The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-27 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

The 31-ark Lane Express, speaking of the corn trade, re-
marks :—" We have had another more winterly but season-
able week, closing with a sharp frost ; though so many
fluctuations have lately prevailed, that few have confi-
dence in its permanency. The frost is, however, wel-
comed, as still keeping vegetation in check, giving a good
opportunity to farmers to get on the land, and serving to
mellow the soil for the seed time. The young wheat is
too much in its infancy to indicate prospects, but no harm
as yet can be reported. Potatoes, on the whole, have kept
rather better than expected, though but a small propor-
tion have proved really fine and in condition to hold out
their full term."

The ~lfaynet observes :—So far as the prospects
of the wheat plant are concerned the weather during
the past few clays has been favourable. Its previous rather
rapid growth, promoted by the extreme mildness of
the season, has been checked by the slight frost, a short
continuance of which would be of great service in regu-
lating its development. Up to the present moment the
accounts from most districts represent the progress of
agricultural affairs as satisfactory

Several prosecutions for breaches of the Vaccina-
tion Act were conducted at the Leeds Police Court, yester-
day. in one case it was objected that a certificate, stating
that the child was not in a fit state to be operated on, was by
the editor of a journal opposed to vaccination, and the case
was adjourned, pending the receipt of a certificate by Mr.
Scattergood, surgeon. Another case was dismissed in con-
sequence of an informality; and in a third a fine of ss. and
coats was imposed.

Another man was taken into custody yesterday
for the Thorneliffa riots. Up to last evening there had been
no further ourbreak, but another company of military has
been sent to the spot as a precautionary measure. A meet-
ing was held in Sheffield yesterday, the Mayor presiding, to
protest against the proceedings at Thorncliffo, and to open
a subscription for the sufferers. About £5OO was promised,
and a strong feeling was expressed that the authorities ought
to take more vigorous steps to prevent outrage.

A circular has just been issued to the commanding
officers of Volunteer Artillery Corps throughout the king-
dom, in which their opinion is desired on several proposi-
tions framed by the Council of the National Artillery Asso-
ciation. The chief of them are that the necessary head-
quarters should be maintained at the public expense, and
that ss. a head, or a sum equivalent to the maximum
strength of any corps providing itself with head-quarters to
the satisfaction of the Government, should be accorded, in
addition to the present grant.

The evening meeting of the Welsh Conference
yesterday was a crowded and excited one. Great efforts
were made to alter the resolutions in accordance with
the principles of the League. A long dispute
occurred on secular education and Bible reading.
The Conference was taunted with wishing to exclude
the Bible, which the Welsh people would never submit to.
This sentiment was loudly cheered. After four hours' dis-
cussion only two resolutions were passed by persistent
effort. It was affirmed that the second resolution did not
mean the imposition or exclusion of Bible reading.

The Manchester Courier gives the brief history of a
swindler who is a genius in his way. Last summer this man,
a young Russian, was supposed to be found in a fit at II gher
Tranmere. Re gained the sympathy and assistance of some
kind women by a plausible tale and ended by robbing them. The
fellow had played the same trick at other places. Ho was
tried and sentenced to imprisonment. Since then he La:,
turned up in CheAire and victimisA the people there.
consth talon has survived any shock to Lis system brought
on by his fits as well as the implisouruent, and ho is still
at large after practicing his last known piece of knavery on
Saturday.

The Mayor of Drogheda has determined to dis-
c urage the singing of seditious street ballads. Two girls
having been bought before Ling, ho stated that singing and
selling songs of that description in the public streets should
be put down, and that the constable acted very properly in
taking the parties into custody. A very groat deal of mis-
chief had already been created by the circulation of inflam-
matory ballads amongst ignorant persons. The constable
stated that the parties represented themselves as having
come from Voscommon, and that they earned their bread by
ballad singing. The Mayor ordered that the ballads should
be burned. He desired the constable to see that the pri-
soners left the town at once. . .