The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-09 00:00:00

THE DUKE OF R UTLAND AND LORD
MANXERS IN LEICESTERSHIRE.

WALTHAM, FRIDAY.
The annual meetingofthe Waltham Agricultural
Ai-o-iationwas held in this town yesterday, and
was numerously attended by the *gentry and others
interested in the agriculture of the district. In the
afternoon a dinner was held in the Agricultural
Hall under the presidency of his Grace the Duke
of Rutland. Lord J. Manners, M.P., the Chief Com-
missioner of Works, the Rev.. G. E. Gillett, rector
of Waltham, Mr. G. Norman, Mr. Hubberstey, Mr.
Chowler, &c., were present.
The usual loyal toasts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Health of the Bi-
shop and Clergy of the Diocese." He believed there
was no one more anxious for the well-being and
welfare of the labouring classes than the British
agriculturist, for he knew it was by their means
and their labour that the good harvest which by
God's blessing he had just gathered into his barns
had been raised and brought home; and there was
no body of men who, by their attention, their kind-
ness, and watchfulness, so materially conduced to
the well-being of the British labourer as the clergy:
The Rev. G. E. GILLETT, in responding, con-
fessed that the clergy were most interested in• the
prosperity of these associations, inasmuch as they
brought together all classes connected with agricul-
ture, from the peer to the peasant: He was happy
to find that agricultural associations had at length
outlived and silenced the depreciatory remarks
which used to be made against them by one, and
that not anuninfluential, portion of the public press.
That, in his opinion, was no small testimony to
their value. He, however, augured still greater suc-
cess from another fact, viz., that in spite of agricul-
tural implements having wonderfully improved,
the wages of the labourer were much higher now,
in proportion to the price of corn and the other ne-
cessaries of life, than they were 25 years ago.
(Cheers.) For this reason, and believing that these
societies acted as a stimulus to agricultural improve-
ment, he and all the clergy could not fail to wish
them God speeed. (Cheers.)
The noble DUKE in the chair next proposed
" The Army and Navy." He said—There never was
a time when both services stood higher in the esti-
mation of this country, both for their fortitude and
bravery when before the enemy two years ago in
Russia and now in India. I believe that their
bravery and 'their fortitude have never been sur-
passed—not only their fortitude in the field, but,
what is still more trying to the
their fortitude under the influences of a bad climate
and disease. (Hear, hear.) lam glad to see that a
feeling is now abroad in favour of keeping up our
establishments. With the rest of the world, I was
at Cherbourg this year, and I saw those magnificent
forts bristling with guns, and the magnificent fleet
that came from Toulon on that occasion. It was
indeed a magnificent spectacle. I am not, however,
one of those who are called alarmists. At the same
time that I wish to see our establishments kept
upon a proper and a secure footing, my belief is
that the Emperor of the-French is perfectly sin-
cere arid perfectly honest when he says that he
wishes to cultivate the alliance of this country.
(Hear, and cheers.) I believe it because, though I
believe him to be ambitious, I think his ambition
is of a higher nature than that .of wishing to invade
a neighbouring country. (Cheers.) My belief is
that he is ambitious of raising France still higher
than she is at present in the scale of nations ; that
he will do so by encouraging her industry—her in-
dustry in her agriculture, her industry in her com-
merce and her manufactures, and not by laying
waste,- if he were even able, the fields of Ins neigh-
bours, for that must and would react against the
prosperity of his own country. (Cheers.)
The Rev. G. E. GILLETT proposed the " health of
his Grace the Duke of Rutland, as President of the
Association and Lord-Lieutenant of the County."
The rev, gentleman alluded briefly to the loss which
the association had sustained since their last meet-
ing in the death of the late duke.
