The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-21 00:00:00

COLLINGHAM FARMERS' CLUB.

NEWARK, TUESDAY.
The annual meeting of the Collingham Farmers'
Club was celebrated by a ploughing match and
dinner this day, at the little village of Collingham,near Newark. V The ploughing match took place in
the morning, and, notwithstanding. the unfavour-
able state of the weather, the entries were more
numerous than on previous occasions. The dinner
was held at the Railway Hotel, in the afternoon,
and was presided over by Mr. Barrow, M.P. The
Rev. Mr. Rennan, Mr. Chowler, Capt. Haffenden,
Mr. Woolley, Mr. Millward, and a large number of
the farmers of the district were also present.
The usual loyal toasts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army and Navy."
lie thought the army and navy had done sufficient
in former times to fully justify their health being
drunk without anticipatinc, anything they might
have to do in the future. He was not one of those
who had visited Cherbourg, and, consequently was
unable to give them the result of his experience
there, but he confessed he thought very little of
Cherbourg as a standing menace. He had heard
of standing menaces all his life, but he really did
not think that they ever proved a source of injury
to anybody. (Hear, hear.) In particular they
could he of very little consequence to this coun-
try so long as we could bring into the field such
men as we had hitherto done. He thought it of
great advantage to the country that it should not
be drained of its money in the shape of taxes, im-
posed either for the purpose of erecting what were
called standing menaces, or of providing an enor-
mous standing army. It was much better that the
money should be fructifying in the pockets of the
people, and that the country should at all times be
prepared to make exertions similar to those which
were made in the time of the last Russian war.
Probably, during that war more money was spent
than was necessary if there had been better ma-
nagement, but we had at all times in Great Britain
hearts and hands ready and willing to execute all the
work that might be required of them, and above all,
may to defend their country at all times. Looking
a.t the skill whichhad been displayed in the plough-
ing field that day, he was thoroughly convinced
that it would require no great length of time to
unable the agriculturists to learn the use of arms.
Considering the way in which science overtook and
rapidly altered the character of the inventions of
the age, it seemed to him that a proposal which he
had seen in a public journal the other day, not only
that our army should be furnished with the Enfield
rifle, but that there should be 500,000 or 600,000
kept in stock, was extremely absurd. Seeing that
the Enfield rifle had only been in existence about
five years, he did not think it would be wise to in-
cur a large expense in laying by a stock of arms
which might not be required for 20 years, and which
when they were wanted might be found to have
been entirely superseded by some new invention.
Nor was it desirable that we should offer that stand-
ing menace to our neighbours which would be af-
forded if we were to make extraordinary efforts for
war in time of peace. No doubt it was necessary
that we should possess a good and efficient Channel
fleet, but the same remark would apply to any ex-
travagant addition to our naval force as to the ma-
nufacture of Enfield rifles, viz., that we did not
know to what science might lead us, and how soon
the present description of vessels might not be
superseded by others. A great advantage which this
country possessed was in having at her command the
power of raising the means of warfare at a very short
notice, and of securing and in also possessing a
body of people ready at an hour's notice to take the
field in defence of their native land. (Cheers.) At the
same time, he felt that the country were under
great obligations to the army and navy for their
services in times past, and he therefore had great
pleasure in proposing their health, feeling perfectly
satisfied that they would acquit themselves with
their accustomed gallantry if they should ever
come into action again. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, re-
marked that in former times it was very tender
ground to talk of legislation in connection with
agriculture, but he believed that much of the ten-
derness had now died away. There was a time when
it was thought desirable to encourage the produc-
tion of food in this country by every possible means,
and they employed legislation as one ofthose means,
but only one. He was not at all sure that the same
effect would not have been produced without the
assistance of legislation, because he believed that a
great portion of the success of the agriculturist at
that period and even during the present time was
owing to the ability and energy which the farmer
had always displayed, and which had been deve-
loped and fostered by the agricultural associations
throughout the country. (Cheers.) Those associa-
tions were formed for the purpose of rousing dor-
mant talent and exciting latent energy, and they
had unquestionably answered the purpose for which
they were established. There could be no doubt,
that the energy and talent which had been ex-
cited and applied to agriculture had caused the
farmers to suffer less from the change of our sys-
tem of legislation than otherwise might have been
the case, and there was much reason to hope that'
science and skill would enable them to maintain
their position, and relieve them from any possible
danger. (Cheers.) He had observed in one of the
übhc journals recently a letter from a large corn-
dealer, in which he said that we were in no danger
of having much grain from America so long as corn
was under Gs. a bushel; but in another corner of the
same paper he found another mercantile man de-
claring that the agriculturists at the mouths of the
Danube anticipated sending a large supply from
that quarter. He (filo chairman) believed the latter
statement was perfectly correct, and that an impor-
tation of corn was quite as likely to come from the
mouths of the Danube as from America. But, in
whatever quarter competition was likely to arise,
he trusted that the energy and talent which had
been aroused in the country would be sufficient at
all times to maintain the farmer in the prosperity
which he so well deserved. (Cheers.) With regard
to the utility of agricultural associations he believed
they must all acknowledge the benefit which the
Collingham Farmers' Club had conferred upon the
agriculture of the district. No doubt, great central
societies were necessary, and they were all indebted
to the Royal Society for the experiments which it
had made and the science which it had brought to
bear upon agriculture; but for all practical purposes
they must look to the local societies. lie had there-
fore great pl.easuro in proposing " Prosperity to the
Collingham Farmers' Chib." (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk amid great cheering, and
there were loud callsfor Mr. Chowler to respond.

