The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-23 00:00:00

GRAND DINNER IN THE PAVILION

The grand dinner of the members of the society took place
yesterday, in the spacious pavilion in the yard of the Old
Infirmary, which is described in the supplement. Four
o'clock was the hour appointed, but long before that time
the spacious structure was crowded. The arrangements
were admirable, both for ingress and egress. The accommo-
dation for the press was excellent, and the representatives of
it were treated with courtesy. We have the greater pleasure
in mentioning this facts, because we have felt it our duty to
censure the officers of the society for the miserable arrange-
ments for their accommodation in every other respect.
The dinner, which was of course cold, was supplied by Mr.
Radley, of the Adelphi Hotel. It was excellent. We un-
derstand that 2900 guests sat down.
Shortly after four o'clock, the chairman of the society,

Philip Pusey, Esq., M.P., entered the building, accompanied

by the principal guests, and took the chair. At the same
moment the vice-chairman, Henry Handley, Esq. entered.
and took bis seat as vice-president.

On the right of the President were seated—the Mayor ol
Liverpool, Lord Sandon, M.P., the Earl of Denbigh,
Lord Ingestre, M.P., Lord F. Egerton, M.P., Earl Spencer,
Sir Charles Burrell, M.P., Sir Charles Morgan, Lord Lis-
burne, Sir Thomas Brancker, J. Wilson Patten, M.P.,
and Professor Daubeney. On the left of the President
were—Lord Stanley, M.P., Earl Talbot, the Earl of Chi-
chester, Professor Buckland, Lord Mostyn, Professor John-
stone, the Earl of Aylsford, the Hon. L. Mostyn, M.P., Sir
John Mordaunt, M.P., Robert Palmer, M.P., Viscount
Emlyn, M.P., and Lord Blantyre, &c., &c.
Thos. M. Milnes, Esq., M.P.,
The following gentlemen officiated as glee-singers, and
contributed much to the enjoyment of the evening :—Mr.
George Holden, Mr. Ball, Mr. Boothby, Mr. George Lunt,
Mr. Hornby, Mr. Earnshaw, Mr. Richardson, Mr. William
George, Mr. Davies, Mr. Andrews, Mr. J. Lunt, and
Mr. Stott.
The dinner concluded about a quarter past five. The
cloth having been withdrawn, and Non nobis domine chaunted,
The PRESIDENT rose to propose the first toast. He said,
Mr. Handley and Gentlemen ! Let us drink our first toast,
that toast which, as loyal and dutiful subjects, we are bound
to drink, and which we are ready and glad to drink "the
health of our Sovereign, Queen Victoria, with loyal, and
dutiful, and hearty honours." (Three times three.)
National Anthem, " God save the Queen."
The PRESIDENT said the next toast which they were

bound to drink, and which they were most ready to drink,
was the health of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, the
Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family. (Three
times three)
Lord STANLEY then rose, and was greeted with loud cheers.
His Lordship said, Mr. President and Gentlemen,—l have

weived not the permission but the command of the Presi-

dent, to propose to you a toast ; and I can venture to assure
you, in all sincerity, notwithstanding the kindness of the re-
ception which you have given me personally, that nothing
short of that authority, and of those commands, would have
induced me to obtrude myself upon the attention of a meet-
ing like the present, upon a subject such as the present, and
upon which I am deeply and painfully conscious that it would
be the height of presumption in me to hope to think I could
add anything to the information of such an assemblage, and
which I have attended in the earnest desire of manifesting
my concurrence in the great objects which this meeting has
at heart ; and, in the hope not of conferring, but that I might
myself receive, much practical information by so doing.
(Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, it is impossible for me to
look around me, at this splendid assembly, which I see here
.

collected, without congratulating you—without congratulat-
ing the country at large—upon the probable, nay the certain,
effects of the institution of this valuable Society; and I feel
. .

