The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-17 00:00:00

MR. WALTER,, M.P.

Mr. Walter, M.P., made a speech on politics and things
in general at the dinner, on Tuesday last, of the Royal
East Berks Agricultural Association.
He referred in the first place to the House of Commons
and the late session :
" So far as their performances in the House of Commons
were concerned, he believed he might say with truth, with
reference to himself and his colleague, that they were as
assiduous in their duties, such as they were, at most men
in Parliament. He would not attempt under the colour of
social science, to enter upon the field of politics, as was the
fashion now, and as Lord Brougham had done the other
day at Glasgow, who, when speaking on the subjezt of
social science, made a pretty slap at the House of Com-
mons, and characterised the late session, in his .(11r.
Walter's) opinion, in very just terms. He must say that
a more unsatisfactory session had not taken place since the
passing of the Reform Bill, and none of the gentlemen
present could have received the intelligence of the termina-
tion with half the satisfaction that their representatives
did. At the same time, although little had been done, and
although the year had been signalised by great failures in
legislation, it was one of the most remarkable years which
this gdneration had seen, and if they read the " Annual
Register," they would find there were some remarkable
occurrences, both in and out of Parliament. It was a
year of great failures andear
of
ftrsitkroinngg
Ineveeanstistr;es_e first it
mightmeasures—the of
be:
leaay
establishment of that to which some gentle-
whieh
was emphatically
the called
gentle-
men had already referred—the volunteer force. (Applause-)
The importance of that measure to this country, he be-
lieved, was not appreciated as it ought to be. It had pro-
duced prodigious effects on the continent. He had been
informed by gentlemen well acquainted with France, that
the effect produced in that country was most decided, and
foreigners were bound to acknowledge that there was a
great deal of life in the old dog yet, and that England was
still really a fighting country. There was another event in
England which produced a great effect on foreign nations.
He had no doubt they were puzzled to know what hi
re-
ferred to—it was the fight for the championship. (Laugh-
ter.) There was no event occurred during the last session
which was so much discussed by bishops and archbishops—
(renewed laughter)—statesmen and people, both at home
and abroad, as the fight between Tom Sayers and Heenan.
Nothing could have better established the reputation of
Englishmen for pluck and endurance the most remarkable.
In the House of Commons the French Treaty was cha-
racterised as a strong measure, and there was what was
considered a stronger measure still in the House of
Lords. He referred to the paper duty transaction. It was
a strong measure undoubtedly, and was looked upon as one
of the most remarkable events of the century, but it was
justified by the circumstances of the case. Then they had
the amalgamation of the military services at home and in
India, a matter discussed very much in Parliament, and
they might call this proceeding a final winding-up or a
finishing stroke tothe East India Company, and a necessary
complement to the act which brought India under the go-
vernment of the Queen of England. In addition to all these
events which had taken place in the moral world, nature
had been acting strongly during the whole year. They found
there had been such floods of rain as they had not witnessed
for many years previously, and yet with all that there was
an abundant harvest generally speaking, there being only a
few cases of failure. But there was still a more painful topic
to refer to, and which seemed to him to partake of a strong
charactee; he meant the daily and fearful catalogue of
horrible crimes and murders of the most alarming and
dreadful features. They were shocked every day by reading
accounts of the most cold-blooded murders, committed ap-
parently from no alleged cause. Leaving these matters for
the lawyer and the mayor to find out, he would pass on to
the Continent of Europe, where they could study the acts
of one of the greatest of volunteers—Garibaldi—(cheers)—
and, last of all, he came to the Pope, whom he found in a
very awkward predicament—(laughter)—so that if little
had been done in Parliament-, they had plenty going on out
of Parliament to interest them, and to look back upon with
feelings of astonishment. They were now happily arrived
at that season of the year when they were allowed to look
after their own business, which meant that they were in
the habit of minding their own affairs in their own way,
without the interference of the police. It meant much
more than the constitutional liberties they enjoyed over
other countries, and, although they could not make Go-
vernment do always quite as much as they wished, there
were a great many things in which they could control
their own movements. In the great question of reform,
whatever benefits they might be disposed to expect when it
came, that did not prevent them attending to a vast number
of reforms under their own control. Let every gentleman
look at his own estate, and see what was there to be done.
Though he had not been idle as a landlord, still, when ho
looked forward and saw the amount of work which was still
to be done on his own estate before he could hope to get it
in a satisfactory and preper condition, it was enough to ap-
pal him ; what with cottages to be built, and children to be
educated, and other matters, there was quite enough for
any man to have thrown on his hands, without anything
else. There was then the amelioration of the Bankrujitcy
Laws, and he thought they might do something for them-
selves in that department; also'when they recollected that
something like 90 percent. of the bankruptcies were brought
about by recklessness and extravagance, people ought to
look a little more aft& their own business and avoid that
extraordinary recklessness which was one of the besetting
sins of the nation. (Hear.) If people did this they would
have much less requirement for improvement in the law.
Withrespect to the improvements in agriculture, it appeared
to him that the ultimate object of that and similar associa-
tions scattered throughout the country must be the improve
ment of agriculture; if they did not do that, he did not know
what good they would do, and exactly in proportion as they
did succeed in improving agriculture, and in raising the
condition of all classes engaged in it, so would the necessity
for such associations cease. This was a point they should
bear in mind, because he had been given to understand
that there was not that spirit in that association that there
had been formerly. He was not surprised at that, and he
should think it a bad sign were it otherwise. The true life
and soul of all those associations were to improve and give
encouragement to agriculture and those persons engaged in
it, so it followed that exactly in proportion as they succeeded
in their object the necessity for them ceased. A young
Member of Parliament, when he made his first speech,
wanted encouragement, but no one imagined that Mr.
Gladstone, Mr. Bright, or Lord Palmerston wanted it;
nay, some old gentlemen required to be discouraged a little
sometimes. (Laughter.) He believed, however, thatdth.ne
quality of the ploughing had been undeniably impro.ve.
that neighbourhood since the formation of this association.

