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

J,

rafell I id.

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THE FARMER AND LABOURER.
j CIRP.NCESTER, FRIDAY.—EarI Bathurst, Fain
Radnor, Viscount Villiers, M.P
Bathurst, Sir M. 11. 11. Beach, C.o,ltohntelei
le
Rev.
Aliaosnt.e aam.
W. Master, Mr. W. Cripps,
and many other influential gentlemen, together Crippe„
large body of agriculturists, dined toetlaer;egse rwdith
ot e
the largeannruer
exhibition
thebiti
on King'so f
theC Head
Cirencester enhene's toe rn At
h.
occssiou
Association. Earl Bathurst occupied the chair, d
an .w.ite
supported on the right by the Earl Radnor, 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 t 4.
specify as concisely as we can, and in the order in which
they were spoken.
Mr. JOHN Nrenom,, of Arnhall, a successful compe-
titor, and a great favourite with the Society from his
strokes of humour, was particularly facetious on the pm •
jected agricultural college; and, with the view of show-
ing the evils which had arisen from colleges, be instanced
the French and other continental revolutions, which hie
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 de
—bring us back to Popery." The company b 1 o TlOl.lB y
aered this remark " with a will."
cut rile Hon. W. BATFIURST—OiI an occasion like
this.
we ought not to forget the agricultural labourer
es)—whose comfort and happiness ought to be pro,
;noted!). 'Y. us all ; and I believe that when we consider
what is. -me by the farmer and the landlord in his be-
half, it .he admitted that they do their utmost to se-
cure these .1/IL's. We hear much of the axiom that " pro
perty has its as well as its rights," and unques-
tionably it is SO r •but I likewise wish to know whether
the axiom does ne t Apply to those who hare property of
all kinds, as well as 44 those who have property in !midi
Why should not the ri?...h man, he who rejoices in what a
certain Noble Lord call.'d " the eloquent simplicity of
the Three per Cents.," own" ,the duties ofproperty as well
as claim its rights ? There is Also the rich indlowner,
Yes, take the case of the man whi. employs a vast num-;
her of persons as long as it suits iw interest to employ
them, sad who, when business flags or fails, thinks that
he has a right to turn them off upon th.e parish to he
supported by the agricultural interest. In this case it
ought to be whispered into the ear of the wea:thy mill-
owner, that " property has its duties as well as its rights."
—(Great cheering.) I believe the true patriot is not be
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 a! 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 got'
day's eesgcs fc-s-a-good....day's work.—(Cheers.)
Several gentlemen having spoken earnestly in favoor
of the fernier employing additional labourers, on the,
grou d that his own profit and advantage would be pro-
moted kV so doing,
Mr. RZARSEY, a tenant farmer, said, that owing to
the depi,c,wd condition iu which farmers were placed,
it was impossible for them to act so liberally as they .
were inclinej to do to their labourers ; and that so
heavy was the tivtation to which they were exposed, that
in order to meet Zt 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 improvements
ought to be undertaken by the landlord, the tenant
being charged a fair per cerdage for the outlay.
Earl BATHURST-4 am ready to do so.--(Cheers.)
The Earl of RADNOR briefly returned thanks for
the toast " Success to the Far;ngdon Agricultural As-
sociation."
Mr. MULLING'S', when referring to the necessity of
landlords coming forward in behalf of the labourers,
mentioned that on Monday last, having been informed •
that his oAm tenants had deemed it necessary to reduce
the wages of their labourers by one shilling a week, he
had stated to them that rather than they should do so,
he would pay the shilling himself.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. CRIPPS,. with the view of showiog that
farmers would increase their profits by increasing the
amount of labour on their farms, instanced his own .lase.
For twenty-five years he had farmed from 60 to 70 laves
in a large parish but thinly populated. Upon that la.nd
he had employed one-seventh of the labouring popnla'7-
tion, although he did not farm above one-thirtieth part:
of the land in the parish, but he 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. D. BOWLEY, the Chairman of the Cirencester
Board of Guardians, proposed "Prosperity to the la-
bouring classes," but his remarks do not call for pa.li-
cular notice.
The meeting separated at nine o'clock.

SOUTHWARK LITERARY INSTI-
TUTION.
On Wednesday evening Mr. Charles Mackie de-

livered a lecture upon the origin of the arts and
sciences, and the antiquity of freemasonry, withi
practical and musical illustrations.
The musical department was most efficiently per-
_ _

formed by Mr. 13anks, his first public appearance.
Mr. Charles Mackay's song of " Tubal Cain"
elicited much applause, and the " Death of Nelson"
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
In Gallia's fields. when English 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 crest.
Th' event is known—the boasters forc'd to yield,
Fled, while the band of brothers scour'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 duties know."