The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-07 00:00:00

,7

/72 &;

~ ~~

THE FARMER AND LABOURER.
CIRENCESTER, FRIDAY.—EarI Bathurst, Earl
Radnor, Viscount Villiers, M.P., the Hon. William
Bathurst, Sir M. H. H. Beach, Colonel Master, Mr. T.
W. Master, Mr. W. Cripps. M.P., the Rev. Mr. Cripps,
and many other influential gentlemen, together with e
large body of agriculturists, dined together yes erday in
the large room of the King's Head Inn, on the occasion
of the annual exhibition of the Cirencester Ate icultural
Association. Earl Bathurst occupied the chat . and was
supported on the right by the Earl Radnoi, and on
the left by Viscount Villiers.
After the cloth was removed, and the usual introduc-
tory toasts given, several speeches were delivered, the
more prominent points of which we shall proceed to
specify as concisely as we can, and in the order in which
they were spoken.
Mr. JOHN NICHOLL, of Arnhall, a successful compe-
titor, and a great favourite with the Society from his
strokes of humour, was particularly facetious on the pro-
jected agricultural college; and, with the view of show-
ing the evils which had arisen from colleges, he instanced
the French and other continental revolutions, which he
asserted had been brought about by students; and, re-
ferring to what was going on at home, he set the table in
a roar, by remarking, in his peculiar shrill voice, " Look
at Oxford, where there is a party attempting to do what
the Devil himself and the professors together cannot do
—bring us back to Popery." The company obsiously
I cheered this remark " with a will."
The Hon. W. BATHURST—On an occasion like this,
we ought not to forget the agricultural labourer—
(Cheers)—whose comfort and happiness ought to be pro-
moted by us all ; and I believe that when we consider
what is done by the farmer and the landlord iu his bee
half, it will be admitted that they do their utmost to se-
cure these ends. We hear much of the axiom that "pro-
perty has its duties as well as its rights," and unques-
tionably it is so ; but I likewise wish to know whether
the axiom does not apply to those who have property of
all kinds, as well as to those who hate property in land?
Why should not the rich man, lie who rejoices in what a
certain Noble Lord called " the eloquent simplicity of
the Three per Cents.," own the duties of property as well
as claim its rights ? There is also the rich millowner.
Yes, take the case of the man who employs a vast num-
ber of persons as long as it suits his interest to employ
them, and who, when business flags or fails, thinks that
he has a right to turn them off upon the parish to be
supported by the agricultural interest. In this case it
ought to be whispered into the ear of the wealthy mill-
owner, that " property has its duties as well as its rights."
—(Great cheering.) I believe the true patriot is not he
who bawls for cheap bread, when in his heart he means
cheap labour and low wages.—(Great cheering.) But
he is the true benefactor of his country who to the utmost
of his power employs the agricultural labourers, more
particularly at this moment, when from peculiar circum-
stances employment is so much needed—one who to the
utmost of his ability is at all times ready to give a good
day's wagen`or icgdt7tr-day's work.—(Cheers.)
Several gentlemen having spoken earnestly in favonr
of the farmer employing additional labourers, on the
ground that his own profit and advantage would be pro-
moted by so doing,
Mr. KEARSEY, a tenant farmer, said, that owing to
the depressed condition in which farmers were placed,
it was impossible for them to act so liberally as they
were inclined to do to their labourers ; and thet so
heavy was the taxation to which they were exposed, that
in order to meet it they were frequently under the ne-
cessity of curtailing their expenditure, and unfortunately
the first thing operated upon was the wages of the la-
bourer. He thought that all permanent improvement%
ought to be undertaken by the landlord, the tenant
being charged a fair per tentage for the outlay.
Earl BeruunsT—l am ready to do so.—(Cheers.)
The Earl of RADNOR briefly returned thanks for
the toast " Success to the Faringdon Agricultural As-
sociation."
Mr. Mreatecs, when referring to the necessity of
landlords coming forward in behalf of the labourers,
mentioned that on Monday last, having been informed
that his o.vn tenants had deemed it necessary to reduce
the wages of their labourers by one shillii't a week, he
had stated to them that rather than they should do so,
he would pay the shilling himself.—(Clivers.)
The Rev. Mr. CRIPPS, with the view of snowing cut
farmers would increase their profits by increasing the
amount of labour on their farms, instanced his own case.
For twenty-five years he had farmed from 60 to 70 acres
in a large parish but thinly populated. Upon that land
he had employed one-seventh of the labouring popula-
tion, although he did not farm above one-thirtieth part
of the land in the parish, but be had found it profitable
to do so, and should be happy to show his accounts, ex.
tending over the period of twenty-five years, to any per-
son who should desire it, in proof of what he stated.
Mr. KEARSEY—But, Mr. Cripps, you have other
sources of living.
Mr. CRIPPS—I keep my accounts separate.
Mr. KEARSEY—You are both landlord and tenant.
Mr. I). ROWLEY, the Chairman of the Cirencester
Board of Guardians, proposed " Prosperity to the la-
bouring classes," but his remarks do not call for parti-
cular notice.
The meeting separated at nine o'clock.

SOUTHWARK LITERARY TA
NSTI-
TUTION.

Cl"
On Wodnesday evening Mr.
...rles Mackie de-
livered a lecture upon the or.,gin of the arts and
icienees, and the antiquity of freemasonry, with
practical and musical illus!.tati„,.
The musical departnervt was most Pfficiebtly per-
formed by Mr. Banks, his first public appearm,cv.
Mr. Charles Maci.ay's song of " Tubal Cain"
elicited much applaAse, and the " Death of Nelson"
11 was encored.

The lecturer exhibited great tact in the manage-
ment of his subject ; rich and ready in his illustrations,
keen and sarcastic in his irony.
In his practical definition of free-masonry the fol-
lowing lines were received with considerable ap-
plause :
" Iu Gallia's fields, when Euglish Harry fought,
His drooping soldiers in their tents he sought—
The man to-day that draws for me his sword.
Shall be my brother was the hero's word:
The name of brother touch'd each soldier's breast,
Each grasp'd his arms, and shook with pride his evert.
Th event is known—the boasters forc'd to yield,
Fled, while the band of brothers acour'd the field;
If thus the name of brother, like a charm,,
Could frozen valour into action warm,
What solid virtues 'mongst our band must grow,
Who own a brother's name, and all his dutimas know."