The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-25 00:00:00

.all know. Yesterday, however, although the
right hon. baronet was presiding over the agricul-
tural banquet at Hitchin in his capacity as Chair-
man, and doing so not only most Efficiently, but
most effectively, it was rather as a country gentle-
man, as an agriculturist, as one individually en-
gaged and personally interested in the pursuit of
farming, that he spoke from time to time—but more
particularly in giving "the toast of the evening,"
as it is called, in delivering the speech of the night,
to his fellow-county-men of Hertfordshire. Towards
the close of that speech there were discernible, no
doubt, indications of its falling from the lips of one
who is not only a legislator, but a Statesman and
an Administrator. But for the most part Sir E. B.
LYTTON restricted himself carefully to questions
especially appertaining to, or connected with, the
subject matter of his toast—the interests of
agriculture generally, but more particularly, of
course, the local agricultural interests of Hert-
fordshire. So earnestly, indeed, did he address
himself to the particular purpose he had in view,
that it might be said, even, that he sunk the Orator
almost Equally with the Poet, the Dramatist, the
Novelist, or, in its widest sense, the chief among
the Men-of-letters of his time. He certainly
eschewed anything like oratorical artifice. He
spoke clearly and directly to the point. Not a
farmer amongst them but must have listened yes-
terday at Hitchin with the deepest interest to Sir
BULWER LYTTON'S speech as an agriculturist. If
startled and saddened by his reference in that
speech to the alarming calculation made very re-
cently at Hamburg by Professor GAMGEE before
the International Congress of Veterinary Surgeons
there assembled from all parts of Europe, the
farmers of Hertfordshire must have been
none the less gladdened and heartened onward
in their pursuits, by Sir EDWARD'S reference to
another and a still more remarkable philosophic
agriculturist, Professor LlEBlG—that illustrious
LIEBIG whose genius, he aptly remarked, links
together Agriculture and Science, meaning, we pre-
sume, by science, that comprehensive portion or
division of it known as Chemistry. Professor
GAMGEE'S calculation here referred to as queted by
Sir BULWER LYTTON was, it will be seen,
to no less alarming an effect than that in
the six years ending in 1860 the value of the stock
which have perished in Great Britain and Ireland
is £24,500,600, whilst the quantity of stock which
has been imported from abroad within the same
period is less than £1,500,000; so that the nation
has lost within that period four times the value of
stock which has been imported! Professor LIEBIG'S
opinion in regard to another and, if we might say
so, yet more vitally important consideration in re-
spect to the whole scheme of agricultural pursuits,
more important, seeing that this one relates directly
to what is called with so much emphasis the staff of
life—Professor LIEBIG's cheering and heart-glad-
dening estimate (as quoted yesterday by Sir
BULWER LYTTON, from the remarkable pamphlet
in which the learned Baron has just been recom-
mending the utilisation of the sewage of towns),
running to the effect " that in the continued pro-
gress of agricultural improvement in the three
kingdoms, England, Ireland, and Scotland will
grow corn sufficient to supply the wants of the
whole population without purchasing corn from
abroad !" That being the deliberate and
positive opinion but just now put forth
by the Great Philosopher. Quoting again
from that same philosopher—" a philosopher," as
he said," so disinterested and so profound," that the
opinion thus uttered by him assumes the simple
language of truth—what though couched in
words that, if uttered by a farmer, would be con-
sidered an extravagant compliment to his own pro-
tession—quoting once mere from Baron LILBIG,
Sir BULWER LYTTON impressively concluded his
speech, yesterday, at Hitchin, by reminding his
agricultural audience that upon their calling, that
is upon agriculture, depend the welfare and de-
velopment of the whole human species, the riches
of States, and all Commerce.