TILE GREAT WORKS, OF EXTENDING
MALTA If ARP OUR.
-.4.---
The great harbour question has now assumed
athe
that
position which may justify a conclusion th t
works will soon be commenced and carried out with
vigour. Very erroneous imp:cssions appear to have
been entertained as to the practicability of the
his stay
that and the cost; the arrangements, however,
that have been made by' r. Scamp during
weeks have dispelled all doubtfulY
treatt o consist nhs
aisrtb cohuireflb y
here of a few
p 13
theear e
ap-
prehensions. The work a
and extending
of deepening
dredging and
constructing plant walls and forming
wharves to the extent of nearly two miles, and
forming a direct communication from
harbour to the quarantine harbour. the grand
contractors here from England There are three
the particulars for enabling who are obtaining
ten-
ders for the work. ;
and Mr.
them to estimate
r. Scamp has adopted the
following method for
parties with what proving to the competing
works of the kind r facility, despatch, and economy
island. To prove the capability of the two dredging
vessels provided b
worked, and the y Government he has had oar
required.
spotmud,at sea.
&c., raised deposited in the
sea. A portion of the wharf works
will be constructed on what is now land, but sub-
ject to
the influence of water; and part will he con-
structed in the sea. He has had a sample of each
constructed to prove with what facility the mate-
rials can be obtained and the work can be executed
both below and above water. Part of the stone has
been excavated and removed by carting to show the
cost of such work. Stone has also been excavated
in two places on the edge of the canal, to show with
what facility the stone can be obtained for the ex-
tension of the harbour. Mr. Scamp's intimate ac-
quaintance with the material and people of the
island has enabled him to do all this with great
facility and despatch, and the examples shown
will no doubt he of incalculable value, by en-
abling contractors to know the lowest cost at
which such extensive works can be done, by
bringing into use the plant and appliances usually
employed. The drawings and other particulars
have been prepared by Mr. Scamp for the gui-
dance of the contractors in forming their lowest
estimates, and he will leave Malta the England
immediately. We understand that in carrying_
out these works arrangements will be made for.
, their
docking ships of all classes and repairing
machinery.

s-________
A MOP -HIRING.—Those ho
through an American have walked
slave market cannot fail to be re-
minded of it in witnessing a mop-hiring. There stands the
women, dairymaids, domestic servants, and field-hands—
in rows with their hands before them, and the awkward
carriage of persons unaccustomed to stand still! There
disadyantageously fine in their dress, u
they suuid,ribbon are
how every flaunting- and gay trimming tells unaware
them with all the best mistresses. Good mistresses against
, remembe, however, that girls are fine to-d
plain enough on every other week-day of aY who may be
they stand, some lolling, some rocking the year. There
jiggling, some looking too self-respecting themselves, some
selves to a casual hirer ; and there to offer them-
walking before them speaking are the farmers' wives
oc-
casionally returning to renew an argument about the wages.