The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-24 00:00:00

THE RELIGIOUS TREATMENT OF
PRISONERS.

Yesterday the inquiry of the Select Committee of the
House of Commons (Mr. Maguire in the chair) was re-
sumed by the examination of Sir Walter Crofton chair-
man of the Directors of Prisons in Ireland. He
said there was a Protestant and Catholic chap-
lain in every prison in Ireland. He considered
this a beneficial arrangement to the prisoners who benefited
much by the instruction given by their own chaplain.
There were Protestant chaplains appointed where there
were only a dozen' Protestants. He thought all
Catholic priests should be paid for their services,
and where there was a small number of less than
twenty or thirty prisoners in a prison, the salary
should be fixed by the prison authorities. If the law
made the appointment of a Catholic priest to a prison
compulsory, he did not think there would be any
difference between the prison authorities and the chap-
lain appointed as to whether the latter had an
adequate salary ; but though he was for leaving
it open as a matter of contract, still it might
be well to have an appeal to the Home Secretary. He
objected to a scale for prison ministers' salaries•according
to the number of prisoners. It was not necessary to ap-
point a Baptist or Independent minister as the difference be-
tween their religious. faith and the Church of England was
not sufficiently marked. He was of opinion that the
salaries of the Roman Catholic priests attending prisoners
in gaol should be fixed by the visiting justices, and con-
firmed by the Secretary of State.

This being the last witness, the room was cleared, and
the committee proceeded to consider their report.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The half-yearly general meeting of, this association was

held yesterday afternoon, at the society's rooms, Hanover-
square, Lord Walsingham in the chair. The report of the
Council stated that a grant had been made of £5OO to the
Manchester Local Committee in aid of the extra and excep-
tional expense occasioned by the compensation awarded
to the tenant of the trial ground, and that Mr. C.
Whitehead, of Maidstone, had been elected a
member of the Council to fill the vacancy caused by the
election of the Duke of Devonshire as vice-president.
The prizes tO be competed for at the Oxford meeting next
July amount to £3,130 for live stock, and £395, in addi-
tion to 10 silver medals. The interest attaching to Oxford
as being the place where the first country meeting of the
society was held, promises to invest the forthcoming show
with unusual attractions. The show yard for implements and
live stock comprises nearly sixty acres. The entries for
implements, machinery, &c., which closed on the Ist
instant, prove that the display of this remarkable
feature will be very extensive, and that the
live stock will be well represented. Another
element of instruction and interest will be found
in the competition for prizes offered last year
by the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, for the
society for the two best farms in the district round Ox-
ford. The council also stated that, after examining the
respective claims of Shrewsbury, Stafford, and Wolver-
hampton, they had decided to hold the meeting for 1871
at the latter place. The President and Council of the
Societd des Agriculteurs de France have invited this society
to take part in an international agricultural congress to
be held next year in Paris. The invitation had been ac-
cepted, and the following subjects of discussion had been
suggested as affording opportunities of illustrating the pre-
sent position of English agriculture :—Drainage, imple-
ments and machinery, manures, rotation of crops, fatten-
ing cattle and sheep ; and " the labourer." The
Council also reported that the society's consulting
chemist had presented reports on simples of guano.
The immense increase in the manufacture of artificial
manure and feeding stuffs, and the competition among
dealers and manufacturers, the council state had intro-
duced into the market low-priced and inferior articles,
which often tempted purchasers by their apparent
cheapness, and it was hoped that the publi-
cation of these reports would induce more caution
and prevent the disappointment which so often follows
the purchase of inferior or adulterated articles. The
Council have resolved in future to divide the annual grant
of two hundred pounds to the Royal Veterinary College
into two heads—namely, one hundred and fifty pounds
to the college for the general advancement of veterinary
science, and the remaining fifty pounds to be devoted to
carrying out experiments on the diseases of cattle, sheep,
and pigs. The council concluded by directing attention
to the desirability of improving the society's library, and
they confidently anticipated that a very useful library of
reference would shortly be at the command of the members.
Mr. Botley moved the adoption of the report, which
was seconded by Mr. Robertson, who expressed doubt as
to whether it was necessary to continue the system of
money rewards, seeing the great advantages which accrued
to those who received the prizes, both in respect to the
enhancement of the price of their stock, and, in the case of
implement makers, in the extrordinary sale which they
always had after an award in their favour had been
pronounced by the society's judges. He suggested whe-
ther under these circumstances it would not be better to
confine the rewards given, by them to medals of bronze or
silver, and thus put at the disposal of the society
for the purpose of experimentalising, or in any
other way which would promote the advance-
ment of science, the large sums now annually
expended in prizes. Mr. Freebody criticised
the conduct of the association in keeping so large a balance
at their bankers, and suggested prizes for the best culti-
vated farms of different kinds. He expressed himself in
favour of the association having an experimental farm as
well as encouraging the manufacture of cheese.
Some further discussion ensued, and the notion of having
an experimental farm or cheese-factory was discouraged
by the noble chairman as likely to be ruinous to the
association, and totally to swallow up their resources.
The suggestion which had been made should, however,
receive the attention of the committee. He thought the
reports made on artificial manures had proved most
valuable.

