The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-24 00:00:00

HAY.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow bay, £4 4s to £5 lOs; clover,
£5 5s to £6 lOs Od ; and straw, £2 Os to £2 Gs per load,
A fair demand.

CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 12s Od; clover,
£5 Ss to £6 114 Od; and straw, £2 Os to £2 6s per load
Supply moderate.

WHITECILAPEL.—Iteadow hay, £4 4s to .£5 12s ; clover,
£5 5s to £6 10s Od ; and straw, £2 Os to £2 6s per load.
Trad© inactive.

COAL MARKET.
Price per ton at the close of the market.

--------
Walls End Hetton ... 18 6 Holywell Main l7 6
Hastings Hartley
Brancepeth Cannel ... 17 6 South Kelloe
18 3
Caradoc lB 0 Walls End Gosforth 16 3
Braddyell's Hetton l7 6 Eden Main
Ships at market, 40; sold, 28.

Liverpool Cotton .51ari---im-This Da

The market opens very heavy at falling prices.
Sales probably 4,000 or 5,000 bales.

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution

The sixth annual festival in aid of the funds of
this institution, which was established for the pur-
pose of affording relief to decay ed farmers, their
widows and orphans, was celebrated by a dinner,
which took place yesterday evening. In the
absence of Sir Edward T. Kerrison, who was
to have taken the chair, but was prevented from
doing so by illness, the office of president was kindly
undertaken by Earl Cowper. Among the company
present were Alderman Mechi, Mr. J. Howard, Mr.
H. Corbet, Mr. J. Baldwin, Mr. J. Clayden, &c.
After dinner, the customary loyal and patriotic
toasts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " Prosperity- to the
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution." Hav-
ing expressed his regret for the absence of Sir Ed-
ward Kerrison, the noble chairman stated that the
purpose for which they had assembled was not merely
that they should make merry together, but that
they should endeavour to spread abroad the objects
of the institution with the view of increasing their
annual revenue. Farmers were often spoken of as a
grumbling race, but he had always found them
exceedingly good-humoured, industrious, and per-
severing men, always generous as opponents, and
ever warm and faithful friends. (Hear.) Anything
that would tend to the benefit of such a class was, in
his opinion, well worthy of public notice, and he
only wondered, when he considered the objects with
which the institution was founded, and the fact that
most other bodies had long been possessed of insti-
tutions of a similar character, that the agriculturists
had not established their benevolent association
many years ago. (llear.) A farmer's life, though
very pleasant, was not a very lucrative one—(hear)
—and it was a distressing thing to see men who
who had occupied a good position, who had farmed
a great many acres of laud, and employed a large
amount of labour, reduced to a state of comparative
poverty. He thought, therefore, that that society;
which would afford relief to men belonging to this
class without wounding their feelings in any way,
well deserved the support of the public. (Cheers.)
The secretary of the association, Mr. C. Shaw,
read a list of subscriptions and donations amount-
ing to £3,563.

Mr. Alderman MECHI proposed the health of the
chairman, which was received with loud cheers.
The CHAIR3IAN then proposed the health of Lord
Spencer and the Executive Council, coupling with
the toast the name of Mr. Shackel.
Mr. &I/10UL briefly responded.
The remaining toasts were « The Stewards" and
" The Ladies."