The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 13, t

LADY LONDONDERRY AND HER
TENANTRY.

On Friday last, the annual show of stock was held at
Scaham Harbour by the tenantry of Lady Londonderry.
The idea of awarding premiums for competition by the
tenantry was originated seine years ago by the late Mar-
quis of Londonderry ; and since his death Lady London-
derry, with characteristic spirit, not only determined to
carry out the idea, but has increased the prizes for the
stock offered a challenge cup of 20 guineas for the beet cul-
tivated farm—and has succeeded in exciting a species of gene-
rous rivalry among the competitors, and engendered a spirit
which must be productive of benefit both to landowner and
tenant. These gatherings have previously i eeu held at Wyn-
yard, but Lady Londouderry, conceiving that the accommoda-
tion and interest of her tenautryin both divisions of the county
should be equally considered, has determined upon holding
the meetings at Sealimu and Wynyard alternately. The show
on Friday was held in an open space used as the market place,
in Scab= Harbour, and although the greater number of the
stock was of a superior character, perhaps it would, as a
whole, be best described in the words of an old farmer in the
show yard, who, on being asked his opinion, remarked that
"he had seen better, but he had seen far worse." There were
some fine short-horned cattle exhibited by Mr. Atkinson, of
Seaham-hall-farm. Mr Sissons, of Whin-houses, showed-a
fine 3-yr-oil old colt for the field, which gained the prize of
10/., and for which Lord A. Vane Tempest offered him 751.,
but he declined to sell it. The following prizes wereawarded:
For the best 3-yr-old colt for agricultural purposes, bred
by the exhibitor, 101., given by Earl Vane lot, Mr. Maughan,
High Barrustoe., Washington. The following competed
W. Rutter, Beaully-hall ; Mr. Smith, Seaham-grange; and
Mr. Atkinson, Hall-farm, Seaham.
For the best 3-yr-old colt for the road or field, 101.-Ist,
Mr. Sissons, Whin-houses, Wolviston ; 2d, Mr. Atkinson,
Ha I l-farm, Seaham.
For the best breed of cattle for all purposes, a silver cup,
value 101., given by the Marchioness of Londonderry-Ist,
Mr. Atkinson, Hall-!arm, Seaham, 1 short-horned bull, 16
months old, and 2 short-horned cows.
For the best dairy cow, 101--lst, Mr, Robson, Deacon-
hall, Seaham. The following also exhibited :—Mr. Willis,
Dean-houses Seaham, and Mr. Atkinson, Hall farm, Seaham.
For the best brood sow, 31.-Ist, Mr. Atkinson, Hall
Farm, Seaham. Mr. Potts, Middle Barruston, and Mr, Wood,
Carr House, competed.
Mr. Atkinson likewise showed a number of extra stock,
for which no prizes were awarded, but which were highly
commended by the judges ; and Lady Londonderry exhibited
a Kerry cow and 20 feeding short-horned heifers.
Owing to the ground being covered with snow, the twenty
guineas challenge cup, offered by Lady Londonderry for the
best cultivated farm, was not awarded.
After the show the tenantry adjourned to the Literary In-
stitution, where a dinner was provided. On a raised plat-
form at the end of the room sat Lady Londonderry, and on
her right and left were Earl Vane, Lord A, Vane Tempest,
Major Johnson, of the Deanery, Chester-le-street; J. W.
Swinburn, Esq., Shields ; L. Bell, Esq . Walker ; R. Ander-
son, Esq., Seaham ; W. Henderson, Esq., Durham ; W. An-
derson, Esq., Westoe ; Rev. Id. Bethune, &e. Earl Vane
occupied the chair ; and on the withdrawal of the cloth
The Chismaials proposed "The Qaeen, Prince Albert, and
the Royal Family," which were responded to with befitting
enthusiasm. He next gave " The Bishop and Clergy of the
Diocese," and remarked that he was certain there were none
present who did not regret that advancement of age hadbeen
the cause of their losing that worthy and estimable prelate,
who had so long presided over the interests of the diocese.
(Applause.) Although their late bishop had been compelled
to leave them, still he felt perfectly certain he carried with
him the regrets of all those who had the pleasure and honour
of his acquaintance. But they had, he believed, the consola-
lion of knowing that his successor, who had been appointed
to this important diocese, was one who by his talents and the
experience which he load shown in another diocese
they had reason to believe, was well able to fill the
place which had been vacated by their right ' re-
verend prelate, and who would, by his energy and by
the cooperation of that active and energetic clergy
which they were proud to possess in the diocese of Durham,
carry on the duties of the diocese to the spiritual welfare and
moral happiness and comfort of every one is it. (Applause.)
