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

OXFORDSHIRE.
The annual meeting of the Watlington Farmers'
Association, having for its object the encourage-
ment of industrious agricultural labourers, took
place on Wednesday last. The anniversary dinner
took place in the evening at the Hare and Hounds
Inn, under the presidency of the Rev. C. E. R.
Keene, who was supported by the three members
for the county of Oxford—Mr. Henley, Mr. Har-
court, and Colonel North—and a large number of
the gentry and farmers of the neighbourhood.
The cloth having been withdrawn, and the usual
loyal toasts disposed of,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The County Mem-
bers," and observed that it would be one of the
greatest calamities which could befall this kingdom
when gentlemen of high honour and integrity, with
a large stake in the country, no longer regarded a
seat in Parliament as an object of ambition. There
was a desire peculiar to the Anglo-Saxon race to be
employed ; every man felt an equal interest in the
well-being of his country, and a wish to take his
part in promoting its welfare. He felt assured that
that feeling prompted the present representatives
for this county, and that, asMr. Henley had already
done, they would sacrifice anything rather than
their principles. (Cheers.)
Mr. HENLEY, in returning thanks, alluded to
what had fallen from the chairman with reference
to the labours and sacrifices required of a member
of Parliament, and remarked that he had forgotten
one most important consideration, which sustained
men in the most arduous tasks—namely, the trust
and confidence which they had received at the
hands of their constituency, who, not in any cap-
tions spirit, canvassed their acts ; but they received
at the hands of the great body of the people that
cordial support, trust, and confidence which enabled
them to overcome obstacles, however difficult, and
encouraged them to stand fast, because they knew
and felt that those who intrusted their interests to
their hands would stand by them as long as they
acted honestly and faithfully. (Cheers.) Without
that confidence the honour of representing them in
Parliament would never have been sought by him.
He had experienced for many years the confidence
of the constituency of this county, and he did not
hesitate to say that he regarded it as a high honour
to have that trust and confidence, and it was a plea-
sure—nay, more, an honour, to come among those
by whom they were so well received. He was glad
to be able to congratulate them on the continued
success of that society. Some few, perhaps not
many, might remember the time when there was
only one society of this kind in the county. That
society, however, still existed. Its numbers re-
mained the same, and, although its sphere of use-
fulness was more contracted now than formerly, it
had not fallen off. He believed, however, that no
less than five new societies had grown around it,
for, in addition to the Watlington Association,
there were now others at Thame, Chipping Norton,
Banbury, and Woodstock. That alone was no
small proof that in the estimation of the general
mass of the people these societies had a tendency
to do good. No one could doubt that even the small
amount distributed as prizes must have the effect of
encouraging agricultural labourers to perform their
work in the best manner, and that must be a
great advantage to the public generally, and to their
masters in particular. About a week ago he (Mr.
Henley) attended a similar meeting at Thame, when
he was enabled to congratulate them on the peace
and tranquillity whicb. prevailed ; but he regretted
to say that since that meeting a very unfortunate
affair had taken place in the East, an affair which
had rarely happened to this country, for one-half
our vessels engaged in the action were sunk or dis-
abled, and one-third of our force killed or wounded,
and all that disaster occurred while our Ambassa-
dor was on his way to complete a treaty that had
been entered into, but which was violated in such
a way that we were repulsed, with all the mortifica-
tion attached to it. He thought it an unfortunate
circumstance for this country that within the last
few years three great fights had taken place be-
tween this country and the Chinese. When they
saw the great improvement which the Chinese had
made on the second occasion, when they fought
something like a fight, and how much they were
improved on the last occasion, when they gave us a
severe dressing, it must be a matter of great anx-
iety to find a foe that we have to encounter so far
advanced in the system of warfare and of self-de-
fence. There was, however, one matter of congra-
tulation—namely, that this country would not go
into this war single-handed, but would have a
powerful ally. They had already experienced in a
great war the loyalty and fidelity of the two Go-
vernments of France and England, and the ex-
tremely good management of the officers had pre-
vented any of those jealousies which history had
pointed out as having occurred with allies. He (Mr.
