The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-08 00:00:00

ex

471

Middlesex Agricultural Society.

The thirtieth annual meeting of this society was held
yesterday on the farm of Mr. Francis Sherborn, of Bedfont,
near Feltham. The society has been specially established.
for the encouragement of good ploughing and other agri.
cultural improvements, and for giving rewards to servants
for good conduct and long service ; and the proceedings
yesterday were conducted with a view to the promotion of
both these objects. A considerable number of ploughs
were kept busy throughout the morning, and many rewards
were presented to the best men, whose work was, we be-
lieve, very admirably performed. ; while similar marks of
encouragement and approval were given to old and well-
conducted male and female farm labourers and servants.
Major-General Wool), of Littleton Park, distributed the
prizes, and afterwards addrewed a few kind words to the
successful competitors. He reminded the mon that the
steady and faithful discharge. of duty was the surest road
to happiness, and he wished the younger and unmarried
portion of the women good husbands, such as he was sure
they all amply merited. (Laughter.) This portion of the
business of the day closed with cheers for the Queen and
for General Wood.

The labourers afterwards dined together in a tent erected
on the ground, and the gentlemen partook of a luncheon
under similar shelter. GenersLl Wood presided at the latter
entertainment, and was supported by Mr. James Mont-
gomery, J.P., the Rev. C. La ird,-of Harrow ; the Rev. Mrs
Lebas, of Bedfont ; Mr. F. 3: herborn, the treasurer of the,
society, and a number of the, other friends of the association;
but the company was loss nu/ serous than on many previous
occasions, and comprised more limited portion of tho
leading landed gentry of ato county.
At the conclusion of theLp ncheon the usual loyal and con-
stitutional toasts wore given from the chair,. and cordiallx
honoured by the company.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the evening,
expressed his regret at the diminished support which the
society had of late year sobtained. He believed, however, that
they had in their day iperformed much valuable work, and
he did not despair of rseeing the career of their usefulness
still continued. He was aware that all persons engaged in,
agricultural pursuits in this country had for some time suf•
fared a certain amour It of inconvenience from the scarcity
and the consequent.d 3arness of labour. But they could not
regard that circurnsta Taco as an unmixed evil, becattse it must
be the result of a gro wing prosperity among the great mass
of our population, and i it was impossible that the agricultural
body should not, through the increased demand for all kinds
of articles of consumption, have indirectly, but still largely,
participated in that blessing. (Hear, hear.) He beggedleave
to give them the toast of —" Prosperity to the Middlesex
Agricultural Society," and with that toast he would couple
the name of the excellent chairman of their committee, Mr.
Robert Stevens. (Cheers.)
Mr. R. STEVENS briefly acknowledged the compliment.
" The Health of the Chairman" was afterwards proposed
by theßev. C. Laird, and the gallant officer, in responding to
the toast, observed that he hail himself taken care to get the
best men he could procure for the performance of his harvest
work, and to pay them a good' price for their labour. The
result was, that he had got in. his corn without a drop of
rain, and he had since sold bis barley for 465. a quarter,
(Hear, hear,) He had to pay for that, but he believed that
he had obtained a fair return. for his outlay. (Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Health of their
Secretary, Mr. F. Sherborn,"rand the gentleman, in return-
ing thanks for the compliment, expressed his belief that it
would be idle to prolong the 'existence of the society if they
did not receive a larger amount of countenance and encou-
ragement than they had done during the last year from the
gentry and the labouring population of the district, and
more especially from the me eaters of their committee. Their
receipts for the past 12 months had amounted to £297; and
their expenditure to .E 296, and they had £2OO in the funds;
so that it was not mere money they wanted. But if their
proceedings did not create a. greater amount of interest than
had of late been observable amono the agriculturists of the
county he should feel compelled to consider that they had
outlived the period of their usefulness. (Hear, hear.)
A few other toasts of a formal character followed, and
the proceedings of the day terminated.