The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5, 1863

mentioned an interesting anecdote concerning a boy
who was sent out as a servant to one of our consuls
at a port in the Mediterranean. When he got there
the consul found him so advanced in many things
that he made him his secretary. Thus proving
that education could elevate in every sense of the
word.

Mr. ROEBUCK concluded his interesting address
by descanting upon the duties of the upper classes
towards the class nelow them. He said that it was
not only that they had great means in being wealthy,
but their advantages of position gave them means
by example. If these earnest words were more
acted upon there is no doubt that great and good
results would follow, and both sides would be the
gainers; the rich would have won a more honourable
renown than all the trappings of grandeur can be
stow, and the poor would have obtained a treasure
that could not vanish like the shifting gifts of for-
tune, and leave sorrow and disappointment behind.
If they were to mix more with the labouring classes
—and where better than in the school ?—if they
were to mix more with and take more interest in
the existence of their fellowmen who live around
them, their presence would be as the sun shining
upon the cold earth, bring up and vivifying the
seed that is within it.

Agricultural meetings are being held all over
the country, with 'carving claims upon our atten-
tion. The one nearest home, however, is by no
means the least interesting, and the annual fes-
tivities of the MiddlehamAgrieultural Association
were honoured by the presence of one of the
most learned and respected occupiers of the Eng-
lish Bench. The Lord Chief Baron POLLOCK, in
acknowledging the toast which coupled his name
with the Judges of England, remarked that he
had taken the chair at the very first meeting of
the Association. That event, it is true, is so far
removed from the present day that the venerable
speaker expressed his conviction that few of those
then gathered around him would be able to re-
collect that he presided at their earliest feast.
From having assisted at the inauguration of the
Society, he has probably since followed its fortunes
with some degree of interest, having, we find, filled
the office of chairman on more than one subsequent
occasion. Baron POLLOCK admitted that he was
not much addicted to agricultural pursuits, and,
indeed, such a taste would not be very easily in-
dulged, if possessed, by our learned Judges. Their
science is of a deeper and sterner soil—the elements
they have to contend against are more difficult to
deal with than untimely frosts or blighting
winds, and, anxious as may be the farmer's
labours to gather in a good supply of food for
man and beast, the public responsibilities of a judge
press as heavily on the owner as any individual
cares can do. It is a very different order of facul-
ties which is demanded for the quiet cultivation of
Mother Earth and for the presidency of a Court of
Criminal Law; and, although the hero of antiquity
is not the only one who turned for mental refresh-
ment and relaxation to the humbler but
no less
necessary toil, the two lines of life are scarcely
harmonious or sympathetic. It is sometimes, how-
ever, very advantageous to hear the opinion of a
comparative stranger on our work and our ways,
that we may learn how it appears to the uninitiated,
and what is their impression of our excellences
and
defects. A mind so enlightened and so rarely
gifted
as that of our Chief Baron could not, moreover,
have failed to raleat upon the general prospects and
progress of an all-important profession. He con-
fessed himself that " he had not altogether neglected
other studies than those which belonged to his
confined school and college, nor had he entirely his
purposes as a lawyer to the dry details of his pro •
fession, bat he had studied other matters which had
afforded him the delight of an enlightened exist-
ence." On these grounds, then, Chief
POLLOCK was well qualified to deal with the sub-
jects brought before him at an agricultural meet-
ing, and his remarks were received with the
position respect and attention duo alike to his Baron
n and
his attainments. The college life to which
he re-
ferred was the occasion of one of the most interest-
ing incidents in our academical annals, and the
high honours which rewarded his diligence at its
close were happily only forerunners of the gifts
which fortune had in store for him in later life. In
contrast to the general tone of congratulation and
Baron told his hearers that he
compliment common at these feasts, the Lord Chief
considered
science a little behind the age. Although the first
art ever cultivated by man, and the only
art except their
war which has baen kept up in all ages, agriculture
march of mind and the extension theof
has never been among the first to profit by
Great things have lately been done in this respect,
and time-worn prejudices have so rapidly succumbed
to advancing intelligence that it may seem a strange
knowledge.
moment for censuring want of progress. Still our
friends the farmers will not be the worse for being
Ploughs and
reminded that, much as they have done, more yet
remains to do, and in spite of steam loughs
artificial manure,
Baron POLLOCK was right when
na-,-
he said that the four Sciences of mineralogy, meteo-
rology, chemistry, and
eel,anics have as yet done
little for agriculture in comparison w
with what may
be expected from them.
e• to
According his views,
perhaps the least known of these branches of know-
ledge is the one that most concerns the farmer, and
it is at least an original and striking suggestion.
Meteorology, he considers, might become " one of
to
the greatest exponents teach farmers when it
would be proper to cultivate one description of pro-
duce rather than another. At the present moment the
study of meteorology as an agricultural science was
entirely neglected, but who could doubt that if due
attention was paid, and a proper record made of the
accumulation of experience would be obtained as
would enable the farmer to judge beforehand in
what manner he should direct
various cianges in recurring seasons, such an
his industry and his
course of crops." In
alluding to the recent appli-
cation of machinery to agriculture, Baron POLLOCK
remarked that there was no longer any fear of ex-
citing riots by the use of machinery. It is a curious
and satisfactory fact, mentioned before now by our
public speakers, and referred to by the learned
Judge,lic that, according to experience, wherever the
introduction of machinery has displaced one
b
labourer it has necessitated the employment of two
others. In support of this assertion the learned
h
Judge mentioned an incident that had occurred in
own experience that bore a similar moral. At
the time of the first opening of railways he filled
the ()Mee of Attorney-General, and in that capacity
was present when a deputation of postmasters
ap-
pealedpost_hortsoe Adlur.tyoa. ouTL:tui:Nplefaor
waa:etdiulacttiotaheofduthve
would be so little that it would scarcely be worth
collecting owing to the great innovation of steam
locomotion. But Mr. GoULBUItIi assured them that
so far from there having been a reduction in the
number of post-horses used in consequence of rail-
way traffic, the duty had actually doubled !
Another of the incidents which marked his Attor-
ney- Generalship was the outbreak of the famous
Rebecca riots in Wales, but the learned Judge
claimed the gratitude of his neigbbaurs, since, in
spite of his official position at the time of the dis-
turbances, he had succeeded in removing a toll-bar
from their vicinity ! Greatly as this service may
ieaVe been appreciated by his own locality, the re-