The report was unanimously adopted, and a vote of
thanks given to the noble chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

AGRICULTURE AND THE CORN TRADE.
The aspect of agricultural affairs during the week has
continued satisfactory, and the tone of the markets may be
taken as a sure indication of the estimate of future pros-
pects by competent authorities. The stimulus afforded
to vegetation by the late rains has not yet subiided, as
is evident from the rapid growth observable in the
corn and other crops during 'the last few days. It
must not be supposed, however, that sufficient rain has
fallen ; far from it, as additional moisture. is still re-
quired on some lands ; but the late genial showers have
undoubtedly removed all immediate apprehensions o
serious damage to the growing crops from lack of
moisture. As regards the hay crop the accounts are
rather unfavourable. The grass is very short, and the
prospects of a good yield are very indefinite. Influenced
by the genial , weather and the more favourable
accounts from the agricultural districts, the grain trade
has been in a depressed state, and in most parts of the
country the value of wheat has receded to the extent of
ls. per quarter. The fall has been mostly apparent
in inferior descriptions, really choice samples,
notwithstanding the more liberal receipts from the
Baltic and Denmark, shewing no appreciable variation.
The course of the market will continue to be regulated by
the reports of the progress of the crops, the supply of
grain on hand being about Sufficient, in conjunction with
the help that we shall yet receive from America and the
Continent, to supply our wants until next harvest, pro-
vided that no untoward circumstance occurs to mar exist-
ing prospects.—Magnet.

MR. DISRAELI'S " Loniant."—lt is stated that
Messrs. Appleton, the well-known New York publishers,
desired to enter into an arrangement with the Anglo-
American Telegraph Company for telegraphing the whole
of " Lothair " to New York in 48 hours, evidently con-
vinced that the 10 days' start which would thus be ob-
tained over other American publishers would amply re-
pay the cost of the experiment. The only reason why
the plan was not carried out was that the directors of
the Associated Cable Companies considered that, having
at the present moment only two cables at their disposal
(the 1866 cable being under repair), the transmission of
the contents of a three-volume novel might interfere with
the regular business.

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.—One of Moliere's most
celebrated comedies is in rehearsal at the Adelphi "with
the business as handed down from the time of Moliere,"
Mr. George Vining will play the principal character.—
Mr. Charles Reade's Adelphi drama, announced for
Saturday next, will be called " Free Labour." The cast
includes Mr. Henry Neville, Mr. John Chute (new
London), Mr. Ashley, Mr. Phillips, Miss Margaret
Young, and'Miss Robertha Erskine.—A new farce at the
Surrey, calle " Professor Wiggles," introduces a son of
Paul Bedford to the stage.—Mr. W. M. Duckworth's
Liverpool drama, "Under a Ban," is shortly to be played
in London. Miss Phillis Hill, the favourite Liverpool
actress, accompanies the drama.

LORD DALHOUSIE AND THE GATEKEEPER.—A
curicus incident, which illustrates the -conflict that
sometimes arises between loyalty and duty, occurred
at the far-famed Bridge of Dun, where a distinguished
crowd of loyal subjects awaited the arrival of
the Royal train. Lard Dalhousie, who pur-
posed being present to receive hei Majesty, had
proceeded as far as a level crossing named the Kinnaird
crossing, which point he reached within thirty minutes of
the time appointed for the passing of the royal train.
According to the railway company's instructions, no one
is allowed to cross the line within thirty minutes before
the train pasies, and the gatekeeper at the crossing who
is a woman, refused to allow the T,ord-Lieidenant to pass.
Lord Dalhousie, in this dilenima, *as prevented from
waiting upon the Queen.

MUTINY AMOISGST BANDSMEN.—A garrison court
martial has just been held in the Infantry Barracks,
Woolwich, to investigate a charge of a serious nature
against several members of the band of the 94th Regiment,
which has resulted in one of the men being sentenced to
forty-two days' imprisonment. It appears that at a recent
regimental ball the band were in attendance to play, but
towards the close a dispute arose between some of them
and the mesanian respecting tho supply of refresh-
ments, and in the end a great many put down
their instruments and refused to play any longer. An en-
deavour was made to set' matters right, but as some of the
men had already taken too much to drink, a disgraceful
scene took place, which a non-commissioned officer tried
to put a stop th, without 'succeeding, and got struck. At
length the men became so insubordinate that the guard
had to turn out, and after a little show of resistance,
placed nearly all the band under arrest The man
punished appears to have been the ringleader, but was not I
the only one that fell into disgrace.