The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-05 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL MEETING'S.

SOMERSET.

The annual meeting of the Martock Agricultural
Association was held on Thursday last, and was the
most successful gathering that has taken place since
the formation of the society. After the morning's
ploughing match, for which 26 ploughs competed,
the members and friends of the association dined at
the White Hart Hotel, where prizes were distri-
buted to the best ploughmen and to deserving
labourers. Mr. J. Gundry presided, and there were
about 70 guests present.

MONMOUTHSHIRE.

ABERGAVENNY, Nov. 4.

Yesterday the annual meeting of the Aber-
gavenny Agricultural Society took place here and
was highly successful. The competition for the
numerous prizes given for cattle, horses, sheep, and
pigs was vigorous and close, and the great im-
provement which has taken place in Monmouthshire
farming (and which is mainly attributed to the
operation of the local societies) was everywhere ap-
parent. The cattle were all in good condition, but
none fat, and their owners relied upon breed and
constitution for merit instead of weight of meat.
About 100 gentlemen sat down to dinner at the
Angel Hotel in the afternoon, under the presidency
of Mr. J. A. Herbert, of Llanaeth, the vice-chair
being occupied by Mr. John Maund, High Sheriff
of Breconshire. Among those present were the
Right Hon. Lord Llanover, Mr. Octavius Morgan,
M.P., Colonel Clifford, M.P., Mr. W. Jones, Clytha ;
Mr. W. Manning, Coldbrook-park ; Major Stret-
ton, Brynderwen ; Major Herbert, Llansaintfread ;
Rev. J. Pigott, Llanoapley ; Mr. J. Davies, the
Garth, &c.
The usual loyal and constitutional toasts were
proposed, with the exception of " the bishop and
clergy," which was omitted.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " the Army and
Navy," hoped they would always, as hitherto, be
victorious in every conflict in which they might be
engaged. (Cheers.)
Colonel CLIFFORD, M.P., was called upon to re-
spond. He felt justified in saying that the two
services fully deserved every compliment that could
be paid to them. No country owed more to its
army and navy or had been better served by them
than this country, and what had been done before
could be done again. There was not a deed we
read of in history which excited our admiration
and astonishment in past times that would not
be equalled and surpassed in the present day
if the same occasion were to arise. (Cheers.)
They might have heard of a gallant Welsh-
man, who lived not far from Abergavenny,
being sent out by his Sovereign to reconnoitre
a very large French army; on his return he
said, "My liege, there are enough to be killed,
enough to be taken prisoners, and enough to
run away." The result justified his statement, for
the French army was entirely annihilated. He did
not wish to mention the French or any army in par-
ticular, but if a foreign army were on our soil again,
he had no doubt there were plenty of officers and
men who would entertain just the same feeling,
though they might not express it so quaintly, that
the conduct of every one would be the same as on
that occasion and the result the same. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Health of the
Lord• Lieutenant of the County," who was himself
a distinguished farmer.

