these an-
nual meetings, where those who have most distin-
guished themselves in the course of the year either
by skilfulness in their respective occupations or by
good conduct in the service in which they have
been engaged come here to receive tokens of the
merit which they have displayed. I don't call the
gifts which are here presented to you rewards, be-
cause they fall infinitely short of anything that can
be called a real reward for the good conduct which
you have pursued. But they are tokens—and sub-
stantial proofs to your friends and your neighbours
in this and the adjoining parishes, publicly and
manifestly indicating what your conduct has been
in the service in which you have been employed.
It is often and well said that " virtue is its own
best reward ;" and it holds equally true of good
conduct iu the career in which any man may be
engaged, that it, too, by its necessary and natural
consequences, is its best and its ample reward.
Those who have exhibited great skilfulness and
aptitude in their different agricultural occupations
will
,have their reward in the employment which
the knowledge of their high qualifications is sure
to bring to them. Those, also, who have exhibited
faithfulness, sobriety, honesty, and good behaviour
in a long course of service may be quite certain that
they never will be at a loss to find work if any un-
foreseen circumstances should throw them out of
their situations. And, moreover, all those persons
who have so distinguished themselves are sure to
obtain in the kindness, goodwill, and good offices of
those who may employ them a recompense which
to their feelings must ever be more grateful even
than some more substantial benefits. (Hear.) There-
fore, my friends, I think these institutions are ex-
ceedingly useful in encouraging your efforts to im-
prove agricultural processes and stimulating all of
you to good conduct in your respective spheres. I
have told you that good conduct brings its own
reward, and it does so in various ways. A man who
is habitually idle, negligent, and addicted to drink-
ing and smoking, spends the greater part of his
wages upon ale and tobaeco, and his wife and family
are thus deprived of the means of obtaining those
necessaries and comforts which the extent of his
earnings might well enable him to procure for
them. On the other hand, if a man is sober and ab-
stains from frc quenting the alehouse and the tobacco

shop, he will be able to devote the whole of his

earnings to the benefit of himself and his family,
and he will see in the happiness of his wife and
children ample testimonies of the good effects of
the sobriety and good conduct which he pursues.
You all know that example is generally far more
powerful in its influence upon conduct than precept.
The example you may set to your children will have
a greater effect upon their future conduct in lifd
than even the best counsel which might be given
them unaccompanied by a good example; b 'cause
if children see that their parents are indolent and
indulge in bad habits it will be in vain that the best

advice is given them ; they will irresistibly be led
into following their parents' evil courses. But if

your own conduct holds out to them a practical
illustration of the good advice which you may have
received from your pastor and those who take a
deep interest in your welfare, that advice will be
strengthened by the force of example, and you will
find your children grow up to be a source of happi-
ness to yourselves and a credit to the community to
which they belong. (Hear, hear.) I will now pro-
ceed to distribute the prizes, and I trust that the
good dinner you have had will open your hearts to
rejoice the more, not only over your own individual

success in the competition, but also over the good
fortune of those around you. (Cheers.)
The noble lord then went through the prizes
seriatim, accompanying the awards with some jocu-
lar remark or kind word of encouragement to almost

every one of the winners. The prizes were nearly
all given in money, and consisted of sums varying
from 503. to 55., the amount being accompanied in
each case by a printed card or certificate recording
the merits of the owner. The first category was
composed of the shepherds who had bestowed the
greatest care upon their flocks; the second were the
teamsmen, who were rewarded for fidelity and
length of service, and for " never having re-
turned intoxicated with their teams." In distri-

bating the 10s. or 20s. due to the members of this
class the noble lord expressed a hope that the men
would not squander any part of the money now paid
to them in departing from the excellent virtue of
temperance 'Which had earned them this prize. (A
laugh.) Then came the rewards to the best plough-

;men, seedsmen, drillmen, rickmakers, and thatchers

Next followed the turnip hoers, with respect to
whom the noble chairman observed that he was sorry
to see there was no good hoeing in the parish of