The CHAIRMAN, -in acknowledging the com-
pliment, said, that if Mr. Gillett had not
alluded to the position which he (the Duke
of Rutland) now occupied in appearing be-
fore them for the first time as president of the
society, it would have been impossible for him,
surrounded as he then was, and in that hall, in the
' middle almost of the Bclvoir estates, not to have
been carried back to the-past, and to the recollec-
tion of all that they had lost. Since he had last
visited their hall he had lost the kindest and most
benevolent of fathers, and the kindest and most
benevolent of landlords. For himself he could only
say, that though lie had no hope of being able to
fill the void which had been created, he trusted
that with such a bright example before him he
might be enabled to follow in the steps that his
lamented father had marked out for him, and that
he might be enabled to do his duty, however hum-
bly and inefficiently, in the sphere in which he had
been placed. (Cheers.) Mr. Gillett had alluded
to the great benefits which were conferred by agri-
cultural societies, and had expressed his gratifica-
tion at the vast amount of good which they effected
in connection with the labouring classes of the
country. There were many gentlemen then pre-
sent who were much more capable and much more
able by their practical experience and their intelli-
gence to give information upon agricultural subjects
than he (the chairman) was himself, and he would
therefore leave it to them to instruct the meeting
upon the successful experiments they had made
since last year. He was himself fully convinced of
the great advantage of such societies in bringing
people together, who, perhaps, otherwise might
not so often meet, and of enabling them to compare
the different experiments they had made, as well as
to impart to each other the information that might
have been derived since the prceding year. (Hear,
hear.) With respect to politics, he believed they
had generally laid down a rule which had not
always been carried out in other agricultural so-
cieties—namely, that whenever political measures
seemed to touch upon their interests, or upon the
general interests of the agricultural body, they
should form a proper subject to be discussed at their
meetings. (Cheers.) The object of their society
was the benefit and the extension of agriculture,
and they had therefore always considered that
whatever added to the prosperity of agriculture, or
took away from that prosperity, was a fit subject
for comment at their annual dinner. (Hear, hear.)
At the same time he did not think that at the pre-
sent moment there were any questions astir in the
public mind which peculiarly affected the agricul-
tural interest He would therefore merely say that
though there was much that. he regretted in the
past, he looked forward with hope and confidence
to the future. (Cheers.) He begged to give them
" Prosperity to the Waltham Agricultural Associa-
tion." (Cheers.)
The toast having been drunk amid loud cheers,
the various prizes were awarded. After which
Mr. NORMAN proposed " The Health of the mem-
bers for the county," observing that, though party
politics were properly excluded from their meetings
those who took a part in politics were not excluded.
The toast was drunk amid great cheering.
Lord J. MANNERS, M.P.' responded. He said—
In rising to return thanks for the toast which has
just been proposed, I cannot help noticing, as, per-
Imps, a pleasing fact that the first place in which I
am called upon to address a body of my present
constituents since my election is that in which I
was first called on to address any public assembly
whatever—l mean nearly 20 years ago. Although
I cannot pretend that I address you on this occa-
sion with the same excessive nervousness and diffi-
dence which characterised my earlier effort, still I
confess that I am as unable at this moment as then
to address an agricultural assemblage with the
slightest hope of imparting anything of utility or
benefit to you. As my friend Mr. Norman has just
told you, all party politics are properly excluded,
and as my ignorance of practical agriculture is such
as to prevent the possibility of my affording you
information, the observations which I have to make
will be exceedingly few. At the outset I wish to
express my deep regret that I stand here alone to
return thanks for the toast which you have just
drunk. I am charged by my hon. friend and col-
league, Mr. Farnham, to assure you that nothing
but ill-health would have prevented him from at-
tending to-day. I have said that it is nearly 90
years since I first had the honour o
.
this hall, but for more than 20 years fsp
speaking i
n
Farnham
m
has served you in Pa liament with
adt
aZieas m
i and
assiduity which well deserved the plu
which this toast has been received.