Mr. CIIOWLER said he was delighted to see so
good an attendance at the dinner, as it convinced
him that the society was still prospering. There
were a few things connected with agriculture which
he thought deserved observation. In the first place
he thought the farmers were not in quite so flourish-
ing a condition as they were a year ago. That as-
:4-them might probably surprise many of them, as
the harvest in that neighbourhood had this year
been particularly good •, but there was a difference
of opinion as to its productiveness. He had thought
himself that there would have been a full average
produce this year, but he had heard some doubts
expressed whether the wheat would yield as much
as in former years ; and with regard to barley,
oats, and spring corn generally he believed there was
a great deficiency. Only a few days ago he received
a circular from a leading agriculturist in Lincoln-
shire which stated that the produce of wheat in that
district this year was one quarter of an acre less
than last year. Indeed, the farmers had already
been recommended in more than one quarter not to
sell at present, as there was a great prospect of the
wheat crop proving below an average. That was
certainly not his own opinion, but he simply gave
it as an opinion which had been expressedby others
who were likely to be well-informed upon the sub-
ject. Whether the price of money operated upon
the price of corn he was unable to say, but it was
quite certain that for the last 12 months there had
been nothing more than a consumptive demand.
There had not been that speculative demand which
generally had a tendency to raise prices. (Hear.)
Nevertheless, in spite of these drawbacks, he was
happy to say that the labourers, as a body, were
well employed, and generally speaking at fair
wages. They were certainly not working for less
than 2s. a-day. (Hear.) He had heard it emarked
a year ago that the farmers of England had always
been in the habit of treating their labourers as
mere machines. Now, he did not think that thess-
were open to such a reflection. On the contrary,
the Poor Law returns for last year showed that
though prices had been low, there had been a stead
decrease of poor rates throughout the agricultural'
districts, and a fearful increase in some of the manu-
facturing districts. (Hear.) Had the farmers treated
their men as machines they would certainly have
followed the example of the manufacturers and
stopped the machinery, leaving their workmen to
obtain relief from the parochial funds. Such, how-
ever, had not been the case, and he hoped it never
would.' The nature of agriculture was such that
the operations not only of the field, but of the stack-
yard must go regularly on, and the moment they
got in one crop they were obliged to prepare for
another. Not only had the position of the agricul-
tural labourers been advanced of late years, but
their habits had also become improved. 'their habi-
tations had been rendered more comfortable, andthe
people themselves were more cleanly and their fur-
niture and clothing much better. If any person
would contrast the state of the agricultural
labourers now with what it was .20 years ago, he
would see that there had been a remarkable im-
provement, and it would become manifest that, in-
stead of having been used simply as machines, they
had been looked upon as fellow-creatures. The