convinced, that in proposing to you to drink "Success and
prosperity to the Royal Agricultural Society of England," in
your zeal and enthusiasm for the toast, you will, if you can-

not forget, at least forgive, the deficiency of the proposers.
Gentlemen, let me, in the first place, congratulate you in
the name of English feeling, and in the name of sound
national sense, upon the practical proof which you have this
day obtained of the wisdom of that, which is, as I hold it,
the fundamental and the essential rule of the proceedings
of this society, that all that pertains to political contentions
and questions be altogether banished. (Loud cheers.) It
is matter of no little congratulation that at a moment when
the country is recovering, and hardly recovering, from that
ferment inseparable upon a dissolution of parliament, and a
general election ; men of all sentiments, of all political
parties, of all opinions, are met together here in harmony,
and in concert, to deliberate and to consult upon the great
national interests of the empire; and especially upon the
present occasion, and in this place; and gratifying must it
be to find that in this, the greatest commercial town of this
country, of the greatest commercial country in the universe,
(Cheers) an assembly unprecedented in point of numbers,
unrivalled in point of respectability, and character and sta-
tion, is met together, and graced by the presence of the
principal magistrate oithis great commercial town, (Cheers)
for the purpose of doing honour to the cause, and of sup-
porting the interests of English agriculture. (Loud cheers)
Gentlemen, in such a meeting it would be idle in me to des-
cant upon the immense national importance which attaches
to the agricultural interest, upon the immense importance of
that noble and honourable profession or science, call it which
you will, upon which devolves the arduous but at the same
time the vitally essential task of producing the first necessaries
of life, meat and bread, for a population redundant to excess,
and increasing its members in this wealthy, commercial, and
manufacturing country, at the astounding rate of little less
than a thousand in each day that passes. (Hear, hear.)
But, gentlemen, I must freely say to you that in my judg-
ment and in my conviction, so far from looking übon it
as a discouraging, I look upon it as a most encouraging
symptom and character of the times, that our agriculture, at
least in science whatever it may be in practice, and in these

matters science and practice must be intimately combined,
with regard to its probable results upon this great object is
yet, we may almost say, in the infancy of its condition.
(Hear, hear.) We look back at the present period with a
smile of indulgent pity upon the feeble efforts of agriculture
at a time not long gone by ; and we may look with some in-
dulgence, but also with some surprise, at the limited views
we now venture to entertain compared to what, half a century
hence, I firmly believe they will have accomplished. (Hear,
hear.) And, gentlemen, let us give praise and honour where
praise and honour are due. (Cheers.) I believe that to our
northern brethren we are mainly and in a great degree in-
debted for the progress which of late years has been made in
the science of agriculture. (Cheers.) Labouring under the dis-
advantages of a soil of certainly not more than average fertility,
of a climate even yet more ungenial and more variable than
ours,—nay, perhaps, gentlemen, upon account of these very
disadvantages—the prudence, the foresight, the perseverance,
and the skill of Scotland, led them to contend with natural
obstacles, successfully to compete and overcome them, and
to set to us, their southern brethren, an example of what
may be done by perseverance against difficulties of every
class. (Hear.) Gentlemen, I give to the agriculturists of
Scotland the credit which I believe to have been done to
them ; but I give also to the agriculturists of England the
credit which is due to them, for no display of ungenerous
jealousy, or of hostile rivalry, or of absence of unwillingness
to follow a good example freely set before them. (Hear.)
From the time that Scotland took the lead, we were not
ashamed in this southern portion of the empire, to begin to
inquire for Scotch bailiffs, for Scotch ploughmen, and to in-
quire into the Scotch system ; and having begun to inquire,
the agriculturists of England were not slow to follow, where
practical experience, combined with science, proved to them
they might follow safely and with advantage to themselves,
and to the interests of the country. (Cheers.) Gentlemen,
the first step, the great step, the step without which
improvement is hopeless, was achieved, when agricultu-
rists, both landlords and tenants, began to be sensible of
the deficiencies of their own system—when they began to
believe that there might be something better, something more
advantageous, something cheaper to themselves, something
more productive to the country than they had heretofore fol-
lowed,—(hear, hear)—and when they began by generous
rivalry to endeavour to compete with those who they hitherto
considered as their instructors. (Cheers.) There was the
first step, and it was the great step of practical improvement.
(Hear.) That step was met by cordial concurrence upon the
part of all classes of British agriculturists ; it was met in
various parts of the country with various successes, but in
none without great and merited success by the exertions of
local agricultural societies in the different districts, Perform-
ing within their limited sphere, and upon a smaller scale;
that, or a great portion of that, which the Royal Agricultural
Society of England now performs upon a larger, a more ex-
tended, and proportionably a more useful sphere. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, when I say a more extended, and proportionably
a more
useful sphere, I mean to refer to the extended
com-
petition which is the basis of all knowledge of improvement,
and the best stimulus to successful exertion ;—(hear)—and
in his neighbourhood, is materially inclined, if he
as each individual farmer, where there is no agricultural
society
takes any pride at all in his own stock and in his own land,
to be soon self satisfied with his own improvements and his
produce, so the local agricultural societies of this country, con-
fined within a small sphere, proportionably limit their powers
of competition, and proportionably create an undue degree of
self applause in those who in their limited sphere find them-

