The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-25 00:00:00

6

WEST SURLY AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the above association took
place on Thursday at Farnham. There was a plough-
ing match in the mailing, and the weather being fine,
it attracted a greatefino.ny of the neighbouring gentry,
who appeared to tae a good deal of interest in the ex-
hibition. /
The clinnertook place at the Bush Inn, Farnham.
Crawford Davison, Esq., of Pierrpoint, presided ; and
there were also present J. Trotter, Esq., M.P. ; G. T.
Nicholson, Esq., Colonel Sumner, H. Currie, Esq., S.
Nicholson, Esq., A. L. Coussmaker, Esq., Captain Win-
sor, N. Fuller, Esq., &c., and about eighty of the prin-
cipal farmers of this division of the county were also
present.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been pro-
rosed and duly responded to,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Lord Lieutenant and
Mr. Nicholson, and the Magistracy of the County."
Nr. NICHOLSON, in returning thanks, after express-
ing the pleasere he felt in co-operating in carry-
ing out the objects of this association, said that as
the chief object they sought to attain was to in-
crease the produce of the land, he thought it
was a very important consideration whether some
means might not be devised to bring into cultivation
the immense tracts of waste land that existed throughout
the country, and he said that, in his opinion, the fame
of the man who could achieve this would be far greater
than that of any warrior or statesman who ever existed.
At present these wastes were a positive evil, and tended
very considerably to demoralise the agricultural popu-
lation, but he had no doubt with proper exertion they
might be rendered a blessing, and be made available, and
increase the qnantity of food for their population.—
(Hear, hear.) lie was of opinion that the extension of
railways would have a very material effect upon the cul-
tivation of waste land, as by their means they might
have manure, which was almost all they required,
brought to their doors at a very trifling expense. If
they exerted themselves, whether they had any protect-
ing duty or not, he lied no doubt that the farmers of
England, from their superior energy, would be enabled
successfully to compete with foreigners,, and that they
would be able to produce quite sufficient food for the po-
pulation of the country.—(Cheers.)
H. CURRIE, Esq., then proposed " The healths of the
Members for West Surrey," and, at the same time, said
he regretted that Mr. Denison was prevented by illness
from being among them on the present occasion. He
considered they were under very great obligations to
both these Hon. Gentlemen for their exertions lioth in
the House and out of it, and he was sure they would
receive the toast in the manner it merited.—(Cheers.)
Mr. TROTTER, in returning thanks, said that he also
regretted very much that the state of health of his
honourable colleague prevented him from being present.
Big Honourable Friend had been their representative for
twenty years, and his conduct upon all occasions was so
well known to them that it was perfectly unnecessary
and irrelevant for him to say one word in reference to his
services. With regard to himself, he had only a seven
years' lease. That lease would expire very shortly, and
he was, of course, unable to say whether it would be re-
newed or not. All he could however do was to tell them
that he should be ready to take a new lease, and pay the
same rent.—(Hear, and a laugh.) With regard to what
heel been said by his friend Mr. Nicholson about the cul-
tivation of the wastes, he agreed with him that much
might be done, and he begged to remind them that the
Act relating to draining, which was passed during the
last session, was calculated greatly to facilitate the cul-
tivation of waste lands, if parties chose to take advan-
tage of its provisions. He had lately been in Scotland,
where, upon the Lammermoor hills, one of the most
bleak positions possible to be conceived, he saw turnips
growing upon spots where nothing but heath had before
grown.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He thought
much might be done by bringing the large
quantities of waste land there were in this
country into cultivation. At present he did not offer an
opinion how this was best to be effected, but he would
only say they had an Act of Parliament which gave them
the power of trying how far it was practicable to bring
these wastes into cultivation, if they chose to take ad-
vantage of its provisions.
Mr. TROTTER, in proposing as a toast " The Farmers
of West Surrey," said he agreed with what had been
stated in the early part of the evening by Mr. Nicholson,
that the labouring population ought to have more time
air orded to them than they had at present, and that the
agricultural labourer should have a holiday occasionally
given to him. His wages, however, ought not to be
stopped to pay for his holiday, for he would not enjoy
it if he found his wages short on the Saturday night.—
(Hear, hear.) He had never found the labourer ungrate-
ful, and he was sure they would never regret treating
him with kindness. With regard to the cultivation of
waste lands, he might perhaps be allowed to make a few
further observations. It might be very true that the rail-
ways would give facility to carry manure, but who was to
buy the manure in the first instance ? The farmer
could not do it, and unless he was assisted by
his landlord, the idea of cultivating the marshes
would turn out to be a chimera.—(Hear.) He heartily
wished it could be effected, for it was absolutely necessary
that they should go on increasing their produce to keep
pace with their largely increasing population.—(Hear,
hear.) In order to supply that increase of population,
they required the produce of 116,000 acres of land,
taking it at three-quarters an acre, and they also wanted
20,000 beasts, each of too stone, and 75,000 sheep at
9 stone ; supposing each person to consume 751 b. of
meat a year ; and upon this calculation there would
still be a very large deficiency. When they reflected
upon this, they would see the necessity of leaving no
exertion unspared, and that they need never fear pro-
ducing too much, and their only fear should be that
there would not be sufficient. Ile had no desire to
alarm them, but he felt it his duty to call their attention
to so important a matter. Last year they were able to
produce sufficient food for their population ; and, under
the blessing of Providence, lie had no doubt they
should be able to continue to do so.—(Hear, hear.) He
believed they would go on with the corn-law they had
at present without any alteration ; and his opinion
wee, that the present law should be sustained, and he
trusted there would be no alteration in it.—(Cheers.)
Mr. A. WINKWORTH, in returning thanks, said he be •
lieved the farmers had done all in their power, consider-
ing the treatment they had received. Their interests
had been neglected and their property destroyed by an
apostate minister and the men whom they had sent to
Parliament to protect them.—(Hear, hear, and inter-
ruption.) He had recently met at Guildford a person
connected with mercantile pursuits, who told him that
he thought it was a folly to employ men to hoe wheat,
and he hoped, in a short time, to see wheat at such a
price that it would not be worth hoeing. When farmers
were told this, and saw how they were treated by men
who professed to be their friends, they did not know
It hit to do for the best.—(Hear, hear.) Their Govern-
ment had made a very liberal tariff to benefit foreign
nations. and they had been met by adverse tariffs in
every direction.—(Hear, hear.) He considered that the
farmers of England had been imposed upon, and, as
there was a talk of a split in the Cabinet, he hoped that
they would look after their own interests, and that they
would not be turned over as they had been.—(Hear.)
The meeting then separated.