Romsey, where he was sure it was much wanted—
(laughter)—and that he trusted the labourers of tha

district would make the fields look greener and less
variegated with charlock and other weeds than they
had lately been. To these succeeded the prizes to
farm servants for bringing up their families without

parochial relief, &c. In this class there was a sun'

ot 30s. awarded to a labourer in the noble lordr'Elago7
employ "for having made provision beforreptcruadreinc:„
said, they were
with the like sum to his wife for " sim.
Referring to this case the nob.lfe lord
plain that this societ-
crown to her
all taught that a virtuous
wifewlvvho was 30s, to hers,
husband, but here was a
ex
Privilege of reward-
(Laughter.) He ought
those who were engaged in farm
did not assume to th
ing substantially Oa
left for th •
Speaking of the prizes to cottagers,
einsal:es the
their masters to do.
service—that theY .
jesaerci)thesneat manner in which the cottage
h(
he
ee
allotmentsaurl°gh were kept in that neighbourhood. In this
last class the wife was included with the husband—
,lld for a very good reason—because the husband
spent the day out at work, and it depended upon his
partner to keep the cottage tidy and trim ; and it
Was quite evident that unless the labourer found his
home clean and comfortable when he returned from
his toil he would be tempted to seek comfort, though 1

not perhaps cleanliness, in the neighbouring ale-
house. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
Among the remaining prizes was " the bishop's
Bible," awarded to a labourer for the regularity of

his attendance at church and his consistency of

character.

The list having been completed the noble CHAIR-
MAN expressed the great pleasure he felt in having
been the instrument to distribute the prizes, and
said he hoped when they met again next year they
would not only find as many successful competi-

tors as on the present occ
those who were winners t
winners then. (Cheers.) Ho concluded by wish.
ing them all a happy new year.
Three hearty cheers were then given for Lord
and Lady Palmerston, his lordship remarking that
be hoped the " cheer" the labourers had had that
day bad ben as good as the cheers they had just
given him.
This part of the day's proceedings then termi-
nated. Later in the afternoon the members of the
association dined together at the White Horse Inn,
Romsey. Lord Palmerston was to have presided
here also, but he was unexpectedly telegraphed for
from Osborne, and Mr. T. W. Henderson, of Roke,
took the chair in his absence. Among the guests
were the Hon. R, H. Dutton, M.P., Mr. C. L. Lor-

dan (Mayor of Romsey), the Rev. E. L. Berthon,
the vicar, the Hon. and Rev. C. A. Harris, the Rev.
' W. H. Empson, and others. After the usual pre-
liminary toasts,
The CHAIRMAN proposed << The health of the
county members," which was co: dially received.
Mr. DUTTON, M.P., in responding, said the short
period during which he had been in Parliament had
been characterised as an unexciting one, but it had
ve
witnessed two general elections and
two reform bills.
(A laugh.) It was perfectly
true
nevertheless enither of those reform bills was carried,
s
ebut the present Ministry came into office pledged
to carry one, and perhaps they might yet introduce
another, although he could not speak with any cer-
tainty as to that. (A. laugh.) If the last session
had not been very eventful the next hardly promised
to be much more so, for he had heard a great man
ne
remark that he thonght a prize ought now to be
offered to the person who should introduce
any important measure into Parliament. (A.laugh.)
Having read the speeches made by public men in
the course of the autumn, he was glad to find the
cause of the poor man in such very good hands, be-
cause not only did the noble lord, to whom they had
listened that day, take care of the poor man, but
Mr. Gladstone had also spoken in his favour, and
had been followed by the right hon. member for
Buckinghamshire, whose business it was to keep an
eye on the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (A laugh.)
He begged to congratulate that society on its pro-
sperity and success. It was called a Labourers' En-
couragement Society, but, at the same time, a so-
ciety for stimulating those who had it in their
power to encourage the labourers, because the value
of their institution did not lie so much in the trifling
pecuniary rewards it bestowed as in the general
spirit of emulation which it diffused throughout the
district. No class of men were more deserving of
sympathy and support than the agricultural pea-
santry; and the farmers and their families had it
in their power to confer, at a small inconvenience
and sacrifice to themselves, an immense amount of
benefit and comfort upon that humble but merito-
rious class. Much attention had been devoted last
session to the subject of education, and yet the
question bad, after all, been left pretty much as it
stood before. He hadsomewhat changed his opinion
as to the education which ought to be given to their
labourers. He did not now think it necessary that
it should be of as high a character as he had once sup-
posed. The child of the peasant had to earn his
bread at an early age, and they must look to the
evening schools to continue and complete his moral
and intellectual training.

The " Health of the bishop and clergy of the dio-
cese" was then given, and acknowledged by the Hon.
and Hey. C. S. Harris, and the remaining toasts
were of a purely local character.

Ironmasters' Quarterly Meeting.

