The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-06 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON

in every direction these small societies within a very
narrow compass, he rejoiced also to think there was a
prospect of this great society extending its advantages
and its benefits more widely by a co-operation with an-
other society extending over another extensive district.
He was happy to be enabled to say that, so far as he
was aware, the obstacles which prevented the annexa-
tion of hese two societies up to the present time
had been an obstacle not on the part of this Soci, ty, but
some triflieg financial difficulties, he hoped nearly sur-
mounted, on the part of the Society with which they
were desirous of entering into copartnership. He was
enabled to congratulate them on the financial p sition of
this Society, inasmuch as they had succeeded by efforts
made a year or two ago, in removing the embarrass-
ments to which they were_ subjected, without any decline
in their subscriptions, and, he believed. an increase of
members, they had a balance, not a large one, hut still
a balance, in the treasurer's hands. Although he had
to regret that on the present occasion, and in the course
of the morning, the attendance had not been so large,
and in the yard considerably smaller, than it had been
on many former occasions, lie thought, that when they
considered what sort of weather those had who attended
the showyard that day, it was rather a matter of con-
gratulation that a sum of 601 or ;CZ, mostly in
shillings, had been taken, than of regret that they had
not such a sum on former occasions. He believed
he might also congratulate them—though he must con-
fess he was one of the defaulters, and had not been in the
show yard, and therefore could not speak of the show
from his own individual knowledge,—yet he believed he
might safely congratulate them on the exhibition of that
day. lie believed that am, ng the cattle some very su-
perior animals were exhibited, very far superior to most
of those exhibited in former years ; that the pies of the
show yard continued to be marked by the same degree of
excellence, and that there was exhibited some valuable
iteple meets of husbandry, a department to which he was
particularly desirous to see the attention of the farmers
of this country directed. But, it was not en the thriving
position of the Society—it was not only the show,
brought together that day, that they were about to look
at as resulting from the labours of this Seciety—it was in
the general marked gratifying improvement which had
taken place in agriculture, within the memory of almost
all he saw around him. He was quite certain that within
the time to which he could himself look back, and since
the commencement of that society, there had been an im-
provement in the stock, in the farms, and in every de-
scription of agriculture in that neighbourhood, which
gave the greatest satisfaction fur the past, and which
gave the greatest of hope and confidence for the future.
—(Applause). He would not say that there existed that
prejudice against the use of implements which he had
heard related by a gentleman from the midland counties,
who presented one of his farmers with a couple of iron
plouehs, and having left the country for two years, re-
turned and was surprised to find not only that the
number of iron ploughs had not increased, but that no
us,e had been made of those he had given to the tenants.
The answer he received on inquiring the cause of this
was, "Vs by, you see, we have a notion in this country that
iron :ploughs breeds weeds."_(Great laughter). lie
(the Chairman) would not sly anything so absurd as
this existed in this county, but he should like to see a
considerable increase of iron ploughs. He should like to
see them superseding the lumbering wooden ploughs still
too prevalent. He should like to see two horses abreast
doing the work of three or four in a straight line. He
could only put down as one of these prejudices, the notion
that one horse working in a furrow must necessarily
poach the land. Ile apprehended the natural remedy
would be to drain the land ; that would be found a more
advantageous remedy than making four or five horses
do the work of three. This was one of the prejudices
of this country. He recollected another. He was cer-
tain he was speaking within compass when he said that
within fifteen years any one here would have been told
that the land in this neighbourhood would not grow tur-
nips. That was superseded by the test of experience.
Mr. Skirving had dune something to undeceive them on
that point, and the practical experience of every farmer
would prove, that not only could they grow turnips, but
that there were few countries in the world that could
grow better; and very many farmers, he thought, would
find that they had not made a bad exchange by sowing
their land with turnips instead of potatoes.—(Hear,
hear.) Again, referring to the improved state of agri •
culture, he said he saw draining going on in every di-
rection on the best and most scientific principles. He
saw, with satisfaction, landlord and tenant co-operating
together to improve the agriculture of this county; and
unless the landlords did so co-operate and combine, he
was satisfied it was not reasonable to expect improve-
ment from the farming and agricultural population of
the country. When landlords did come forward and
lend their assistance, they had a right to expect that
the tenants would go hand and hand with them. Tney
had a right to expect that assistance given by the land-
lord was not an excuse for slovenly conduct to the
farmers.—(Applause.) He had seen, and did see every
day, great and manifold improvement ; but that was not
a ground for relaxing their exertions. Their motto
should be,—
" To think nothing done while aught remains to do ;"
and very few farmers in that or any other country could
say honestly and conscientiously that nothing remained
to do in the way of labour on their farms. He did think
they had a right to expect that they should not see—
much as a sportsman he should like to see them—those
high stalked stubbles, offering an excellent cover for
game, but suggesting to the agriculturist a very lament-
able condition of farming, and suggesting, if he might
be allowed to say to the landlord, a very natural con-
clusion that the farmer must be very low rented indeed
who could afford to grow so large a crop of weeds.
