The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-16 00:00:00

THE BRECON ELECTION PETITION.

Mr. Justice Byles delivered judgment at Brecon yester-
daymorning, as to the costs of the Brecon election petition,
which he had dismissed on the previous day. Costs, he
said must follow the event, and be paid by the
petitioners. His certificate to the speaker would be
that there was no direct legal evidence that corrupt
practices had prevailed extensively at the election to
which the petition related ; nor was there reason to
suppose that the withdrawal of the petition arose front

collusion between the petitioner and the respowlent in
order to shut out the possibility of an eleetionecommission.

THE CAMBRIA IN AMERICA.

The Cambria, it is stated, is at present under engage-
ments to sail with the Idler, Phantom, America, and
Madeline, and the owner is confident of her superiority at
sea to any American yacht. He has challenged any
schooner yacht in America to race her in a ten knot
breeze at the close of those matches, the course for all to
be twenty miles from Sandy Hook and back, to to sailed
under any British or New York club. Mr Ashbury will,
at the close of the yachting season in America, go for a
cruise in the West Indies,

THE SUN, • LONDOS; FRIDAY, SEPTMVIBER 'l6, tB7O.

MR. DISRAELI AT MIGHENDEn
[CENTRAL' PRESS TELEGRAM.]
Harvest thanksgiving services were held at the Church
of St. Michael's, Hughenden, yesterday. The sermon
was preached by the Rev. F. Ashpitel, rector of Great
Hampden, and the offertory was devoted tp the fund for
the relief of the sick and wounded in the war. After the
service the first exhibition of the Hughenden Horticultural
Society for the encouragement of cottage gardening was
held in the park adjoining the church, in close proximity
to the mansion ; and at three o'clock Mr. Disraeli, who
was accompanied by Viscountess Beaconfield, distributed
the prizes to the successful competitors. The weather
was beautifully fine, and there was a large assemblage of
spectators, for :whose pleasure the band of the Royal
Bucks King's Own Militia performed several choice
•
selections of music.

Mr. Disraeli, in distributing the prizes, said : I am very
glad to meet you on :this occasion,'my good :friends and,
neighbours, and this is an anniversary which I hope may
often occur. But when iehappens again our meeting to-
day will be distinguished from any other anniversary, be-
cause this is the first exhibition of the Horticultural
Society at Hughenden ; and, therefore, as this is our first
exhibition, I _hope those who are present will be
not too critical, but will remember that we have had to
labour this year under very great disadvantages. In the
first place, it is always a great disadvantage to commence
anything, as a first trial is never so successful as a second
experiment ; and, in the second place, we have had to
contend this season with one of the most severe droughts
that has over prevailed in this country, and no part of
England, probably, has suffered much more than our
county and this neighbourhood. When there is a drought
those districts in which light soils prevail necessarily
suffer most ; but it is not merely in our valleys that there
has been a severe stress, as upon all the table lands which
crown our hills in the Chiltern the stress has been such as
it is very difficult to find language to describe. I can
truly say that water on the Chiltern hills has been more
precious than wine, and I am quite sure there are many
around us who have had personal experience of the ex-
treme severity of the season. We must all feel how much
must have been suffered from this visitation of nature,
and, therefore, you must remember that what has been
produced has been produced under circumstances of
immense difficulty. I think the competitors may, under
those circumstances, be proud of what they have placed
under the tent. There are flowers and roots there which
would distinguish any exhibition, but we must not for-
get the circumstances of difficulty under which they were
produced this year. On this occasion I do not
like to be entirely silent as to the principles upon which
institutions of this End are founded. In my mind they
are of the most beneficial character. One of the wisest
men that ever lived said that God Almighty first made a
garden, and indeed it is one of the choicest productions of
human exertion. (Hear, hear.) Now that is perfectly
felt I am sure by many that are present ; they like the
sight of fair flowers and succulent roots, and they know
well that in cultivating gardens they not only add to the
pleasure but to the comfort and convenience of their
lives. (Hear, hear.) I am proud to say that in this
parish there is scarcely a cottage without a garden. Cer-
tainly I hope that in any place where I have any influence
no such unfortunate circumstance as cottages without
gardens can occur. But gardens are not only plentiful
here, for they are skilfully cultivated. There is nothing
more dreary than a cottage without a garden. I like to
see sweet flowers in a garden, and the pleasure is not by
any means diminished by having a bee-hive in a sunny
corner. (Hear, hear.) Now, in all the difficulties we
have had to struggle under and encounter in consequence
of the peculiarity of the season, there is one matter I am
very glad to see, and that is that on this occasion there
are nearly two hundred exhibitors, a circumstance which
proves how completely this institution has taken root in
the feelings of the population. (Hear, hear.) Therefore,
on the whole I think I may congratulate you upon what
you nave done, and I have now the agreeable office of
distributing the prizes which the committee, to whom I
am much indebted, have awarded to those who have most
distinguished themselves in the competition.
After the successful exhibitors had received their prizes
a hearty vote of thanks was awarded Mr. Disraeli and
Lady Beaconsfield for the active interest they had evinced
in the society.
Mr. Disraeli appropriately acknowledged the compli-
ment, and explained that the credit of the experiment
was mainly due to the vicar of the parish, the Rev. Mr.
Blagdon.
Dancing and other amusements were afterwards
indulged in, Mr. Disraeli and his lady participating in
the festivity.