by my brotherces-ied.(Cleers. i
). With
regard to what has been
chair in reference to the bereavement which we
have all sustained, he has so truthfully expressed
all I feet on the subject that I will not for a mo-
ment attempt to add a word to what he has already
said. Passing on to other matters, lam bound to
confess that an enforced abstinence from all sub-
jects calculated to stir up party feeling, and also
from all subjects connected with practical agricul-
ture, naturally, induces me to say a word or two
upon the social aspect which these- meetings bear.l
It has been said by Mr. Gillett, and said very
truly, that at first the great philosophers of the day
were apt to look down upon and affect to deride

thee agricultural meetings. Now, I remember. the
time when the same pseudo philosophy pronounced
allotments to be an unmitigated curse to the coun-
try, and derided and sneered at all the efforts that
were being made to aid and stimulate agriculture
in the country through. the machinery of associa-
tions of this character. But agricultural associa-
tions have now established themselves throughout
the length and breadth of the land, and I was en-
abled to-day by the kindness of your Committee to
distribute prizes.to the old warriors of agriculture,
and also to the striplings who have this day won
their spurs in the ploughing field, without fear of
the criticism of a hostile press, and totally disre-
garding the philosophers who used to be so indig-
nant at these meetings. (Cheers.) I, for my part,
am disposed to attach very great importance to
social gatherings such as these. It is not only that
they bring together members of the various classes
which compose our rural community, but at these
meetings hints are thrown out and suggestions are
made which I am bold enough to say have tended
in many instances most materially to promote, not
only the cultivation of the land, but to increase the
Comfort and elevate the moral and social position of
those_ by whom the land is cultivated. I will take
one point by way of illustration. I can remember
some-years ago the effect produced in this hall by a
speech of the admirable rector of this parish on th e all-
important subject of the cottage accommodation of
the labouring classes, and
.yet at this moment I
know no sight more pleasing as one rides home
from hunting than to witness the progress which
has been made in improving the dwellings of the
peasantry. (Cheers.) It is not only by these en-
deavours that the social and moral condition of the
peasantry,has been elevated, but we cannot help
seeing that the beauty of the landscape has also .
been materially improved. (Clieera4l I hope the
position I now unworthily hold in her Majesty's
councils will plead my excuse in your eyes if I say
that in an architectural point of view it does not
cost a halfpenny more to erect a pretty than it
does an ugly cottage. (Hear, hear.) Politics being
most properly excluded froM consideration at meet-
ings such. as the present—l mean party politics,
and so little having- occurred. during the recent
session of Parliament worthy the attention of an
ao.ricultnral assembly except 'in a party point of
view, I really am at a loss to say anything in my
capacity as member for this division of the bounty.
There was only one measure that affected in any
material degree the interests or feelings of the agri-
cultural chcse9, and tlipt wins the bill for the collec-
tion of agricultural statistics. The reception that
bill met, however, was such as to preclude the ne-
cessity of my saying anything whatever upon the
subject. (Laughter and cheers.) But my brother
has touched upon a subject. which undoubtedly at-
tracted far more attention than any of the measures
introduced in the late session of Parliament, or
which had any connection with the subjects which
have brought us here to-day. He has said—and I
entirely coincide in everything he said in respect
of Cherbourg—that he did nod see in the great and
,magnificent works which were presented to our
view anything to occasion unnecessary alarm in the
minds of the people of this country. Put, although
I quite agree with him that there is nothing to
create alarm, I confess that I did read with pain
and surprise some of the observations which have
been made in public by other members of that illus-
trious body to which* I (thanks to your kindness)
belong. (Hear, hear.) I can understand a man
being so essentially John-Bullish in feeling as to
abstain from going to 'Cherbourg at all, but I can-
not understand gentlemen in the position of mem-
bers of Parliament witnessing this magnificent ex-
hibition, receiving, as we all did, the most hearty
and cordial reception, not only from the Emperor
of the French, but from every one of his subjects
there present, seeing the cordial and amicable feel-
ings which pervaded all classes of that vast ass.m-
blage, and then coming home and venting all kinds
of unmanly sneers and sarcasms against a great, a
gallant, and friendly people. (Cheers.) So far from
seeing in the erection of the great works at Cher-
bourg any proof of towards England, or any
sign of impending hostility, I am myself disposed
to see in the cordiality, frankness, and openness
with which all the works were submitted to the in-
spection of the whole people of Englarid, had they
been disposed or able to go thither—l am disposed
to see in these great works a pledge rather for
future peace, inasmuch as they afford, on the one
side (with the proper preparations, which -this
country and her Majesty's Government may take.
