The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-24 00:00:00

SIR JAMES GRAHAM AT CARLISLE.

The East Cumberland Agricultural Society's Exhibi-
tion was held on the Cagle-green, Carlisle, beneath the
walls of the old Border Fortress, on Saturday last. The
show was an excellent one in every respect, the visitors
more numerous than at any previous exhibition of the
same kind, and the interest of the occasion was greatly
augmented by the presence of Sir James Graham and
many of the leading gentry and agriculturists of the
county and neighbourhood.
A large party subsequently sat down to dinner at the
Bush Hotel. Mr. Henry Howard, of Greystoke Cagle,
occupied the chair ; Mr. W. Nicholson Hodgson, of
Newby Grange, the vice chair; and amongst the
guests were Sir J. R. G. Graham, Tiart , M.P. ;
Mr. Salkeld, of Holmehill ; Captain James, Sir John
Maxwell, Bart., Springkell ; Hon. C. Howard, M.P. ;
Mr. P. H. Howard, Corby Castle, Sco. On the removal
of the cloth the chairman gave the usual loyal and
patriotic toasts, after which the vice chairman gave the
health of the county members, to which the Hon. C.
Howard responded, expressing his regret tha.`, the
Agricultural Statistics Bill had not received the sanction
of Parliament.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Members for the
City," remarking that a salutary rule of these societies,
and an essential one to their suocess, was to avoid all
political discussions at their meetings.
Sir JAMES GRAEIAM, without waiting for a single
cheer, immediately rose and said—The worthy baronet,
"my Scotch neghbour" (Sir John Maxwell), has re-
minded you how objectionable it is to make set speeches
—speeches cut and di ied ready for delivery. (. 'angle)
I cordially agree with him in that opinion, and, moreover,
believe that speeches of that description generally mark
both poverty of understanding and want of warmth of
heart. For 40 years I have been a careful observer of
the agriculture of this county ; and for 35 years I have
carefully exercised that honourable employment—the
most honourable I have ever been engaged in ;
it has moat occupied my thoughts, and at all times
has most accorded with my affections and kalinaa
You, Mr. Vice-Chairman, have described what are the
duties of a member of Parliament. You have said it is
his duty to represent, the feelings and wishes of his con-
stituents. I have always endeavoured so to regulate my
conduct in the House of Commons as to attempt to meet
the wishes of my constituents, subject to an ad-pervad-
ing rule, though I have thought it right (subject always
to the account to be rendered to them) to give effect to
the opinions I myself honestly entertained. Now, as a
member of Parliament and as a legislator, I can look hack
with vast satisfaction to the several measures I have
supported. First of all, as a striking instance, of the
advantages of self-government apart from the executive
of the day, I gave my support to the Poor-Law Bill,
which conveyed to the yeomanry, the ratepayers, and
the city authorities the management of their own affairs
in that particular. All that time the charges for the
maintenance of the poor assumed an amount and aspect
most threatening to property. The administration was
not then in the bands of the ratepayers, but in those of
the magistrates, Rho were not responsible to the rate-
payers. A great and mighty change was effected by the
governor- nt of Lord Grey, by the introduction of that
bill, and in that measure I took a part, when a vast re-
form accomplished, and the administration was
transferred to the yeo.nen, shopkeepers, and ratepayers
of the country. The change was most salutary. The
it:urges for the maintenance of the poor are now mode-
rate; the deager to property has been arrested, and the
interes.t of tlie-poor,which in my opinion is a paramount
ce..isiraieration, has not been neglected. And again I loea
baciar. to another measure not less important in its results,
w. rich has been, as I conceive, one of the great causes of
`agricultural improvement throughout England, but more
especially in this county; and upon that change also I
look back with satisfaction. (Hear.) There is yet another
mighty change which has taken place in which I was
Concerned ; and although politics are very properly ex-
eluded from our discussions, I cannot help referring to
it. I mean the change with reference to the laws re-
gulating the importation of foreign produce. I was long
denounced as faithless to the class to which I belong
—I was held up as a traitor to agriculture—as the enemy
of the farmer for supporting that great change which took
place in 1846. I will only refer to that as a proof that it
is at times possible for members of Parliament to give
effect to their (own opinions, even in opposition to the
fleeting opinions of those with whom they are politically
connected, and yet have the satisfaction of looking back
and believing that they have promoted the permanent
interests of the class to which they belong. I shall say
no more than this—you are cultivators of the soil, in
possession of well-founded prosperity; your prices are
ample, and your prospects good. Tnose prices are not
dependent upon legislation ; they fluctuate upon the
supply of the commodity, and rise and fall with its
scarcity and abundance. No enemy can prevent your
reaping an abundant harvest; you are in the enjoyment
of the fullest prosperity, and, what is of greater value,
of the cordial goodwill of the community. No jealousy
can arise—no exception be taken to the price of the
article you raise. It is a natural price—your pros-
perity is sure, and the goodwill of the community at.
tends you. (Cheers ) Sir J. Maxwell hopes that the
Emperor of Russia may reign over a free and loyal
peop'e. That he will reign over a loyal people, a cordial
people, I fully hope and believe. That he will reign
over a free people I do not expect, and as an agricul-
turist I do not much desire it ; for if there be danger to
a foreigner, one thing is obvious, namely, that that
danger must arise from freedom on the part of the culti
utters of the soil. Excuse me if I record a sentiment
which I read the other day—a sentiment which denote
great and profound wisdom. Monte-quiet], in visiti.lg
_England nearly a century ago, was struck with the
superior produce of England in comparison with that of
France, and be wondered at that superiority un per-

