The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-06 00:00:00

Another of a sheep which bled a little when its throat
was cut. It was therefore a nice article, and fetched
4id. per pound ; others spoke of beasts killed just as
they were dying of the quarter evil, and sold at 3d.
and 31d., and of their being made ill by meat of that
description. This would appear a full corroboration
of Mr. OSBORNE, so far as the unwholesome meat was
concerned. That as to the wages was still more con-
clusive. One witness, WILLIAM BENNETT, had 7s.
a-week in harvest, and his wife, who received his
wages, never in any one year received much more
than 21. in money for his work, unless when he had
been working for Mr. BLENNERHASSETT, who always
paid ready money. Another, Was. BUGLER, received
9s. per week for twenty-four days in the summer, and
but 7s. per week for the rest of the year, and had not
drawn as much as 21. in money in any one year. It
is needless to go through the mass of evidence
brought forward, which clearly established that the
rate of wages was not understated, and that it was,
to say the least of it, expected that they would take
the greater portion of their wages in goods. AGRIPPA
GILL, when drawing money, was asked, by Mr.
BRAKE, why he did not take the wages out in goods,
that he might have them from him (Mr. BRAKE) as
well as from any one else, and called him "a ready-
money chap," which would not do for him (BRAKE). We
trust that all those interested in the welfare of the
peasantry will read, and attentively consider, the
whole of the evidence given, and say if it does not
establish the existence of a state of facts which should
not be sanctioned or tolerated in a Christian land, in a
civilised country. Something must be done to improve
the position of the laborious classes, to educate them so
that we may not in the nineteenth century hear of
such an absurd proceeding as master and man "going
TO HAT" on some trivial occasion, and of the belief
of the multitude that the person speaking falsely in
such a case would most assuredly lose his sight. We
trust that Mr. 031101 ME will persevere in his useful
labours. A cure for the evils which he has so forcibly
depicted can only be obtained by the force of public
opinion, and that can only be excited by full publicity
being given to all similar grievances. We also hope
that the unfortunate persons who have been called as
witnesses may not be hardly dealt with by their
masters for the answers they have conscientiously
given in an investigation challenged and detranded by
the farmers themselves.

Philosophy, as well as experience, from which it is

drawn, alike teach, that knowledge, both acquired and
prospective, must he considered as a whole. The
limited development of the faculties of the human
mind compels us, for our own convenience, and the
easier mastery over the materials of intelligence,
which a spirit of investigation, pursued in every
quarter of the world, daily discloses to our view, to
classify and arrange the various subjects that must be
assiduously prosecuted for the advancement of
general civilisation. It is immaterial what
science we first light upon, we are sure

to find, as we pursue its laws, that it is intimately
blended with another of a kindred character, however
remotely connected, if not altogether distinct, both
the one and the other might have appeared before the
subtleties of intelligence had rendered their connexion
manifest. If we begin with the study of geology,
we are naturally led to the influence of its
varied characteristics upon the herbs and fruits
of the earth ; by the differences of the latter,
we are drawn on to a consideration of the
dissimilar climates that prevail in opposite hemi-
spheres ; and by this dissimilarity our minds are raised

:o the contemplation of the marvellous science of astro-
lomy. Every species of knowledge, then, is but a part
an entire whole, whereof the several properties
)ear a close, though, for the time, an imperceptible

affinity. Thus, the more we know the more Nke
become sensible of how little we do know, and to the
truth of this a most beautiful homage was paid by
the great NEWTON himself. A spirit of selfishness
has turned a deaf ear to the sound dictates of philo-
sophy, and, in this way, avarice and ignorance com-
bined, have created and fostered hateful monopolies
to the direct hindrance of the onward movement of
human progress. llappily, the schoolmaster is
:Abroad, and, in this enlightened age, we are con-
3tantly witnessing that the foolish errors of our an-
cestors are being wisely and promptly repaired.
Monopoly is now all but razed to the ground. A
great social revolution is at hand.
We have read with unfeigned satisfaction the pro-