He gave the Bishop and clergy, coupled with the name of the
Rev. Mr. Dyke. (Cheers.)
The Rev. T. H. DYKE said he would not allow that oppor-
tunity to pass without thanking the chairman for the collo-
gluon he had paid to the late bishop, and for the manner in
which ho had spoken of the present bishop and clergy, and
likewise the company for the way in which they had re-
ceived the toast. It must at all times be a source of satis-
faction to the clergy to receive such tokens of esteem and
regard, and more particularly from that class of persons whom
he load the honour to address, for they knew that the happi-
ness and comfort of the clergyman's fireside very much de-
pended on that good feeling which subsisted between himself
and parishioners and he felt sure that however zealous,
however indefatigable and assiduous a' clergyman might be,
his exertions would prove totally abortive, unless he had the
aid, assistance, and goodwill of the squire and tenantry of his
parish. And closely as this applied as regarded the Church,
it applied still more closely as regarded the State. Some
persons thought that it was to the high and lofty ones of the
earth from whom England expected support and countenance
in the hour of danger. No mistake, however, could be
greater, and none more fallacious; it was the middle classes
of society to whom old England looked for that countenance
and support. It was to their loyalty —to their determination
to do that which was lawful and right to which England
looked in their hour of need, and so long as they continued
to uphold the Church and State, so long would England
flourish and abound ; and as surely as they commenced to
think slighti .gly and lightingly and lightly of these duties
would they foul that the alteration which would be produced
on the country would prove of the most serious character,
and the consequences would be most fatal. (Applause.)
The Corantasai, in proposing 4 The Army and Navy," said,
for the last tsro years they had been plunged into a fearful
war with one of the most powerful empires of the world. On
the occasion of their last meeting, when he had the honour
of proposing this toast, there were massy of them - -in fact
very few of them, he thought—who had not some friend or
relative engaged in the glorious struggle in which the Eng-
lish, assisted so nobly by her allies, France and Sardinia, and
which ended is the reduction of that far-famed fortress, which
had hitherto withstood the most stupenduous efforts of an
united strength. (Cheers.) Now that it had pleased a graci-
ous Providence to grant them the blessings of peace, and to
warm and gladden their hearts, he thought the recollection of
by-gone days must prompt them to testify their sense of gra-
titude to the two services, the army and navy, by whose
efforts these happy results had been attained—(cheers)—and
he thought also they ought to feel a debt of the deepest grati-
tude to the Almighty Disposer of events that he had been
graciously pleased to allow to many, very dear to them by
ties of relationship and friendship, to return back to their
native laud from the privations, miseries, and dangers they
had undergone. (Applause.) At the same time they would
do wrong not to drop one tear of regret to the memory of
those who had fallen in the hour of victory and triumph, and
who had not been permitted to return home to receive their
countrymen's approbation and their country's praise. (Ap-
plause.)
rhit•oeauai
nso l
d that
t they
e o b y
asw with
they
ceroyonulfide ofckue
etheirwith
oiot armyk
faodre
jaildi-
tniaoNnyo;n a:11111ph Theyao hadl
tsfse,s eses
to the future, that when circumstancesshould
snyheaoc
nen
dsl
edintoaacvtceyuar• —r
e followingewehuiic.
she
tGooNcivainr, ithisoemy sehrcollfdolfibliodd—tlNo
and steadfastly following that path of glory which the British
army and navy load ever continued iu. (Loud cheers.) Ho
concluded by proposing the toast, which was drunk amidst
much enthusiasm.
Lord Amounts VANE TEMPEST rose to respond, and was re-
Teived with loud cheering. He said, on the part of the ser-
vice to which he had the honour to belong, and in the absence
of any individual representing the service, lie rose to express 11
his thanks to his brother for the eloquent manner in which
he had proposed the tout of the two services, and to the
company for the manner in which they had received it. As
he had stated on one or two occasions since his return from
the Crimea that the sympathy shown by the British people
to the army during the late war cheered them in their pri-
vations and comforted them in the hour of
danger,
1 classes in the country would be long and favourablyrecol-
lectedsufferings, by those engaged in the late struggle. FIF might also
say, and the English people would agree with him, that the
prestige of the army and navy never stood higher than at the
present time—(sheers)—notwithstanding it
it
than patriotism to attempt to injure the Englisharrny, degrade
its officers in the e,timation of the public, and lower the cha-
racterHe of the English soldier in the eyes of foreigners.
