The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-21 00:00:00

nil tV, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, JULY 215 1845.

CITY OF II ON Ole4' TAX -UPON
COALS.
TO THE EDITQff OF ,THE
Sin4-43y the statute of 1 James 11., c. 15. s. 13, it is
enacted," That coals to be &livered at Chelsea College
shall be free of the City duty."
Can you be kind enough to inquire if the same privi-
lege is'conceded by the Bill now before Parliament for
regulating the City tax upon coals..—l am, Sir yours, &c.
Ilfracombe, July 16, 1845. 11. W.-1). •

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY OF ENGLAND.

Si.tatwsnualr, Jut,v 18.—Yesterday being the first day of
the cattle show, the town was crowded from au early hour.

THE DINNER.

At four o'clock the great dinner of the Society took place in
a pavilion erected in the Quarry-fields, which are situated close
to the town. The temporary building in question, which is
the same that was erected in Southampton last year, is capable
of accommodating 1,200, and there were at least 1,000 persons
present.
The Duke of Richmond presided, and Lord Portman, the
President-Elect of the Society, officiated as Vice-President.
The Noble Chairman was supported on his right by the Mayor
of Shrewsbury, Lord Hill, the High Sheriff of Salop ( St.
John Charleton, Esq. ), Viscount Clive, the Hon. Thomas
Kenyon, the Earl of Chichester, the Earl of Sheffield, Lord
Berwick, Lord Mostyn, &e., &c. On his left sat the Duke of
Cleveland, Earl Pawls, T. J. Smithman Edwards (the late
Mayor of Shrewsbury), Lord Kenyon, Lord Hatherton, Earl
of Aylesford, Lord Southampton, Lord Forrester, Viscount
Newport, the Marquis Delitreo, Count Potocki, Captain S.
Carr, Major Gravenitz, and the Earl of Mansfield, the Vice-
Chairman.
Among the company we also noticed Earl Spencer, Earl
Talbot, Mr. D. Barclay, M.P., Mi. Bellew, M.P., and Mr.
E. Buller, M. P.
The cloth having been drawn, the usual loyal and patriotic
toasts followed. _ _

