The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-20 00:00:00

Woodstock

verni nent should endeavour, in some measure,
to meet the requirements of the case by selecting a
certait t number of chemist's shops as depots for in-
formation, especially as relates to the early signs
of the disease, and also for the treatment which
might mitigate it. Miss Courrs has resolved to set on
foot some inquiry of this nature for herself, and has
been promised the aid of some gentlemen. She
naturally asks if the Government are likely to lend
any assistance in the furtherance of a scheme so
1 desirable, and which has so much to commend
itself to support and encouragement. She truly
adds that at present no one knows where to turn
to get advice; and that it appears to her that
" upon such an occasion our Government
should take the lead in guiding us how to act, and
in assisting us to meet an emergency which is full
of difficulty and danger to all classes." It is worthy
of notice that the danger may not be over quite so
soon as some persons imagine, because, as Miss
COUTTS reminds us in her letter, in the accotnts
drawn up of the murrain which occured last cen-
tury, the disease diminished during the winter, and
then broke out during the spring with increased
violence, so that it will not do to neglect any pre-
cautions that ingenuity can suggest or perseverance
accomplish. It is certainly wiser and better
in such a crisis as the present to do too
much rather than too little, and therefore no plans
or proposals that are at. all feasible should be
neglected. This proposition of Miss Courrs' is so
excellent that it will be,_indeed, unfortunate if it
cannot be carried out, and we may rest assured that
if it is the safest means will have been adopted to
prevent the many evils which ignorance occasions,
and thus we shall Stem the force of the calamity to
the utmost extent of our power. Want of care in
apparently small particulars often creates more
mischief than some might suppose to be possible,
and those in authority will incur grave responsi-
bility if by their neglect they should allow the evils
now in existence. to increase in magnitude and
extent.

Mr. Bright on Reform.

.

The following letter has been received by Mr.
George Newton, of Glasgow, from Mr. Bright,
M.P., in reply to an invitation to attend a meeting
in that city for the agitation of the question of
Parliamentary Reform :
" Pitnacree, Dunkeld, Sept. 10, 1865.

" Dear Sir,—Mr. Dalglish has forwarded your
letter to me. I thank you for your invitation,
although I do not feel myself able now to accept it.
If I come to Glasgow I must go to other places. I
cannot bear the weight of an agitation for Reform,
and spend the winter in attending great meetings,
as I did in the year 1858-59, and therefore I feel
compelled to shun engagements which I know I should
find too heavy for me. I have as much interest in
the question as I have had at any time, and I be-
lieve, and indeed I know, that it is advancing with
most certain steps. When the present Prime
Minister leaves office no Ministry will be possible of
the Liberal party which will not deal with the Re-
form question. lam not anxious it should be dealt
with during his official life, for he is the only man
cannectedwith the Liberal party who is at once both
able and willing to betray it. One sentence from
his lips would have the passed the bill of 1860, and
that sentence he refused to utter. his colleagues
preferred their places to their honour as public men,
and they consented to the greatest political fraud of
our times rather than leave the Treasury bench even
for a season. Happily, the question does not depend
on the Prime Minister. lie has never promoted its
growth, and he cannot prevent its success. There
is at work a steady and a silent force which all who
are not blind May mark, and every day's delay will
but add to thecertainty and fulness of our triumph.
I hope every Liberal constituency will so act throUgh
its representatives as to make a sham Liberal Go-
vernment henceforth impossible. For what can be
more degrading to a Liberal member of the House
of Commons than to sit as a supporter of an Admi-
nistration which repudiates and has betrayed the
first and greatest question or cause upon which the
whole policy of the Liberal party is founded ?—I
am, very truly yours,
" JOHN BRIGHT.
" Mr. George Newton, Glasgow."

The late Mr. Cobden on the American

War and Mexico.

The following is an extract from a letter written
in May, 1864, by the late Richard Cobden, on
America, to a French gentleman residing in Switzer-
land, upon the subject of the late rebellion, and the
prospects of the French intervention in Mexico :

" London, May 13, 1864.

