The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-26 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL POLITICS AT
BUCKINGHAM

BUCK INGRAM, Wednesday.
The annual stock show and ploughing matches of
the North-west Agricultural Association took place
here to-day. At the close of the proceedings about
120 gentlemen dined at the Town-hall, under the
presidency of the Duke of Buckingham. The com-
pany included Sir H. Verney, M.P., Mr. J. G•
Hubbard, M.P., the lion. R. Cavendish, Mr. R. P.
Fitzgerald, Mr. A. J. Bobarts, Mr. F. Verney, Mr.
E. Hubbard, Mr. Box, Mr. Beards, Capt. Pilgrim,
the Mayor (Mr. Thorpe), Revs. J. Bolden, H.
Drummond, and E. Gardiner. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer, in a letter to the secretary (Mr.
Bennett), stating his inability to attend, enclosed a
check for £5, suggesting that " it might be made
the means of affording some encouragement to cot-
tagers or farm labourers in the improvement of
their dwellings."
The loyal toasts were followed by that of " The
Army and Navy," in responding to which Sir 11.
VERNEY remarked that everybody must view with
regret the enormous number of armed men in Europe
at the present time. This was a period of profound
peace, and though nations growled at each other
occasionally, there was no reason to fear that war
was about to break out, yet there were now between
5,000,000 and 6,000,000 men under arms, taken
away from the pursuits of industry. He thought it
was the duty of those who were burdened with the
support of these enormous forces to impress on their
Governments the impolicy of keeping up large armies,
which sucked the vitals of their respective countries,
and detracted so materially from their prosperity.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM, in acknowledging the
toast of his health, which had been proposed by Sir
H. Verney, referred to the differences of opinion
which prevailed in the district 18 months ago as to
the best way of dealing with the cattle plague. lie
and many of the magistrates felt that stringentmea-
sures were necessary, and he thought time had proved
that they were in the right. (Hear, hear.) But for
what had occurred within the past fortnight he
should have congratulated them on the rinderpest
being no longer in the kingdom, but there was a
doubt whether seeds of infection did not still lurk
among us. Competent authorities were of opinion
that recent cases in Cheshire were not the cattle
plague, but while any doubt remained restrictions
were necessary. He trusted, however, that the
movement of native cattle within all uninfected
parts of the country might speedily be permitted,
and that the troublesome restrictions which bad
hampered agriculturists in carrying on their usual
operations might be discontinued. In the post for
which he was selected when Lord Derby formed his
Administration he had seen the certainty with which
the disease spread wherever the regulations were
evaded. After explaining the circumstances which
had prevented an exhibition of horned cattle on this
occasion, his Grace remarked that even if all restric-
tions on home-bred animals were removed it would
still be necessary to keep a watchful eye on imported
cattle, both at the ports and on their subsequent
movements, for animals from the interior of Hun-
gary or Russia might be brought over to this country
within a week—a period which was not always
sufficient for infection to manifest itself. (Hear.)
Proceeding to propose " Prosperity to the Associa-
tion," the Duke remarked that considering the
obstacles it had had to contend with, and the small
area over which its operations extended, it bad
achieved a fair measure of success. (Hear, hear.)
Notwithstanding the increasing importance of na-
tional and county exhibitions, he thought that small
local associations exercised a very beneficial influence.
It was well to bring examples of good stock and
good ploughing home to everybody, and it was also
well to bring neighbours and friends together at
least once a year, and to spend a pleasant day, with
something to see and talk about in the morning and
a good dinner in the evening. (Hear, hear.)
The healths of the county and borough members
were next drunk. In proposing the latter Mr. Box
adverted to the impending diminution of the repre-
sentative power of Buckingham, expressing a hope
that under any circumstances their present excellent
members would continue to feel an interest in the
town, and remarking that if any constituency might
pride itself on its electoral purity, Buckingham had
undoubtedly a right to do so. (Cheers.)
Sir H. VERNEY, in returning thanks, assured the
people of Buckingham that his hon. colleague and
himself, whether or not they continued to represent
them, would ever be anxious to promote their wel-
fare. Mr. Box had said with truth that Bucking•
ham had never been guilty of bribery. As he stated
in the House of Commons, on presenting a petition
against its being deprived of one of its members, he
felt confident that not a shilling had been spent in
bribery since 1832. He believed there were very
few places in England of which this could be said.
Moreover, although he had generally been a sup-
porter of the Government, no favour had ever been
solicited of him by any of his constituents which
might not have been openly proclaimed in their
market place or at Charing-cross. This had made
the position of a member for Buckingham a very
proud one, and he trusted that whether his hon.
friend Mr. Hubbard or bimself, or any other person
hereafter represented them, the electors would per-
severe in the same course, and would never be influ-
enced by motives of personal gain in exercising the
franchise. If they wished to obtain good service
from their members they must display the upright-
ness and integrity which they had hitherto mani-
fested. (Cheers.) Representing an agricultural dis-
trict, he had always regarded himself as to a certain
extent the representative of the agricultural interest,
and he could not help reflecting ou the changes of
opinion which had taken place on agricultural ques-
tions since 40 years ago. At that time many land-
owners and parishes thought it wise policy to get rid
of their labourers, and to offer them inducements to
migrate to the manufacturing districts. Iu this
opinion he never shared, for he had always held that
every locality could supply sufficient work for all its
labouring population. Unless, however, comfortable
dwellings with good gardens were provided for them,
we could not expect agricultural labourers to resist
the temptation to remove to the large towns, though
he knew many when they got there were sorry for it,
and that some of them came hack to the country. It
was a melancholy thing to think that men might
leave kind-hearted employers in their own neigh-
bourhood and might find themselves subjected to the
atrocious tyranny and the abominable outrages
which, as had been shown by the inquiries at Shef-
field and Manchester, were practised in some dis-
tricts by working men upon members of their own
class. It was true the evil was not universal nor
even general, and we must thank God that it was
not. It was important, moreover, to retain the oc-
cupiers of the land as well as the labourers, and to do
this care must be taken not to overrun their farms
with too much game. (Cheers.) He was glad to
think there was no excessive preservation of game in
this neighbourhood, and for his own part be would
rather have none on his estate than that any tenant
should feel that his crops were injured by it. A far-
mer naturally took a pride in the fertility of his fields,
and money could not compensate him for the ravages
of game. He believed no farmer objected to a cer-
tain amount of game sufficient to furnish sport after
the old English fashion, for farmers felt it an advan-
tage that country gentlemen should reside on their
estates and should find sufficient sport if they were
fond of shooting. (Hear, hear.) Excessive preser-
vation, however, encouraged poaching, for an active
young fellow found that he could make as much in
one night by killing pheasants as he could in a fort-
night by hard work. This was a state of things
much to he depresated. (Hear, hear.) Thete was
another point he wished to touch upon. Farmers
wanted capital. (Laughter and cries of "We can't
get it.") He knew that very often they could not
get it, but he believed his hon. colleague, who was
more conversant with such matters, would corrobo-
rate him when he said that never was there a larger
amount of capital in the country open to fair in-
vestment. Now, he believed no investment was so
safe for the capitalist as the land of his own coun-
try, and he should never feel satisfied until he
saw the capitalist willing to advance money to
the farmer in whose ability and integrity he could
place confidence. lie could not, however, be ex-
pected to do this unless the farmer had some