relations between master and servant were very dif-
ferent now to what they used to be. Many of the
servants were boarded out, and indirectly the mas-
ters were not so responsible as they formerly were.
He could not say that he altogether pproved of
that, and, though it had been said that the servants
were difficult to manage, perhaps the real reason
was that the masters and mistress s were not so
much among the servants themselves as they ought
to be. (Hear, hear.) Having made these observa-
tions concerning the agriculturists and their la-
bourers, there was one other subject which he
thought, as a practical farmer, he was bound to
notice, and that was an article which appeared in
the Times a short time ago, throwing ridicule upon
these agricultural associations and the prizes awarded
by them to labourers. The writer of the article seemed
to think that the farmers were taking upon them-
selves a province which did not belong to them ; that
in point of fact they were putting a moneyed value
upon virtue. He (Mr. Chowler) denied the charge
in toto. The farmers of England had originated
these societies for the purpose of rewarding their
servants, and -they had a right to reward their
dependents and servants in any way they chose.
However humble the money value might be, it was
in many cases much more acceptable to 'the reci-
pient than a medal would be, (Cheers.) During
the Crimean war he had seen soldiers paraded be-
fore her Majesty in great pomp, and then rewarded
with a medal. In point of fact, the advisers of her
Majesty seemed to have such a poor opinion of the
soldiers that they thought they could keep a medal
where they would waste any reward that might be
given in money. The farmers had no such opinion
of their dependents, but gave them money, which
was much more useful to them than a thing to look
at. (Laughter.) When a labourer received a money
reward, whether small or great, if he had exigen-
cies which required assistance, he could apply it
usefully, and he (Mr. Chowler) certainly thought
that that was by far the best mode the farmers could
adopt among themselves for rewarding integrity
and industry. (Cheers.) In three societies in that
neighbourhood, the Collingham, Grantham, and
Waltham societies, they gave away annually £ll6
2s. 6d. in money and X3O m cups. He would ask
any person of common sense whether that sum dis-
tributed among an industrious people was not wor-
thy of consideration. For his own part, he could
not conceive why any writer should say it was
valueless. They might be legion who wrote the
magic " we," but who or what they were, or what
their object was, he was at a loss to conceive.
(Laughter.) His own impression was that they
attacked these societies simply because they had
originated with the agriculturists. If they had ori-
ginated with the towns, probably they would have
been all right, but having originated with the coun-
try people it did seem to him that nothing suffi-
ciently stronr, could be said in their disparagement.
Captain IfAITENDEN next gave " The Health of
the Chairman." _ _

The CHAIRMAN, in responding, said he entirely
concurred in the observations which had fallen from
Mr. Chowler in reference to the value of these
societies. If the writers of the articles which had
been alluded to were in the habit attending agri-
cultural meetings, of seeing the manner in
which the men received the prizes awarded to
them, and the value they appeared to attach to the
cards and testimonials given to them, he believed
the public would not be troubled year after year
with the remarks which were made in disparage-
ment of agricultural societies. He was quite satis-
fied that the labourers received the prizes awarded
to them gratefully, that they valued them very-
highly, and that they considered them as testi-
monies of the goodwill which ought to exist between
the employer and employed. (Hear, hear.)
Several other toasts having been given, the pro-
ceedings terminated.

THE ATLANTIC _ROYAL MAIL STEAM
NAVIGATION COMPANY.