lon the other), a natural means of defence from hos-
tile aggression, and thus give a pledge and security
for future peace. (Cheers.) I mentioned just now
one point by way of illustrating the social advan-
tages of these meetings. There is another to which
I am not less disposed to attach great importance
at the present day—namely, the great subject of
education. We all know how the education, of the
children of the peasantry of this country has re-
ceived a great and wonderful influence from the
speeches which have been made and the sugges-
tions which have been thrown out at meetings of
this kind. But so much has been said on that sub- '
ject, and so certainly do I think the progress of
education in its common and hacknied sense to be
secured in the country, that I will dwell no longer
upon it further than to say that I hope in our zeal
and our endeavours to promote the education of the
intellect We shall not altogether lose sight of the
education of the bodies of the children of the labour-
ing classes. (Hear, hear.) I attach such importance
to the manlyand athletic games and pastimes which
have heretofore characterised all classes of our
English community that I would say to all men,
however wise, however stupid, however rich, how-
ever old, stimulate and foster every manly and
athletic game, commencing from marbles and ascend=
ing up to fox hunting, and if there be anything
above and beyond fox hunting, then teach the
labouring classes that. Tend them religiously,
and from the lowest and the. humblest, up to the
maturest and the highest of our national sports and
pastimes, let us endeavour to promote them one and
all, (Loud cheers.) I say this because I have
noticed with pain and concern a heresy, as it seems
to me, growing up and spreading in this country,
the upshot of which will be that England will be
divided into two great classes—those who spin and
those who study. It is to promote some such con-
summation as this that we find that admirable
speaker and sterling member of Parliament, Mr.
Bright, recommend emigration to the whisky-drink-
ing, joint-stock bank-breaking people of Glasgow ;
and we have the Times, the great organ, as it used
to be called, of public opinion in England, warning
all the noblemen of England out of the hunting field.
As many present know, I am no great rider,
and do not profess to give much time or attention
to hunting, but this I do know that I never jog
home after a day's hunting without feeling that I
have seen or heard something which has added
somewhat to my small stock of knowledge, and
without rejoicing as a politician—of course Ido not
use the term in a party sense—in the existence of
that manly and invigorating pastime. (Cheers.)
Then, gentlemen, say I, long. may there be a race
of yeomen in England who, like my friends the
Guys of Hatton, the Vincents of Bottesford, or the
Blands of Marlborough, can carry off the prize in
the cattle showyard and the brush at the head of
the hunt. (Loud cheers.) I have said th
past session of Parliament there was not much to
attract the attention of an agricultural assemblage.
The future, of course, is dark, but at the same
time it ie;more than probable that the quest ion
most likely to interest an agricultural assemblage
in the next session of Parliament will be the much
discussed question of Parliamentary reform.
Upon that question, of couse, my lips are sealed,
and I can only say that by one of those curi-
ous turns of the wheel which mechanises modern
politics it seems to be reserved for a Tory Govern-
ment to render less
growing anomalous,
o.ence and to make better
intelligence, adapted to theproperty, and
numbers of the community, the Whig Reform Act
of 1832. (Cheers.) I can only say that her Ma-
jesty's Government will enter upon that most serious
task with the single and earnest endeavour so to
mend the representation of the people in Parlia-
ment as to secure the best electoral body and the
best representative body which can be obtained for
the people of this country. (Cheers.) But, gen,
tlemen, after all, hustings, registration courts, poll-
ing booths, speeches from the hustings, and even
speeches in Parliament, and divisions- consequent
thereupon, are only a means to an end, and that
end is the good self-government of a Christian and
civilis9d. community. (Loud cheers.) 'Without
depreciating other pursuits and other ways of life,
every day I live more and more convinces me that
the art and practice of agriculture is the safest, the
surest, and the most beneficent of all the industries
in which the wit, intelligence, and capital of man
can be employed. (Hear.) We shall do well, then,
I think, as I ventured to say-at the outset of the
few observations-which I have thought it right to
make—we shall do well to keep alive by every
means in our power the corporate character of our
relations ono to another,' and-I. knirw of -ne means,
of no human means—which can so fully impress
upon all our hearts the great truth that landlord
and tenant, farm servant and husbandman, clergy
and laity, all form one great Christian brotherhood,

as these periodical n: ei fngs, at which the respective
excellencies of different men in different branches
of agricultural pursuits are brought prominently
to notice, and which tend to keep alive in all our
hearts the great fact that every process,-at every
:canon of the year, in ththpursuit of agricultural
progress blends harmoniously into one beneficent
whole. (Cheers.) I leave-it to those more quali-
fied than Lam to speak upon the practical subjects
which- in reality have brought us here- to-day;
but I thought it might not be amiss if I ventured
to recall to your minds some of the great and
enduring benefits, which I believe apply, to the
country as a whole in a social point of view; of agri-
cultural gatherings such as this; and I will now sit
down, begging leave to propose as a toastthe health
of three gentlemen, without whoselyaluable assist-
ance the meetingto-dav would. have been a complete
failure--I mean the three gentlemen who have been
good enough to act as judges of stock upon this oc-
casion. I take leave to couple with the toast the
name of my excellent friend, whom I so often meet
in the hunting-field, Mr. Bland. (The noble lord
resumed his scat amid loud cheers.)
