The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-23 00:00:00

Obvvnina 7mt.
LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1851.

If the meetings of every agricultural society went
off like that of the East Cumberland Association, we
should bail them as being in the highest degree con-
ducive to the national welfare and prosperity. There
was no unmanly whining after exclusive privileges,
no grasping after shadows, no indulgence in vain
anticipations, but a resolute and straightforward de-
termination to make the best of existing
circumstances, and to enter fairly into the
competition that every man engaged in any
trade or manufacture, must be prepared
to encounter. Such will speedily be the case in
every district where the farmers and occupiers of the
soil are exempted from the blighting influences of
the FOSKETTS, the CHOWLERS, and the BENNETTS,
and allowed to ascertain their true condition without
being encouraged to entertain unreasonable expecta-
tions, or to yield to undue despondency.
On the one side, they should know that svprr
is not born a farmer, that there is no regal road to
agricultural science, but that those who desire to pros-
per, to make both ends meet, and pay their way with
agent and rate-collector, must be thoroughly educated
for that task, and must have at least a fair notion of the
mode in which he is to obtain the largest and most
valuable produce from his lands, at the least possible
outlay. A farmer of the present day cannot hope to
have his life one of unceasing amusement ; he cannot
afford to rise late, to indulge in horses and dogs, and
to neglect the cultivation of the soil, his
only legitimate source of income. No; he
must recollect that agricultural, like every other
description of " labour," is only properly and
efficiently executed " under the eye of he master."
He must therefore be prepared to devote by far the
greater portion of his time to that superintendence
which is absolutely essential.
He must also enter upon the contest on fair condi-
tions, unclogged with restrictions, against which no
man could hope to struggle. He must, in the first
place, hold his lands at a fair rent, not based on war
prices, when inconvertible notes, the worthless rags
at which the bullionists turn up their noses, were in
abundance, and the country possessed that great
desideratum, a circulating medium adequate
to its wants and exigencies. Nor can he
have his lands charged with portions for a
numerous body of brothers and sisters, and be
called upon to satisfy large demands for interest in
each and every year. No ; the man thus encum-
bered must necessarily go to the wall, unless pos-
sessed of almost supernatural zeal and activity ! And
why should it be otherwise in agricultural pursuits
than it unquestionably is in trading, commercial, or
manufacturing occupations " A clear stage and no
favour," is what every free-born man should claim as
his birthright ; and if he obtains that, he will have no
cause to complain.

Nor will he do so unless exposed to undue influ-
ences. Tell him that he is an ill-treated man, that he
is entitled to live witnout exertion, to have the pro-
duce of the soil made dear by artificial and restrictive
enactments, so that he will have at least a pound per
quarter more for his wheat than present quotations.
He will lend an easy credence to the too flattering
tale—believe that all classes should pay tribute to the
farmer, nay, for there are no bounds to human credu-
lity, will begin to think that he is a deeply injured
man, because the artisan or operative, toiling to ob-
tain a scanty provision for his family, ob-
jects to pay double price for his children's bread,
merely because it would be convenient and agreeable
to himself to receive it. Quod volumus facile cre-
dimus. It is indeed surprising to know the capacity
of the swallow, the enormous gullibility that prevails,
and which may easily be brought to their utmost di-
mensions when acted upon by a stentorian voice,
rapid volubility, and unblushing assurance.
But there is a bold manly spirit about our
yeomanry, a sound practical wisdom that will incline
them to better things when they find persons, in
whom they can place confidence, giving more
salutary lessons than those above alluded to. We
find the Selby Agricultural Society listening atten-
tively to Lord BEAUMONT, the West Derby Associa-
tion cheering Mr. GISBORNE, the farmers of North
Lancashire rapturously applauding Lord DE TABLEv,
the men of Bucks receiving with enthusiasm the
judicious advice of their talented representative Mr.
DISRAELI, " not to look for the re-imposition of a
fixed duty or a sliding scale ;" and the East Cumber-
land Association approving of the sentiments of Sir
JAMES GRAHAM, and following in the path indicated
by the Right Hon. Baronet.

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It isindeed delightful to find a person, whose un-
questionable attainments and distinguished position
entitle his opinions to considerable weight, indicating
to his agricultural brethren the means by which they
will be enabled to meet their opponents in friendly
emulation. They must avail themselves of all the
lights of modern science, bringing the lands in their
occupation into the highest degree of fertility, and
economising every expense to the lowest point con-
sistent with the due cultivation of their holdings.

Sir JAMES is, indeed, an unimpeacable witness, for,
as he justly remarks, he is himself bound up with the
agricultural interest. On this part of the case we can-
not do better than quote the concluding words of the
admirable address of the Right Honourable Gentle-
man :

" I am among the first to admit that the basis of our
national prosperity is the produce of the soil. If it were
not so I should be poor indeed, for all I possess is in
land, and in land of this county; you, therefore, have the
utmost pledge of my
sincerity and my wish to promote the
welfare of the agriculture of this county; but you must
have it in a manner coincident with the welfare
of the community; and these are the objects and these
the modes in which to attain that end. Societies of this
kind appear to me to have that tendency, and I was de-
lighted to hear a sentiment which fell from you, Mr.
Vice-Chairman. Yon said you did not despair of the
prosperity of the agricultural interest. You said that
agriculturists must meet increased difficulties with in-
creased exertions. You added that Heaven always
favours those who help themselves, and that the agricul-
tural interest would not be the last interest to make the
requisite exertion. It is only necessary that the exer-
tion should be well directed. It is the duty of landlords
to lead the way in respect to all these improvements and
experiments ; the landlords of England must not be left
behind in the race of exertion, and, if we be a united
body, then I say,
'Nought shall make us rue,
If England to itself do rest but true.' "

Liberty of the Press appears to be just now at a
discount throughout the European continent. Whether
we look to the capital of a despotism or of a de-
mocracy we perceive everywhere the same intoler-
ance towards journalism on the part of their respec-
tive Governments. It is by this time, we conceive,
tolerably notorious that bi. VICTOR Hula° has in-
curred the displeasure of the authorities of the French
Republic, and his ingenious tranformation of the
Evenement into the Avenement has become already as
familiar to the political circles among the Parisians
as the celebrated metamorphoses of the National,
immediately prior to the second revolution. Even,
as will be seen from our foreign intelligence of this
evening, the phlegmatic or cautious Journal des
Debuts, has been excited by recent occurrences to such
a depth of indignation that it has protested, boldly,
and almost audaciously, against a course of proceed-
ing so arbitrary and intolerant as that which has of
late been evidenced in those official prosecutions.
According to the interpretations put upon recent oc-
currences by the _Debats, it bluntly avows that the
late
rigorous condemnations pronounced on the press
prove, if they prove anything, that the journals, with
scarcely a solitary
exception, are for the time being
very far indeed from being in the good graces of the
country. A strange and somewhat startling ,scknow-