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

`l
--Ii SUN, LONDON/ FRIDAY EVENING, OCrOBER 2, 1863.

pluck' which distinguishes frequently the highest
as well as the lowest class of Englishmen in times
of danger." Sir DAVID BREWSTER has recently
given us a highly interesting account of the origin
of this institution, which, it seems, owes its exist-
ence to the benevolent exertions of Sir WILLIAM
HILLARY. This gentleman, having frequently wit-
nessed the horrors of shipwreck from his residence
in the Isle of Man, and having himself been instru-
mental in saving life, determined to do something
to mitigate the evil. Finding the Admiralty and
other official powers, as usual, inert and indifferent,
he convened a public meeting, and stirred up the
sympathies of the public, so that, at the London
Tavern on the 4th of March, 1824, the Royal
National Institution for the Preservation of Life
from Shipwreck was founded under his auspices.
The great and good work then begun has never
since been abandoned. It has gained in extent
and importance until foreign princes and potentates
are eager to contribute to its stores, and prompt to
acknowledge the obligations which, through their
countrymen, they owe to it. We cannot doubt that
it will now, as heretofore, command the ready
assistance of the public in its appeals for support,
since, however great may be the precautions taken,
and however favourable the circumstances, a large
number of wrecks and disasters at sea is inevita-
ble on the sea-board of a maritime nation. IV hile
men are to be found to do the work of danger,
surely we need not hesitate to give our pounds
whin they give their lives. The Lifeboat Insti-
tution is an association of the greatest practical
value, and not the least of its services is the col-
lecting of clear and authentic information, which
is the first step to taking wise and profitable

action.

Speeches from members of Parliament seem to be
in 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 members
of the legislature are determined to make up for lost
time, and as the French would say, dedommage
themselves for their shortcoming and scanty debates
of the past session. The Duke of ManuoßouGli
and Mr. HENLEY have been busy at Woodstock.
The Duke, in a short speech, remarked on the great
improvement that had taken place in regard to the
work of this and other societies. He said it showed
how much better they were now appreciated by
agriculturists, and this gratifying fact was shown
by the increased attendance at these meetings, and
the improvement of the shows which took place.
His Grace truly remarked that the "interests of
agriculture in this country are paramount, they are
second to none that can be named. Manufacturieg
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 premi-
nence." There was more than the flattery suited to
a festive occasion in these statements, and the
noble
speaker also added an equally correct remark When
he said that there was room for ample improvement
in the "agriculture of this country." .14
-ae held out
an incentive to his hearers to urge them onto re-
newed exertions by mentioning that they must 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-
fluence 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.
HENLEY corroborated the remarks of the puke'
and also adduced a valuable testimony to the
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 he savv 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
years ago. So far back as the beginning of this
century there was an agricultural society, which
was supported by Parliamentary grants* Some
years after the Government got economical,and the
society was snuffed out. The Royal
Agricultural
Society then sprung up.
—a to progressing he did
h
not think that agriculture
had ever stood still. In
thorough draining, he considered.that a great im-
provement had taken place. Aaeo, another advan-
tage was, that they brought stock
to market
quicker. Then, in machinery,
gone on gradually from the
improvements had
" rough horse. thrashing
machine to those steam implements which we see
working at every one of these shows." Mr.
HENLEY concluded his interesting
speech by ob•
serving that they could not move in
Plements
too much
hurry,;they must often have to test the value of this
or that experiment before they
it in practice_
They must watch the effectput
of three or four seasons,
they could not always
jump at conclusions as if
their experiments were Made within four walls,
condition and under a fixed
of things."
He thought that by the exercise
of illl4
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. HENLEY'S
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-
cates the best precepts that opposing candidates
have to offer. That is ono of the great advantages
of these agricultural societies that those who attend
them have so many opportunities of hearing divers
opinions expressed on all topics that can imme-
diately claim their attention or locally affect 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 MI.
(entice 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
feeling 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 inte-
rested ict the affair.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.

the Confederates has been produced during the year,
and that luxuries only are deficient. He adds that
the citizens of Charleston are fully determined to
destroy their city rather than surrender it, and that
everything is in readiness for the application of
the torch, in case it should be found necessary to
abandon it.