selves superior to their neighbours ; but when by general
emulation throughout the whole country competition is ex-
tended far and wide ; arid looking at the immense facilities
given by those extended means of conveyance which now
bring the bulkiest of articles from one portion of this em-
pire to the most distant quarters of it, in an almost incredi-
ble short space of time, the Royal Agricultural Society of
England has at once the power to combine in one spot, to
show in one place, specimens of produce, such as I venture
to believe, it would be very difficult for the world to match,
and show to each Agricultural Society, in their own district
in turn, how much they have to do even to achieve that de-
gree of perfection which has been achieved by their neigh-
bours in other districts. (Hear, hear.) It was impossible

tor the most unpractised eye to have visited the show yard
this day, without being struck with the immense superiority
of the stock then exhibited, over any that upon former oc-
casions, many of those whom I have now the honour of ad-
dressing, have, together with me, seen exhibited upon the
spot upon which lam now standing to address you. (Hear,
hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, I would be very far from
saying that this was the main object, that this.was the princi-
pal advantage ; upon the contrary, I say it is a very minor
portion, a very inferior object, a very secondary consideration
for the Agricultural Society of England, the exhibition of
stock, and of the improved produce of cattle which they
exhibited in the Shew Yard. One great object. 1. hope,
may be accomplished by this exhibition. I know how in-
competent I am upon this subject to offer any advice (Cries
of no, no) or opinion, but I know in this neighbourhood—
and I doubt not it is the same in many parts of the country,
that a great and grievous error prevails among the farmers
of preferring, when they are breeding; either horses, or bulls,
or rams, whose services 'may be obtained at a cheap rate,
rather than choosing an animal of the greatest merit and
quality. (Hear hear) I would venture to say that a more
fatal error cannot be committed; (Hear) it is the strongest
illustration that I know of the "penny wise and pound
foolish." (Hear hear) It is the saving in the first instance
of a few paltry shillings which makes.the difference, and it
is the incurring of the whole after expense of breeding, in
reference to which those few shillings are as nothing, the re-
sult of one, being, that after all your expence, you obtain a
worthless, and in the other a valuable produce. (Hear, bear.)
But, gentlemen, I have said that I considered the exhibition
of Stock to be a very second-rate consideration in the objects
contemplated by the Royal Society of Agriculture. I have
said that I believe, in reference to its possible capabilities, to
be yet in its infancy : and I am firmly persuaded that the
man who should at this time form a correct estimate of those
improvements in the capabilites of our productions, which I
believe will be seen within a century hence, would be
deemed not a rational calculator, but a visionary enthu.
siast, and a man who speculated upon impossibilities. (Hear
hear.) Why, gentlemen, the practice of agriculture, nol
many years ago, would hardly have been dignified with the
name of a science. It would have been considered as ar
easy sort of matter to obtain a provision, that it might be
taken up and carried on by any upon the good old hum.
drum principles which they had seen adopted by their father
and grandfathers, carried on with the rudest machinery
with the least possible economy of labour and expense, bu
producing possibly what it had produced for years and cen
.uries before, and that what was good enough for thei
sthers and grandfathers was good enough for them. (Hew
tid laughter.) Gentlemen, I hope a better time has come
let in the capabilities of the soil, and in the means
riculture, what did satisfy our fathers and our grand

5
ars, will not satisfy us ; hear,) and if that satisfie
it will not satisfy our children and our grandchildren