" My dear -, In your last letter you speak unfavour-
ably of the prospects of the Northern party in America.
You do not know that country. I travelled through the
United States in 1835, and again in 1859, and have been a
very careful student of all that has been passing there.
I ought to know that country as well as anybody.
Nothing, in my mind, is more certain iu the future
.than that the North wifl destroy slavery, ruin the slave-
owners, and hold possession of the South. The mistake
that people fall into in Europe, when they expect the suc-
cess of the South, is that they lose sight of the inherent
weakness of a slave-owning community, owing to the want
of that mechanical development which constitutes the great
power of modern society, as compared with former ages.
Georgia, or Mississippi, or Alabama are not modern com-
munities in their organisation and resources.
.They aro a
succession of plantations on which slaves do all the work,
and containing within themselves all the different occupa-

tions, such as carpenters, smiths, and coopers, and which
form distinct trades in free civilised States. In fact,
Georgia and Mississippi are in the same state as Western
Europe was in the 14th century. Georgia and Mississippi,
each nearly as large as England, contain each only a
half million of white inhabitants, being less populous than
England was in the time of the Saxons. Those whites
are surrounded by nearly an equal number of slaves, who
aro ready to run away from their masters whenever tho
Federal armies approach. Thus, added to the want of
mechanical resources and the absence of accumulated
wealth and population in towns, the South sees the negro,
on whom it depends for the rude cultivation of the soil,
deserting its plantations to enlist in the ranks of the in-
vading army. It is true that the Southern whites fight
well. They are a proud, haughty community, who have a
contempt for Northern industry and for Northern men,
just as all aristocrats have despised working men. They
are more reckless of life, more• accustomed to the use of
arms, and have that Southern dash and fire which makes
them almost irresistible for a time. But nothing can com-
pensate for the disadvantages under which they labour.
Nothing can make a community, living like the feudal com-
munity of the 13th century, a match for the New England
population of the 19th century. The North will ruin the
South, not by any ono or half-dozen decisive battles, but
by its peesistence and by the irresistible weight of its re-
sources. And I should nit be surprised to see the South
collapse very suddenly ; for having no social forces at its
back, when once it is fairly beaten in the field it has nothing
to fall back upon. If the North should realise my expecta-
tions, it will present itself before the Old World in a new
and most formidable attitude, for it will have proved itself
as great in war as in peace. It is the only country in the
world which, while it is a first-class naval powar (for its
mercantile tonnage equal to our own), can keep 700,000
men in the field. Has your Emperor thought of all this in
connexion with his Mexican expedition ? I confess I saw
with amazement as well as regret the course which he took
in sending an army to interfere in the internal affairs of
that wretched country. It reminded me, in its impolicy, of
the expedition of the First Napoleon from Bayonne into
agNcoodf human being can restore Mexico to order, or
confer on it the blessings of civilised progress. It repuires
populationGa onl himself
humiliated
h a tl of
half-castes.
f fa
bseytee tst
h. s ai
this
Buth
attempt
t cedhmoaepnstgt
the
efi n a
Emperorthat d
foreigne - 1
know how deeply the public sentiment of the United States
Power to set up an empire at their door without consult-
ing with them ? How would you Frenchmen like to see
the Yankees sending an army to establish a republic inßel
gium without-consulting you? Seeing the American news.
papers regularly, I gather from them that the resentment
against you for the Mexican intervention is ready to burst
forth• the moment the rebellion is in a sure way of defeat.
The Americans will have some serious controversies with
England, but they are of a• nature to keep and employ the
ingenuity of diplomatists. But I look for a peremptory
demand from -Washington-for explanations from the .Tuile,.
ries, which will lead to war or humiliation. ~ I slugye4
wish the Emperok• would witladaw every French soldier,
iiamodiately. . . . " &QUID Cowa."

FIIE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1e65.

ssociation.