WORKSOP LABOURERS' FRIEND

SOCIETY.

WORKSOP, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22. The annual meet-
irg of this Society was held at Worksop on Tuesday.
His t3raee the Duke of Newcastle was present at the
plotu,hing matches, and subsequently at the dinner of
the Society, at the Red Lion Inn.
Dinner being over, and the usual loyal toasts having
be en given, his GRACE, who occupied the chair, in pro-
po,ing "Success to the Works of the Labourers' Friend
Society," spoke of its objects, and the duties of the em-
ployers to their servants.
The Nob!e CHAIRMAN said, the next toast he had to
propose was that which related to the objects they had
met that day to celebrate ; and in proposing the toast
he wished tAi make two or three observations upon it,
although, not being prepared with any well digested
peed), he was afraid he should not be capable of offer-
ing anything more than a few ordinary remarks. That
day for the first time ho was present to witness the
ploughiniy., matches of the Society, and he must say, it
gave him very groat pleasure to observe so industrious a
s •ene, one in which the labourers in husbandry took so
match pains, in which they were so anxious to distinguish
themselves.—(Bear.) Not only were their praiseworthy
emulations excited by the distinctions of the Society ;
they had a pride amongst themselves, and no doubt they
exerted themselves for the honour of their masters as
^ll as their own.—(Cheers.)* tiHe hoped that Von of
emulation would be persevered in by them, because it
not only tended to distinguish themselves as executing
their particular offices with adroitness and dexterity,
but it also showed to them the great importance iu their
situation in life of preserving an excellent character.
This would help to make them honest and good men.—
(Cheers.) It would be quite unnecessary for him to
attempt to enlighten them on the nature of this Society,
which they had so kindly, and he must say so patrioti-
cally contributed to support. He was sorry to learn that
the funds were not so good as they might be, but he
hoped very much indeed they would be increased suffi-
ciently to enable them to give not only such premiums as
were awarded by the Society at present, but even to in-
crease them, if it should be found necessary. What-
ever was useful and desirable for the people and bene-
ficial to those around them they would all most willingly,
and, in a British manner, stand up to maintain. (Loud
cheers.) He must say, it was his humble opinion that,
though this was called a Labourers' Friend Society, he
really did think it was capable of being carried much fur-
ther than merely giving prizes for good wormanship and
long service. There were other desirable points to attend
to in such a Society. He was sure they would go
along with him, and feel, as he did, that it was very
necessary and desirable that we should all adhere to
those around us ; that we should make common cause
with them, and stand in relation to one another as frietids
and neighbours.—(Cheers.) We were all of the same
flesh and blood—all of the same family.—(Hear, hear.)
There must be difference of rank and difference of posi-
tion, but they should never forget that it was their duty,
ast he was sure it was their anxious desire, to show the
u nl,st kindness and benevolence of feeling to those
around them, awl gain their hearts and affections as
much as possible by the wayd in which. they conducted
themselves to them; by stuioi inculcating in them
all those moral and religious principles,d which would
make them good servants, and by
admeieniustyertmetomall their
watching over their morals,
necessities in reason.—(Cheers.)
should gain their affection, and, with their aekten)estiolwine,
their hearty and willing exertions...—(Cheers.)
did not think it. necessary to throw oat such a hint,e
but if they coincided with him, he hoped they would
turn their attention to what he had said—though he
had said it rather loosely—and endeavour as much
as possible to elevate the condition of their
servants , • and, while they . endeavoure to make
them good workmen, and In the arts of hose