bym otherght suit
feelingsome
writers in journals who bad been actuated
saw the other day that the correspondent of the Times ex-
pressedtile
parthimselfthe F
French
astonishedeneii
had
taken
k thaten then Russianslate
more of
waat•htohl thought
tthme

s (Lordeh aremark
Van;should lispa :te nal hme y. iie
thatu
for he would say this, that if any one had done more
than another to destroy the reputation of the English
army it was that gentleman. He (Lord Adolphus Vane
Tempest)
come
tha t indivi-
dual, was
Tempest) also regretted that the leading journal, which
exercised such influence in the country, should have been
the means of propagating the calumnies it had done.
some two months ago he had seen in the columns of
the Tinter the following statement :—‘l It could not be
denied that England had failed to take any considerable
share iu the late campaign." He knew not how the
gentle who wrote this s ander would express that bril-
liant and irresistible attack which ended in the capture of
the heights of the Alma,—he knew not what he thought of
that charge when the flower of the English cavalry rushed
into the jaws of death, as at Balaklava,—he was not aware
how he would characterise that pertinacity which for three
hours actuated ,•,500 British infantry to withstand the whole
Russian fire on that memorable day of the Inkerman,—he
was not aware how he would describe that noble courage and
resolution which carried the English army through a year of
the most arduous siege that the world had ever known. He
(Lord Vane Tempest) conceived the English public knew
what the conduct of the army was, and he was quite ready
to leave to their verdict, and that:of their allies and enemy,
to decide on the conduct of the army and navy. In conclu-
sion, lie had only to express his gratification at the kind way
in which they had responded to the toast, and express his
concurrence in the remark made by his brother, that it would
be a dark day for England when the two services did not
merit the reception they had given them that day.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of the Earl of Dur-
ham the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, to which Mr. Ru-
THERFORD responded.
Lord A. VANE Tzerzsr said a toast had been entrusted to
him which be anticipated would meet with a warm reception.
He felt, howevtr, almost a regret that it had not fallen into
the bands of some one better qualified to do it justice, who
might have brought it before them in better and more forc-
ible language than he had at command. He could assure them
if he did not do it justice, it was the power and not the will
which would be wanting. The toast was "Success to Agri-
culture and Prosperity to the Tenantry." A. month or two ago,
attention
at a similar
he meeting in Lancashire, a noble Lord, who by the
had paid to public questions and the ability he
had displayed, had brought himself into great public notice
—ho meant Lord Stanley—was phased to give a lecture to
farmers, and rather made an attempt at teaching them their
business. He had been rather roughly handled, however, for
it, and it had been remarked that the lectured seemed to know
more of the subject than the lecturer. This was an anomalous
state fa thing"s, but following the example of the proverb,
which sd, No shoemaker ought to go beyond hisst," he
la
(Lord A. V. T.) had no intention of placing before them his
own notions of agriculture, which must necessarily be crude,
to the company ho saw around him, who were capable of
giving him considerable instruction on that subject; and he
should content himself with adverting is points bearing gem.