The Belfast Banner of Ulster contains a long
article on the establishment and future prospects of
this company, from which we extract the following:
" We feel assured we are correct in stating that
a Belfast gentleman, not less distinguished for his
commercial knowledge than for his successful enter-
prise as one of our leading manufacturers, was among
the first—if not the very first—to direct public
attention, in a practical and telling' manner, to
the peculiar advantages certain to result from the
selection of Galway as a packet station in an im-
proved communication between the United King-
dom and America.

"We must, of course; regard John Orrell Lever,
Esq., of Liverpool and Manchester, as at once the
father and pioneer of this great national enterprise.
To him it really owes its origin ; and to his public
spirit, commercial foresight, and ample capital,
judiciously employed in a new field, its immediate
and almost startling success must, with all the
honour which so noble a specimen of the British
' merchant prince' deserves, be attributed.
" We have the highest satisfaction in publishing
to-day, in the business department of our paper,
the prospectus of the ' Atlantic Royal Mail Steam
Navigation Company (Limited).' The proposed
capital is .£500,000, in 50,000 shares of £lO each ;
and we have no doubt whatever that within a rea-
sonable time the subscription list will be filled up,
and the shares at a premium. Belfast, if we know
its present tone and temper, is prepared to 'come
down' as becomes its position as the first mercantile
city of this country, and as likely to benefit more
largely than any other town in Ireland from the
advantages which the new route to the west will
ensure. The capitalists of other places in Ireland
who do not take rank below their rivals on the
other side of the Channel in uniting cash and
sense,' will be equally eager to become shareholders
—while the leading moneyed men of England and
Scotland, as well for their own interest as on public
grounds, will, we feel certain, come forward in a
cordial manner to aid in the advancement of the

project.
" We have, with some attention, made a scrutiny
of the directory and officers of the new company, and
find that, in all the requirements necessary to in-
spire confidence, the list is unexceptionable. We
find, at the head of the trustees, the Earl of Shrews-
bury, one of whose brothers is private secretary to
the Premier, and another (Viscount Ingestre) pri-
vate secretary to Lord Stanley. Among the direc-
tors we find the Right Hon. Viscount Bury, son of
the Earl of Albemarle, late commissioner on Indian
affairs in Canada; Sir P. H. Fleetwood; the cele-
brated Sir Allan Macnab, Prime Minister of Canada;
J. A. Roebuck, M.P. for Sheffield (not less distin-
guished in his sphere) ; T. Howard, Esq., Manches-
ter, one of England's millionaires ; G. P. Lascaridi,
Esq., London, head of an eminent Greek firm, who
are owners of lines of steamers to Malta, Constan-
tinople, and Odessa; and T. 0. Stack, Esq., of
Lloyd's, the leading underwriters. The general
manager is A. M. Weir:of London, a gentleman pos-
sessing extensive knowledge of European and Ame-
rican steam shipping affairs, brother to the Hon.
Mr. Weir, of Halifax, N.S. The brokers are Messrs.
Cazenove and Co., Threadneedle-street, London, the
most extensive brokers in the world.

