The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-14 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

The great dinner of the Society took place in the
City Hall, the company assembling at half-past five
o'clock. The arrangements in the hall, which were dif-
ferent from those observed on former festive occasions,
were of a very superior kini. Frofii the level in
the centre, the floors sloped to the two extremities
of the roof, and had much of the appearance, and
all the facilities for seeing and hearing, of a gallery.
The chairman's platform, which was placed at the
south side, was elevated at least seven or eight feet
above the floor, and was covered with crimson cloth,
while over it were suspended the royal arms of Scot-
land, with the motto, "Nemo me impure lacessit." The
croupier's table was placed opposite,at an equal elevation,
and covered with an elegant canopy, on the flat summit
of which was a platform for the accommodation of the
musicians. The numbers who sat down amounted,
we believe, to about 1,200. The Duke of Richmond,
the President of the Society, filled the chair. He was
supported on the right by the Lord Provost, the Earl
of Glasgow, Lord Clements, Lord Justice-General,
Sir W. M. Napier, Sir D. Hunter Blair, Sir Robert
Houston, Rev. Wm. Robie, Leicestershire, Rev. Dr.
Grant; on the left, by the Duke of Montrose, Very
Rev. Principal M'Farlan, 'Wm. Lockhart, Esq., M.P.,
Sir J. M‘Neill, Colonel Challoner, James Oswald,
Esq., M.P., W. Forbes, Esq, M.P., Bailie Bogle.
Earl Cathcart officiated as croupier, supported on the
right by the Earl of Eglinton, Earl of March, Sir C.
Fergusson, Sheriff Alison, Bruce, Callendar, Alex.
Smollett, M.P., Dean of Guild, W. F. Campbell, of
Islay, Duncan Davidson, of Tulloch ; and, on the
left, by Lord Raneleigh, Marquis of Drogheda, Hon.
Mr. Russell, J. D. Campbell, Esq., jun., of Islay, Sir
John Richardson, Bailie Hastie, Sir David Kinloch,
Colonel Mure, Colonel Graham, of Mossknowe.
The cloth having been removed,

The Noble CHAIRMAN said Gentlemen, well
knowing the loyalty which you have ever evinced,
and appealing to the attachment you have always en-
tertained towards our Sovereign Lady the Queen, I
am confident you will join me in hearty congratula-
tions upon the recent event.—(Cheers.) And I am
sure you will also join me in expressing our grateful
thanks to a gracious Providence which has protected
a life so dear to us all. May her Majesty's reign be long
and prosperous. May the deep interest which she has
always shown to promote the interests of her people,
and also to improve the condition of all classes of her
subjects, meet with that success which we know to be
the warmest desire of her Majesty's heart. Gentle-
men, without further preface, I will give you the
health of her Majesty the Queen.—(Loud cheering.)
The healths of the Queen Dowager, Prince Albert,
Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal family,
and of the Navy and Army, were then given from
the chair.

To the latter toast the croupier and Captain
M'Dougall of M‘Dougall, R.N., shortly returned
thanks.