Applause.) I hold it to be one of the most importan,
points connected with this great assembly, that it was just
at the period at which the spirit of enquiry and improvement
commenced to take deep root in the minds of the agricul-
tural population—that at that precise and most favourable
moment, my noble friend, the Earl Spencer—(loud cheers)—
whom I now see near me—a name which I perceive that you
agree with me in thinking never could be mentioned without
respect and cordial approbation—(renewed cheering)—in an
assembly of Englishmen who know how to value sound,
practical sense, the most intense and universal benevolence,
and the soundest and strictest integrity. (Cheers.) It was
at that fortunate moment that my noble friend conceived the
project of instituting the English Agricultural Society, and
of extending thereby the benefits of mutual information and
of mutual competition throughout a larger sphere than had
ever formerly been attempted in this country. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, even in our most ordinary farming operations,
is it not a subject for regret upon one hand, but is it not
also a subject from which we may derive hope for the future
upon the other, that though much has been done—and I do
not deny that very much has been done—within the last
twenty years, yet much remains undone, and yet to be
accomplished that in the departments of science as
connected with agriculture much remains yet not only to
be made known, but even to be explored and investigated?
(Cheers.) Take the very simplest operation—take that
which is the foundation of all agricultural improvement—
take that without which outlay is thrown away, and is better
not laid out at all—examine generally the state of England,
and of these parts, I believe I may say of England generally.
I know I may speak it with regret and shame of my own and
some of the neighbouring counties—l venture to say, that
water courses choked up—drains imperfectly constructed, if
constructed at all—combined with a soil of natural tenacity
and extreme retentiveness, overflowing the whole with a
superabundance of moisture, diminish to an extent that
would hardly be credible the productiveness of the soil.
They extend over a large surface of ground, and contribute,
in my conscientious belief, to alter the very character of the
climate, if not of the atmosphere itself; and while they di-
minish the productiveness of the soil, retard also the produce
of the country, and the quality of the crops when they come
to maturity. Well, gentlemen, we are here not to pay com-
pliments, but to speak the truth ; and have we not in this
acknowledged defect—the very root of the syAtem which is
carried on in this neighbourhood—grounds for regret at the
supineness which formerly prevailed, and at the same time
grounds of confidence in the results that will follow a more
enlightened system? (Hear.) The man would be thought to
have conferred no trifling benefit to this country, who should
add one hushell to the quantity of wheat produced by the
wheat lands of England ; yet 1 am confident I speak within
compass when I say there are hundreds of thousands of
acres which are capable by improved cultivation and atten-
tion to drainage of producing five, ten, or fifteen bushels per
acre more than they do. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I feel
that in dealing with this subject, I am running the risk
of wearying this vast assembly—(cries of " No.")—who
are more competent upon this subject to instruct me than I am
to speak to them ; and yet it is not of importance that we
should see what may be achieved without any extraordinary
means, but by the ordinary exercise of that knowledge which
if we do not all possess, is within the power of all to acquire.
(Cheers.) lam aware that the process of draining is an ex-
pensive process, which requires an outlay of capital, which,
if we were to take the total of even a single county in Eng-
land, would strike every man as something marvellous, and
almost appalling; and yet I am satisfied of this, that while
no landlord could expect a tenant to engage in operations
so expensive, without his concurrence and assistance (Cheers)
and without his bearing, let me add, even the :principal
portion of the original outlay. (Cheers) lam also firmly
persuaded of this. thatithere is no bank in the whole country,
no commercial speculation, no investment so safe, so sure,
so profitable, as that in which even borrowed capital may be
engaged by investing it under the ground of your own soil.
(Cheers) Now gentlemen, the next to drainage, in point
of importance, probably would follow the subject of manures.
Upon this subject then, much is there for all to learn. How
much is science gradually adding to our stock of information,
—how much may practice add to the means of composition,
and the advantageous employment of all those substances
which tend to fertilize the earth. (Cheers) Yet gentle-
men, ordinary as this may perhaps seem, how very great
are the doubts, how very many are the problems
which yet remain to be solved, and which require the inves-
tigation of the highest branches of science, which call in aid
of practical agriculture the most refined and philosophical
speculations, in order to ascertain in what manner and in
what proportions—having regard to the chemical affinities
of the soil, looking to the particular time, at their propor-
tions—they should be applied, the manner in which they
must be economised, the mode in which their fertility may
be increased. Let men, then, learn the apparently humble,
but really vital subject of the application of manures to the
lands 9f this country. (Cheers.) And, gentlemen, if upon
the surface we are yet in some doubt, if even day by day
science is,discovering fresh manures applicable to different
soils, and for applying them in different cases under different
rules, if within the last two months a manure wholly new
and hitherto unheard of has been imported into this very
part for the advantage of English agricultdrists—if a ma-
nure which is the deposit of sea-fowls in the islands of the
Pacific ocean, has been with advantage and with probable
profit imported to fertilize the fields of England, what
a field does this open for future speculation and further
enquiry ;—(loud cheering,)—if even upon the surface we
have this much to learn, who shall say what fresh investiga-
tions may discover in the relations hitherto uninvestigated and
untried between the various subsoils in this country, and in
their action upon the superincumbeut soil above them.
(Loud cheers.) Here is a field wholly new, almost untrod-
den, almost uninvestigated, and yet it is a field which pro-
mises largely in its practical results, thus practically being
extended by the theoretic investigations of men of the most
learning and science in this country. (Cheers.) I pass by
many other topics—ordinary topics—upon which much has
been done no doubt, but upon which how much remains to be
done? (Hear, hear.) The due selection of seeds, the in-
vestigation of those mysterious laws of nature by which not
only a due rotation of crops appears to be carried on, but by
which, after a certain cycle of years it appears evident that
an alteration in the accustomed rotation becomes necessary.
I pass by these topics; I psss by the selection of best seeds;
I pass by the application of the best manures to the
tom hotstefiitmtinnfensed
soil; but
cleasskthrt huaagvae beintoentumrnadyeo, and
your attention,
httione,