The Earl of Powts said, that if the toast which had
been allotted to him to propose required anything like elo-
quence to recommend it to the consideration of English
farmers, he should have wished it to have been proposed
by some person more used to public speaking than he was,
to make it palatable to them. But the toast which ,he
would have the honour to submit to their consideration
would not require anything to recommend it in such a com-
pany as that which he had the honour to see before him. It
was, " Success to the Royal Agricultural Society of England"
—( Applause)—and in promotion of which that goodly com-
pany had been assembled. The Noble Earl, after alluding to
the power which England had obtained through the scientific
qualifications of such men as Watt, Bolton, and Arkwright—
one of whose descendants was, he was happy to say, present
on that occasion—then asked what would have signified the
labour and.the skill of these men if the agriculturists had not
been at home to feed the vast population to which their engage-
ments gave employment?— (Hear, hear.) He begged, in con-
clusion, to propose the toast which he had already announced,
and which he was sure they would drink with enthusiasm.—
( Applause.)
The Duke of CLEVELAND proposed " The Deputation from
Mecklenburg present."—( Hear.) If they had no other claims
upon the hospitality of the Company, it was enough for him
to state that the greatest kindness had been displayed to
Mr. Handley, one of the oldest members of their council, by
the people of Mecklenburgh, upon the occasion of his paying a
visit to that State.—( Hear, hear.) He would not further
detain them, but propose " The deputation from Mecklen-
burgh."—( Applause. )
Captain CAne, one of the deputation in question, shortly
expressed his acknowledgments.
Earl SPENCER then said—Gentlemen, the Committee
have selected me to give the toast—( here the bells struck out,
and interrupted the Noble Earl, which caused great laughter)
—of " Agriculture, manufactures, and commerce." ( Here
the bells struck out again, and the laughter was increased.)
The Noble Lord proceeded—The reception which you
have given me is undoubtedly far more agreeable than
the reception which I have received from the bells.—
( Laughter, in the midst of which the bells again chimed
forth, which created immense mirth, and was greatly in-
creased by a person calling out, " Silence that dread-
ful bell ; it frights us from our propriety.") I have
(said the Noble Lord) been called upon to propose the
next toast.—( Again the bell renewed its noise, the inter-
ruption from which was borne by the Noble Earl with the
greatest possible good humour. At length it was silenced,
and his Lordship proceeded.) I propose the toast entrusted
to me with the greatest cordiality. I feel that the toast of
" Agriculture, manufactures, and commerce," is one which it
must be the fullest wish of every one of you to receive with the
greatest satisfaction.—( Hear, hear.) My only difficulty is in
proposing such a toast, where I know I have the cordial con-
currence of all those whom I have the honour to address. The
greatest difficulty with me is to select the topics on ,which
I shall address you, or on which you will not anticipate
me in feeling everything I can say. This country de-
pends—the greatness of the country, the prosperity of
the country, the happiness of every class in the country
—depends upon the prosperity of agriculture, manufactures,
and commerce, and if I could conceive that there was any
Englishman who was an enemy to either of these classes, I
should look upon that man as an enemy to his country.—
( Hear, hear.) I shall take the toast, or rather the parts of
which it is composed, in an inverse order from that in which
I myself feel their importance. I shall begin with mann-
factures—the manufactures of the country are the sources
of employment to vast masses of our fellow countrymen. On
their prosperity depends the actual existence, in anything
like comfort, of the greatest number of the labouring
population of this country.—(Cries of " No, no," from Lord
Kenyon, whose interruption was drowned by the cheers
of the company.) What (exclaimed the Noble Earl, with
great earnestness) does any gentleman say to you—that look-
ing at the manufacturing districts—looking at the employment
of such enormous masses of the population—does any one say
that it is not for their advantage that manufactures should
prosper ?—(Cheers.) I really, when I began, could
not conceive it possible that any one, whatever might
be his means of knowledge, would say no to such a
proposition as that. If we look to the millions of our
fellow-countrymen—of our poor fellow.countrymen—of our
honest, industrious labourers, whose existence, whether in
comfort or in starvation, depends upon the prosperity of our
manufactures, I must profess that at a meeting of farmers a
doubt should be expressed whether it was for the advan-
tage of the country that prosperity in manufactures should
exist, is to me one: of the most extraordinary things I ever
heard. Who are your consumers? Who buys your produce ?
Who is it that encourages the improvement of the agriculture
of this country ? We all know that when there is prosperity
in the manufacturing districts, there is a concurrent advantage
to the agricultural interests.—( Hear.) We all know when there
is a failure in the manufacturing interests, we feel it its our
prices, but, above all, we feel it in the encouragement which
is given to agriculture.—( Hear, hear.) What country, I_
should be glad. to know, ever arrived at a high state of
perfection through the medium of agriculture alone
This is a great country—rich in every line—great. in every
line—skilful and industrious in every line to which it has applied
its energies; and this energy of the country has been
given us to improve—to improve, I say—for I do net say
that we have yet arrived at anything like perfection— but
to improve agriculture, in which I have no doubt we at
present occupy a position superior to that of any other na-
tion in the world. So that in addressing Englishmen of
every description, if I were to speak to them of the prospect
of manufactures, I should expect they would be ready to
applaud; but in addressing an assembly of farmers, I feel
still more confident they must applaud the sentiments to
which I give utterance,—( Hear, hear.) The commerce of
the country is another point to which I wish to call your
attention. The commerce of the country is one of the great
elements of our prosperity. To the commerce of the country
we owe our present naval superiority, and upon com-
merce that superiority must depend; and, in asking you
to drink prosperity to the commerce of the country, I ask
you to drink a toast which I am sure you will all concur in.—
( Hear.) I now come to agriculture, and I address you with
perfect confidence on that subject. Without agriculture our
manufactures could not go en—(Cheers)—without
agricul-
tore our commerce would languish—without agriculture our
people would be miserable.—( Hear, hear.) I have always
been desirous to promote, to the utmost degree, the im-
-1 provement of the agriculture of the country.—( Hear, hear. )
I concurred with my Noble Friend in the chair, and with
my friend Mr. Handley, in establishing this Society—l
think the Society has done a great deal of good, and I
think it.will yet do a great deal more good than it has yet
done, in promoting the improvement of agriculture. The
agriculture of the country is of the greatest possible im-
portance. • I have already stated what I feel, with regard
to manufactures. I have stated what I feel, with regard to
commerce; but then I feel that this applies to only parts
of the country, while agriculture applies to the whole—
( Cheers)—and, therefore, it is of the greatest importance to
every interest in the country—it is of the highest importance
to every person who is engag'l in trade or occupation in
the country, that the agriculture of it should prosper.—( Hear. )
Our prosperity, however, depends upon our own exertions.—
( Hear.) We must improve agriculture in every way we can,
with a view to obtain the greatest amount of produce out of the
smallest amount of outlay. It is impossible' to describe the
effect of agriculture upon the happiness of the community. I feel,
as you all know I do, that it is a most agreeable occupation.
I feel that I can pursue its various interests through all
parts of the year. There is no part of the season in which
an agriculturist may not find full and entire employment.
I won't say that it is—at least lately—a profitable occupa-
tion.—( Laughter.) lam too much of a practical farmer to
tell you that—(Hear)—but although ;it has not been as
profitable as I could wish it to be latterly, yet I don't think,
so far as I am concerned, that it has diminished in its in-
terest at all.—(Cheers.) It is also a most agreeable occupa-
tion, and suits every man whatever his disposition may be.
—( A laugh.) If a man likes to look at the dark side of
things, then there is scarcely any kind of weather which is
not bad for some part of his crop.—( Hear, hear.) I can-
not say that I am fond of looking at the dark side of the
picture. But on the other hand, if a man like to take an
agreeable view of matters, then the same weather which is
injurious to some part of his farm, will, he knows and feels,
be good for another. (Loud cries of hear, hear.) Therefore,
1 say that farming suits everybody's taste. Those who like
grumbling, can find in it plenty of opportunity for grumbling,
and those who like to be pleased, can always find something in it
to please them. ( Hear and a laugh.) 1 will not detain you
further, but will propose at once, " Success to the Agri-
culture, Manufactures, and Commerce of the country.
(Cheers, )
'f he Earl of CHICHESTER proposed " the health of the
Mayor and Corporation of Shrewsbury."
The Mayor returned thanks.

