The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-01 00:00:00

CIA

Sun)

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1863.

At this particularly critical moment in regard to
the Peace of Europe generally, the tone of the
French press is, it appears to us, more than usually
worthy of consideration. And it is so pecu-
liarly by reason of the continued pressure
upon that section of European journalism
of the weight of the Censorship. It is precisely
because our brethren across the Channel are rot
permitted (as yet !) perfect freedom in writing and
printing, that we are disposed to look with all the
more eager and attentive curiosity to the views to
which they nevertheless venture to give utterance
at a period of such supreme emergency. It is the
general sense of the significance attached to these
broken or hesitating accents of the publicists of
France, which induces still so many observers, both
in France and out of it, to pore over the columns of
the principal journals of Paris for whatever hint
they throw out as to their opinions in regard to
passing events even under the repressing influence
of the Censorship. It is this which drives
so many to the counter of M. DENTU when-
ever that enterprising publisher of the pamphleteers
issues from the press a more than usually apropos
brochure, as, in effect, is actually occurring at this
present moment is reference to one of those myste-
rious little anonymous pronunciamentos, enticled,
L'Empereur, La Pologne, et L'Europe." Although
anonymous, its utterances are, in their way, how-
ever, so oracular of their kind, that—as usual—the
rumour naturally enough gets about that the views
put forth by the writer are penned (we all know the
now familiar phrase employed on these occasions)
under very high inspiration. The mere publication
of pamphlets of this peculiarlybold character has, of
course, a certain air of authority about it. Whoever
the writer may chance to be, his sentiments are so
far approved of by the Imperial authorities,
that they are permitted to appear and
to be read for a franc or two, in those light
paper covers of a delicate lilac or primrose
colour, that have come to have about them a sort of
flavour of Napoleonism. They have, at least, the
timbre of " permission," if not of " approval,"
stamped upon them, in the mere fact of their appear-
ance. Circumspection expresses, it may be said,in one
word, the advice put forth by the new pamphleteer.
It is a word, however long though it is, singularly
enigmatical in its character. It leaves the reader
no further advanced upon closing the brochure
than he was upon opening it. No further advanced,
that is towards the point whence might be recog-
nised the merest glimmering indication of a solu-
tion of the Polish problem by the decision of the
EMPEROR. Still, although all this cannot but be
profoundly regretted as a rather irritating reticence
theon part of the pamphleteer, his argument—
tolerated, if it be not even authorised and originated
by the Chief of the State—is especially valuable at
this juncture,
for inasmuch as it reprobates, iu
the severest terms, the atrocities perpetrated by
the Russians, with
is view to the crushing
out of this Polish insurrection. His conclusion is,
that the unanimity now assumed by the complete
coincidence of the policynput forth respectively by
France, by England, and by
tAustria, in regard to
distinct Poland, is of itself a
ecurity for peace.
A conclusion that would be all the
more re-assuring,
however, as a security for peace, if it could only
have been accompanied by any guarantee that the
councils of the Russian autocrat arein this matter
in any way at all open to the dictates of right and
reason—that the evil passions inspired in the breast
of the CZAR by the Polish insurrection are to be in
say way mitigated in their fury by the
ap-
preciation of the force of that unanimity.
Leaving the anonymous pamphleteer, however,
for the only too clearly indicated writers in the Parie
newspapers, we find far more significance
just now in the tone of those journalists
than is anywhere discoverable in that of
the hidden writer supposed to wield his pen under
such very high inspiration ! Already we have
said
in our remarks yesterday, in reference to the
possibility of a general war in Europe, that it ap-
pears to ourselves all the more of a possibility, by
reason of some among other questions of extreme
importance, and also some of them of extreme
urgency, trending, like the drift of the Polish
Question, precisely in that one direction ! Conspi
cuous among these were indicated at once—as who,
indeed, could fail to do so?--the incompleteness of
things generally, up to this very moment, in regard
to what some are actually disposed to regard as the
settlement of affairs in the Roman Peninsula. The
situation, there, is as undeniably at this eery mo-
ment incenapieteees it was glaringly incomplete upon
the morrow of the Treaty of Villarranca, And now,

itt regard to that situation, what are the views put
fo rt,h, for example, not a year ago, but under date
tt Lis very morning, " Samedi, ler Aoilt," not in an
o 3cure provincial newspaper, but in a Paris journal
of eminence and authority like those possessed by
L' Union. "We hesitate not to proclaim once more,"
says L' Union of this morning, "and we do so at the
ri Fik of scandalizing the patriotis.m of the Journal
dos Debats, and even of the Nation : we are intrac-
table upon all those questions, which remain firmly
al id consistently attached to the rights of civilised
pi.loples, and to the honour of our country ; and we
cannot comprehend at all, no matter what may have
bc..3n our experience of the complaisances and of the
fe,:llings cif among our contemporaries, we cannot
comprehend at al!. how any per3on can possibly
entertain any other sentiment in the matter
than we do ourselves, or, entertaining ir,
can dare to express it." Having spoken
thus vaguely but emphatically in regard to the
situation of things already hinted at, L' Union
hesitates not to add " Our flag has been insulted,
our territory has been violated, the faith of treaties
has been despised, the protection guaranteed by the
signature of our ambassador has been disdain-
fully set aside and changed into abso-
lute oppression. Such are the glaring facts
flagrantly accomplished, at broad noonday and in
the face of the whole world. For these things the
dignity of France requires a prompt and solemn
reparation. There is not a single nation under the
sun that could quietly put up with so insolent an
outrage without jeopardising its reputation." And
so on—and so on—the bitterness of feeling arising
out of the actual situation of things in that one di-
rection alone, breaking through the customary
equanimity of the Union, in words so resolute and
uncompromising, even though the writer wields his
pen all the while under the shadow of the censor-
ship.