immense advances which yet remain to be made in the appli-
cation of mechanical power to diminish labour and reduce
expense and facilitate the cultivation of the soil. (Cheers.)
I hold it to be one of the most encouraging symptoms of the
present day that men of the highest eminence for mechani-
cal genius, and for mechanical talent, are turning their at-
tention, with great and deserved success, to the improvement
of those implements of husbandry, which former times con-
sidered were capable of little or no improvement, but which,
by their improvements, by the saving of labour and of ex-
pense I am confident are capable of adding enormously to
the productive powers of this great ccuntry. (Cheer.) Gentle-
men, I do not speak of those diseases which are incidental
to cattle, a stock of every description, or of the vegetable
productions of the soil ; but is there not much to learn in
the history of these ? I can hardly call them less than
plagues—by which the farmers' hopes are liable to be blighted
year after year,—the wire-worm, the fly, and all the various
plagues, which, after the best application of industry, may
blast and defeat his expectations. I have thus passed sum-
marily over some principal topics, yet see what a field is
opened ! Agriculture not a science ! Why, there is hardly
a science that is not handmaid and subservient to the pro-
motion of agriculture! (Cheers.) Zoology, botany, geology,
chemistry, in a most essential and competent degree, mecha-
nical science—all are connected with it, but the great practi-
cal problem which this country has to solve is that of giving
the speediest return to the cultivator, and of producing the
largest amount of produce at the smallest proportionate ex-
pense. But you will say, in what way is the Royal Agricul-
tnral Society of England to assist us in this case ? Much in
every way. It collects from every quarter information from
practical and advice from scientific and theoretical men; and
while there is no man so high in the walks of science who
can think himself degraded by applying his talents and mind
to a subject of such general interest to the country, there is
no man so humble, on so small a scale, or in so low a situa-
tion, who may not confer a signal benefit to the country, if
he will only communicate to the Royal Agricultural Society
of England, fully and entirely, all the circumstances the
results of any proportion of his own practical experience in
his own line. (Hear, heer.) Gentlemen, it is not to be ex-
pected that the writings of scientific men should at once
come into general circulation, and be in the hands of the
farmers of this country ; but fortunately these are farmers—
fortunately for this country there is a class of men of
whom I would speak in terms of the highest honour, a
class of the gentlemen of this country, men of inte-
grity, of education, and of refinement, capable of weighing
the scientific speculations of the wise, and with means, and
the inclination to apply those means, to a practical investiga-
tion of the results of those theories. (Hear.) Whlie you have
such men as my noble friend, to whom I have already re-
ferred—(cheers)—while you have such men in the country as
my noble friend the Duke of Richmond—(loud cheers)—
whose absence from this meeting, and the cause of it, I am
sure will call forth throughout the agriculturists of the coun-
try, and from all the well feeling and the well disposed por-
tion of the community, one sentiment of universal regret,
and the deepest sympathy—(hear, hear)—while you have
such men as my hon. friend the president of this society—
(hear)—while you have such men as the hon. gentleman
whom I see opposite to me, the president elect of this so-

ciety, (cheers) you need not fear but that the speculations of
men of science will have in them impartial and able judges,
will have in them also persons who will practically test the
merits of their experiments, and in whom, each in their re-
spective neighbourhoods, may place implicit confidence in
the farmers, as they cannot expect to risk the loss of capital
in hitherto untried experiments, they will, I am satisfied, at
no distant time, be content to follow. Gentlemen, I have
been more lengthy than I ought, and much more im-
perfect than I desired in sketching out to you very
summarily some of the many benefits which are likeiy to
be conterred upon the agriculture of this country, by the
Royal Agricultural Society of. England (Hear.) In wish-
ing it prosperity, I may congratulate you upon its increased,
and I 10