Earl TALBOT proposed, in complimentary terms, " the
health of the Noble President," which was drunk amidst loud
cheers.

The CHAIRMAN expressed his gratification at the confi-
dence which the agriculturists of the county had reposed in
him.

Lord HATHERTON proposed the health of the labouring
classes, not merely of those connected with agriculture, but
the labouring classes in every department of industry in the
United Kingdom.—(ApplauEe.) lie called on them to omit
no opportunity of promoting the comfort of the labouring
classes, and in that respect to imitate ;he example set them by
the Noble Duke in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN propoEed, " the Highland and Agricultural
Society of Scotland, and the Royal Agricultural Improvement
Society of Ireland."

The Earl of MANSFIELD responded to the toast, and said it
was true that this Highland Society was the parent of the Eng-
lish Agricultural Society ; but the offspring had outgrown its
parent.—( Hear.) From the end of England to the end of
Scotland, he declared that all felt the greatest interest for Ire-
land—that they felt that they were all one people, and that
they hoped the people of Ireland would become their rivals in
all that could advance the physical or moral interests of man-
kind.—( Cheers.)
Lord CLIVE proposed, in complimentary terms, the health
of Lord Portman, the President-elect.—( Hear.)
Lord PouTitax expressed his acknowledgments. He hoped
that as many of them as could would do him the honour to be
present at the meeting of the Society next year at Newcastle.
The Noble Chairman then retired, and the company sepa-
rated, evidently gratified with the proceedings of the day.
There was a ball in the evening, which was well attended by
a fashionable company.

- There is to be an of the cattle to-day, and it is ex-
pected to be well attended,

THL F TCOME-TAX.

TO TIM' EDITOR OP' THE SO'.