(Laughter and applause.) He trusted as they had be-
gun so they would go on, hand in h nd ; that they
should promote agriculture, and endeavour by all their
power—by all the applications of science, in which he
did not expect the farmers to take the lead, but he did
expect the farmers would not shut their eyes when
the advantages were demonstrated to them. The
country had a right to expect it from them, and they
must remember that, as year after year passed by, they
had an increase of 300,000 mouths to feed beyond the
population of the preceding year, and that on their exer-
tions the supply for those 300,000 mouths mainly de-
pend, d. He believed himself, not that the capacities of
the soil were infinite, but that the productive capacities of
the soil were infinitely larger than most people imagined;
and he believed it was not only capable of providing for
the existing population, but, with the application of
science, of providing for a much larger and increasing
population. It was their duty and their advantage to
find the means of providing for that population, and in the
hope that that and other similar societies would be the
means of exciting the landlord and tenant to fresh exer-
tions and renewed applications of capital, science, and
skill. It was with such anticipations, such hopes, that he
proposed to them, whether maintaining its present posi-
tion, or united with another body, and thereby extending
its advantages, " Prosperity to the Liverpool Agricul-
tural Society, with three times three." (Drank with
much enthusiasm.)
Several other toasts having been drank, and the prizes
having been distributed, the company separated.
T.

'HE LATE FIRE AT GREAT WALTHAM.—AP-
PREHENSION OF THE SUSPECTED INCENDIARY.— A
labourer, named Charles Murralls, is at present in cus-
tody on suspicion of having wilfully occasioned the con-
flagration which took place on the 13th ult. on the
premises of Mr. Isaac Livermore, the Old Park Farm,
in the above pari,h. Suspicion attached to the prisoner,
it appears, owing to a threat which he made to Mr. Li-
vermore when discharged from his service for some..
misconduct. He was seen at the fire, and on the first
occasion of Mr. Livermore observing him he re-
marked that he was in a state of profuse perspiration,
which he accounted for by stating that he had been
running. The police have been actively engaged in
investigating the matter, and the prisoner is to undergo
an examination upon the charges—Chelmsford Chronicle.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—On Friday morning a poor lad,
named James Johnson, having ascended the roof of the
house, 18, Cornwall-road, Lambeth, to entrap a pigeon,
lost his footing, while in the act of whistling to the bird,
and fell a height of about forty feet into the court be-
neath, where he was found by his sister, lying on his face
(which was frightfully disfigured), bleeding and insen-
sible. Mr. Sewell, surgeon, of the New-cut, advised his
immediate removal to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he
now lies in a precarious state.
SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.—On Friday the following ac-
cidents occurred :—The first happened to a bricklayer, named
John Stitch, aged forty years, who, is appears, was at work
on a scaffold at the Home-office, when he missed his footing
and fell to the ground with great violence. He was removed
to the Westminster Ho=pital, where he now lies in a very
precarious state. A second accident took place in the after-
noon to a labourer named Timothy Avant, living in Bocking-
ham-street, Westminster, who, while assisting in the removal
of a heavy stone, when the whole mass, weighing several
hundred weight, fell upon his fingers, crushing them in a
frightful manner. He was taken to a surgeon, and ulti-
mately to the same hospital, where he remains in a state of
great suffering. A third accident took place in Bridge-street,
131ackfriars, to an aged female, who was running across the
roadway between the ens of Ludzate-hill and Fleet-street,
and before she could reach the kerb she was knocked down by
a horse, which was being driven at a rapid speed from Smith-
field cattle-market. She was picked up bleeding from a
wound on the right temple, and was carried in to the nearest
surgeon's, but after a short time, was able to walk home.
FATAL SCAFFOLD ACCIDENT. —On Friday, about
twelve o'clock. an accident, which terminated fatally, occurred
to a man named Michael Dalton. Deceased, a labouring
man, was at work on a scaffold erected at the back of the
Prince of Wales's Tavern, near the Paddington terminus of
the Great Western Railway, when, missing his footing, he
fell head foremost to the ground. He was picked up in a
state of insensibility, and conveyed to St. George's Hospital,
where it was found that he had received such a combination
of injuries as to cause his death in two hours afterwards.
'I'iIE AFFRAY AT HOUNSLOW BARRACKS.—The
surgeons in attendance on Quartermaster Tarleton examined
the wound on Friday, and pronounced a favourable opinion of
its state. At a late hour in the evening, Tarleton was
reported to be progressing favourably.
DEaTu raom OIL OF ALMONDS.—On Friday
afternoon, Mr. William Payne, the City coroner, went into a
long inquiry in the board-1..0m of St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital, as to the death of Sarah Webb, aged 49 years. It ap-
peared by the evidence, that the deceased was in the habit of
working for a Mrs. Francis, residing at No. 2, Bennett's. hill,
Doctors'-commons. On Friday morning, whilst the deceased
was at work in the kitchen; she was seized with a lit of
shivering. Mr.. Francis ran to the deceased and placed her
on the floor. She remained in that position a few minutes,
when she vomited. A surgeon was called in, who, seeing
the slate she was in, ordered her to he removed with all
speed to the above hospital. A small bottle was soon after-
wards found, which the deceased had been tasting from.
There was a strong smell in the room of the essential oil of
almonds. Tire deceased never spoke after she fell to the
ground, and died in ten minutes after her admission into the
hospital. Mr. T. Francis said, in answer to the coroner,
that the bottle was his property. It contained a small por-
tion of almond flavouring, which was considerably weaker
than oil of almonds. The deceased must have placed the
bottle to her mouth for the purpose of tasting its contents.
The coroner animadverted in strong terms on the danger of
leaving such articles exposed, after which the jury returned a
verdict, "That the deceased died from the effects of poison I
taken by mistake." •