may add, unparalleled prosperity at the present mo-
ment. Last year, the end of two years from its foundation,
it numbered about 2,500 members; in the present year its
numbers, without distinction of situation and party, or of
any consideration, except an earnest desire to support the
agriculture of this country, no less than 5,000 subscribers
have doubled its numbers in the course of that time. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, it rests with you whether this society shall be
enabled still further to extend the sphere of its usefulness—
whether it shall be able to go on proportionably increasing its
means and extending its benefits ; but, from the assembly I
see around me, I fear nothing—at least for the neighbour-
hood of Liverpool and for the county of Lancaster (Hear.)
I feel confident that the men who have here attended will
not feel satisfied with the compliment of their presence, but
that they will give more substantial marks of their approba-
tion, and that in adding themselves to the number of sub-
scriber, they will feel another year additional and more lively
pleasure in drinking that toast, which I now propose to
them,—" Success to the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng-
land." (Tremendous chers during which the Noble Lord
returned his seat.)
Earl SPENCER then rose, and his reception also was most
enthusiastic. He said that if now, or at any period of his
life, he had felt anything like rivalry with his noble friend in
his eloquence and his power of speaking, he should rise at
the present moment with the greatest possible distrust and
diffidence, after such a speech as that which they had jitst
heard from him. But he (Lord Spencer) had no pretensions
of that kind. He came before them simply to propose to
them that in which he knew he should have their entire con-
currence in his proposition, and he knew that they would
concur in the toast which he was deputed to propose to them,
with as full satisfaction and as much cordiality as if he were
able to propose it with the most powerful eloquence, (Ap-
plause.) The toast which he was deputed to propose to
them was, " Success to agriculture, to manufactures, and to
the commerce of the country." (Cheers.) He knew enough
of those whom he was addressing—he knew enough of their
feelings towards their fellow-countrymen—he knew enough
of their feeling for the general benefit of the community at
large—to believe that if he were only to appeal to then, to
drink success not only to the line and to the profession and
science in which they were themselves engaged, but also to
those in which others of their fellow-subjects were engaged,
he knew that they had such sympathy for the general welfare
of their fellow-countrymen, that it would not be at all neces-
sary for him to add any comment, or to do anything to in-
duce them to concur with him in that toast. (Applause.)
But even if he had felt any doubt of this—which he did nit*
—he would say that he addressed them, and asked them to
concur in this toast for their own individual interests.
(Hear, hear.) It was for the interest of agriculture in this
country that the country should be wealty—that it should be
prosperous in every branch, and throughout its whole extent.
He therefore believed that there was no toast on the paper
laid before them more consistent, or more closely united
with the objects of this society, than that which called upon
them to drink success as well to commerce and manufactures,
as to the agriculture of the country (loud applause) ; for how
could they hope to carry into effect the objects of this so-
ciety, which was to extend scientific and improved agricul-
ture throughout the country, without wealth and capital to
be applied to the improvement of agriculture? Every thing,
therefore, which promoted the wealth of the country—
every thing which increased the wealth of the consumers in-
creased the prosperity of that business in which they were all
engaged. (Applause.) He would, therefore, detain them by
pressing this fact upon their attention, but permit him to say
some few words on the present state of this society, and on
the exhibition which they had had at their present meeting.
His noble friend had most properly stated that the main and
principal objects of this society were not confined to shows of
cattle, or merely to the improvement of stock, but it was,
undoubtedly, one of the naainobjects of agricultural improve-
ments that they should Improve the stock which they reared,
and should be enabled to bring it to market early, and at a
cheap expense, the animal produce which they brought for-
ward. These shows, therefore, though certainly not the
principal and main object of the society, were of great im-
portance amongst the objects which they had in view. They
were important in themselves, as they showed what skill and
attention could do in improving the breed of domestic ani-
mals, and they were important as a means of collecting to-
gether such an assembly as he had now the honour to address.
With respect to the present show he should say, that, in his
opinion, it was the best show they had had at any of their
exhibitions. He knew there were some who doubted this,
but he was quite sure that if there were such even, they must
admit that there had been no falling off. (Hear, hear.) In
his own opinion the show was greatly improved. They had
had in some of the classes an exhibition of stock which bad
surpassed any thing that he had seen in those classes, and if
he might be allowed to trespass on their attention he would
