The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-21 00:00:00

Mr. Disraeli on Harvest Homes.

One of those popular annual gatherings called
" Harvest Homes," which are now so generally re-
placing the old harvest suppers, was celebrated in
Enekinghamshire, on Wednesday, the 16th instant,
on the grounds of Rayners, near Penn, the seat of
Philip Rose, Esq., who had kindly given them up
for the occasion.

The festival was confined to the surrounding dis-
tricts, embracing portions of High Wycombe and
Penn, and commenced with a thanksgiving service
for the bountiful harvest at the district church of

St. Margaret, at eleven o'clock. The labourers on
the different farms were met on coming out of
church by the militia band, and marched in pro-
cession to a tent erected at Rayners, on a beautiful
spot commanding an almost boundless prospect,
where a substantial dinner had been provided for
them by their different employers. The grounds
were afterwards thrown open to the public, and
cricket, football, and Aunt Sally formed the staple
amusements until four o'clock, when a tea-meeting
was held in the tent for the wives and families of
the labourers of the district, at which between 500
and 600 were entertained, in addition to a large
assemblage of the gentry and clergy from the sur-
rounding neighbourhood, including Mr. and Mrs.
Disraeli, Lord and Lady Curzon, Miss Curzon, Rev.
T. Evetts, &c. The meeting was presided over by
Mr. Rose. After proposing the health of the Queen
the Caairrnan called upcn Mr. Disraeli to propose
the next toast.
Mr. DISRAELI spoke as follows!—My good
friends,—l have great pleasure in congratulating
you on the termination of your harvest. I believe I
may say that, on the Chiltern Huila, a finer harvest
has never been reaped. We have not only
had splendid crops of wheat, golden barley,
and exuberant oats, but ,we have, accompanied
with these advantages, the finest crop of turnips
that I can ever recollect to have seen, and
such a conjunction, I believe, is very rare.
You have to.day wisely and properly expressed to
the Giver of all good things your sense of these
blessings. You are now assembled under this tent
to express feelings of a different kind, but which
in their order are equally becoming to you. These
meetings, somewhat new in our manners in this
country, arc calculated, I think, to produce very
great advantages ; and one of the principal benefits
which they do bring about is, that they cause all

classes in the agricultural world to mix and meet
together. Here the landlord, the farmer, and the
cul►ivator of the soil—the British labourer, meet,
bound together by a sympathy of feeling, and all
equally rejoicing in the t onourable and honest Jul-
fi;ment of their labours for the year. I shall 'ake
this opportunity of proposing to you to drink the
health of the first class of the agricultural hierarchy,
the landlords; bccauee I know that nothing could
be more agreeable to the landlords of this parish
than to feel that they possess and are entitled to the
good feelings of those among whom they live. On
the present occasion I shall couple with that toast
name of a landlord who unfortunately does not live
among us, Lord Howe. (Cheers.) Superior claims
in other parts of the country prevent his being a
resident in Penn ; but although he is not a resident
here he is known to all, and known to many by the
signs of his bounty and public usefulness. Although
not amongst us we have at least this consolation,
you who reside in this parisb,that he is represented
by son, Lord Curzon. You know that every duty
of a landlord is admirably fulfilled by Lord Howe.
This is proved by the church, the school, and the
cottage ; all of which may be remarked by every
one who know the neighbourhood. I, therefore,
take the opportunity which you give me of propos•
ing that you should drink" The health of the land-
lord of this parish, coupling with that toast the
name of Lord Howe."
Speeches were also delivered by Lord Curzon, the
Rev. Mr. Power, and other gentlemen.
The festivities were afterwards enlivened with
country dances and Sir Roger de Coverly,in which
all classes joined on the lawn in the front of the
mansion.