The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-13 00:00:00

AGEICULTUIIiIL BENEVOLENT INSTI-
TUTION.

The second anniversary festival of the subscri-
bers to this excellent institution, the object of
which is the relief of farmers, their widows, and
orphans, was held last evening at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Great Queen-street,under the distinguished
presidency of the Right Hon. Ben. Disraeli, M.P.,
who was supported by Lord Dynevor,
r. R.
Benyon, M.P., the Hen. Percy Wyndham, M P.,
Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P., Mr. Alderman Mechi
(the founder of the charity), and Mr. Hudson, of
Castleacre. Covers were laid for about 300 gentle-
men, and the company included many of the prin-
cipal agriculturists of the country, the proceedings
being witnessed by a numerous array of the fair
sex from the gallery.
The grace from the " Laudi Spiritual? having
been sung in capital style by Miss Ransford, Miss
Poole, Mr. G. Perron, Mr. Naylor, Mr. Ransford,
and Mr. Lawler, the usual loyal toasts were given,
and drunk with all the honours.
Mr. -WYNDHAM, M.P. proposed " The Army,
Navy, and Volunteers, and the health of Major
Barker, M.P., and Lieutenant Scott."
Major PARKER returned thanks on behalf of the
army, and Lieutenant Scott for the Volunteers.
Duet—" Love and War," Mr. G. Perren and
Mr. Lawler.
The CHAIRMAN then, in proposing " Prosperity
to the Association," said that it certainly appeared
to be very strange that, in a country in which no
calling had not found in the sympathy of society
some means to remedy its calamities and to alleviate
its sorrows, the claims of the most ancient vocation
in theworld,and which was still not the least honoured
(hear)—should never have been recognised. (Cheers.)
The vocation of the farmer had to a great extent
separated him, not only from other classes of society,
but even from his colleagues and confederates in the
same pursuits. Twenty-five years ago a farmer
lived upon the acres which he cultivated. The
parish was his horizon, and it was only to the
market day to which he was indebted for his society
or to his knowledge of what was going on in the
world. But within the last quarter of a century
all that had changed, and that great revolution in
the means of communication which was the feature
of the present age, and which had so considerably
affected the position of all classes in the commu-
nity, and had influenced that of the farmer—(hear,
hear)—the railroad, that intersected his fields, the
station that possibly was built upon the site of an
ancient homestead, had extended the area of
his observations and had place l at his com-
mand an extensive selection of markets. The penny
postage had furnished him with the means of com-
municating almost with the facility of conversation
his feelings and his views to every part of the coun-
try; and the farmer who 25 years ago dozed over
the local news of a stale paper was now supplied by
the penny newspaper with all the information and
intelligence of the world. (Cheers.) Instead of
the parish being the limited horizon of his experi-
ence, the farmer at the board of guardians was
engaged and interested in the fortunes and condi-
tions of an expanded union. The whole country
was covered with a network of agricultural as-
sociations, where the farmer was taught at the
same time both to compete and to co-operate,
and in a country where voluntary combinations
for the public welfare were one of our proudest
and justest boasts, if he were to fix on a combi-
nation which most contributed to the public wel-
fare he would appeal to a general exhibition of
learned transactions which certainly had fixed the
culminating glory of all voluntary associations—
namely, the Royal Agricultural Society. (Cheers.)
All those things had produced great changes, not
only in the condition, but in the character of the
British farmer. It had been said by a great autho-
rity that intercourse produced knowledge, but it
produced something more precious than knowledge,
and that was sympathy. When the farmers as a
body had been thrown into familiar intercourse, it
was impossible that they could remain long blind
to that anomaly in their condition that in a class so
numerous, so wealthy, and so intelligent, there was
no effort made to sustain any of their members who
had experienced misfortunes which no prudence
could foresee, and no perseverance avert. (Cheers)
The farmer was exposed to many of those calamities.
There was the risk of barren harvests, of destruc-
tive storms, and the three plagues of mildew, mur-
rain, and rot; and it was not therefore surprising
when great changes had been effeoted that the far-
mers had seen that the time had arrived when they
ought to place themselves in the same position as
other classes and conditions of life in making provi-
sion for the future, and the unavoidable misfortunes
to which they in common with all other classes
were subjected. The case of the farmer who
was visited by calamity was very different from
that of those engaged in towns and large cities.
The farmer had to meet his calamities alone
on those fields which he had perhaps formerly cul-
tivated in prosperity; but the persons in towns
had at least the satisfaction, melancholy as it was,
of suffering in company. It was presumptuous to
tou..h upon the future, but when he considered the
great amount of population, and that there were
30,000.000 of human beings in this country enjoy-
ing in vigour liberty or opinion as Englishmen—
(hear, hear)—and when they considered that they
possessed the largest amount of wealth of any
country in the world, he felt assured that what-
ever might be the political revolutions or commer-
cial changes they would never seriously interfere
with the condition or the prospects of this country,
and that the British farmer and the British soil
would be found equal to every occasion. It was
no doubt in consequence of the change which had
taken place in the condition of the British farmer
that after due consideration and counsel this so-
ciety had been formed, This was stEl a young in-
stution, having been only two years in existence ;
and it was an association which owed its origin to
the energy of Mr. Alderman Mechi, to whom the
highest honour was due and who had established
claims to be considered as a public benefactor.
(Hear, hear.) In the first year of its existence its
efforts had not been slight. He would have been
glad if the farmers had succeeded in raising edifices
worthy of their order for the purpose of receiving
those who had spent the best years of their lives
in industry. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman
concluded by making an eloquent appeal in favour
of the institution, and resumed his seat amidst loud
cheers.

