The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-08 00:00:00

SOUTH BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AGRICUL
TURA L ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday the annual ploughing match in con-
nexion with this association took place in a field near
Slough, closely abutting upon the railway, and in
the evening a large party of the members and friends
dined together at the Windmill, Salthik

In the absence of the Right Hon. H. Labouchere,
who is still abroad, the chair was taken by the Hon.
G. J. Irby, who was• supported by Mr. Disraeli,
M.P., Captain Vyse, M.P., Colonel Spiller, Mr.
Harcourt, Mr. Darvell, the Rev. J. Hall, and uthers.
The vice-chair was filled by Major Bent.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been
duly, drunk,
Mr. J. TRUMPER rose to propose the " Health of
the Members for the couaty. He should be sorry,
he said, to disturb the harmony of their proceedings,
but the toast which he had to propose was one con-
nected with politics; and though, perhaps, he might
not be justified, he might, he hoped, be tolerated.—
(Hear, hear.) A man must indeed be a stoic if,
being a farmer, he did not see that his position was
mixed, up in some degree with politics. The pros-
perity of other classes had been thereby well dinned
into their ears, but he thought that they would ac-
knowledge with him that, though many classes were
scudding along with a prosperous gale, no whiff of
the propitious breeze had yet ruffled their drooping
sails.—(Cheers.) He would ask, however, whether
those classes that were so prosperous had ever con-
descended to inquire what a high price had been
paid fcr the prosperity which they were said
to be enjoying. If the country were so prosperous as
was represented he might ask why such numbers of
persons were leaving our shores, while the necessaries
and luxuries of life were to be had so cheap ? and it
might be said, in reply, that they went to our colo-
nies, where the same system prevailed. The con-
trary, however, was the fact, for they preferred that
" benighted country," the United States, where pro-
tection to native industry reigned supreme.—(Loud
cheers.) The farmers had had plenty of advice given
to them within the last few years ; advice accom-
panied with the most taunting raillery. He was con-
vinced, however, if they analyzed all the advice which
had been lavished upon them that its value would be
found to be infinitesimally small, and, if followed out,
it would have .been actually pernicious. They had
been told to electrify and to magnetize their land, to
build premises sufficient to accommodate every sheep
upon their farms with a drawing- room, and to grow
flax • and they were told that farmers should be mi-
neralogists and entomologists, and geologists, and he
did not know how many other ists besides. The
toast which he had to propose was a most grateful
one, for he was sure they would receive it with ap-
plause—it was " The Members for the county."—
(Cheers) One of them he had great pleasure in see-
ing present ; and he would not longer trespass on
their time, knowing what eloquence that gentleman
was master of. There was no occasion for him, how-
ever, to be his eulogist. His honour was before the
whole community, and he could only soy that he had
graced both the literature and the senate of his
country. He hoped Mr. Disraeli would long con-
tinue to be their representative.—(Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

Mr. DISRAELI on rising was warmly applauded.
After briefly apologising for the absence of his col-
leagues, in whose behalf he thanked the meeting, the
Hon. Gentleman proceeded in nearly the following
terms :—I am the more gratified by the manner in
which the health of the Members for the county of
Bucks has been proposed to you to-day, when I re-
member the quarter from which it emanated. It has
been proposed to you by a farmer of this county, who
deservedly stands high in the estimation of all pre-
sent, and, indeed, I may say, of all who are acquainted
with hirn.—(Cheers.) That our healths should have
been proposed, and in such terms, by a gentleman who
is most entitled to our respect, and who himself is so
skilful in the undertakings in which he is interested,
is to me, and I am sure it is to those who are absent,
a matter of great gratification. However, my hon.
friend Mr. Tramper has made some apology, for, I
won't say breaking, but for partially transgressing an
ancient rule of this society, that we should not touch
upon the interesting circumstances of the hour.—(A
laugh.) I really can't express what are called
" politics" in other terms.—(Cheers.) I may say,
upon my own part, without the least affectation,
that nothing was further from my expectation than
that I should to-day be called upon to refer,
even in answer, to a subject of that kind. I came
here to-day to pay an act of respect to a gentleman
who certainly has very little sympathy with me in
political life, but for whom I entertain a most sincere
regard, and that is the gentleman who I expected
would have filled your chair to day. I wished to show
to Mr. Labouchere, whose friendly feeling I greatly
esteem, and for whom I entertain all those feelings
which one must entertain for a gentleman so able and
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subjects on which the conduct of a personinmsioghhtiginh
and eminent a position as Mr. Labouchere
any way have been called in question. My own opt-
nion is this, that, under all circumstances and at all
times, it is extremely important and desirable in meet-
ings,
of this kind that what are called " party politics'
shoitid be severely excluded. I think that questions
on the decision of which the fortunes and position of
one set of public men as against the fortunes and posi-
tion of another set of public men may be placed for a
moment in discussion, are very much to be avoided; but
I distinguish myself between party politics and politics
in the proper and, I would say, nobler sense of the
question, namely, the consideration of the effects of
the legislation of the country on the fortunes of those
present. That, I think, at all times and under all
circumstances, is a fit subject for public considera-
tion ; and I confess myself, though I should not have
opened my lips upon the subject, considering who
might have been in the chair, I think it is really
worse than idle that at the present day any body of
persons connected with the cultivation of the soil
should meet together in festivities like the present, and
that they should not make the slightest allusion to
those subjects which, of all others, necessarily en-
gross their attention. Therefore, lam not surprised
that my friend Mr. Tramper has taken the license
which he bas done and made those observations which
he has just offered to us.—(Cheers.) Now, I shall but
for a very few moments refer to them, but, as you have
done me the honour of drinking my health, and as
that health was proposed in the tone to which I have
referred, perhaps you will allow me to make a few
remarks which I feel it to be my duty to make to you
as one whom, however unworthy, you have sent to
Parliament as your representative.—(Cheers.) Now,
I recently met our brethren in the north of the county
in the same friendly manner as I have done to-day, and
I made a few observations which I am sure I was not
aTwhaerefaactt
is, that
time would be known, but which have
been considered worthy of some public observation. I
have been even described as changing my opinions.
that I only said the other day what I
have been saying for three years in the House of
Commons, almost in the same words. The only ob-
ject that I had in making those observations was that
which always animates me under the same circum-
stances, namely, to bring the farmers of this country
to understand their position, and to take that course
which I think is the most prudent, and tba one most
calculated to lead to success and to benefit them.—
(Cheers.) A word has been used which certainly I
had no idea to-day would drop from my lips, and
that word is " protection." I should like to make
one observation upon that subject. I think, without
entering into any discussion, because there may be
gentlemen present who have different opinions upon
the abstract expediency or inexpediency of what is
called the " protective system"—l think that there is
one point upon which we must all agree, and that is,
that protection to a particular class, irrespective of all
other classes, is quite out of the question. I always
said so, and the more I think of the subject the more
convinced lam that that is so. That being the case,
it is perfectly clear that the system which has been
abrogated, or any system similar to it, cannot
be restored unless there is an almost universal
feeling in the country, unless the various classes
of the country by shgrp ;experience should arrive