WOODSTOCE, Tuesday.
The annual gathering of the Woodstock Agricultural
and Horticultural Association took place this day. Tho
show was exceedingly good, and the attendance of members

of the society very numerous.
The dinner at the Town-hall was presided over by Capt.
E. Thornhill ; and amongst tho gentlemen present were

Mr. Henley, M.P., Col. North, M.P., Col. Fane, M.P., Mr.
Barnett, M P., Viscount Dillon, Sir 11. Dashwood, Bart.,
Col. Bowyer, Mr. Margetts (the mayor), &c.
After the usual loyal and constitutional toasts had been
given awl duly honoured,
Col. BOWYER proposed the "Health of the Members for
the County," the whole of whom he was happy to say were

present.
The toast was received with three cheers, and one cheer

Mr. HENLEY, in responding to the toast, said that the

chairman had been pleased to say that the members for the
county had taken the trouble of attending on the present
occasion, but he must little understand their feelings if he
supposed they considered it a trouble, particularly when
they were received in such a cordial and enthusiastic man-
ner. They attended, knowing that they should meet men
entertaining all shades of opinion. Matters calculated to
create discussion were always properly avoided, but still
they could not but feel proud when they found men of dif-
ferent opinions ready to receive them so cordially, know-
ing that they were always ready to perform their duty.

(Cheers.) That was the real feeling which induced men
in public life to try to perforin their duty. They knew

they were always short of the mark, but they know
equally well that when they tried to do their best their

countrymen were always ready to take the will for the deed.
That was a matter that made labour light—that cheered
them to go on in the right way—because they knew that

their acts would be favourably considered by those whom

they represented. It would be in vain for hitu to
say anything, or at least much, on the use of such societies
as the present. When he saw the Town-hall more than
ordinarily filled by the most respectable inhabitants of the
neighbourhood, when he saw such societies supported by
so large a proportion of the clergy, who knew their value,

he could not doubt of their value to the general community,

Cheers.) There was no matter of peculiar public interest

calling for observation. Thank God, we were all reason-
ably prosperous. Many present, no doubt, would wish corn

to be a little higher in price, but on the whole it was a
great satisfaction to find that the volunteers were so fully
employed that they, or a great many of them, were unable
to be present. It was found every day both by buyers and
sellers that, fast as meat was created, it could not be
created fast enough. The butchers came and took it before
it ought to be taken, and when that was the case he did not
see that the agriculturists could be otherwise than in a pros-
perous state. But the eaters and the sellers could not fail
to look with some apprehension on the present increased
and increasing price of meat. Great skill—he spoke ad-
visedly—had produced a.much larger amount of meat than
any one would have supposed 50 years ago could have been
produced. When he was an undergraduate he recollected
sheep being walked up to Smithfield market not 12 months
old, and barely shorn. Although such mutton might ap-
pear to some persons precious bad mutton, still it was bet-
ter than no mutton at all, and he was of opinion that if
mutton were not quickened we should have no mutton at
all, and he did not see how that supply could be much more
quickened than it was at present unless it could be quick-
ened before it was born. (Laughter and cheers.) Regret-
ting that he was unable to say anything better worth hear-
ing, he begged to thank the company for the kind manner
in which his name •and that of his colleagues had been
received. (Cheers.)
Colonel NORTH also responded to the toast, and in doing
so pointed out the advantage of agricultural associations in
bringing together men of all political and all religious
opinions. The greatness and glory of the country was
mainly owing to the fact that we were not only able to en-
tertain independent opinions, but had the manliness and
the right to express them. (Cheers.) So long as this right
and this feeling existed, England would always remain a
great country. (Cheers.) So far as he was individually
concerned, be had always done his best toperform his duty
in Parliament, and he felt that, although he had been re-
turned by the Fifty who coincided with him in opinion, he
was the representative of the whole county, and it gave him
the greatest satisfaction to do what he could for those who
entertained opinions diametrically opposed to his own.
(Cheers.)
Colonel FANS, after thanking the company for the kind-
ness with which lie had been received, observed that when
ho saw so many gentlemen busily employed with their
pencils in taking down every word that was uttered for the
purpose of printing it in the newspaper, it required much
stronger nerves titan his own to face them. (Laughter and
cheers.) A great dual had been said about meetings of this
description, and of the great advantage we professed over
foreign nations. In France and other countries agricul-
tural and other meetings took place, but he had never
heard of any such agreeable assemblies abroadas took place
in this country. He had been told in the course of the
day, " When your members travel about and attend so
many meetings of this description you ought to be able to
give us some practical knowledge and information." That
observation he had no doubt was perfectly true, but it was
a most extraordinary fact that at all the dinners which he
had attended in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Essex,
he had never met with any gentleman who had spoken with
any practical knowledge on the subject. (Laughter and
cheers.)

