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

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 bad 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 caused so small a diminution of
the prosperity of the country. About 300,000 head
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 wa3 in former times so
often visited? Ile 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 is
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 spent by 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.

AGRICUL7'URE AND POLI7ICS 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, M.P., Sir
Charles Russell, M.P., Colonel Loyd Lindsay, M.P.,
Mr. R. BEny on, M.P., the Bev. J. C.lClutterbuck,
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 " 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 upou which that regiment was
about to be employed was one of so discreditable a
description, for he was quite sure that all who had
read the accounts 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 be
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 wou'd 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 avas very little
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 ironclads, 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 clients.)
CoLaiel LOYD LINDSAY, M.P., also responded on
hzlialf of the volunters.

The Cu mustAN next gave the hcalth of the county
meinh,rs.

Mr. BExYON, M.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 u 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 'orm, and that