Colonel CLIFFORD apologised for so soon appear-
ing before them, but said the last time was unex-
pectedly, whereas now he had permission to propose
a toast which the chairman could not with propriety
offer. It was the health of a distinguished member
of society—a nobleman who was present, and whom
they were all glad to see present. (Cheers.) He
felt in considerable difficulties, because it was not
very easy, nor very pleasant, to enlarge upon the
merits of an individual in his own presence. He
should say no more than what truth and justice
almost compelled him to say on the subject. In
losing Lord Llanover the House of Commons felt
that they lost one of their most useful and dis-
tinguished members—(cheers)—and the largest con-
stituency in England, that of Marylebone, had long
to seek before they could find anybody who would
even ventre to come forward and attempt to fill the
place he :had filled for so many years with such
honour to himself and utility to the country. The
city of London regretted that it had not at this
moment the services of one whose practical know-
ledge and habits of business had made everything
in his department so agreeable and pleasant for
all who dwelt in or visited London. On the
other hand, the higher branch of the Legisla-
ture, the House of Lords, gained a most useful
practical statesman ; and they, the local men,
gained the advantage of having among them one,
from his high position in society, his practical
knowledge, and his intellectual powers, was likely
to be one of the most useful agriculturists as well
as one of the most useful country gentlemen they
could find. Without dwelling longer on the toast,
he would give them " The health of Lord Llanover."
(Applause.)
Lord LLANOVER, in reply said,—Mr. Chairman
and gentlemen, when I had the pleasure of visiting
you two years ago, and of filling the chair now
occupied by my friend and son-in-law, you did me
the honour to pay me a compliment similar to that
which I have now received at your hands. Upon
that occasion I thanked you, as I do now,
most sincerely, for the honour you did me,
and I can only now make use of perhaps
the same expressions of gratitude, because the
same feeling of gratitude exists within me.
But this I can assure you, that if I can be of ser-
vice to your institution—if I can promote your in-
terests in any way that lies in my power, you have
only to command my services, and they will be
freely and most happily rendered. (Cheers.) My
hon. friend who proposed my health has alluded
slightly to the public position which I have recently
occupied. A great many agricultural meetings have
been held of late, and I have read many of the
speeches which have been made by public men
and members of Parliament. I have observed that
at the commencement of the speeches the sentiment
always was that they should never touch upon po-
litical subjects. but that immediately after they
had uttered those sentiments they talked of the
virtues of one Administration and the shortcomings
of another, and entered largely into political
subjects, which they professed not to discuss.
(Laughter.) Now, when I filled the chair, 1 studiously
avoided all those topics, and I wish to do so now.
We are met for one common purpose—to discuss agri-
cultural in atters,and I will throw no apple of discord
among you. We will confine ourselves to agricul-
tural subjects, and to that conviviality which pre-
vailed among us two years ago, and which I hope
we shall enjoy on many future occasions. (Cheers.)
Having said thus much by way of thanking you for
the honour you hare done me, I shall have great
pleasure in proposing to you a toast which has been
committed to me by those who have charge of the
proceedings of this day. It is one in which you
will all cordially join, because our sentiments are
the same, and the proof of that unanimity of senti-
ment is found in the fact of our being assembled
here this evening. The toast is "Prosperity to
the Abergavenny Agricultural Association."
(Applause.) I am happy to think that as years
roll on we go on and prosper. When I was
here two years ago I said I hoped to be hero in
the year that has passed, but in consequence of
my being on the Continent it was impossible for me
to do so. lam come back to you again to fill my
promise of being here at the first opportunity, and
I am glad th find that, so far from our institution
having deteriorated, and so far from there being any
lukewarmness •n the part of the agriculturists of
the neighbourhood, we assemble in greater numbers
than before, and the number of names entered as
competitors for the various prizes given to-day, in-
cluding duplicates, is 202. That is a satisfactory
state of things, and may lead us on to prosper still
more, and unite for the object we have in view.
The show of stock was good to-day, and the show
of implements was great. Go where you will in
this neighbourhood now, and you see agriculture
improving and agriculturists prospering; and these
institutions are of great and real value to the pub-
lic. We may see how they are flourishing by look-
ing at the returns made by the Royal. Agricul-
tural Society of England. I was looking over some
papers a few days ago, and I find that an agricul-
tural meeting was held in the year 1846; at that
moment we were told that the agricultural interest
was going to the care of that gentleman whom it
would be improper to name. (Laughter.) In that
year there were about 700 implements exhibited at
the Royal Agricultural Society's show, while last
year, at Chester, there were 3,500. And as the
great society of the country goes on prospering, so
we, in oar lesser sphere, and in a minor degree, go on
prospering in the town and neighbourhood of Aber-
gavenny. If I refer to this subject now, and draw
your attention to the exhibition of implements to-
day, which was most encouraging, it is to point out
that when men were thrown upon their resources,
in consequence of what took place in the year to
which I have referred, their minds were set to work
for the purpose of meeting any evils, whether real
or imaginary, which surrounded them, and now we
find in the neighbourhood of Abergavenny one of
the most useful manufactories that any agricul-
turist can have, a manufactory for manure, which is
widely and largely used in agricultural pursuits, and
I am proud to say that, although I, have tried
manures from different parts of the country, I have
found none better than I can find in the immediate
neighbourhood of this town. (Cheers.) There are a
good many more subjects connected with agricul-
ture ; but you have often heard my voice, and per-
haps if you find I can promote your interests you
will allow me the honour of again addressing you