The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-21 00:00:00

GENERAL MEETING 01. AGRICULTURISTS.

Yesterday a Meeting of Agriculturists from various parts of
the Kingdom, who were brought to London by . the attractions
of the Smithfield Show, took place at the York Hotel, Bridge-
street, which was very respectably attended. The object of the
meeting was to consider of the steps necessary to be taken to
meet the question likely to be agitated in the ensuing Session of
Parliament, .respecting the alteration of the Corn Laws.
The business of the day was briefly opened by Mr. BENT-
LEY, from Kent, proposing Mr. FoasTER, of Bedfordshire,
as Chairman, who, in an impressive and argumentative speech,
explained the object of the Meeting, and urged the necessity of
being prepared to petition the Legislature against carrying such
a measure into effect. He pointed out the ruin that would ac-
crue, not only to the landed, but ultimately to the general wel-
fare of the community, whose interests, he contended, were in-
capable of being separate-a.
The Chairman was followed by Mr. HuopEs, from Kent,
who prefaced the Resolutions, which he proposed, by some
very excellent observations on the necessity of union amongst
all persons connected with agriculture, and strongly recom-
mended the formation of local associations throughout the
kingdom.
Mr. QUILTER, from Suffolk, detailed to the Meeting the
exertions that had been made upon a former occasion in that
county, and expressed his belief that, upon this occasion, simi-
lar activity would be shewn.
Several Gentlemen from Berkshire, Essex, Sussex, Oxford-
shire, Rutlandshire, - Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, and.
Surrey, made observations upon the proposed plan of forming
Agricultural Associations ; and it seemed to he the general feel-
ing, that the adoption of such a measure would be attended
with the most beneficial effects.

The Resolutions, which will appear in a future Paper, were
then unanimously agreed to; and the thanks of the Meeting
voted to the Chairman.

The following Resolutions of the Kent Central Association
was adopted by the Meeting, and incorporated in their Reso-
lutions :
" At a Meeting of the Central Committee of the several
Agricultural Associations of Dover, Hythe, Ashford, Canter-
bury, Maidaton, and Rochester, in the county of Kent, held
at the Rose Inn, Sittingbourne, on Wednesday the 23d Nov.
1825, Mr. Thomas Bentley,-of Iligham, in the Chair,
" It was Resolved—That it is expedient, in order to pre-
vent any misconception that might arise as to the nature of
these Associations, to explain their object.—The Committee,
therefore, &Aare, that they are formed expressly for the pur-
pose of endeavouring to counteract the efforts of those delusive
Theorists, who, under the plea of advocating the doctrine of
Free Trade, are desirous of effecting the Abolition of the
Corn Laws, the principle of which has hitherto been consi-
dered essential to the protection of Agriculture, and under
the operation of which, this country has attained its present
power and prosperity. The Agriculturists contend, that the
efforts now making to introduce a Free Trade in various
branches of manufacture, afford but a feeble argument in fa-
vour of 'a similar attempt with respect to the Corn Trade,
for, should the present experiment fail, the mistake may
easily be rectified, at the expence of, comparatively, a slight
inconvenience ; but the difficulty of repairing evils arising
from injudicious legislation respecting Agriculture, is of a
much more ,formidable nature, tied the ruin that must ensue,
from an urrivccessful interference with it, can only be esti-
mated by the consideration of its paramount and immense
importance its the State. The Agriculturists, therefore' fear-
ful of innovation upon a system which has been acted upon
so long, and unwilling; to risk the known advantages attend-
ing it, for the sake of schemes of commercial aggrandize-
'ment which may be never realized, have associated for the
purpose, if necessary, of petitioning the Legislature to ab-
stain from any interference with • the Core Laws ; but, taking
into their consideration how recently they have been re-
vised and altered, that they would allow a sufficient time
for- their operation in their present state, in order that it may
be discovered, by the test of experience, whether they are
condueive'or adverse to the general interests of the State. Cer-
tainly as far as experience has hitherto gone, • the evils antici-
pated by the opponents of them have not been realized ; for,
instead of the average price of Wheat being always but a trifle
below 80s. per quarter, as was confidently predicted, it has ge-
nerally been, and is very considerably indeed below that sum;
and the Agriculturists have no doubt, that should the present
state of suspense and alarm on their part be removed, by an
assurance that the present system would receive a fair trial,
such a stimulus would be given to Agriculture as would ensure
a supply of Corn equal to the demands of the country, and at
moderate, steady prices, with the exception of those variations
which the vicissitudes of the seasons will necessarily occasion,
and which it is not in the power of human wisdom to prevent.
"And it is highly important that Petitions, concurring in
the same prayer, should if they become necessary, be pre-
sented from the great body of Agriculturists throughout the
kingdom, this Committee earnestly recommends the formation
of Associations in the different Counties, as the best means of
attaining this desirable object; but should the alteration of the
Corn Laws be proceeded in, it will be necessary for the Agri-
culturists to be prepared with evidence, to submit to the Le-
gislature upon the subject: and in that case, it is the opinion
of this meeting, that a Committee should be formed from the
different Associations throughout the country, to meet in Lon-
don, to collect and arrange such evidence: hence arises the
necessity of immediate exertion to form Associations in every
county, previously to the meeting of Parliament.'
(Signed) " Tuoldas BENTLEY, Chairman."