The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-25 00:00:00

BE.RTS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The prizes annually awarded by this society were com-
peted for yesterday, and the proceedings were wound up
by the customary annual dinner at the Corn Exchange,
Hitchin. Venison and birds were liberally supplied by
the local magnates, and the dinner, served by Mr. Hill,
was both satisfying and satisfactory. Sir. E. B. Lytton,
M.P., presided, and among those present were Mr.
Dallas, the American Minister (at present on a visit to
the chairman), the Marquis of Salisbury, Sir W. Jol.
life, M.P., Mr. J. A. Smith, M.P., Mr. C. C. Hale
(vice-chairman), Mr. F. P. D. Radcliffe, Mr. R. Dering,
Sir Francis Doyle, Mr. G. J. Bosanquet, Mr. C. W.
Puller, Mr. Hain worth, &o.
After the usual loyal toasts bad been given and re-
sponded to,
The CHAD:MAN said—We have present among us on
this occasion the distinguished representative of an illus-
trious people, akin to ourselves in language and in blood, in
just laws and in intellectual sympathies—the people of

Anaerica. It is true that their institutions differ from ours,
They are free and contented under a republic. We hold
ourselves to be equally free and contented under the mild
sway of a constitutional Sovereign. Each nation attempts
o work out the problem of good government in its own-
way. Thera across the waters we can recognise a repub-
lic which respects property and order, and here Ameri
cans may recognise a monarchy which is not incompa-
tible with liberty and progress. Now, gentlemen, there
have been of late some political, or rather, let me say,
some diplomatic misunderstandings between the two
countries. Of these misunderstandings it would not
become us upon this occasion to say a single word.
Let us hope that they are in a fair way of being
tranquilly settled, upon terms which may equally consult
the honour and the dignity of the two nations. The grand
invention of the electric telegraph under the waves of
the Atlantic is about to add another link to those that
unite the mother country to her giant children. But
there is a telegraph which can still more annihilate
time and space, and which we look to the wise and
conciliatory genius of onr ' distinguished guest to
re-establish—l mean that telegraph which communicates
between heart and heart, and which carries from nation
to nation the language of common interest and of kindred
affection. (Cheers.) This is not the first time that Mr.
Dallas has visited these shores. He came here before,
towards the close of the unhappy war of 1812 between
England and America. He came then with objeets of
peace and conciliation. Such are, lam assured, his
objects now, and I trust that his success will be such as
to establish his imperishable fame not only among the
statesmen of his country, but among the benefactors of
the human race. (Hear, hear.) Our visitor is himself
of British origin ; he is descended from an ancient and
an eminent family in these isles. Here he breathes the
air which his ancestors breathed, and he is treading the
soil in which the bones of his ancestors repose. It was
at a very anxious and critical moment for the two
countries that I first saw him, but I immediately felt
sure that he was the right man in the right place—(hear,
and laughter)—and since he has honoured me with a
visit under my own roof-tree, with his amiable and ac-
complished family, I have had on all occasions to admire
the clearness of his intellect, the depth of his observa-
tion, the dignified simplicity of his manners, the trans-
parent kindliness of his heart, and (if he will allow me so
to say)the felicity with which he Unites the natural na
triotism of an American citizm with a just appreciation
of all that is really excellent and sterling in the dear old
land of his own fathers. (Cheer.) Well, I told him that
if he would honour me with a visit he would be sure, at

least, of a hearty English welcome in an old Erigt