The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-16 00:00:00

my hon. and learned friend's speech almost made
me afraid to say even one word about farming. My
hon. friend said 'that a farmer would require a
knowledge of chemistry, mechanics, and various
other sciences ; so that I fully expected, when
another farm became vacant, to see a competitive
examination of the proposing tenants. !(Laughter.)
I mentioned the matter to a practical farmer, and
asked him whether he thought a knowledge of
mechanics and chemistry was necessary. He said
he thought there was one thing more necessary, and
that was " capital." (Laughter.) After again
thanking the company, the hon. and gallant gene-
ral resumed his seat amid loud cheers.

Mr. T. MIRING, in returning thanks, said,—My
right hon. and gallant friend proclaims that he
knows nothing, but he gives most satisfactory evi-
dence that he understands the subjects on which he
had been talking, as he always does understand
everything on which he ventures to give an opinion.
(Hear, hear.) lam not going to touch on politics.
I dare not touch on agriculture, for, as one who
has everything to learn, but does not pretend to
teach anything on this subject, it would be ridi-
culous in me to discuss it. There is, however,
one point on which we may all offer our con-
gratulations, and that is that the harvest is an
abundant one. In Scotland and Ireland I am afraid
the returns are not so good, but the harvest in this
country is one which must be cheering to the
farmer, after last year, as it will enable us to keep
up the position which England has so long main-
tained in agriculture. There is another matter for
congratulation—that whatever may be the changes
which this country has to encounter—whether from
Providential dispensation or legislative enactments
—there is an energy in the people which enables
them to surmount difficulties; there is an aptness
to accommodate themselves to altered circumstances,
which enables them to push on the country in its li
career of power and prosperity. (Cheers.) If you
look to the past—if you look to the changes forced
upon the people by legislation—if you look to the
application of science and machinery in commerce
and agriculture—you will see that there is an energy
in the people of this country which enables them to
triumph over every trial. (Cheers.) We all know
the stereotyped form of expressing that energy.
You have all heard of the "elasticity of the resources
of the country." (Laughter, and hear, hoar.) It is a
phrase made use of by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. In times of monetary difficulty, or when
an increase of taxation is necessary, you find the
Chancellor of the Exchequer saying that he relies on
the elasticity of the resources of the country. 'What
is that elasticity ? It is that characteristic of
Englishmen which enables them under any altered
circumstances to retrieve lost ground and still ad-
vance their country in that forward course of pros-
, perity in which she has for so many centuries been
proceeding. (Hear, hear.) That it is which makes
the resources of this country elastic; and I am
sure that not only in the competition in which 1
am most interested—not only in the competition of
commerce and manufactures, but also in that of
agriculture, the elasticity of our resources affords
us two securities. First, a security against foreign
invasion or foreign interference of any kind ; and
next, a security against our property being jeopar-
dised by unjust legislation. Looking at the present
aspect of affairs, I think there is a career of con-
tinued and increasing prosperity opened to those
engaged in agriculture, which I do not say will
surpass, but will certainly equal that which they
have enjoyed during the last ten years. (Hear.)
In the course of some of the observations which
have been addressed to you this evening, allusion
has been made to the diminution in the number of
agricultural labourers. I think that that has been,
in some measure, produced by economy of produc-
tion ; but I am of opinion that by the application
of machinery—by the application of steam—by
such economy of labour as that—agriculture has
not suffered while manufacture has gained. (Hear,
hear.) We are now so situated in this country
that manufacture depends very much upon agricul-
tural prosperity ; and, on the other hand, agricul-
ture is so much concerned in the success of manufac-
ture that anything which tends to suspend labour
in towns, or decrease the earnings of the operatives
engaged in manufactures, must have an injurious
tendency in the rural districts. (Hear, hear.) I
have taken the liberty of saying so much on our
general prospects, because I could say nothing
about agricultural science, much less teach you
anything about it, and I have wished to avoid every
topic which might in any way tend to disturb the
harmony of the meeting. (Hear, hear.) By the
manner in which you drank the health of
the borough members, you increase the value of the
compliment each year, and I feel more and more
how impossible it is to thank you adequately for
your kindness. (Cheers.)
A number of other toasts having been drunk, the
company separated.