ceiviug cur climate so very inferior. He saw at, once
that our soil was not nearly so good ai that, of
Frat.o.t, and he makes this relect,ion, "'moat the pro-
duce of land depends less on the fertility of the sail

than on the freedom of the cultivator." A profound I
observation, general as conceived by him, true t , I
the letter in its application. Now ju,t reflect f r
a moment what is the immediate cause of the iminen e
produce of the United States of America ? Why, the
freedom of the cultivator. What is the distinguishing
mark of the success of the yeomen of Cumberland ? The
freedom of the cultivator ? What is the advantage of
long leases ? an advantage which I have always con-
tended for. The freedom of the tenant. (Cheers.) And
I never shall entertain the slightest apprehension of fo-
reign rivalry till I see that all Europe possesses that
freedom. It is, as Montesquieu says, not on the fer-
tility of the soil, but on the relative freedom of agricul-
ture it depends,. and it is our boast that in this country
especially we do enjoy to the greatest extent a fair divi-
sion of the land. There are, it is true, twee estates in
Cumberland, but they are as nothing compared with the
number of small estates which are the hereditary pos-
sessions of the yeomanry, and also the wide-spread use,
the growing use of long leases. Gentlemen, I should
be sorry to read you a lecture upon agriculture, but
there are three or four points to which, without im
pertinence, without presuming to dictate to those who
know their business so well, I may advert. I once at
one of there meetings expree•ed an opinion which was
much criticised at the time, which has been condemned
I said, in my opinion, we ploughed too much and graz
too little ; and I particularly adverted to the circum-
stance, which ag, icniturists in Cumberland cannot fail
to observe, that in competing with the southern counties
and with other milder and more genial c imetes we
laboured under great disadvantage—that here the growth
of wheat was more difficult and uncertain, whilst we have
immense advantages in the growth of green crops and
grass. Here the high price of meet renders the feed-
ing of sheep extremely remunerative, and next to drain-
ing it is ene of the most certain methods of improving
the land. I also adverted to a species of culture which
might have been of great benefit to the county. I
allude to flax. Gentlemen, I still think that you grow
too much corn, that you graze too little, and also I
am of opinion that the introduction of flax to your ro
tation would be a most valuable change to your crop-
ping. I can speak with confidence when I say that in
every second rotation of five years flax would be found
to answer, and that in a large portion of this country it
might be introduced once in ten years with the utmost
advantage. In connection with this subject the name of
one occurs to me whose loss I sincerely deplore, for a
more spirited agriculturist or a more thoroughly deter-
mined man than Mr. Rome never existed. He wa,
quite prepared to act with me in the introduction of flax,
to establish a flax manufactory mill in this immediate
neighbourhood,—and if that experiment had been carried
out it would have been of great advantage to the county.
The moment it was suggested, the native for recommend
ing it was suspected, but it that scheme had been carried
out, I see no reason to doubt.that the trade of Northern
Ireland in that article might have been transplanted
here, whilst we should have had the most advantageous
system of cropping, a most useful manufactory in our.
own immediate neighbourhood, and a profitable addition
to our agriculture. I still hope that it will be carried
out. I see greater facilities in combination for such a pur-
pose in the limited liability of companies. I observe
that a society is about to be formed for introducing iiax
into England, and I am satisfied that there can be no
better part of the country for the success of the experi-
ment than the county of Cumberland and the immediate
neighbourhood of Carlisle. One word on another point.
I am an advocate fur the utmost degree of freedom in the
condition of leases. Ido not think it wise to hamper
tenants in their leases ; still I do think there is too great
a tendency to grow potatoes in this country. We have
had an awful warning. It is a tender plant ; it has be-
come an uncertain plant, and we have only to look
across the Channel, where, in the course of a few
years, no less than two millions of our fellow-crea-
tures have paid the penalty of death or exile. for
their too great dependence upon that precar one
article. If you grow potatoes, relying upon the
railrowls for facility of exporting-them, you will make
the most fertile land perfectly sterile. It is a ganililiog
transaction. If you plant upon good land, the crop i
always doubtful and the loss severe. If it is a
good crop it itnpoveridies the land to an extent which no
ultimate advantage can compensate. I am, therefore,
extremely anxious to discourage the growth of potatoes
on a large scale. Then as to grass. lam satisfied that as
one of the conditions of leases in Cumberland it is most
important that even on the best land there shall be a given
proportion—and that a considerable proportion—laid
down in permanent pasture. That is essential to the in-
terests both of the landlord and tenant; I should say more
for the tenant than of the landlord. lam about to pro-
pose as a toast the health of a gentleman who is an ex
emplification of all the most distinguished qualities to
be found amongst country gentlemen, to the exclusion
of all political objects. I hold Mr. Howard to be a
bright example of an English country gentleman. Ile
performs all his duties in a most exemplary manner, and
I know knows no ambition of any kind except to keep
all persona in every kind of public situation up to the
Dollar—(laughter)—and see that they remain there. He