The English are proverbially a long-suffering
people, yet it is strange how long they tolerate
some abuses which are continually thrusting them-
selves upon their notice. The discomforts of our
street conveyances have so long been prevalent that
we have almost ceased to notice them. Some time
ago indeed an attempt was made thoroughly to
reorganise the cab system, but thanks to the meet-
ing of the cabmen, and the consequent inconve-
nience experienced by hon. members, the bill was
hurried through Parliament in a very incomplete
and unsatisfactory state. A little later on we were
told to expect great things from a change in the
management of the metropolitan omnibuses. A
rich and enterprising company were to buy up all
competitors, to provide new vehicles, to give in-
creased accommodation, with reasonable fares, and
never -failing civility. How far these specious pro-
mises have been kept the public has long ere this
been able to decide. The result has proved, what
all experience does prove, that monopoly is a very
bad thing, on whatever pretext it be tolerated.
New vehicles we have certainly had, but the com-
fort of the passengers is not always the first object
considered in them, as anyone can testify who, on
one of the glowing middays of the late summer, had
the pleasure of riding—one of twelve—in a vehicle
made on the famous principle '° How not to do
with windows that do not open. We ali resign
ourselves to temporary martyrdom, however, when
putting ourselves temporarily under the dominion
of drivers and conductors. We try to believe our
instructors when we are gravely informed that the
,I Redcap is close to Highgate Cemetery, and listen
with dutiful submission when assured that King's
Cross is two minutes walk from the Euston-road.
But even English equanimity is ruffled and Eng-
lish patience begins to rebel when to all other
delays, inconveniences, and annoyances is super-
added a positive risk to life and limb. The sys-
tem of " nursing," so often complained of, and so
universally condemned, is attaining a degree of
recklessness in some parts of London, which imperils
not only the safety of the passengers by the omni-
nibus itself but of the passers-by. It is in itself
only another development of the monopoly which is
always to be depreciated, in whatever form of busi-
ness, trade, or commerce it appears. As some omni-
buses belonging to the old proprietors, who refused
to relinquish their occupation, are still in existence,
it ia the company's object to drive them off the field,
by absorbing all the passengers, and, as the best
and most effectual means of doing this, the
nursinga plan is adopted. In consists in two
omnibuses going, one before and one after the
enemy, so that if he attempts to hasten he is anticia
he lingers be falls in with the
rated by the first, if
sccond. Then comes the racing, in which both
sides are of course equally
to blame, It may be
very amusing to drivers and conductors to get up
a speed that dangerous in London
thoroughfares, a
is
mai absolutely y ldashutelo
utterly regardless of
the vain appeals of casual passengers, at a rate more
agreeable to themsclVes than to their fares or their
horses ; but the q iestion is, whether this sort of
entertainment is to be allowed at the expense of
the general safety a It was only the other day that
conductor fell a victim to this 6ang4,rous practice,
and paid kith hie life the forfeit the prevelent

rashness. But nothing seems to be a warning.
The omnibus interest succeeded in getting rid of
the tramways, on the plea of their want of safety ;
and it was loudly declared by their supporters that
if tramways were allowed in London it would be
taking the first step towards adopting the American
system, where the cars are suffered to run unchecked
through public thoroughfares. But the present
practice is even worse than the American one, since
there is no attempt at rule or regulation, but only a
struggle for pre-eminence, heedless of all beside.
The correspondent of a morning contemporary
descants with considerable indignation upon this
subject, more especially as regards the North-
Western and Westminster route. He styles him-
self a constant traveller on that lice, and pouttrays
a state of things that loudly calls for interference
of some sort. He declares that the omnibuses
alternate between dawdling at profitable corners
for passengers and racing at a dangerous pace.
" First you go at a dangerous racing pace—then
yen dawdle—then you are jerked backwards and
forwards—then you are suddenly pulled lir —then
you are thrown on your back or face by being
driven into a gutter—then you fancy you are going
into a shop window." Add to this the pleasures of
listening to the perpetual wrangles of the rival
drivers and conductors, and a fair idea may be
gained of the comforts of a London omnibus ex-
cursion. The question is, whether it would not be
well to try a total change, to put the matter under
Government surveillance, and to make the licenses
conditional on steady driving and fair play. If
" nursing" or " racing" were to be ranked as for-
feiting the license, we should hear less of it. We
should be able to ride in comfort and quietude, in-
stead of being shaken about in every direction,
and then set down in the wrong street after
all, It is high time something should be done in
the amelioration of an evil which is becoming a
positive nuisance in our thoroughfare, while it pre-
sents serious dangers to life and limb.

