The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-23 00:00:00

NORFOLK.

On Saturday a crowded and influential meeting
was held in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, to consider
the expediency of stopping all fairs and markets in
Norfolk for the present. The Earl of Leicester,
lord-lieutenant, presided, and among those present
were Lord Sondes, M. E. Howes, ALP., Lord
Suffield, the Earl of Albemarle, Lord Bury, Mr. C.
S. Read, M.P., Sir T. Beauchamp, Major Hare, &c.
The Earl of LEICESTER, in addressing the meeting,
said the measure proposed would no doubt occasion
to all great inconvenience, but he thought the meet-
ing would come to the conclusion that the evils
which were likely to arise were not to be compared
with the dangers and disastrous losses which would
probably occur if the markets were kept open. As
Norfolk was mainly dependent upon distant
markets for the supply of its stock, the large por-
tion being imported into the country and com-
paratively few being bred in it, he thought that
if it had not been for the wise decision arrived
at in August for temporarily suspending purchases
in Norwich market, and the precautionary measures
then taken, the country would probably have suf-
fered more from the disease than perhaps any other
county in England. The resumption of purchases
in the third week in September had had the effect
of disturbing the disease throughout the country.
It would be for the meeting to consider whether it
would not be the wisest course again to close the
markets. Although every precaution might be
taken to prevent the disease spreading he feared that
from time to time we should be liable to periodical
outbreaks ; and he would strongly impress upon
veterinary surgeons and upon his brother farmers
the absolute necessity of their using every exertion
to find a remedy for at least a portion of the beasts
attacked. To say that after the disease had been
amongst them for a few months it was incurable
was unworthy of the science of the present age, and
to condemn every beast which was affected was, in
his opinion, a most unjustifiable sacrifice. We
wanted to know more than that when a beast was
affected it must be condemned to die ; we required
to know what were the remedies to be applied—
(hear, hear)—and if under certain circumstances
the life of an animal could not be saved, we wanted
to have an opportunity of slaughtering it while it
was fit for human food. To the man who would
find a remedy for the disease sufficient glory would
appertain ; but he (Lord Leicester) would be happy
to place at the disposal of the committee of the
county association a piece of plate of the value of
£lOO, to be given to the first man who, in their
opinion, was able successfully to compete with the
disease. (Cheers.)
Sir T. BEAUCHA3IP moved the first resolution :
" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable
that all cows, heifers, bulls, bullocks, oxen, calves,
sheep, lambs, goats, and swine should be excluded
from any market or fair to be held in this county
until the 22d of December next."

The Earl of ALBEMARLE seconded the resolution,
which was put and carried.
Mr. E. HowEs, M.P., moved " That a memo-
rial be sent from this meeting to her Majesty's
Government that powers be given to the magis-
trates in petty sessions to prevent the importation
into their respective districts of any manure from any
district which they have reason to believe is infected
with the cattle plague."
Major HARE, in seconding the resolution, which
was carried unanimously, recalled the fact that in
1857 the three great agricultural societies of the
kingdom sent Professor Simonds out to the Conti-
nent to investigate the disease. It appeared from
the professor's report that the measure now proposed
was one of the measures adopted on the Continent.

The Mayor of Nonwicii assured the meeting that
the citizens and authorities of N orwich were anxious
to do everything in their power to stop the progress
of what was a most grievous calamity. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. C. S. READ, M.P., a member of the recently
appointed royal commission, moved a vote of thanks
to Lord Leicester for his conduct in the chair. The
hon. gentleman expressed his cordial approval of
the objects of the meeting.