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

feeling ever will arise if proper precaution betaken to
prevent mistake ;but a sense of disappointment would
be engendered in the minds of our so' 'iers if they
thought that their services were about t be dispensed
with on account of the Volunteers, and 1 he Volunteers
themselves would be equally displeas .Indeed I have
been told that many of them have aid they would
retire from the movement if it were to have such an
effect. There is no doubt of this, that if it were not
for the Volunteers a larger standing army, and as a
consequence a greater expenditure would be re-
quired. In that way the country is much indebted
to the Volunteers ; but the strength of the regular
army must always be depended on for distant gar-
risons and foreign service. A large number of our
troops must be kept in distant places, and a large
number must be kept up at home with a view of
relieving them. Ido not know any more, than
any other gentleman here what may be the inten-
tion of the Government ; but I say it is probable
that some reduction may be necessary in order to
bring down the army establishment to the number
voted by Parliament. At the commencement of the
present financial year there were 15,000 more men
in Inaia than there were on the Indian establish-
ment. So long as they remained there they were
paid by the Indian Government; but I, for one,
always knew that when they did not require those
troops the Indian Government would send them
home. (Hear.) lam sure that the army will not be
reduced below the numbers voted by Parliament.
This is not a time when our army could be dimi-
nished. We see Continental nations keeping up
great armies on a war footing. We ourselves are
raising fortifications of great magnitude. Those on
the south side of the Thames alone will require
61,000 men to garrison them ; and therefore I am
perfectly sure there is no intention of lowering the
number of our troops below that voted by Parlia-
ment. (Hear, hear.) I place the greatest confidence
in the noble lord at the head of the Government, and
feel no doubt that be will uphold the power of the
country and defend its honour.
"The Militia and the Volunteers," was then given.
Mr. DAY returned thanks for the Volunteers.
After several other toasts had been drunk,

Mr. FELLOWES, M.P., in returning thanks for
" The County Members," observed, in reference to
what had been said by one of the farmers, that he
thought the best lease a tenant could have was a
good understanding with the landlord. He had
never had leases on his property, but, nevertheless,
he had never had any difficulty with his tenants.
(Hear, hear.)
Lord ROBERT MONTAGU, M.P., also returned
thanks, and in the course of his observations said
that borough members were expected to come down
once a-year to their constituents, give an account of
their stewardship, enter into details about the last
session, and explain their general votes and the part
they had taken in the legislation of the country,
but at that meeting the members present were de-
barred altogether from entering into politics. What
was that for ? He presumed it was because the
members of the Huntingdonshire Agricultural
Society had a hatred of party spirit, and were
determined that no factious feeling should arise
at their dinners. He did not complain of that ;
they v► ere right in it. No one hated party
spirit more than he did. It was it that had
denuded the House of Commons of that feeling
which at one time distinguished it, and made it
reckless of all that which it once held dear. His-
tory showed that every kingdom which had de-
clined commenced its ruin by displaying an increase
of party spirit; and the Atlantic Monthly, one of
the most important publications in America, attri-
buted the present war to party spirit. After some
some further observations in denunciation of party
spirit, the noble lord concluded by heartily thank-
ing the company for the manner in which they had
received the toast.

The toast of " The Borough Members" having
been drunk,

Gen. PEEL rose and said—My hon. colleague
may be equally gratified with me at the manner in
which you have received this toast ; but at the pre-
sent day it is not very easy to address an agricul-
tural meeting. The very day on which this dinner
was fixed I read an article in the Times newspaper
which referred to the difficulty under which mem-
bers of Parliament laboured who were called on to
speak at agricultural meetings. The article remarked
that if they spoke on agricultural subjects they were
sure to be impertinent, and if they spoke on politi-
cal subjects they were sure to be offensive. (Laugh-
ter.) Now, were I to address you on the former of
' these topics I should be guilty of great folly and
show my ignorance, for you have been addressed by
gentlemen who have forgotten more than I ever
learnt on agriculture. (Laughter.) Knowing that I
had to come here, the only way I thought I could
get out of the fix was to read the reports at agri-
cultural meetings at which members of Parliament
attended, and learn what they said. Well, the first
I took up was one which the Times headed " Mr.
Henley and Colonel North in Oxfordshire." This
pleased me, for I know of no more safe guide than
my right hon. friend Mr. Henley. I knew that he
would say nothing impertinent—that ho would
utter nothing offensive. However, I had not pro-
ceeded far with his speech till I found him avowing
that he did not know very well what to say. He
informed the company that he had been warned of
the presence of the press. In answer to that warn-
ing he stated that he had nothing to say ; but
then he received the additional warning that he'
had better get himself up on something. (Laugh-
ter.) That was what my right hon. friend said he
could never do. Neither could I. He then made
another remark with which I agree. Like him, I
am delighted that the gentlemen of the press are
here, for they make better speeches for us than we
can ourselves, and I know that they have an esprit
de corps that will make them not wish to see the
borough members read worse than those of the
counties. (Laughter and cheers.) Well, gentle-
men, I stuck to reading the agricultural speeches;
and there was one thing struck me, which is this,
that " one man may steal a horse, while another
may not look over a hedge." (Laughter.) One day I
saw one story in the limes, and another day another.
In one place politics were permitted, in another
they were rigidly excluded. A meeting was held
near Bosworth; and, by way of parenthesis, as I
know that neighbourhood well and used to get up by
candlelight to meet the hounds there, I must observe
that no county wanted an agricultural movement
more. (Laughter.) Mr. Newdegate broke out on the
subject of family. I do not know why he did so,
but the report mentioned that there were a number
of ladies present. (Renewed laughter.) There was
a meeting in 'Staffordshire, and an hon. gentleman
gave utterance to some sentiments there which were
received with anything but approbation. At other
agricultural meetings subjects were entered on
which I should think it presumptuous in me to dis-
cuss there. Here you say that politics are excluded,
but allow me to tell you that some of the speakers
have entered on two of the most important of poli-
tical subjects. A gentleman has spoken of tenant-
right. If that gentleman had had as much experi-
ence of the discussion of tenant-right as I have had
ho would know that the question is a most difficult
one. (Hear, hear.) Audi would say more—that any
question between landlord and tenant ought to be
discussed between the two parties themselves.
(Hear, hear.) Something has been said about the
want of labourers in the rural districts. Are the
proprietors sure that they have not to answer for
that themselves ? (Hear, hear.) Are you sure you
have paid that attention to the labourers comp-
forts which ought to induce hi
(Hear.) These subjects have beenambl
other places by my friendsJ, Pakinyt handled
goto
rireamndaisniin
Sir
r.
Laurence Palk, lien whohav have taken an active part
in promoting agricultural interests; aid again I
say depend upon it that they are subjects which
you would do better to discuss among yourselves.
There was another agricultural meeting, attended
by a noble lady who goes over every year to be pre-
sent at a similar gathering. I refer to the meeting-
at which the Marchioness of Londonderry addreesed
her tenantry. An hon. and learned friend of mine,
Sir Hugh Cairns, was also present. He said that
it did not require a man should be a farmer in order
that he might have a sincere wish for the prosperity
of the agricultural interest. concur in that, for I
am not a farmer; I am, nevertheless, a sincere well-
wisher of that interest—but the uhlequeot part Of