Letters from New Orleans of the 11th state that
a great fight had taken place between the 2d divi-
sion of the expedition under General Herron, and
a large Confederate force near Morganza, south of
the mouth of the Red River, in which it was be-
lieved that General Herron had been defeated. The
third column, under General Washburne, met with
no better success, and had been unable to advance
into the interior, from the want of gunboats to pro-
tect his crossing of Berwick's Bay.
Deserters from the Army of the Potomac daily
suffer the penalty of death for their violation of
the Articles of War. Seven of these unfortunates
were shot on Friday last.

Considerable alarm is felt for the safety of General
Burnside, who, it is thought, will be intercepted in
his perilous march from Knoxville.

Or 1,127 men draughted in.the City of Hartford
only four have gone to the army, and of them two
are negroes. It begins to be admitted in Ministerial
circles in Washington that the Conscription Act is
a failure, and that more men and of a superior
class were obtained at less expense under the
Volunteer system.
A recent case under the Conscription Act excites
much interest. Mr. S. L. Crocker, of Boston, eon
of an ex-member of Congress and brother-in-law of
Gen. Couch, having been draughted, presented a
substitute whom the Provost Marshal refused to
accept. Mr. Crocker appealed to the authorities at
Washington, but the decision of the Provost Marshal
was sustained, and Mr. Crocker received a second
notice to report for duty. Mr. Crocker, failing to
comply, was arrested, declared to be an able-bodied
man by the Examining Board, and ordered into the
service, the decision of the War Department having
deprived him of the privilege of paying the com-
mutation fee or furnishing another substitute.
The World of to-day says—" That the decisive
campaign of the army assembled in the West should
have been brought to this complexion is no light or
trivial matter. The causes which have led to such
a result demand, and we trust will receive, the most
searching investigation. The attempt which has
been made at Washington to throw the crushing
responsibility of this heavy blow and great discou-
ragement upon General Burnside, were it even
successful, would not liberate the masters and
managers of General Burnside from their just
public accountability. It was they, or the chief of
them, who planned the grand scheme of which
Rosecranz was the inadequate performer, and
Burnside the constitutional' Marplot.' "
The latest intelligence from Charleston is to the
19th inst., at which time the siege had been tem-
porarily suspended.

The Charleston Courier of the 16th states that
the Confederate steamer Sumter had been sunk be-
tween Forts M3ultrie and Sumter ti few days pre-
viously, but does not mention from what cause.
The expedition to the Teche country, of which
the first division, under General Franklin, met with
such a disastrous repulse at Sabine City, was under-
taken without the consent of General Banks, the
orders for its despatch being issued from Wash-
ington.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, SEPT. 22 (Evening).

The first news of Gen. Rosecranz's defeat received
on Monday last sent gold up to 401, and exchange
to 155. They yesterday, however, receded, under
the impression that Rosecranz's position was better
than the first accounts represented. The closing
quotations today are—Gold, 37k ; exchange, 1511;
stocks dull; New York Central, 1362; Illinois, 1231;
Erie, 106'4 ; 5 per Cent. United States Bonds, 95 ;
6 per Cent. do., 1061. Cotton very firm—Middling
upland, 74c. Flour advanced on Monday 30c., and
wheat and corn, 4c. to 7c., but declined yesterday;
flour losing 15e., and wheat and corns lc. to 3c.
of the advance. The markets for these articleE,
are now dull. Provisions, good inquiry. Coffee
and molasses steady. Sugar advancing. Petroleum,
crude, steady, at 361 to 371,c.; refined, good en-
quiry, at 58 to 59c.