rally on the agriculture of the county of Durham, and with
allusions regarding meetings of that description where land-
owners and tenantry meet together in common interest—
where, by the giving of prizes, a generous feeling of rivalry
was created, and by means of which au improvement in farm-
ing was attained. (Cheers.) They had lately been favoured
with, what he understood from experienced persons, was a
most able essay on the agriculture of the county of Durham,
which galied the prize of the Royal Agricultural Society, and
was from the pen oft r. Bell. There was much information
given in this essay on the agriculture of this county; and, in
answer to the question of what is the present state of agricul-
ture in the county ? Dr. Bell very promptly says that the only
fair way to judge of the improvement wan by comparing it
with previous years, aud in following out this reasonable view,
lie states that it must be borne in mind in what state it was
in before, and he attempted to show this by stating that Mr
Bailey's report of commons divided between the years 1756
and 1809 amounted to 114,071 acres, and since that period
25,017, making the aggregate of 139,088 acres of common
laud divided between 1755 and 1853. Much of thisland which
was formerly worth 9s an acre is now worth 30s to 60s, and
many thousand acres of this land not ruling mere than
from 4d to 10d ; and lir. Bell went on to state
—" we have 80,000 acres formerly valueless, which are now
raised to the average value of 18s an acre." He con•
eluded this part of his essay by saying, " If one had no other
improvement to notice in respect to the agricultural state of
Durham, this should be sufficient to excite our interest and
satisfaction." They would agree with him that this was a
most gratifying result. The charges which he understood
were made against the agricultural condition of this county
were—first, the abundance of weeds ; secondly, the extensive
prevalence of bare fallows ; and thirdly, the too rapid suc-
cession of green crops. He mentioned these things as hay-
mg some bearing of peculiar interest on the state of the agri-
cultare of the county. With respect to the first, Dr. Bell
replies—" Weeds are rapidly disappearing; increased drain-
ing has and will effect great changes in this particular as the
weeds are of a nature giving a certain indication of water ;"
and he adds, " there are now many farms in the county which
iu point of deanliness of soil may bear comparison with any
in the country." It was gratifying to think that Dr. Bell
had admitted that there were good farms in the county equal
to any in England. He might mention that his mother was
so deeply impressed with the importatiee of having farms well
cultivated that she had given prizes for some time to her
tenantry who hart their farms in the best condition. He
saw with satisfaction that it had been decided by the County
Agricultural society to give prizes for the superior cultiva-
tion of farms, and he had great pleasure in becoming a sub-
scriber to this objeet ; and he thought that this system of
awarding prizes could not fail to have a beneficial tendency
on the agriculture of the county. The next point that Dr.
Bell refers to is a charge brought against the agriculture of
this county of the extensive prevalence of bare fallowing, and
he says, " There are some portions of poor clay soil which
cannot be expected to grow turnips, but the quantity is
being reduced yearly." He (Lord A. Vane Tempest) believed
it was the opinion of experienced persons that there was no
description of soil which Could not be sufficiently pulverised
aud brought into a fit condition to grow turnips. With re-
gard to this point, he alluded to it as being in the condi-
tion of the farms on his mother's property. In a report
which had been made to her by her agent, this point was
particularly alluded to, and he felt anxious and thought it
his duty to call their attention to this improvement. The
report stated—

• "It is satisfactory to find that an increased desire for im-
provement of the farms, by drainage or otherriise, is evinced
almost universally throughout the tenantry upon the estates,
within the last year, and it is quite certain that one and all
of them would most willingly pay the interest upon the money
I thus expended. Another pleasing circumstance is the great
desire shown by most of them to grow turnips. They now
' seem sensibly alive to the advantages of raising this crop, as
far as lies in their power, over having so much land lying iu
bare fallow. This cannot but be viewed as a most important
point gained, the effects of which are in the present year fully
exemplified."
With respect, then, to the second charge against the agri-
,culturo of this county, namely, too much bare fallowing, it
was a point which he felt certain his mother's tenantry would
see the necessity of devoting their interestsaud exertions to
amend. (Cheers.) With regard to the disadvantage under
which this county laboured,•these seemed to be very clearly
pointed out by Dr. Bell, and one of the greatest difficulties
which it had to contend against was the system under which
a vast amount of property was held, viz., the Church lease-
hold property. (Hear, hear.) He (Lord A. Vane Tempest)
hoped the act passed last session, by giving greater facilities
to enfrauchise, would be alike satisfactory to lessors and les-
sees, and that they should have large tracts of land which had
been hitherto held without any desire being manifested by
the lessee to improve its condition, set free under the present
system. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Bell devoted a great part of his
essay to Ws nutter, which wat of considerable importance
in this county, and he stated that the nature and extent
of the system had keen for many years a great bar to
its agricultural improvement. They knew that this had
been proved by witnesses before committee in both Houses
of Parliament, and Dr. Bell remarked that in some parts
of the couuty there were thousands of acres of land which
would have been planted if it had been of freehold tenure ;
but in this kind of property, if the lessee planted a thou-
sand acres he could not cut down a tree without the leave
of the lessor. The consequence is, many a bleak bill remains
unplanted, and many a cold farm remains unsheltered. Dr.
Bell also stated that if twenty acres were planted out of every
one hundred acres, the remaining 80 acres would in a few
years equal the 100 acres, and there .ould be in addition
20 acres of wood property, this would increase the value of
the property 20 per cent. They would be aware that the
subject of the Church Leaseholds was discussed at the meet-
ing of the County Agricultural Society, at Durham, is Sep-
tember last, and he regretted very much that absence in Ire-
land prevented his being present, for he did feel strongly on
this point, and he hoped the act which had been lately passed
would tend to do away with the evils which had hitherto
obstructed the agricu.tural development of the county.