certainty of tenure, and he thought, therefore,
farmers ought to make a stand for leases. It was
true some of his own tenants were afraid to take
leases, but he was convinced that until leases became
the rule the soil would never become so productive
or so healthy as it might be. (Cheers.) The co-
operation of all classes—the labourer, the farmer,
the landlord, and the capitalist—was necessary for
the efficient cultivation of the land. He had seen
the benefits of leases in Scotland, and he hoped to
see the same benefits enjoyed in this country.
(Cheers.)
Mr. HUBBARD congratulated the company on the
cessation of the ravages of the cattle plague, and on
those ravages having mined so small a diminution of
the prosperity of the country. About 300,000 bead
of cattle had been slaughtered, the value of which
might be set down at five millions sterling ; but
what was this plague compared with the plague of
war with which this country was in former times so
often visited? lie should be very glad if the cost
of the Abyssinian expedition, in which England's
honour appeared to be involved, did not exceed that
of the cattle plague. (Hear.) After referring to
the great improvements which had taken place in
agricultural implements and in our breeds of cattle,
Mr. Hubbard remarked that the labourer had not
been commensurately elevated, but still remained
too much of an unreasoning instrument. Educa-
tion had made rapid strides, but much had yet to be
done in order to fit for their duties the class who
were now rising not only into industrial but into
political importance. With regard to his hon.
friend's remarks on the investment of capital, it was
quite true that there had never been a larger amount
of capital ready for investment than there was at
the present moment, but it appeared to him that it
was in the first place the landlord's duty to put the
land into the condition best suited for the tenant.
No doubt the tenant required a floating capital,
and must purchase stock and other things, but until
the landlord had done his part he had no right to
complain of any lack of enterprise in his tenant.
Adverting to the political position of the borough,
Mr. Hubbard joined in the tribute which had been
paid to its electoral purity, stating that not a shilling
bad been spentby him for the purpose of influencing
a vote. If Buckingham was so free from corruption,
if, so far from being effete, it was increasing in
prosperity, and if the services of its representatives
had been useful to the community and honourable
to the constituency, why was it to lose one of its
members ? (Cheers.) It was not for him to answer
the question, but this he would say, to the credit
and in justification of the present Administration—
that it was no part of their original scheme to take
away a member for Buckingham. The hon member
concluded by returning thanks for the toast.
Various other toasts were afterwards proposed
and responded to.

