The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-02 00:00:00

action.

Speeches from members of Parliament seem to be
n fashion just now. It is true that this often occurs

at this time, but this year they are more than ever
prevalent. Perhaps the reason is that the member.'

of the legislature are determined to make up for lost
time, and as the French would say, dedomniage

hemselves for their shortcoming and scanty debates

of the past session. The Duke of MARlBoßolloli
and Mr. HENLEY have been busy at Woodstock.
The Duke, in a short speech, remarked on the great

mprovement that had taken place in regard to the

work of this and other societies. He said it allowed
how much better they were now appreciated by
agriculturists, and this gratifying fact was shown
by the increased attendance at these meetings, and

,he improvement of the shows which took place

His Grace truly remarked that the "interests 0

ggriculture in this country are paramount, they are
second to none that can be named. Manufacturlt'g
and commercial interests were manifold
in their
claims to a prominent place in its annals and its

history, but notwithstanding this, it would be found
that agriculture would maintain its ancient Pro°li-

nence." There was more than the flattery
suited to
noble
a festive occasion in these statements, and the

when
speaker also added an equally correct remark

he said that there was room for ample improvement
in the "agriculture of this country." He held out

an incentive to his hearers to urge them on
to re-
newed exertions by mentioning that they oust keep
pace with the sister interest, for he called it that,

and not an antagonistic one, of manufacture. They
there saw what wonderful effects the combined in-

flnence of capital, energy, and intellectual power

worked, and he would ask whether the
bountiful
soil GOD had given them was not as capable of ren-
dering a return for the like advantages as menu•
factures and commerce. So far this discourse
was encouraging, and also invigorating. Mr'
the Duke,
HENLEY corroborated the remarks of

and also adduced a valuable testimony to tho
truth
of the favourable opinion expressed regarding
England. He said that we might be vain and con-
ceited in our notions, or, at all events, too partial
in our opinions, out a distinguished foreigner like
the Duke D'AUMALE, who resided in this country,
was likely to take a just view of what be Saw before
him. This Prince had expressed
a favourable
opinion of them as farmers and Englishmen. He
said that it was well for us that we were indepen-
dent in our management of these
societies, and
Government had nothing to do with our farming.
Mr. HENLEY contradicted the assertion that had
been made by some people that after free trade was
introduced the first spring of agriculture took place.
He said that the first spring took place 40 or 50
of this
century there was an agricultural
years ago. So far back as the beginning
was supported by Parliamentary grants. Some
years after the Government got economical, and the
society was snuffed out. The Roy society, which
al Agricultural
Society then sprung up. Aa to progressing ho did
not think that agriculture had ever stood &till. In
thorough draining, he considered that a great im-
provement had taken place. Also, another advan-
tage was, that they brought stock to market
quicker. Then, in machinery,
improvements had
gone on gradually from the ,4 rough horse-thrashing
machine to those steam i
working at every
One of these shows." Mr.
HENLEY concluded his interesting speech by
not
ob-
serving that they could move in too much
mplements which we see
hurry,'they must often have to test the value of this
or that experiment before they
put it in practice_
They must watch the effect of three or four seasons,
they could not always " jump at conclusions as if
their experiments were made -within four walls,
and under a fixed condition of things."
He thought that
by the exercise of dis-
crimination by watching the effect of inven-
tions, and adopting those
that promised to be
of eventual benefit, they might keep the agri-
culture of their Country, as it now was,
at the head of -- the agriculture of the
world. Mr. HEN LEy'B oration was remarkable for
solid sense and sterling argument. He adopted the
happy middle course, which so few can attain to
with any degree of success, and seemed alike re-
moved from incautious haste, and over-reticence of
procedure. We need some such characters now-a-
days in the whirl of eddying events to restrain the
too eager and impetuous from dashing on at rail-
road speed, and bringing themselves and others to
destruction. There is sometimes as much or more
danger in being too fast as in being too slow, and
they are fortunate who find in their advisers that
desirable and necessary difference of opinion which
imparts a strength from its very variety, and incul-
eates the best precepts that opposing candidates
have to olier. That is one of the great advantages
of these agricultural societies that those who attend
them have so many oppoia unities of hearing divers
opinions expressed on all topics that can imme-
diately claim their attention or locally off, ct their
interests. They may differ from some altogether
and only partially agree with another, but still
some passages of a speech that they dissent from may
contain instruction for them, or it may serve to them
a new light on an old subject. Tot homines tot sen-
tentice is a quaint adage of antiquity, and its veracity
is often seen in the meetings of' this day, but still
from the diversity of opinions great advantages are
derived. They are generally neutral grounds of
discussion, and from them are banished acerbity of
t'eeling and irritation of sentiment. The members
and the visitors for the most part agree to differ,
and when once this understanding exists the results
are always beneficial to all parties who are line
, rested in the affair,