(Cheers.) There were a great many other facts and much
more information contained in that essay, but he would not
detain them longer by quoting from it, as it was open to them
all, and he thought, and those who had more experience on
the subject were of opinion, that it was likely to effect a deal
•of good. It gave to the farmers of the county much more
information on the subject of the agriculture of the county
than they had hitherto been put iu possession of. It must be
satisfactory to feel that with regard to agriculture in this
county there seemed to be a general desire manifested to re-
lieve it from the stigma under which it had so long laboured ;
and this was, no doubt, iu some measure attributable to the
giving of prizes by the agricultural societies for the improve-
ment of stock and the best cultivated farms. Amongst the
latter who had taken a deep interest in the subject, and
been the first to set the example by giving prizes, he hoped
he, as a son, was not wrong in mentioning his mother.
(Loud cheers.) She interested herself in the agriculture both
of this county and another country, and he thought if the
landlords generally were actuated by a similar spirit there
would be no fear that the county of Durham would occupy
a different position than it at present did with regard to
agriculture. (Loud cheers.) He might, as conveying his
own sentiments, quote the concluding part of Dr
Bell's essay, in which he said he and his family owed all
they possessed to the kind feeling of the landlords, and
hearty co operation of the tenants of these two countries ; and
he adds, " Take them altogether, there doos not exist a more
honourable and liberal body of proprietors, or a more honest
and industrious body of tenautry, than prevails ii these coun-
ties, and I should not be worthy of the ability to take up a
pen if I did not feel it once a pleasure and a duty to us 3 it in
favour of those my best friends, as far as the sound require-
ments of truth would allow me." Entertaining, as they all
must, the feeling expressed in the concluding part of the re •
port, he had the fullest confidence that the toast which had
been confided to him was not a mere sham, but a reality.
He gave success to agriculture, and prosperity to the tenantry
of Lady Londonderry, coupling with it the name of Mr. At-
kinson, one of the largest farmers under his mother. (Loud
cheers.)

The CnAntmA.,N then read over the list of prizes, at the con-
clusion of which Mr. Atkinson, of Seaham Hall ikrni, ad-
vanced to the table in front of Lady Londonderry, and re-
ceived from the hands of her ladyship, accompanied by some
kind and 'encouraging remarks, a silver cup, valued at 101.,
for the best breed of cattle. Mr. Atkinson having thanked
her ladyship, then retired.
Mr. ATKINSON then rose to respond to the toast, " Success
to Agriculture." The weather had been against them that
day, bat the show had been as successful as could have been
anticipated. He wished to propose a toast, which he was sure
they would heartily join in drinking —viz., the health of their
noble landlady, Lady Londonderry. (Cheers.) There could
only one feeling exist amongst them when they saw the inte-
rest her ladyship felt in their welfare, and ho for ono felt
much indebted for the entertainment they had had that day,
and for the many kind acts he had received at the hands of
her ladyship whilst he had been a tenant under hor. He con-
cluded by proposing " The health of Lady Londonderry,"
who set so good an example to the other landlords in the
county. The toast was drank amidst loud and long-continued
cheering.

The CHAIRMAN, on behalf of Lady Londonderry, rose
to respoid to the toast. He said he lad to thank them
on behalf of his mother for the very kind manner in which
they had drank her health, and also Mr. Atkinson for the
kind manner in which he had proposed it. Although she
had been suffering, he regretted to say, lately, from a severe
indisposition, and was, in consequence, unable to address
them herself on that occasion, she was most unwilling to be
absent from that festive board. (Cheers.) And it could not
but be a source of the greatest gratification to her to meet
them on an occasion like the present, and in return for the
kind feeling shown towards her, to evince to them the grati-
tude she felt, and the warm interest she took in their prospe-
rity and welfare. (Applause.) He need not, he was sure,
assure them that she was deeply impressed with the con-
sciousness of the responsible position in which she was placed,
and the duties whicti she was called on to perform; but he
could assure them it •was her most anxious wish that the cor-
dial feeling and warm interest which had ever existed in the
Vane and Tempest tenantry should ever continue between her
ladyship and themselves. (Loud cheers.) The results of that
day, and the list of prizes which he had just read, and also
the report which he had just received from her agent, must
naturally lead her to suppose that there had been some im-
provement in the condition of her tenantry ; and she looked
forward with pride and anxious satisfaction that the effect of
this meeting and the giving away of prizes—copying, as she
had done, the example of her lamented husband —and also
guided.by those competent to judge—she had decided that
these meetings and premiums should be given yearly.