allude to some of them. He was speaking now as a practical
farmer, he was speaking from his own practical experience,
and whilst he was willing to leave to the able and eloquent
speech of his noble friend the general interest of the society,
he (Earl Spencer) felt more in his own sphere, more in his
own element in speaking to them practically on the stock
which had been laid before them. He would mention one
animal, and he was sure they must have observed it as well
as himself. He called their attention to a yearling bull, of
the Hereford breed, exhibited by Mr. Walker. He thought
that young breeders would do well to examine that bull, for
in it they would see all the points which should be sought
in such an animal. With respect to breeding-stock he would
call their attention to a cow, bred and exhibited by Mr.
Booth. With respect to sheep—both South Downs and
Leicesters—there were many of extraordinary merit. One
in class 8, exhibited by Mr. Logan, was one of the most ex-
traordinary animals of that breed that he ever saw. Some of
the South Downs exhibited,—a very large proportion of
them indeed, were excellent, but he would particularly
call their attention to one of the shearling ewes, exhibited by
Mr. Webbe. If they looked at these animals tlicv would see
to what perfection breeding could be brought. Those who
wished to improve themselves in the knowledge of what ani-
mals could be brought to, need only look at these animals,
and he thought they would see in them what, in shape and
quality, they ought to endeavour to obtain. Having said
thus much with respect to the stock, he ought to address them
on another part of the exhibition, the exhibition of imple-
ments,—but his own practical knowledge was not sufficient
to enable him to give them any practical information on this
subject. With respect to implements, however, they had
seen to what mechanical skill and science had brought the
ploughs, which their ancestors thought incapable of improve-
ment. The implements exhibited, both for their number,
variety, and excellence, were well worthy of the attention and
well worthy of the encouragement of all who were engaged in
farming. It was undoubtedly with great satisfaction that he
had seen such a meeting as the present. It was most satis-
factory to him that, coming into the greatest commercial city
of this empire, they had been able to show the earnest desire
of the farmers of England to improve the cultivation of the
soil,—that they had been able to show that from every part
of the united kingdom, the farmers had come to show the in-
terest they took in the improvement of agriculture, to meet
those engaged in the same line with themselves,—to commu-
nicate information and to receive information from others in
return, because it was undoubtedly one of the merits of this
kind of life in which they were engaged, that they never en-
deavoured to conceal their discoveries from one another.
(Hear, hear.) Whenever they discovered any thing impor-
tant in the cultivation of the soil, they were always most ready
to communicate it to their neighbours in order that they
might follow the example,--and if they had a fault, it was
that they were sometime more angry than they should be
when they thought that they were not imitated so quickly as
they ought to be. It was therefore of great importance that
the farmers should come together at such meetings as this,—
a meeting so numerous that he could hardly wish to see it
more so. (Applause.) He hoped it would continue year
after year such as he now witnessed it, exempt from every
feeling which could produce difference of opinion,—united in
one great object,— the improvement of agriculture throughout
the united kingdom. His lordship concluded, amidst great
applause, by proposing " Success to the agriculture, manu-
factuses, and commerce of the country," [drank with great
applause].
The CHAIRMAN said he had next to propose a toast which
he was sure required no argument to enforce it. They
had been most hospitably received in this noble city of
Liverpool, upon their third meeting, and he was sure they
would agree with him that their council had properly selected
the place for that meeting, and if they looked to what quarter
they could pay their debt of gratitude for that reception, there
was but one to which they could turn, and that was the chief
magistrate of this city.
(Loud applause.) The Mayor of
Liverpool had exercised the most liberal hospitality towards
the council, they had themselves seen in how well regulated
a city they had met together—the merit of those regulations
must rest with the mayor,----and, without one word more, he
knew enough of English gratitude, and of the gratitude of
farmers, to propose at once, with all their hearts, and with
the utmost honour which they could pay, " The mayor and
Corporation of Liverpool." (Drunk with all the honours.)
TO MAYOR, (Thos. Bolton, Esquire,) rose to return
thanks, and was very warmly received: He said he was
deeply sensible of the kind wanner in which they had been
pleased to notice ally little attention which the Mayor and
the Town-council of Liverpool had had it in their power to
show. He only regretted that they had not more within
their command, and he begged, on behalf of the people of
Liverpool, to express their gratitude to the noblemen and
'entlemen constituting the council, for selecting Liverpool as
eir place of meeting. (Applause. Though he was himself
Acquainted with the science of agriculture, he had that day
-sed a noble show of cattle, and an exhibition of the