putation of the Chief Baron happily rests on a

broader foundation, and the greetings so unani-
mously accorded him on Friday night were not only
in welcome to the respected neighbour, but in recog-
nition of those high qualities and that eminent
learning which should always distinguish an Eng-
lish judge.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

REPLY OF THE ARCHDUKE 11TAXIMILIAN
TO THE MEXICAN DEPUTATION.
MIRAMAR, OCt. 3.
The Mexican deputation was received this morn-
ing by the Archduke klaximilian.
Don Gutierez de Etrada spoke in the name of the
deputation.
The Archduke in reply said :
"The wishes of the Mexican Assembly of Nota-
bles have touched me deeply. It cannot but be
exceedingly flattering for our House that they have
turned their eyes to the descendants of Charles V.

" Althoughthe mission of maintaining the inde-
pendence and welfare of Mexico on a solid founda-
tion, and with free institutions, is a most noble
one, I must, nevertheless, in complete accordance
with the views of the Emperor Napoleon, declare
that the monarchy cannot be re-established on a legi-
timate and firm basis without a spontaneous ex -
pression of the wishes of the whole nation.
" I must maize my acceptance of the throne de-
pendent upon a plebiscite of the whole country.
On the other hand, it would be my duty to ask for
guarantees which are indispensable to secure Mexico
against the dangers which threaten her integrity
and independence.
" Should these guarantees be obtained, and the
universal vote of the nation be given in my favour,
I am ready to accept the Crown, subject to the
approval of the Emperor, my brother.
" In case Providence should call me to this high
mission, I must at once declare that it is my firm
intention to open the path of progress by a Con-
stitution, as was done by my brother, and after
the complete pacification of the country, to seal the
fundamental law with an oath.

"By such means only can a new and really
national policy be called into existence, by which
all parties, forgetting old disputes, would cooperate
with me in raising Mexico to a prominent rank
among nations. Carry back with you these frank
declarations to your fellow-citizens, and act in such
a manner that it may become possible for the
nation to declare what form of government it
desires to have."
It is believed that the conditions of the Arch •
duke's acceptance of the Crown are the same as
those named in October, 1861, according to which
he considers the co-operation of France and Eng-
land to be the only means by which order can be
re-established, and that a free manifestation of the
wish of the whole nation is absolutely necessary.
The Archduke stated in conversation with the
members of the deputation that he would only
accept the Crown if all these conditions were ful-
filled, and that he would now await their fulfil-
ment.

SYRIA.

PARIS, OCT. 5.

The Moniteur of this morning says :—" The state
of affairs of Syria is still unsatisfactory.
" Bands of Druses, escaped from Hauran, have
appeared near Damascus, and intercept the cara-
vans of provisions and merchandise." •

RUSSIA.
ST. PETERSBURG, OCT. 5.

The Journal de St. Petersburg of to-day publishes
an article on the opinion pronounced by the English
and French press relative to the passages in the
Russian Memorandum of the 26th September refer-
ring to the events of 1812 and 1814.
The Journal de St. Petersburg says :—" These
reminiscences have not been brought forward by
the Russian Government, which was drawn to this
ground in spite of itself. The Powers having made
the treaties of 1815 the point of departure for their
diplomatic intervention, the Russian Government
was compelled to state what bearing it attaches to
them by recalling the circumstances of the past,
and by speaking of reverses which belong to the
domain of history. But it would be an anachro-
nism to invoke the recollection of the Holy Alli-
ance. The efforts of the English and French press
to represent the dignity of each other's country as
being engaged neutralise themselves mutually."

BRESLAU, Ocr. 5.

The Commissariat Department of Warsaw has
been informed that 50,000 fresh troops will shortly
arrive in the Kingdom of Poland, and remain there
during the winter months. Every little town will
be garrisoned.