The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-05 00:00:00

Yesterday a conference, under the auspices el du,
Earl Beauchamp, the Earl Cowper, the Earl of aork,
Earl Grosvenor, M.P., the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord
Lyttelton, Sir John Bowring, the Hon. Anberon Herbert,
the Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., Mr. Fawcett, M.P„
Mr. Portal, Mr. Read, M.P., and Mr. Beach, M.P.,
was held at the Society of Arts, for the purpose
of considering the question of establishing a society for
the improvement of the condition of the agricultural
labourer by the promotion of the following objects :-1.
To better the, condition of farm labourers by the removal
at proper seasons of surplus labour from over-populated
districts to places where labour is in greater demand.
2. To encourage a more extensive building and
improvement of cottages in accordance with the
demands of health, decency, and comfort. 3. The
elementary and technical education of the children
of agricultural labourers. 4. The more extensive
adoptit n of the system of allotment of garden ground,
and the protection of the rights of agricultural labourers
under the Enclosure Act. 5. To promote sanitary reforms
in villages, small communities, and dwellings of agricul-
tural labourers. C. The separation of labourers' provi-
dent societies from public-houses, and their establishment
on safe and economical pi inciples, and under proper
management, so as to secure to those able and willing to
save some means of support in times of sickness and disable-
ment. The dicontinuance of statute fair hiring.
Earl DUCIE occupied the chair, and in opening the pro-
ceedings, pointed out the deterioration which had taken
place in the condition of the agricultural labourer, whose
wages had not increased in proportion to the increased
wealth and prosperity of the country. The first thing to
be considered by the meeting was whether it was possible or
desirable to establish a society for the purpose of aiding
the agricultural labourer.
Lord LICHFIELD had a very strong indisposition to join
in the promotion of such a society. Only twelve months
ago a meeting was called for the same purpose as the
present, and it resulted in nothing, because
those who took part in the meeting refused to
confine themselves to the subject they were met to discuss,
and, instead, entered into long details of the whole life and
condition of the agricultural labourer. For himself he
believed the great thing was to improve the educational
condition of the agricultural labourer. Would
such a society as the one suggested do much
or anything in this direction, or would it pro.
duce an improvement in the dwellings of the labourer?
If there were a certain number of gentlemen, say twelve
or twenty, who were willing to give their time to the
important consideration of the agricultural labourer's con-
dition, great good might be done, but a society, with the
work left to a secretary and officials, would accomplish
nothing. Lord Lichfield concluded by saying that he
would gladly bear his share of the burden.
Canon GIRDLESTONE had the same misgivings as Lord
Lichfield. His faith in societies was not great, for so
many of them provided for management and for nothing
else. Than such a resultin connection with the agricultural
labourer nothing could be more disastrous. With the objects
which the meeting was asked to discuss, he fully agreed,
but this presented collectively a subject almost too wide
for present discussion. He believed that if the principle
of emigration were carried out, coupled with proper
educational advantages, the other objects would be accom-
plished as a matter of course. Referring to the former
subject, Canon Girdlestone stated that he was constantly
receiving letters from those to whom he had despatched
labourers, and with few exceptions they were satisfied.
Several labourers had been sent by him from North Devon
into Yorkshire, and he generally received a statement
to the effect that when they first arrived they looked de-
plorable, but that six months of " beef " produced a
marvellous change. On the subject of education, it was
pointed out that in the majority of parishes the landowner
was exceedingly lax in his duty, leaving it virtually to the
clergy to educate the agricultural labourer. Canon Girdle-
stone suggested that an agent should be appointed to carryout
the details of the emigration scheme, and a purely volun-
tary hardworking committee of gentlemen formed to do
all that lay in their power to promote the welfare—espe-
cially in the direction of education—of the agricultural
labourer. This would be much better, he thought, than
the establishment of a society.
Mr. BAILEY DENTON warmly supported the idea of a
society. As the employer of probably the largest number
of agricultural labourers in England, he especially urged
the importance of technical education.
The Archdeacon of COTENTRY argued that the wretched
dwellings occupied by the agricultural classes lay at the
root of drunkenness, which it was admitted was the crying
vice of the country. .