(Cheers.) There was, perhaps, some excuse to be made for
those tenants who lived in other divisions of the county, but
she had thought it best that the meetings should take place
in alternate years in alternate divisions of the county; and
when they saw, as he understood, that 14 or 15 gallant
Longnew ton tenants hired a 'bus and four horses to come to
Seaham, it plainly showed that they had no notion of
failing to be present if possible. (Laughter and cheers.)
He had seen that day one whose face was well known to him
(the chairman) from having sported over his farm, and he
told him that ho had been 'delighted with the journey, for
he had not been to Seaham for twenty years, but he hoped
it would not be so hot in going back as it was in coming.
(Laughter.) Although the weather had been against them
—and perhaps this was not the very best time in the year to
ail•ldert,he prize of the hold such an exhibition— they must take into consideration
thetod award
times she was called away elsewhere. It would be impossi-
ble,and that at other
chal-
lenge cup, as it would be rather difficult to decide, in the
motheroeeasio nh a,
• t state of the weather, which was the best cultivated
present
farm, but he hoped that when the weather became more fa-
monanthyeepalrlesshenist
vourable, the individual would very soon be found who would
become the happy possessor of the 20 guineas' challenge cup.
(Cheers:) Rif mother wished him to take the present op.

portuilty of expressing to the tenantry the heartfelt grati-
tude which she felt at the spontaneous and hearty manner in
wh'ish they had subscribed to the flattering and touching pro-
posal of erecting a monument for his late father, and her la-
mented husband, in this county. She felt most grateful to
her tenantry for this act, and she looked upon it as a sterling
proof that the enterprise and energy of one with whose name
tho town of Seahani was, and ever would be, most indelibly
connected, had been appreciated and looked up to by the
tenantry on her estates. (Loud cheers ) It was always, as
they might be perfectly certain, difficult to express the feel-
ings of a mother, and he had to ask their forgiveness and that
of his mother, for having so feebly expressed the feelings
which he knew were now present in her heart ; but he could
only say this, as a son, that he was perfectly certain that a
souscientious wish to perform her duties, in the position in
which she was placed, had been her rule in life, and that
God may bless her endeavours, and that He may pardon her
shortcomings, that she may return their regard and obtain
the r affections was the daily tenour of her prayers. (Ap-
plause.) He thanked them most cordially for the honour
they had done his mother, in drinking her health, and would
only add that she took the deepest intere-t in their welfare,
and would be ever ready to assist and support them. (Loud
cheers.)
Lord A. VANE TEMPEST next gave the health of the visi-
tors, coupling with it the name of Major Johnson.
Major JOHNSON responded at length, and concluded by pro-
posing the health of the Chairman, Earl Vane.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said he owes' a deep sense of gra-
titude to Major Johnson for his conduct with reference to
the North Durham Militia. At the time when the war was
going on, and with the high rate of wages in this county, they
knew the difficulty experienced in obtaining officers and
men. Numbers of his officers left him, but Major Johnson
stuck to him to the last, and it was mainly owing to his
assistance that he was able to conduct the duties of the regi.
ment. (Cheers.)
IV. HENDERSON, Esq., of Durham, proposed the health of
hard A. Vane Tempest. He said his intimacy with the noble
lord had now existed for several years, and although what he
was going to say might seem strange to them, yet at the time
the circumstances under which he first came forward to endea-
vour to be the elected of the electors for the City of Dur-
ham he entertained a very different opinion of his lordship's
character from that which he now entertained. (Hear, hear.)
It was said that he was without ability,-and unfit to reprs.
sent the City of Durham. To those who had known him
from his infancy upwards, and who knew his charact,.r and

talents, it would have been impossible for such a rumour to
have got abroad ; but such was the opinion which prevailed
in Durham, and circulated by whom and for what purpose
he need not say. How was this to be got over? A friend
of his (Mr. H.'s) who had had considerable experience in the
teaching of mankind, took it into his head to settle the point,
and he put his lordship through a severe catechising, and the
result was that this gentleman came to a meeting, and said he
had no long report to make, but ho was of opinion that if
any gentleman interfered with his lordship he would find he
had caught a Tartar. (Laughter and applause.) His lord-
ship addressed a large meeting of the electors that night, and
his fame and talents speedily spread throughout the town.