A most extraordinary case has recently occurred
in Castle Hedingham, Essex. An old Frenchman,
who was deaf and dumb, was supposed to be invested

with some supernatural powers ; whereupon some
persons were credulous enough to attach vast im-

portance to his treatment. As is ordinarily the case
in such affairs, matters were at last pushed to an
extremity which has proved fatal to one person, and
will doubtless involve some others in a very serious
predicament. It appears that the old Frenchman
had lived for seven or eight years in a miserable
hut. According to the evidence adduced at the
examination before the magistrates, it appears that
EMMA Salmi, the wife of a publican, was the im-
mediate cause of all the violence that occurred on
the night of the 3d of August last. The French-
man, who was called by no other name than
" Dummy," came to her house and asked for leave
to sleep in a shed. She agreed, but some days after
that she wished him to leave. At this he demurred.
but upon her insisting, he was very much vexed,
and made signs, and wrote upon a door that in tin
days she should be ill. She then stated in her evi-
dence that " he made her ill and bewitched her, and
the went everywhere, but could get no one to set
her right again. She was afraid, for no medicine
could do her any good." It seems almost incredib:e
that in these days of enlightenment such gross ig-
norance and fearful superstition should prevail, but
sad as this state of things is, it is ten times worse to
learn how cruel and inhuman was the conduct that
afterwards took place. This woman, EMMA SMITH,
went to a public-house, where she unfortunately
met old " Dummy," -whom she feared and hated.
She was lamenting her iliness, and declared that it
was all on account of the "witchcraft" practised
upon her by "Dummy." Apparently her words
excited her listeners to a very extraordinary degree
or else they had also some private wrongs or.
grudges against the Frenchman, for the other visi-
tors to the Swan took up her cause with a zeal that
was worthy of a better cause. First of all EMMA
SMITH begged and prayed of " Dummy" to go home
with her to do her gold. She promised to give him
three sovereigns, and to use him well. Doubtless
"Dummy" on his side was very much to blame for
persisting in aggravating the woman, but great ex-
cuses are to be made for his infirmities, which of
course precluded him from comprehending all the
purport of what signs were made him. He was
unwise enough to draw his hand across his throat,
which meant to signify that he would rather have
his head cut off and his throat cut than go.
This produced a most serious disturbance, ending
in a fatal catastrophe. The people about set on
him and pushed him out of the inn. Mrs. SMITH
went on in the most violent fashion, for such a
desperate invalid as she represented herself to be.
A man named STAMMERS was very instrumental in
the ensuing scenes of violence, and he stands
charged with EMMA SMITH with unlawfully as-
saulting the Frenchman. First of all, " Dummy"
was pushed into a brook by Mrs. SMITH, but after
that he was " swum" at the milihead. The pro-
ceedings were altogether characterised with a
ruffianism and a brutality that are perfectly re-
volting. Considering the age of the party assailed,
the offence amounts to a serious crime. He was up-
wards of 80 years old, and for him to be treated in
this barbarous fashion is a disgrace and a scandal to
the neighbourhood. As might be surmised, the
poor old creature did not survive the effects of this
" dark night's work." He was taken out of the
water almost senseless and laid on the grass, where
he remained for nearly a quarter of an hour.
Afterwards he went on, leaning on the wall for
support. The inhabitants of Castle Hedingharn
appeared to have rivalled each other as to whom
should be the most deaf to the claims of humanity
on this night in question. " Dummy" knocked at
the door of a butcher, who refused to let him in. It
is high time that the good people of this village
turn over a new leaf in their conduct, or else they
bid fair to gain a most unenviable reputation. Subs
sentiently the Frenchman was taken home, but here
again the same faulty line of action was continued.
He was. left in his wet clothes. The next day he
was found by one of the guardians of the poor
lying on some straw and trembling. He was
taken to: the Union, where he died on the 4th
of September. The magistrates very properly
committed both prisoners for trial at the
next assizes. It is to be hoped that this
shocking and disgraceful case may be thoroughly
sifted, and that the delinquents will be severely
dealt with. No excuses regarding the health of
EMMA SMITH, and the want of proof regarding
STAMMERS, should be tolerated. It is evident that
they are guilty parties, whoever else may have
assisted them and succeeded in escaping detection.
To screen and shelter such offenders will be to
encourage a most serious evil. It is one that espe-
cially calls for suppression, and no efforts should
be spared to put it down with a strong hand. There
is nothing that can be more hurtful in its conse-
quences or detrimental in its effects on the minds of
the ignorant than the terrors of superstition, and the
absurdities of such credulous ideas. It bas been
shown by lamentable facts how demoralising are
its tendencies, and how degrading its influences.
Such an affair as this referred to is a scandal to the
"until'. There is no use in reasoning with peraons