" The mere incontrovertible fact that the voyages
of the Lever line have been materially shorter than
those of the Government mail steamers known as
the Ctinard, and even considerably shorter than
the United States mail line, the Collins, is sufficient
to prove the advantage of the Galway route. By
this line, undoubtedly, the Transatlantic mails will
crc long be transmitted. Economy, convenience, and
the requirements of trade, will force such an ar-
rangement upon the Government. The conveyance
of the American mails, both to the United States
and the British colonies, has hitherto been per-
formed at a figure from which the Annrieans them-
selves in the case of the Collins line of mail steamers,
shrank back, and let their pet steamers go to the
hammer. By the arrangements of the company the
Transatlantic mails, including the United States, the
Canadas, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Prussia,Vancott
Vancouver's
Island,
lednCalifornia,e, ann
Ndewefnomunak, yieldingdrlan £900,000d, w
Belgium, Sweden,
per annum—could be carried by this company for
half the sum, which would pay the expenses of a
weekly line to America, without reference to pas-
sengers and goods at all.
probablyc
ablew eyieldrwere
in
" Galway has now a telegraphic communication
with all parts of Europe which w ll
30,000 a year. If the. Transatlantic
proper working order it would increase the postal
intercourse between the United Kingdom and A me-
rica sixfold, thereby rendering necessary more
speedy communication by steamers. By adopting
the Galway route an immense amount of loss in
property and human life will be annually avoided.
The official records show that in the Channel navi-
gation upwards of 1,000 lives and over 500 ships are
lost annually.
" A connection has been formed between this
company and the American Express Company,'
which have their central office in New York, and
800 stations in the western continent. This junc-
tion gives them the greatest facilities for transmit-
ting passengers and merchandise between Europe
and all parts—even the most remote—of America,
including the new gold fields of British Columbia.
We hail the present visit of Mr. Lever to Bel-
fast as an omen of increased prosperity, not only to
Galway and the northern metropolis, but to the
kingdom at large. Imperfect as our railway com-
munication with the far west of Ireland is, we have
already found our advantage in sending our staple
products across the land to that point for tranship-
ment to our Anierican consignees."

SUICIDE OF A CAPTAIN-WRECK OF
THE BARQUE HENRY PORCHER.

John Calder, late boatswain of the above vessel,
narrated, as follows, the suicide of his superior
officer (the master), and the subsequent wreck of the
barque, while on the voyage from Quebec for
Grangemouth, with a cargo of timber :
" I cannot remember the day the ship left Quebec,
but the ship brought up in the river 10 miles below
Quebec on the 27th August, where she remained
anchored five days, during which time the captain
went on shore every day, and returned the worse
for drink. One night he remainedon shore, and on
coming on board the following morning he was ex-
cited and his face was cut. The pilot left the ship
on the Bth of September. I heard the captain say
to him either to mind the money or to get the money.
After the pilot left and we had got to sea, the cap-
tain shot himself. Hearing the report of firearms,
I and the mate ran to the cabin, but on trying the
door we found it locked, but after knocking some
time it was opened by the captain, whom we found
bleeding from a wound in the breast. He had shot
himself with a revolver. The mate asked him what
he had done it for. The only answer he made was
that he had done it, and would do it again, for
what he had done. He added, there was no
remedy for him, and he knew he must die. Two
men were placed in the cabin to watch him ; he
died about six o'clock the following morning.
Twelve hours afterwards we committed his body to
the deep. Nothing particular occurred till we came
off Cape Wrath, when one of the crew fell over-
board off the foreyard, but we succeeded in picking
him up. We bore down for Thurso Bay amidst
very thick weather, rain, and blowing hard. The
ship was brought up off Littlehead, where she had
not rode long before the chain snapped. We let
got the anchor and brought her up, the wind still
blowing hard. The weather at night moderated,
.
and we got the other anchor and shifted maintop-
sail and mainsail, on account of the other ones
being split. Next morning a gale from N.E. ; let
go the other anchor. While we were in the act
of sending down royal and topgallant yards, the
starboard chain parted. All hands
.were called
down from aloft, when the other chain parted, and
the ship drove on shore. In the course of an hour
afterwards a line was thrown from the shore, and
by means of a cradle we were (15 in number) all
landed safely." Respecting the state of mind the
captain was in at the time of his committing sui-
cide, the steward, James Carlaw, has made a depo-
sition to the following effect :—" One night the
captain, on coming on board in liquor, said one had
given him a glass, and another had, and he thought
he was ' fashed with the blues.' He several times
took me to the ship's lockers, where the bread was
kept, and asked whether I heard the noise. There
was none that I could hear. He answered there
was—that the sailmaker was fighting with the blues.
I thoroughly believe that the captain was mad
when he shot himself. He had declared he would
destroy himself. The act was done on Sunday
night, the 12th of September."