The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-24 00:00:00

A well-attended meeting of the Wayland Agri-
cultural Society, an association formed in the south-
west of Norfolk, was held last evening at Watton.
Lord Walsingham presided at the dinner, and was
supported by the Duke of Wellington, Sir R. J.
Buxton (who recently contested Bury St. Edmund's
in the Conservative interest), Mr. Brampton Gur-
don, M.P., the Hon. B. N. 0. De-Grey, the Rev.
Canon Parker, and about 100 other gentlemen.
Mr. Bentinck, M.P., Mr. Gurdon's colleague in the
representation of West Norfolk, was unavoidably
absent.
The usual loyal and complimentary toasts having
been given,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army and
Navy." His lordship observed that great diffi-
culty was sometimes experienced at such
meetings in finding gentlemento respond
to this toast ; but he was now in a position to couple
with it the name of a nobleman who had recently
come to reside in Norfolk, and who, he was sure,
would be welcomed with the utmost cordiality.
The son of the illustrious Wellington, that greatest
of British heroes—(cheers)—needed no introduc-
tion. With reference to the formation of volunteer
corps, he (Lord Walsingham) believed the necessity
for them was not quite so urgent at the present
moment as it appeared to be some time since ; but
he was quite sure that, if England ever should be
seriously threatened with invasion, the people of
England—and especially the men of Norfolk—
would not be willing to depart one jot from that
glorious and high position which was earned for
them by the great Duke of Wellington and the im-
mortal Nelson. (Cheers.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON, on rising to respond
to the toast, was warmly applauded. His grace re-
marked that he would not use the hackneyed ex-
pression that the Army and Navy of England would
always do their duty, because during the last few
days an instance had been afforded of its perform-
ance. Never had greater heroism been displayed
than in the expedition up the Peiho. He could
not, however, but regret that such a decided pre-
judice prevailed, particularly in the agricultural
class, against service in the Armfand Navy. If a
villager turned out a poacher, his friends no doubt
regretted it; but if he " went for a soldier" the
family distress was enormous. It was not generally
known, he believed, that the naval and military
services were not now what they used to be. The
period of enlistment in the Army was now only for
10 years, and during that decade a man's time was
much better spent than it would be either at home
or in his village. He had opportunities for learn-
ing a great deal, and a grateful country was only too
anxious to do everything for his benefit. With re-
gard to the volunteer rifle corps, he might, perhaps,
as an inhabitant of the county, be allowed to say a
few words. He had the honour to command
the corps, called the Victoria Rifles, and he
thought they had committed an error in making
themselves too numerous. They had also a
fine uniform, and the consequence was that they
were always desirous to show it off—(a laugh)—
and to become officers. A volunteer corps should
not, under any circumstances, comprise more than
100 men ; but that number acting as a company,
and in subordination to the regular troops, might
be of the greatest utility. (Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Members for the

County."
The Duke of WELLINGTON proposed the health
of the Chairman, whose friendship, he said, he had
gained at school.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the compli-
ment, said he believed Eton boys, wherever they
met, were always friends. At a subsequent period
of the evening the noble lord touched upon the pro-
gress made with regard to steam-ploughing, and
added that he felt confident that the time would
also come when country labourers would be able to
sit down to a dinner of meat every day. This was
an improvement in their social condition which be
was very anxious to witness, and he believed that
in this part of Norfolk the labouring classes now
ate a great deal more meat than they consumed 10
or 15 years ago.
The other speeches delivered during the evening
presented no features of general interest.