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. BARING, 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
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, hear.) 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 I
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 manutac-
. 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.

CITY COURT O. SEIVEI2S.

At the weekly meeting of the Commissioners of
Sewers, held yesterday in the Sewers-office, Guild-
hall, Mr. Deputy Christie in the chair,
Dr. LETIIEBY, the Medical Officer of Health, re-
ported on the state of 175 houses that had been in-
spected during the week, and he submitted a list of
58 places for sanitary improvement. He likewise
reported that he had been obliged to take proceed-
ings against the keeper of a common lodging-house
in John's•court, Smithfield, in consequence of his
persisting to allow the rooms to be indecently and
unwholesomely overcrowded after notices to the
contrary; and that the justices before whom he was
summoned had fined him £3 and costs. The medi-
cal officer also reported that the markets and
slaughter-houses had been duly inspected during
the week, and the officers had seized 2,284 pounds
of meat, and 957 head of game and poultry, as
unfit for human food. It consisted of 7 sheep, 6
pigs, 13 quarters of beef and 60 smaller joints, be-
sides 2 fawn, 8 haunches of venison, 583 rabbits,
176 wild fowl, 31 geese, 29 ducks, 8 hares, 78
pigeons, and 24 head of game. All the poultry and
game were putrid; but of the meat 1,1991b5. were
diseased, 1,1041b5, were putrid, and the rest was
from animals that had died from natural causes.
Most of the meat was seized in Newgate-market,
and the poultry in Leadenhall, It has all been de-
stroyed.

The mortality returns for the week are exactly
the average for the corresponding period of the last
six years. The number of deaths was 53, half of
which was among children of less than five years of
age, and 11 among old persons of 60 and upwards.
The mortality among children in the Eastern and
Western Unions has been excessively high, for
during the last three weeks of the present unusually
warm -weather it has ranged from 57 to 62 per cent.
of the total mortality. This has not been caused by
the prevalence of zymotic disease, and by a high
mortality from tubercular affections, as tubes,
scrofula, and hydrocephalus, diseases which appear
to be excited into action, and, as it were, matured
by the close and warm weather of autumn. Last
week there were 6 deaths from tubes, 3 from infan-
tile diarrhcoa, 4 from phthisis, and 2 from hydro-
cephalus. Among the zymotic diseases were 3 from
whooping-cough, 2 from phthisis, 2 from troop, 2
from continued fever, and 1 from infantile diarrhata
—making together 10 deaths from these affections.
There were likewise 3 deaths returned as premature
births, and 2 in childbirth. The influence of the
weather is manifestly to excite the nervous func-
tions, and to promote the growth and activity of
tubercular products.
Mr. DREW, chief clerk, read a letter from Mr. R.
Millar, secretary of the City of London Gas Com-
pany, desiring him to call the attention of the com-
mission to the copy of a letter sent to Dr. Letheby,
stating that they had taken a place in Hatton-gar.
den, and fitted it with an apparatus for testing the
gas, and also stating that the company were willing
to waive their right under the 28th clause of the
new Gas Act, which entitled them to three hours'
notice before the inspector appointed by the com-
mission made his examinations.
Dr. ABRAHAM moved that it be referred to the
engineer and the medical officer to consider the
conditions of the contract for public lighting, having
special reference to the increased illuminating power
of gas to be supplied, and the possibility of carbu-
rettin.• the gas by the process of the Carburetted
Gas Company.'
Mr. TUCKER seconded the resolution, which was
agreed to.

tADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills(
Constant Success.—No diseases are more trying to o
temper and more exhausting to the constitution than t e
pains in muscles and joints caused by exposure to wet qr
cold. 'Wherever the seat of suffering it will only be neces-
sary to foment the affected tart with warm water, d
thoroughly, and immediately rub inHolloway's inestimab e
Ointment to obtain. ease. Gout, rheumatism neuralgi
and tic doloreux are soon relieved, and ultimately cured b
the use of this unequalled unguent, aided by Holloway's
purifying and aperitive Pills. Under this judicious treat-
ment the. afflicted' pairtY' soon cease to ache,- and shortly
regain their natural feelings and appearance. These reme-
dies are invaluable Apr eosins spinal affections and neryous
410984941