ceedings, on Thursday last, of the North Staffordshire
Agricultural Society, at Leek. The exhibition
answered the just expectation of its promoters. The
dinner was attended not only by the principal agri-
culturists and professional gentlemen, but likewise by
the leading manufacturers of the district. The
Earl of TALBOT presided. The advice that was
tendered, and the liberal sentiments embodied in
the different speeches, reflect the highest honour
upon the company, and evince the peculiar
energy inherent in our countrymen whenever
it is fairly evoked by a peculiar crisis. It is

apparent that the agriculturists consider themselves
fairly put upon their mettle by the recent change in
the corn-laws, and that they will, as they ought,

eagerly pursue every method that can, and will, no
doubt, be yet further devised, to enable them to keep
up a free and honourable competition with the culti-
vators of foreign soils. Mr. GYDE expatiated with
considerable intelligence upon the general advantages
of draining and stall-feeding. This gentleman's
lecture of last year upon the former topic has been
already, as vouched by the Noble Chairman,
productive of much good. The statistics he
offered are most interesting, and full of pro-
mise—to an extent, indeed, that must be quite
inspiriting to the hitherto despondent agricul-
turist. By the system of drainage he recommends
—which has been satisfactorily tested, and which is
to be regarded only as the commencement of a series
of agricultural improvements—there would result,
according to the least favourable calculation, an in-
crease of 10,000,000 quarters of the different kinds
of grain now produced on the arable cultivated lands
of Great Britain, and twice as much more by
similarly draining the uncultivated lands ! Mr.
GYDE exhorted his hearers to stir up their energies,
and to exhibit no want of spirit, being convinced
that abundant fertility would crown liberal enter-
prise. Mr. ADDERLEY, M.P., related an anecdote
which was warmly welcomed with all the propriety
of awakened conviction. " Not long ago," said Mr.
ADDERLEY, " I went with Mr. COBDEN over his ex-
tensive mill at Stockport. Mr. COBDEN showed me
all the machinery, and pointed out to me the many
improvements which had been effected in almost
every department ; then taking me into the suburbs,
he showed me a field overgrown with thistles, and
said, That's the state of your manufacture.—
(Cheers and laughter.) I have never since forgot the
hint."— (Renewed laughter.)
Nothing has tended more to retard improvements
connected with the soil than that miserable short-
sighted policy of landlords, in not giving leases to
their tenants of sufficient length to encourage them
to invest their capital on the land. This narrow-
minded spirit was, and, for the most part, is still
tenaciously clung to for the purpose of preserving
political power, and bolstering up their own sordid
interests. The evil has, however, recoiled upon the
ungenerous upholders of so obnoxious a system. The
staff of monopoly has been already wrenched out of
their hands, and they are now left to brace themselves
up to the dreaded task of competing with the growers
of foreign grains, under disadvantages to which they
would never have been subjected, had they acted upon
comprehensive and national, instead of petty and in-
dividual, views. Lord TALBOT spoke out upon this
subject with the becoming frankness, true fearless-
ness, and generous impulse of a thorough English

nobleman :
" I have always unreservedly given my opinion on
one important subject connected with agriculture—anti
I have not been thanked for it by many—l man the
subject of /eases. —(lleer, hear.) No man in his senses
would expend his capital on a farm without having some
security fur that capital coming back to himself or his
representatives.—(Tremendous ci.eers.) And I here
•tiWiely state, that if any tenant of mine will come to
.
me and ask me for a lease, I will grant him one.—(Loud
and long-continued cheering.) It is absurd—to use no
stronger term—to expect ine to put my hand into my
pocket fur money wherewith to speculate, without a fair
prospect of that money being returned."—(Cheers.)
The landlords of England must con over this lesson,
imitate this spirited example, take
.warning by the
past, shake off dull sloth, avail themselves of every
light of science, especially when confirmed by the
fruits of experience, and then they will soon-become
sensible that they have only been frightened at