The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-07 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, NOV. 7, 1865.

The late meeting in South Devon, on the occa-
sion of the ploughing match of the Woodbury
Association, was distinguished for unusual excel-
lence in the speeches delivered, more especially that
of Sir LAWRENCE PALK. Mr. KEKEWICII, the
chairman, remarked that agricultural meetings were
increasing in the numbers who joined them, and
prospering over all the country. In France, like-
wise, this custom has obtained of late, and it is

satisfactory to find that the Archbishop who pre.

sided on the occasion directed his remarks to the sions, the amount of the population, and the pecu-
destruction of small birds which is now going on in liar influences at work. There are 68,000 European
France at such a great rate, and very properly de- soldiers and 135,000 natives, besides the consta-
nounced the cruel and mischievous course there bulary force of 154,000 sepoys. These, though
pursued. His Eminence pointed the moral of his trained to the use of arms, are not kept under
tale by informing his audience that for the last arms, and ought not to be reckoned in the mili-
three or four years he had no vegetables on account tary establishment any more than our sober blue-
of the caterpillars. It seems very strange that coated policemen. Several attempts have been
people will persist in this practice, notwithstanding
made at reorganising and reducing the army, but
that they have been repeatedly told of the injury they have not worked well. At present there is great
they occasion by their destructive course. The dissatisfaction and anxiety felt in Madras owing to
Chairman also adverted to the loss which the the preference now given to the irregular over the
country had sustained, and said that he should regular system. It is a
difficult matter to deal
greatly miss the lace of the noble lord who had sat with, for it is necessary to consider not only what
opposite to him, and declared that he could not is most advantageous to the national Exchequer
remember any differences that had existed between and best calculated to attain the desired ends, but
them now that his death had occurred. Mr. KNEE- also what is due from the State to its public ser-
WICH does not despair of the future of the country, vants, which may reasonably be expected by those
much as we may all miss its leading man. who for many years laboured faithfully in the dis-
On the contrary, he thinks that there are charge of their duties. There is always great diffi-
man y good men among the Conservatives, culty in effecting a change of system so as to
and that those now in office may keep so for some combine practical with theoretical advantages.
time yet. There are many who
can govern the For instance, it is undoubtedly very desirable
country and render useful services if they have not that officers in India should know some-
all " the brilliant eloquence of Lord DERBY, the thing of the language of the people with
powerful language and financial head of Mr. GLAD- whom they are associating, and whom they are
STONE, the ready wit and elegance of Mr. 11
....ISRAELI, sometimes to command. At the same time, it is a
or the head-pounding Saxon tongue of Mr. BRIGHT." great grievance that a middle-aged man, who has
Mr. BELMONT declared that a Reform Bill was not been many years in the army, and has proved a
wanted, and he does not consider that the present good and able officer, should suddenly find his posi-
Premier will be wise in disturbing the end of his tion affected by his want of acquaintance with an
days, which he has said he wishes to spend in rest elaborate tongue which he was never told to study in
and thankfulness, by such a hazardous proceeding his early days. While the influence of routine and a