Mr. Henderson then alluded to his lordship's career in Par-
liament, and also to the honourable way in which, on the
first breaking out of the war, he left this country and
endured the miseries of the fearful winter in front of
Sebastopol, and concluded by calling upon the company to
drink, with three times three, the health of one of the
kindest friends he had ever known, and one of the most ta-
lented and best of men. The toast was drunk with three
times three:

Lord A. VANE TEMPEST in responding, said his much valued
friend who had proposed the toast had been kind enough to
allude to his arrival, and the addresses which he delivered at
the general election for the city of ourham. He could only
say he could confirm the opinion that was industriously cir-
culated in Durham at the time of his first arrival, and when
he was scarcely known in the city. He might almost go fur-
ther than Mr. Henderson, and say that ho believed half the
city thought he was a fool. (Laughter.) He could not, how.
ever, accept the extent of the praise that had been awarded
him by his friend Mr. Henderson ; but any little talent he
had shown, or success he might have attained, was owing to
the kindness that had been manifested towards him by the
inhabitaats of the city and county of Durham. That kindness
he would never forget, for it had bees shown to him on all
occasions when he had come before the public. He did not
attribute that kindness solely to his own merits ; lie attri-
buted it rather to the character of his late father, and the
character his mother had established in following out the
example set by her lamented husband His friend, Mr. Hen-
derson), had alluded to the part he (Lord A. V. Tempest)
took in going out to the Crimea when duty called him.. He
need not say he would have been unworthy of his late
father had he not eagerly responded to the call. Whatever
praise might be bestowed on the officers of the army was due
alike to every soldier in it, and he might add that the pride
of the officers was in having such men to command. (Cheers.)
He concluded by thanking the company for the honour they
had done him, and trusted he might ever be equally worthy
of meriting the reception they had given him that day.
The remaining toasts were—" The Judges," proposed by
R. N. Swinbarno, Esq , of Shields, and responded to by Mr.
Rutherford ; and " The Ladies, and our next merry meet.
ing," by W. Anderson, Esq,
The company then dispersed.

THE AGRICULLORE OF THE NOIiTH.

(From, the Durham County Advertiser).
There are—and, indeed, can be—very few subjects of
greater importance to the North of England than the
above. " Liberal, not lavish, is kind nature's hand,"—
and, certainly, her liberality to the inner bosom of Nor-
thern England has not been coupled with any lavish bene-
ficence of climate to the outer. Our agriculturists have a
hard battle to fight with the elemeats above; as hard,
indeed, to the full, as our mining _projectors with their
adamantine and gaseous enemies below. " There is one
thing," said the Duke of Cleveland, on a recent occasion at
Darlington, " which, if it could be invented, would be of
greater service to us than anything else—namely a better
climate for the North of England. Really, if any man
could invent such a thing for us—such a climate as would
put us upon a par with our Southern neighbours,—he
would be worth his weight in gold." We are afraid that
no patent will be taken out for this grand invention, until
nature alters her laws, and reverses her gifts ; transports
the sprints, and summers, and balmy airs, and golden
harvests of Kent or Devon to Tynedale and Weardale, and
recompenses the farmer with as rich and abundant " Wall-
send" as bleak Northumbria and chilly Durham. One
thing, however, and a great and glorious thing, has never
been wanting to either—indomitable energy in the bosons
of their children. In every branch of manufacture—in
every walk of science, they have manifested this; and if
agricultural science has not yet wrought miracles—changed
swamps to gardens, and moorlands to meadows,—it has
done what many a Southern farmer, seeing our stern Nor
them coasts and feeling our sharp Eastern blasts, would
never have dreamt could be accomplished. " There are as
many good agriculturists," the Duke of Cleveland went on
to say, " in this part of the country as in the South ; but
there they have a really good climate to favour them, aed
here we have a very bad one to contend against. We
have a great deal of as good wheat land as any in Hun-
tingdon or Cambridge, but, in consequence of exposed
situations, it is worth fully 6s. or 7s. an acre less "
We do not know a more hopeful symptom for improv-
ing Northern agriculture than the deep interest now taken
in it by scientific men of the highest attainments, and by
large influential proprietors.