Mr. BLAND briefly responded, and
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The health of the
Stewards," coupling with the toast the name of Mr.
Chowler. - -
Mr. CIIOWLER said he was sensible that he had
been somewhat out of place in makingthe arrange-
' meats for the meeting, and should be most 1 hippy
to find that his exertions had given satisfaction.
With regard to agriculture, he was glad to find
that sub-soiling had gone out of fashion to some ex-
tent compared with former years. As to the top or
shallow cultivation there might be different opinions
aksto the proper depth, as there were different
opinions as to the proper depth of drainage. Mr.
Meehi, who had just been starring it at Manchester,
condemned all cultivation and all drainage that was
not deep. But, although- he condemned the agri-
culture of the country, he still admitted that his
foreign friends did. not grow more than half the
crops grown in this country. He immediately added
that the agriculture of this country was a disgrace
to it, though how he could reconcile the -two state-
ments he (Mr. Chowler) was at a' loss to conceive.
This, however, he did know, that a gentleman who
a short time ago visited both Mr. Mechi's firm and
his pigs, stated distinctly that his pigs were in
such a filthy and dirty state that they would be a
disgrace to any farmer in the country. (Laughter
and cheers.) It was unnecessary that he (Mr.
Chowler) should pause to inquire how far deep
cultivation was likely to be beneficial. That was
a question that could be better discussed at a
special meeting, and if such a meeting were
called he would be quite ready to attend and take
part in the discussion. He had, however, one
remark to make upon another subject. The positiou
of the English farmer was very different from what
it was 12 months ago, and if agricultural statistics
would ever have been of advantage to the farmer
they would- have been during the present year. He
. believed that the pulse .crop had been a total failure,
although in the face of that he was glad to say that
the labouring- classes were not only fully employed,
but at fair wages. (Hear.) They had usually been
in the habit of reckoning the wages of the labourer
according to the price of wheat. If they adopted
that principle now the wages would be brought
down to 10S. a-week, whereas, at the present mo-
ment, he was glad to say that no labourer he was
aware of was working for less than 2s. a-day.
That fact proved there was a desire on the part of
the English farmer to employ the labourers steadily
and to take better care:Of their poor than the manu-
facturer 4. Recent Poor Law returns showed that
directly the-manufacturing trades fell off, the poor
who were dependent upon manufactures for a living
were thrown upon the parish, so that in some places
—for instance, in Manchester—the poor rates had
been increased 15 per cent. in consequence Qf the
slackness of the trade. That was not the case with
the farmers, for the same returns,showed • that
throughout purely agricultural districts pauperism
.never increased at all. For instance, in I)orsctshire,
where they used to hear such great complaints
about the wages of . the agricultural labourer, the
returns showed that pauperism had steadily de-
. creased.. That convinced him that the poor were
much better attended to in agricultural than in
manutacturing-districts, and it came to this after
all—that whatever might be said against the agri-
culturists, they were the best friends of the labour-
ing poor. (Cheers.) •
Several other toasts of purl y local interest were
then proposed and the proceedings terminated.