Sir C. FERGUSSON, Bart., said—l have great plea-
sure in being permitted to propose the toast which is
now to be submitted to this numerous assembly, and
I have the more gratification in thinking that it re-
quires no words and no support of mine to obtain
your confidence and favour. The terms of the toast
are of themselves enough to accomplish that object—
it is, "Prosperity to the Highland and Agricultural
Society of Scotland."—(Great cheering.) We are
here as one man, concurring in our sense of the value
and importance of that institution to which severally
and collectively we belong.—(Hear, hear.) When I
remember that this Society has been for sixty years
in existence, and that it has continued year after year
to add new honours to its former laurels—to acquire
new reputation in the country in the midst of which
it was set up—to add new means and opportunities
of usefulness to those which it formerly possessed,
I cannot doubt but these things also enter into
the judgment and understanding of every one of
those whom I now address.—(Loud cheers.) It may
happen to us, as it has happened to other corporate
bodies, whose very success has induced and seduced
them to relax rather than increase their exertions ;
but I am sure this will not be your sentiment when
you drink increased prosperity to this Society. And
in allusion to the sister institutions in England
and Ireland, since these institutions, pos-
sessing youth and vigour, are now venturing
upon a competition—a competition of honourable
rivalry, doubtless, but nevertheless a competition—a
competition as was well said this morning, of youth
with age—let us remember that this Society must
not rest upon its oars, but mu4t labour strenuously in
the same walk of usefulness in which we have such
formidable competitors.—(Cheers.) We have good
tokens for believing that the prosperity of this Society
runs no risk of diminution. I need not allude, in
proof of this, to the institution of the Chemical Asso-
ciation, which I believe will form one of the most im-
portant institutions which the country possesses.—
(Cheers.) But when I look to the show to-day, I
see no symptom whatever of relaxation or weakness.
On the contrary, so large an amount of sums sub-
scribed, such an immense number of fine animals exhi-
bited, and the increasing interest felt in the Society in
the minds of the manufacturing population,so that there
are rallying round us not one class of society, but all
classes—these are all encouragements to every man in
this company to do what in him lies for the improve-
ment of the agriculture of the country.—(Cheers.)
But I have here something to unite with the toast
which has been put into my hands—l allude to the
health of the President.—(Cheers.) I am not going
to speak of that eminent individual further than to say,
that you know well he is reputed, in every part of the
United Kingdom, as the farmer's friend.—(Applause.)
You know well that he is one whom the farmer ad-
mires, and honours, and loves.—(Cheers.) You know
well that he is one whom the farmer entirely trusts,
and on whom he securely relies.—(Cheers.) You
know he is one possessing a high and honourable, and
straightforward character—a man whom we look up
to, and who, we know, is as well worthy as any man
can be to preside over such an institution, combined
for the promotion of such important objects.—(Cheers.)
Therefore, in conclusion, and apologising fur the
length of my remarks, I beg to propose this toast—
" Prosperity to the Highland and Agricultural So-
ciety of Scotland, and the health of the Duke of Rich-
mond, its respected President."—(The toast was drunk
with all the honours.)
The Noble CHAIRMAN said—l rise, in the first
place, to express the gratitude of the Society for the
manner in which you have received the proposal of
their prosperity ; and, in the next place, to express
my own thanks for the kindness with which you
have received the mention of my name. Sir Charles
Fergusson has told you that I am anxious to serve the
farmers of this country ; and in telling you that he
has explained to you the feelings which ever have
animated me—(Loud cheering)—because, in pro-
moting the interests of the agriculture of this em•
pire, I feel the most heartfelt conviction that I am,
at the same time, doing the best I can for its com-
mercial and manufacturing interests. In this great
commercial city—the nursery, I may say, of steam
navigation—it gives me the greatest pleasure to stand
before my brother farmers, and to stand before you,
who are engaged in the honourable pursuits of com-
merce and manufactures, and to say, that our in-
terests are one and the same—(Great cheering)—
that the one cannot flourish if the other be depressed.
I have never advocated selfish views. My greatest
pride is to be a subject of the Queen of England ;
and, in being a subject of the Queen of England,
how can I but express my brotherly feelings to those
who are my fellow-subjects, engaged in pursuits
which are for the advantage of the country, to which
we all owe allegiance. I must congratulate you on
the splendid exhibition which we saw this morning in
your show yard, an exhibit of more numerous than
any that has yet graced the meetings of the High-
land Society, and I will answer for it, with fewer bad
animals shown than upon any former occasion—a
matter which I conceive to be, after all, the greatest
praise I can bestow.—(Loud cheers.) We, the agri-
culturists, meet in this great commercial city gentle-
men engaged in other pursuits. We meet each other
with mutual kindness, and on neutral ground can con-
verse on the great foundation of all the prosperity of
the country—agriculture.—(Cheers.) We have no
party politics ; there are places where we may
speak on these subjects, but here we meet as cordial
friends, to make new friends, and, I trust, not to lose
any old ones.—(Cheers.) I believe, therefore, that
this assembly is of great importance, and I feel that
when we hereafter meet on grounds where we disagree
with one another, the recollection of this day may
tend to soothe those.asperities which party debate and
party politics too often engender; and if we go to
our homes anxious and eager to profit by the experi-
ence we have acquired in the show yard, I trust also
we will go back to our friends with true Christian
feelings of friendship, resolved to live in charity with