Henley) was one of those who thought that when a
eountry was at war it was a good thing to have allies,
but that it was:the safest to fight the battle for our-
selves, and for our allies to fight the battle for them-
selves. He trusted that in going into this quarrel
they should get out of it as good friends as when
they went into it, and that they might attain their
ends without any jealousy ; because, great as the
present evil was, if there were any Jealousy be-
tween France and England, that would be a far
greater evil. In making these remarks he hoped
he had not departed from the rule laid down in this
society, but these were matters in which they all
felt a common interest.
Mr. HARCOURT, M.P., in returning thanks, said
Watlington had been in past years the centre of a
considerable amount of excitement on the question
of the prohibition of foreign produce, and an opinion
had been expressed regarding his conduct on that
question which was totally unfounded in fact—an
opinion which could not have prevailed if those
who entertained it had known anything of his
Parliamentary conduct during the long period he
had been connected with the subject. The truth
was, that there was no man now in Parliament who
had given a more undeviating support to those laws
which were intended to be useful to agriculture.
That was a topic which he should not have been
afraid to discuss with those who entertained a
different opinion if it were consistent with the rules
which generally regulated the discussions and
speeches at that and meetings of a similar charac-
ter. Objection was made to the discussion of poli-
tical subjects at such gatherings as that, but he was
happy to find that there had lately been an enlarge-
ment of that rule. He (Mr. Harcourt) was pre-
vented from attending the dinner which took place
at Banbury last year, but he read the speeches
which were delivered there, and he found that his
right hon. friend (Mr. Henley) entered at some
length upon the discussion of political topics. He
spoke of the reform of Parliament. He said he
hoped the Government to which he belonged might
be able to introduce a bill to amend the representa-
tion of the people which would be satisfactory to
all parties. He (Mr. Harcourt) had no doubt that
his right hon. friend, Mr. Henley, if he had intro-
duced a Reform Bill, would have introduced one
that would have been more consistent with his
own views and with the constitution of the country,
as well as the large majority of the people of that
country, than that which was introduced by the
Government of Lord Derby. (Cheers.) Lord
Derby's Ministry, however, brought forward a
measure which his right hon. friend (Mr. Henley)
and his eminent colleague the Secretary of State
lMr. Walpole) would not give their assent to, and
ike men of honour and feeling they retired from
office. (Cheers.) Mr. Henley had again alluded to
the question of reform, in which he appeared to
have little confidence. He (Mr. Harcourt) did not
wonder at that, because the measure introduced by
Lord Derby's Ministry made great concessions to
the public feeling, which a large majority of the
people of this country might have approved, but
which were difficult to realise. He alluded to the
proposed reduction of the franchise to occupiers of
eounties from £5O to £lO. He (Mr. Har-
One.i had long been of opinion that a reduction
ough to be made, bnt he was one of those who re-
fused to pledge himself to vote for what was called
'3the Bill, the
at
Bill, and nothing but the
Bill," althoug t
thatoi time he had every prospect
that in consequence
adopting the course he did
he would not be elected.
It enabled him, however,
to support the cause of the tenant farmers, and give
them the right of voting. (Cheers.) He l
was ofd
though he was not disposed to p
so l
nion that the franchise ought
to beoowwere
He had not voted for that franchise, but he felt at
perfect liberty to take what
h course he thought pro-
per upon that subject.
( f (Cheers.) s. ) Mr. Henley had
given them a definition of Conservatism. lt would
be remembered that the Governmeat of -which his
right hon. friend was a member was blamed for in-
troducing measures of too liberal a charracter, but the
definition which had been given by M. Henley h
struck him as peculiarly. applicable to himself,
because there were men in the county who had
given him their support as a Liberal, and he
believed, according to Mr. Henley's defini-
tion of Conservatism, that there was no mail
in the county who was more entitled than he was
to the support of Conservatives. (Cheers and
laughter.) But, following the example of his right
hon. friend, Mr. Henley, and his gallant colleague,
Col. North, he hoped he might be permitted to say
ghat from his first entrance into Parliament no
question had been brought forward having for its
object the advancement of the agricultural interest
in which he had not taken part. There had been
no vote given by Lord Derby with that object in
'view in which he (Mr. Harcourt) had not taken
17,:er ; indeed, he might say that if there was a vote
wpach he had given in the course of his Parlia-
Jnentarl life, extending over a period of 50 years,
04£ whic he had reason to repent, it was a vote in-