Irish ballad, Miss Poole.
Lord DYNEVOR then, in complimentary terms, pro-
posed " The Health of Mr, Disraeli," and the toast
was received and drunk with loud and protracted
cheering, and briefly and appropriately acknow-
ledged by the right hon. gentleman.
Mr. Alderman MECHI gave " The Agricultural
Societies of England, Ireland, and Scotland, and
the health of Mr. John Hudson, of Castleacre;" and
Mr. HUDSON returned thanks.
Sir JOSEPH PAXTON proposed "The Arts, Manu-
factures, and Commerce," and " The Health of Mr.
James Howard," of Bedford; and
Mr. HOWARD responded to the toast.
M. R. DE LA TREHONNAIS next gave " The Exe-
cutive Council and Mr. Thomas Batson," the chair-
man ; and

Mr. BATSON returned thanks.
Mr. BENYON, M.P., proposed " The Stewards,"
and " The Health of Mr. John Clavden ;" and
Mr. CLAYDEN responded to the toast.
A bumper toast to " The Ladies" concluded the
proceedings, and the company soon after broke up,
the right hon. chairman being greeted on his depar-
ture with enthusiastic applause.
The entertainment was conducted upon a munifi-
cent scale, and did the greatest credit to the cuisine
of the Freemasons'. Mr. Toole officiated as toast-
master with his usual tact and ability.
The subscriptions during the evening amounted
to £1,500.

SURREY MUSIC-HALL—Art inspection of the
building yesterday has led to the conclusion that the walls
may be made available for future purposes. All else is
utter ruin. The stage and orchestra, where M. Jullien
wielded his baton to a thousand performers, and the pro-
jecting balconies, the design of which Mr. Spurgeon has
copied, to some extent, in his new chapel, are all a mass of
rubbish. It is fortunate, however, that the fire was con •
fined in the hall, as though in a furnace, and that a smaller
building, connected by a short passage, has entirely escaped,
thus enabling the lessees to carry on their entertainments,
although not to the usual extent. Near £4OO had just been
expended on decoration, and every preparation had been
made for what is termed the season—which, at the best of
times, is of a most precarious character, but under present
circumstances scarcely anything can save them from loss.
The greatest sympathy, however, has I.lready been expressed
for the proprietors by the musical profession, and Prince
George Galitzin, the Russian composer, has generously
offered to undertake the organisation of a concert and al
fresco entertainment for their sole benefit. The building
is insured, and, it is believed, to the full amount.

FATAL A CCI DEN T.—WA RIVICK, Tuesday .—A
fatal accident occurred on the London and North-Western
line this morning. An empty coal train was proceeding to
Coventry, and when between Leamington and Kenilworth
the bridge near Wooton gave way, dragging the tender and
five coal trucks with it, falling through, snapping the wood
of the bridge into fragments, and the iron tire rods into
points like needles. The engineer and stoker were carried
down with the engine and killed. The bodies of both were
taken out after some considerable time had elapsed, especi-
ally that of the former as it was fixed fast between the fur
nace and the tender. When taken eut the poor fellow was
found to be frightfully scalded and burnt. It being aislion:lre
line, all traffic is stopped between Leamington and Coven-
y, but ay.) company can carry both passengers and
ood
by another branch line through Rugby to and fro to Coy
ventry and Leamington. The remains of the bridge
show
to have been a remarkably rotten one, and the mrprise felt
by all who witnessed it was that it had not fallen
time before, inquest will he la el t big • 1012 g
eyes