Of this warm agricultural feeling, and its growing de-
velopment in widely different quarters, last week presented
us with two of the strongest possible instances —namely,
the Marchioness of Londonderry's Annual Tenantry Dinner
and the great Cattle Show at Darlington. Both are not
only indications, but proofs, that the keen, sagacious, and
strenuous spirit of the North is awakened to its essential
struggle with the " skiey influences," and determined to
fight the braver and harder battle in exact proportion to
the difficulties of the battle-ground. We are quite certain
that, during the life of the late lamented Marquis, no
,estates in England or Ireland—east or west, north or south
—manifested a heartier adoption of all improving means
and measures than those under his control. The idea of
awarding premiums for competition by the tenants was
originated by him some years ago, and since his demise,
Lady Londonderry has fostered and developed it with cha-
racteristic ardour; having increased theprizes forth° stock,
offered a challenge cup for the best cultivated farm, and
excited a spirit of generous rivalry among the competitors
which must be productive of increasing good alike to
tenantries and proprietors.
Whoever is familiar with the respective conditions of
Northern tenantries, and their respective advances in agri-
cultural and social well-doing, will readily and cordially
vouch for the justice of this tribute to the Noble Lady of
Wynyard and Seaham. " Amongst those," said Lord A.
Vane Tempest at the dinner, "Amongst those who had
taken a deep interest in Agricultural Societies, and in all
media for the improvement of farms and farming stock, he
hoped he was not wrong in mentioning his mother. She had
interested herself warmly in the agriculture both of this
county and of another county; and he thought that
if proprietors generally were actuated by a similar
spirit, there could be little fear but the county of
Durham would soon occupy a very different agricul-
tural position from that which it does at present. ' We
sincerely trust that, under all present auspices, such will
really prove the case in a very few years. It is impossble
that such Agricultural Societies, and the deep interest felt
in their beneficial agency by such proprietors as the Mar-
, chioness of Londonderry and the Duke of Cleveland, should
fail to hasten the great consummation of a much more pro-
lific soil. The same energy which has resulted in a Cattle
Show so rich and admirable as that in Darlington last
week—" one," said the Duke, " exceeding, both in num-
bers and quality, all its predecessors, ant sure to be suc-
ceeded by such as will challenge competition withal! Eng-
land,"—the same energy, we say, which has so resulted,
will, in other agricultural channels, produce correspond-
ing results. "Climate"—sail his Grace—" seems to make
no difference with regard to cattle." And we trust that
the day is not far distant when it will make infinitely less
difference with regard to crops. We thust that what the
Collards of a late day, and the Stowells, and Amblers, and
Lawsons, and Robinsons, of the present day, have done for
cattle-breeding in the county of Durham, corresponding
emulative -farm-holders, in even our least favoured dis-
tricts, will yet do for wheat and turnip growth. We know
from Dr. Bell's admirable Essay, as quoted by Lord Adol-
phussat Seaham, that "an aggregate of no less than
539,088 acres of common land tics been divided in the
period between 1756 and 1853,—land of which a very great
portion was once worth only 9s. per acre, but is now
worth from 30s. to 605." In fact, says Dr. Bell, we have
80,000 acres, formerly valueless, or not rating at more
than 4d. to 10d., now raised to the average value of 18s.
In every way improvement is busy. Bare fallowing is
decreasing; weeds are rapidly disappearing; draining
is becoming general ; farmers are everywhere becoming
more alive to their true interests ; and the culture of
turnips is very greatly increased ; the quantity of clay
soil which cannot produce them being reduced yearly.
Add to all this the emulation of the agricultural
prize system, now rapidly spreading, and the
,enfran-
chisement of Church Leaseholds, which it is confidently
expected will be conceded liberally by the Church Com-
missioners ; and we certainly think the agricultural pros-
pects of the county of Durham are good and fair. Mr. F.
Mewburn (who remembers when a chicken was an abso-
lutely unprocurable luxuryin the town and neighbourhood
of Darlington !) instanced some states of which, to his
knowledge, the freehold land let for 30s. an acre, and the
leasehold land (on the other side of the fence) for only Ba.,
though the soil of both were eqcolly good, And the reason

[ 4D. STAMPED

was, that the leaseholder would not improve his land,
" because he had no faith in his landlord, the Church."
We shall be happy to think with Mr. Mewburn that the
time for such things is now gone by, and that all the lease-
holders in this county will be enfranchised on reasonable
terms. Certainly we sympathise with the spirit in which
Mr. M. further declared " that he would hold communion
and fellowship with no man who clamours for the Church
to give up her lands to the State without its full value
being paid." But it is this very paying the full value which
looks to us rather a stumbling-block in the matter, and
makes it questionable whether the Vice-Chairman at Dar-
lington was not a little too sanguine in anticipating its
speedy satisfactory settlement.