AGRICULTURE AND POLITICS IN
BERKSHIRE.

ABINGDON', Wednesday.
The Abingdon Agricultural Association celebrated
their anniversary this day. At the dinner, which
was held in the afternoon, in the council-chamber,
Mr. C. P. Duffield presided, and there were also

present Colonel the Hon. C. 11. Lindsay, I\LP., Sir
Charles Russell, M.P., Colonel Loyd Lindsay, M.P.,
Mr. R. Beny on, M.P., the Bev. J. C.sClutterbuck,
Alderman Hyde, Messzs. E. J. Prendall, W.
Graham, R. Aleworth, and a large number of the

gentry and tenant-farmers of the district.
The customary loyal toasts having been duly
honoured,

The Chairman gave 4i The Army, Navy, Militia
and Volunteers."

Sir C. RUSSELL, M.P., responded on behalf of the
army. He observed that the visit which the 15th
Hussars were paying to Abingdon that day was a

sign that the army was not allowed to remain alto-
gether inactive. At the same time he deeply regretted
that the service upon which that regiment was
about to be employed was one of so discrcditable a

description, for he was quite sure that all who had
read the acc'unts of the recent Fenian outrage in
Manchester would cordially concur with him in de-

precating so dastardly and desperate a venture.

The army was also about to be employed in another
quarter—namely, the expedition to Abyssinia.
That expedition must necessarily be one of great
difficulty and danger, but although the taxpayers
of England would have to pay the piper he
was certain they would feel with him that it would
be a very serious matter if in the eyes of the world
our credit were to become tarnished by mere paltry
considerations of expense. Our consul in Abyssinia,
together with other English subjects, had now for a
long time been captive in the hands of a half bar-
barous king, and those who were as conversant with
the East as he was would know how incapable the
Eastern mind was of attributing to generosity those
motives which among the Easterns was only looked
upon as being induced by fear and timidity. It was
hoped and believed that the expedition would be
fruitful in results, and he said this from high autho-
rity. The greatest precautions had been taken before
we adventured upon the step which was about to be
taken ; but now that an expedition had been decided
upon he trusted that the people generally would
support the authorities in conducting it with vigour.
(Cheers.) This time last year he looked forward to
the prospect of seeing a something done by Parlia-
ment towards amending the army organisation,
which, on all hands, was allowed to be the most de-
fective. But, on the whole, he was really glad that
—looking to the momentous subjects which were
brought before the House of Commons last session—
no serious attempt was made to deal with that ques-
tion. The subject was one of very great importance,
and while the attention of the house was engrossed
by the all-absorbing topic of Reform if any attempt
had been made to legislate upon it the result might
unfortunately have been a hastily-considered and

ill-advised measure. At the same time, one little
measure was carried, which, although extremely
simple in its character, had been attended with great
success. He alluded to the increase of 2d. a day to the
pay of the army. It might seem strange that so
simple a device was not hit upon before, but it was
very well known in the relations of life how extremely
difficult it was sometimes to do a very simple thing.
Up to last session every sort of panacea was suggested
for stimulating recruiting, except that of giving a
little more money. Gen. Peel, however, stepped in,
and proposed an additional 2d. a day in the pay of
the army, and that simple act had produced results
which it was difficult to over estimate. (Cheers.) He
thought the country had now reason to say that the
army was placed on a satisfactory footing, and he
hoped the other great question of the organisation
at headquarters would be dealt with next session.
He would say very little in responding for the navy,
because it was a service with which he was verylittle
acquainted. He had certainly attended the recent
naval review, but he had made a resolution never to
attend another. He must say that he was somewhat
staggered when he found that because it was blowing
a little fresh our vast irouclads, which had cost so
much and from which such great results were ex-
pected, could not be got under weigh. At the same
time, seeing that if any accident had °centred the
loss would have fallen upon the country, it was per-
haps commendable that precautions should be taken
when the occasion was merely one of pleasure.
(Laughter and cheers.)
Colonel LOYD LINDSAY, M.P., also responded on
behalf of the volunteers.
The CHAIRMAN next gave the health of the county
inemb.Ts.
Mr. BENYON, 111. P., in acknowledging the toast,
characterised the session which had recently termi-
nated as a very trying one—a session of work most
difficult in its commencement, most anxious during
its continuance, and most important in its results.
Of course he si as aware of the wholesome rule which
obtained at meetings of this nature of avoiding
politics, but considering the position which he held
as one of the members for the county it might be
expected that he should not altogether pass over a
subject which had occupied so much of the attention
of the country at large for the last six months as the
question of Parliamentary reform. In the very
peculiar circumstances in which the country was
placed at the beginning of the present year, a very
general feeling prevailed that it was absolutely ne-
cessary to deal with the question of r caw, and that