:::ra,—As the income schedule returns are now again
in the course,df circulation throughout the country, it
*ill not lie out of time to offer c rnplaint again.
That it is ma:lif(-stly unjust to tax tradr!inen., clerks,
and look-k,viers, equally wi:h the" real prdpetty man
and the fundholder, no honest person will venture to
deny. Sir Rjhert, by way of excuse, took it upon him-
self to say there' would be a " difficulty" in drawing a
line. Not the least could there ba were he inclined to
act equitably. He might subject the real property and
the funded property holders to a duty upon 1501., and
the tradesman, clerk, and book-keeper, to 3001. ; or, if
that (lid not suit him, hake a difference in the ratio of
duty as between the landholder, the fundlnilder, and
others.

Sir Robert knew his landholding majority would sup-
port him in his injustice, but he may not have them at
his back another whole year. I think he will not, from
the events which are forecasting their shadows ; but at
any rate he must be still reminded of his income inflic-
tion.—l am, Sir, your obetlient servant,
A LOVER OF RIGHT.
July 16, 1845.

LITERATURE.
POEMS. By Eliza Gook. Second Series.

The lovers of poetry have lamented that in this age
of civil;zation eud intelligence, while every other species
of literature improves and advances, poetry alone—the
noblret and highest of the whole—has deemed to decline
and fade away. They ask why we must seek for genius
only in the pwt----is there not more wisdom, more learn-
ing in the present day?—is not education more widely
diffuser!, the intellect mere cultivated, the taste more re-
fined ? Why then • are the inspirations of the poet
counted hut among the things that were? To those who
sp-alt thus we would reply, their own arguments convey
their aeswcr. Tee march of intellect has effected
wonders, its pregress IS Vivifying as the sun ; learning
and knowledge improve by civilization, but poetry needs
no adventitious aid. Science may require investigation
and research, philosophy needs experience and reflection,
but who would " gild refined gold?" Genius requires
no teacher but nature ; the unstudied effusions of the
heart are the brightest and the best. It is for this reason
that poetry has eeclined : we have sought to refine that
which is itself the essence of nil refinement, to improve
the highest efforts of human intelligence—what wonder
if we hew. failed? The hothouse flowers way be
lovely, but they have lost the perfume of their native
mountains. True poetry must be unstudied as nature,
free as freedom itself—

" Immortal habitant of mind,
And catch its beauty from the day, its music from the wind."
It is for this reason that the poems of Eliza Cook have
obtained such celebrity. Free from the vain embellish.
ments of art, they are, like beauty, " whet unadorned
adorned the most." They come from the heart of the
writer, and will totteli a responsive chord in the breasts
of all who read them. It is unnecessary to recommend
this volume t') the attention of those who are acquainted
with the first; the admirers of true poetry will find in it
the same unstudied charms, the language of simplicity
and truth.

" Compared to this, Italian trills are tame."
In the introduction Miss Cook observes—

" I can only write from my heart, and that heart has been
left from infancy to the mercy of its own intense impulses.
My rhyming tendency developed itself at a very early age, but
the tones of judicious praise, or improving censure, never met
my ear. The advantage of an enlightened, nay even a common
education was denied me, lest Knowledge should only serve to
faster Poetry, and make ' a sentimental fool' of me. I was
left like a wild colt on the fresh and boundless common of
.Nature, to pick up a mouthfal of Truth where I could. The
woods and brests became my haws : the rippling stream and
bulrush sighing in the wind whispered to me in sweet and
gentle breathings : the silver stars in the measureless night-
sky, and the bright flowers in my morning path awoke my
wonder, and opened the portals that; led to the high and mys-
terious temple of Thought. God and Creation were before
my eyes in all their glory, and as an untaught child I wor-
shipped the Being who had endowed me with power to con-
terni.late his works, and rejoice therein.'"
Many of the poems are evidently recollections of child-
ho,xl, and are written in an easy, inartificial style. Some

are cl,voted to the simplest objects—" The Old Straw
Hat," " The Room of the Household," and others of the
same description ; but even the humblest subjects pos-
sess a charm from the natural rind unafrxted manner in
which they are depittd. It might be said of this au-
thoress, " Quod tgngit aruat."
The following are specimens of the mere serious
poems:—