Mr. PELL, M.P., thought that if any society were
formed, agricultural labourers should be invited to attend.
Mr. J. D. DENT, M.P., defended landowners against
the charge of having neglected the education of the poor.
Schools had not been well supported because they had
been made the organ of religious proselytism.
Mr. BEACH, M.P., was not in favour of the formation
of a society.

Mr. READ, M.P., suggested the great importance of
making the agri cultural labourer himself as well as the
public sensible of his true condition.
Several other gentlemen having taken part in the die-
mssion, Mr. IIoLLAND expressed the opinion that there
rite no season for establishing such a society as proposed.
In his opinion the condition of the agricultural labourer
was improving, and not one of the least advantages
which lie enjoyed was that the class of masters had been
materially raised in point of education. He proposed a
resolution, to the effect that it was inexpedient at present
to call the society into existence.

Mr. SNow, who described himself as "a stranger and a
practical man," urged that the best way to improve the
condition of the agricultural labourer was to teach him to
respect himself.
Mr. WELLs seconded the resolution proposed by Mr.
Holland, trusting at the same time that it would not be
thought that he did not take the utmost interest in the
agricultural classes.
Earl DUCIE, before putting the resolution, pointed out
that the evident feeling of the meeting was that individual
effort would do more than an association.
The resolution was carried unanimously.

Lord NORTHBROOK proposed a vote of thanks to the
chairman. In doing so, he wished to guard against its
being thought that lie agreed in the correctness of the
sweeping charges brought against landowners by Canon
Girdlestone.

The resolution was seconded and unanimously carried.

Miss Rye (says the Liverpool Courier) intends
going out again from that port to Canada at the end of May
with another party of young women.

Another sale of the effects of the late Marquis of
Hastings took place yesterday morning by Mr. Phillips, at his
auction rooms, in Great Bond-street. The sale consisted of
racing and other cups, commemorative of well-known sport-
ing events ; services of silver and silver gilt plate, snuff-
boxes, shields, and ornamental pieces. In addition to these
there are several valuable pairs of breech-loading guns by
eminent London makers.

The Standard says the dinner to be given on
Monday next, at the Cannon-street Hotel, by the Conserva-
tives of the Tower Hamlets, to Mr. Coope, is likely to be
very successful. Several members of the late Government
and numerous members of Parliament have expressed an
intention to be present. The proceedings will be rendered
extremely interesting by the presentation of an address,
which has been beautifully illuminated and engrossed, to
Mr. Coope, in recognition of his exertions in the cause at
the late election.
TIIE FENIAN CONVICTS.—The Rev. Paul Bagley,
whose labours as an American missionary and Bible dis-
tributor in China and Japan have been arduous and
extensive, and who since his return to America from those
countries has exerted himself to obtain pardons for many
of the leading supporters of the Southern Confederacy,
has just arrrived in England, armed with credentials en-
dorsed by forty senators and 185 members of the House of
Representatives at Washington, for the purpose of inducing
the English Government to grant the release of all those
American citizens who are now undergoing sentences for
complicity in Fenian movements. Mr. Bagley has had
interviews with the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, the United
States Minister, to whom he has been specially com-
mended, although his effort is quite of an unofficial and
independent character, and he travels at his own charges.
MATRIMONY. —MAY AND DECEMBER. —A peculiar
incident occurred a short time since in the vicinity of
Hackney worth recording, from the fact of its being one
of the rarest escapades in matrimonial history. An aged
gentleman, of not very prepossessing appearance, but,
nevertheless, a perfect Crcesus, was leading his bride,
a girl of sweet sixteen, to the hymeneal altar, under
the circumstances of having purchased her hand (but
not her heart) by assisting her father when in
pecuniary difficulties. Six handsomely-dressed brides-
maids and a host of friends attended the couple
to church. The bride was decked out in nuptial
splendour, the roadway was lined with carriages and
greys, and the whole scene presented an imposing effect ;
the venerable gentleman led his bride up the aisle, and the
ceremony of coupling them began. All went quietly enough
till the clergyman came to the sentence, " Will you take
this man for your wedded husband ?" when she, in a loud
and solemn mariner, exclaimed, "I won't." She rose in an
excited manner, darted out of the church, jumped into a
carriage awaiting her outside, in which was seated the idol
of her choice ; off they went to another churtb, not a
thousand miles away, were married there and then, and are
now living in happy wedlock. The event has created quite
a sensation in the neighbourhood,. and the interest 11.0:4 nOt
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