Mr. HENLEY proposed the health of the president, who
briefly acknowledged the compliment.
Mr. H. L. GASKELL then proposed the health of the
member for the borough, which was received most enthu-
siastically.
Mr. BARNETT, in responding to the toast, said he was
placed in a very different position from that occupied by
Mr. Henley and his colleagues, the members for the county.
They were familiar with the House of Commons, and ►ere
wen acquainted with its mode of procedure. His own ex-
perience had been confined to standing and not sitting in the
House of Commons ; but he looked forward to the high
honour of taking his seat there, and although he might be
unable to take any conspicuous part in the deliberations of '
that assembly, he felt the greatest and incst honest desire
to make himself useful, and to take such a part in its pro-
ceedings as might be within the scope of his ability. (Hear,
hear.) He was cheered by what he had heard from many
quarters that it was not those who talked most fluently and
frequently who commanded the greatest attention in the
House of Commons. That was the opinion of a man for
whom he felt the greatest respect and value,.Lord Stanley,
who recently told his friends that there were two qualities
which gained the most notice in that assembly, knowledge
of the world and common sense. (Hear.) . Of one of these
polities he could not speak as relating to himself ; but
with respect to the other he might be allowed to say that.
he had lived long in the world, and that a person who had
done so without gaining some practical knowledge must be
a. very unobservant individual. He trusted that the quali-
ties which he possessed would be found useful and would
not incapacitate him from taking part in the councils of the
nation. (Cheers.) He wished to make one remark on what
had been said by Colonel Fane, whether from an excess of
modesty or of candour he was unable to say, but the gallant
colonel and some other gentlemen repudiated the idea of
knowing anything about agriculture. Ho believed that
would be rather an excess of modesty than of candour, for
they had been too long engaged in agricultural pursuits
not to know more than they gave themselves credit for.
(Laughter and cheers.) But he certainly thought it would
be profitable to improve occasions like the present if gen-
tlemen more intimately acquainted with agriculture would
give such meetings the benefit of their knowledge and ex-
perience.. (Cheers.)
Several other toasts followed and were duly responded to.

COLLISION BETWEEN A GOODS AND A COAL
TRAIN.—On Sunday morning a collision occurred
on the London and North-Western Rail Way at Bolton,
which was attended with great danger, and did consider-
able damage. A train of empty waggons from Rochdale
had arrived, and were being shunted off the main lino at a
place known as BuMeld Sidings. Whilst this operation
was being conducted a loaded goods train from Preston,
due at 5 a.m., came on at a good speed. The coal waggons
were being transferred from one side of the line to the
other, when the engine of the Preston train dashed into
the middle of them. The violence of the concussion was
so great that six of the waggons were cut away from the
train, and the body parts of two of the waggons were
thrown off their wheels. Fortunately no lives were lost.
The fireman of the Preston train jumped off, and beyond
being badly shaken was not hurt. The engine-driver re-
mained at his post, and faced the danger unhurt. It appears
the signal was put up against him, but he says the atmos-
phere was foggy then, and he did not see it until it was -too
late to stop. A number of men were set to work to remove
the damaged waggons, and after an interruption of three
hours, during which several other trains were delayed, the
line was cleared.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A VOLUNTEER.—At the
annual review of the Ist Administrative Warwick-
shire Rifle Volunteers on the Race Course, Warwick, on
Monday afternoon, an accident occurred to Private Charles
Wright, of the Ist Leamington Company, who was acci-
dentally shot by his fore-rank man, while file firing was
going on. The rifle was "full-cock," hence the accident.
The cartridge struck Wright immediately above the right
eye, and inflicted a severe flesh wound. His hat was
blown off his head into the air to a height of about 30
yards. Two or three surgeons immediately attended him,
'and rendered all necessary. assistance. After having
partaken of some stimulants his head was bandaged up,
and he was sufficiently recovered to be able to walk off the
ground. At the conclusion of the inspection, Lieutenant-
Colonel Manners addressed the • men, and spoke in terms
of the highest; prake of their discipline,. appearance, and
knowledge Of military duties. He cautioned them par-
ticularly about having their rifles at full-cock except when
firing. That: painful accident which had occurred had
-arisen in that way,--4,44)10,:110F4 it w. 941.1 "Y°.-.4i"
ctutig4 to tkcw.—