The quarterly assemblies of the iranmastere of
this district commenced at Wolverhampton yester-
day (Wednesday), the meeting on this occasion
falling on the earliest day possible. Occurring so
soon after Christmas, quietude was anticipated, and
such was the case yesterday ; the attendance was
also comparatively small. The business transacted
was moderate ; it wiis more a meeting for talk than
anything else, with a view to ascertain what the
feeling is as to the future, as a guidance for the
transactions which must be entered into at Birming-
ham. But although there was not much doing,
the tone was good, better than it has been for
two or three years ; this arises out of the convic-
tion that the prospects of the trade are improving,
and that being long these will be more fully
manifested. There can be no doubt whatever
that the trade is at this moment in Et much better
state than it has been for the last two or three
years ; there is comparatively little of underselling,
and the works are most of them steadily going.
As to the future, to which reference has been
made above, the grounds for encouragement are
to some extent based on recent advices from
America ; stocks are exhausted there ; iron is an
imperative necessity, so that in existing circum-
stances neither the tariff nor the high freights
consequent on the difficulty in the way of ship-
ping in American bottoms, can stop a consider-
able demand from that quarter, more especially
if the war continues, and at this time there is no
other prospect.

It may be mentioned that a good deal of cau-
tion, almost amounting to timidity, was shown
yesterday on the part of sellers, who were rather
afraid to make bargains lest prices should go
higher sooner than is generally expected.
There is an increasing demand for pig iron.
Last quarter-day an attempt was made to esta-
blish a rise of half-a-crown a ton ; the actual
advance was ls. 3d. ; but there was a further
rise yesterday, when sales of good mine pig were
made at a rise of is. 3d. per ton, so that the
commodity is actually 2s. 6d. per ton dearer than
it was four months ago,

--- ---
Horrible Murder in. Edinburgh.

(From the Caledonian Mercury.)
We have just learned, from information gathered
on the spot, that in consequence of a difference be-
tween the well-known artistic hair jeweller, M. A.
Milne, 31, South Frederick-street, who, it may be
remembered, lately figured in the Bankruptcy
Court, and a workman in hi employment named
Paterson, residing, we are informed, in St. James'-
street, a very serious assault was committed
upon the latter by Milne, which we deeplY
lThe
reget to learn, has ended in Paterson's death-
grounds of quarrel are not known ; and the
haverto t
rt
ao
nssapyi
rae nayi .t-
-either from insufficient information th
the propriety of
from a feeling of delicacy about
theiethleerft bbreeinagst m,a,bitlhe
communicating anything
hoafdwbheiesnh
suddenlyt b syeawrse eins..rpeouotssipcoeoerdi
tshitiinvge laybcoeurttai
ti.n,shoaivaer
as
secthli
enefdachtsit he
would seem that Patersor_i e . .
upon by lklilne,
a knife. Either
impossibility
from alarm or from a feeling
himself from a fresh attack, or allay the
of his master, he rushed out of the shop,
ferocity and st a bobf d
his
ins
and took refuge with Mr. Forrester, baker, next
door. By this time the blood was
streaming pro-
fusely from the wound, and so excessive indeed had
been the hemorrhage that in the course of a few
minutes the unhappy man who had just lain down
on Mr. Forrester's sofa breathed his last. Informa-

tion was promptly conveyed to the Police-office. Dr.
Littlejohn at once procured a cab, and was conveyed
with all rapidity to the spot. Professional skill
was, however, by that time totally unavailing. The
unhappy perpetrator of this fearful act is said to be
addicted to occasional fits of intoxication. For
some time past it appears he has been in an excited
state from drink. We may indeed mention that
he has been in the hands of the police before. He
was of course immediately apprehended and con-
veyed to the head office, whither shortly after-
wards the body of Paterson was removed on a
stretcher.

The Paris Savings' Bank during the last fort-
night receives 810,748 fr. and reimbursed 618,019 fr. The
A carter, belonging to a
receipts of the Caisse do Retraites for the Aged during the
same period amounted to
PRIsON DISCIPLINE.
having
t for sleeping
been sentenced to
the high road, has just returnoi home, after
on his cart as it
seven
gdeaynwe ai
pLri
soonndmo
enn,
puansZlgOlii7his so-called punishment. He declares—to the
astonishment of his mates—that he has never in his life
been so comfortable or so well fed as during his incarcera-
tion, regrets that his sentence did not extend over the whole
of the winter, and recapitulates the pi ison dietary with an
amount of gusto that makes the mouths of his fellow-
labourers water, adding, that having slightly hurt his hand
before sentence he has not been r, quired to work while in
prison. What result may reasonably be expected from ouch
case ?

-

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr Undue.

THIS EVENING, THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. Mr. H.
Marston, Mr. Wallace ; Miss Constance Aylmer, Miss M.
Oliver. and Mrs. B. White.

After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME,
" RIQUET WITH THE TUFT ; or, Harlequin and Mother
Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and
Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and
Mr. Halford.