A fancy fair held at a gentleman's country seat for
a charitable purpose is not in these days a wonder-
ful novelty. Our great landowners, and the pro-
prietors of stately parks and pleasant grounds, are
for the most part very ready to throw open their
gates on occasion, and to admit the public to a sight
of their domains. The agreeable combination of a
rural fete and a benevolent purpose are usually the
opportunities selected for these "general invita-
tions," and such has been the object of the fancy
fair held at Tiptree-hall. But the festivities in
question possessed a peculiar and distinctive
feature which render them deserving of pub-
lic notice. The estate at Tiptree has long
been famous for the energetic and liberal
manner in which its owner has applied the
various inventions and improvements of modern
times to the cultivation of his land and the different
departments of his farm establishment, and the
great success which has attended his endeavours
renders a visit to Tiptree especially interesting. It
is a great advantage to the agricultural interest of
the country when gentlemen of large means and
public spirit come forward as the pioneers of im-
provement and progress. The application of steam
to the various purposes of agriculture is known to
be a most valuable aid to the farmer. It did not
need much sagacity to discover that if the greet
aerial agent could do the work of horses so much
better and quicker than horses could do it on the
highroad, there was no reason why it should like-
wise eclipse them at the plough. Still there were
very great obstacles in the way. In the first place,
farmers, proverbially slow and sure, looked with sus-
picion and prejudice on such new-fangled notions.
The second objection was more serious, for farmers,
in spite of Mr. COBDEN'S sneers, are open to reason
like other men. The first expense of steam ploughs
is, however, very great, and it was not to be ex-
pected that a farmer of moderate means should em-
bark a large sum in what was after all a specula-
tion. It is, therefore, a very great advantage to
the community when gentlemen, who can afford to
speculate in such matters, and to whom the preli-
minary outlay is a matter of no great moment, like
Mr. DENISON and Alderman MECHI, come forward
and give their neighbours practical evidence of the
working of new and expensive schemes. The far-
mers in Mr. DENISON'S neighbourhood, who
watched the new steam plough breaking and tear-
ing up the hard ground, baked by the hot spring
sun, were unanimous in their approval, and readily
perceived the great advantage of the steam plough
in breaking up hard clay lands. There is no doubt
that Alderman Multi has given a great stimulus
to the farmers in his vicinity, and although his
humbler neighbours may not hope to rival the
glories of Tiptree Hall, they may learn how
to make the most of their own lands by
what they see there. The attention of the
visitors to the fête on their round of inspec-
tion was especially attracted by the huge manure
tank from which a system of manure irrigaticn is
carried on over the lands. This reservoir is
described as having the appearance of an immense
well with folding doors, from which, when opened,
a cloud of steam issued. This was the waste steam
which is forced into the compound to prevent the
manure from settling to the bottom of the water
with which it is mixed. The steam keeps the mass
in constant action, and from this well iron pipes
traverse the grounds in all directions with stand
pipes to every eleven acres. As the estate consists
of 170 acres, it is manifest that this scheme must
have been carried out at great expense. Its returns,
however, are rapid enough to satisfy the most im-
patient, since the crops are of the finest, while two
or three grass crops are obtained in a season—
one of nino days' growth being, in some places, a
foot long. The manner of applying the manure is
similar to the application of water to a fire. A hose
is fixed to the stand pipes, and a farm labourer plays
upon the surrounding land, the manure being forced
through the pipes with six horse power. This pro-
cess requires a hundred gallons a minute, to procure
which supply the neighbouring hills are drained to
one point. Mr. Mum has certainly spared neither
expense nor trouble in carrying out his scheme,
and its striking effects must convince any observer
of the correct principles on which it is founded.
The other departments of the farm are worked on a
similar scale, and the most satisfactory ani practical
proof of successful management was given to the
visitors in the shape of a iuxurious collation of
which all the articles were obtained on the estate.
Such displays arc by no means useless ; they afford
that unanswerable evidence which the old proverb
tells us lies in " the eating," and effectually silence
any doubts
as to the practical benefit of new and
startling theories,
o,d-fashioned men, 'who look
with due caution
on innovations and departures
from time-honoured
ways, and cynics, who aro
always on the 100k-out for faults, cannot shut their
eyes to the practical existence of rich crops and
good beef and mutton_ Such
gathering& seem to dif-
fuse general knowledge and to interest agricul-
turiste in the discussion of new plans and systems.
We may hope when such knowledge becomes more
widely diffused that we shall see Mr. DENISON'S
suggestion realised, and several farmers cow.
bining to obtain the more expensive implements
which are only wanted for occasional use. There
can be no reason why the application of
Cience to agriculture should nut be productive of
as ~,reat and striking results as it has brought about
ir. other directions. There Is, surely, nothing dis-