of a goad system of draining—mentioned the improvements
in the mode invented by the Marquis of Tweedale and Mr.
Beard, of Huntingdonshire, and then expressed a hope that
they would avail themselves largely of both these discoveries,
and that in the course of a few years they would cease to see
the water from the skies all over their furrows and spoiling
half their produce. When they had attained to this improve-
ment, they would have done for one-half of England what
Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, did for the other. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Coke had enabled them to grow wheat on the light
lands of the country ; let it be the object of this society to do
as much as one individual had done,—let it be their object
to improve the other half of their country. (Applause.)
He had mentioned subjects which conveyed some imputation
of blame—he would now turn to others of a more agreeable
nature. Coming from the south of England, he had seen
with great satisfaction excellent crops of Swedish turnips,
which might be seen on all sides of Liverpool. He was told
that it was not unusual to grow 35 tons of Swedish turnips
upon a single acre. Those farmers who came from the
south, when they had grown 20 tons, thought that they had
done pretty well. He was afraid that the climate was rather
against them, but at least let them try, in fair rivalry, to
equal their northern brethren. After commenting on the
great importance of increasing the means of feeding stock,
by improved cultivation, he said that the great assembly
would shortly be dissolved, and he hoped every gentleman
would return to his home with an agreeable recollection of
the meeting at Liverpool, and with some increase of practical
knowledge which he might be enabled to apply to his own
farm. For his own part he should carry to his home in
Berkshire a deep and lasting remembrance of the kindness
which bad been shown to him on this occasion by the farm-
ers of England, and Ile had this additional satisfaction that,
if he were still allowed to conduct their organ, which he be-
lieved to be of great usefulness to the society, he should still
have the privilege of applying to all farmers for information
on any subject on which he thought the public required in-
formation. He knew from experience that that information
was not withheld by any narrow feeling of jealousy but was
cheerfully given, and when he ceased to be their president—
an office for which he felt his own want of ability (" No, no")
—he still hoped that he might be the organ of their opinions.
(Applause.) He felt great satisfaction in hoping, that when
he left that chair he was not quitting their service. (Much
applause.)
The VICE-CHAIRMAN said, that in proposing to them as
a toast the " Highland Society of Scotland," he was con-
scious of his own inability to do justice to it; feeling that to
the enterprise, skill, and industry brought to bear by that
society, nature had been conquered in her most rugged
forms, by the successful attempts which had been made in
Scotland to counteract the sterility of the soil and the incle-
mency of the climate. It was the landed proprietors and
tenantry of Scotland who had given a national character for
the first time to agricultural societies. The success of the
Highland Society of Scotland doubtless encouraged his noble
friend Lord Spencer to propose to the farmers of England
the establishment of a similar institution, and most grateful
ought they to be for the example. They must look to the
Highland Society of Scotland in the light of a parent, and
he trusted that that society would see no reason to be
ashamed of the offspring now presented to their notice.
(Applause and loud laughter.) It was a common thing
to wish that such a one might be a better man than
his father; and he was quite sure that the Highland
Society would rejoice if, in the progress of friendly rivalry,
they should even outstrip it, and at all events they would
rejoice to hear of the successfui meeting that day. Nothing
remained for him but to propose to them the continued suc-
cess of the Highland Society of Scotland, with which he
begged leave to couple the name of Professor Johnstone,
(drunk with great applause.)
Professor JOHNSTONE, in replying to the toast said he had
formerly reason to be proud of the honour conferred on
him, unexpectedly, by the Royal Agricultural Society of
England, in electing him an honorary member, in virtue of
which be was entitled to appear before them that day ' • but
he did not expect that that additional honour would have
been conferred on him to return thanks for the toast then
proposed, and which they had received in so cordial a
manner. He could only account for it on consideration
that he was situated at Durham, about half way between
the Royal Agricultural Society and the Highland Society
of Scotland. Although he would have an opportunity at the
meetingof that society, in Berwick, of addressing them on the
connexion between that science to which he had been devoted
and the art of agriculture, yet he did not consider himself en-
titled to represent that society which existed long before he
was born, and of the members of which there existed some
who were deeply acquainted with all that the art of agricul-
ture could lay before them before he had studied the elements
of the art. When he had an opportunity of addressing them,
he would tell them that in formerly an inimical country,
England, there were men more friendly towards them than
words could tell—men not only willing to give them credit
for what they had done, but, what was a greater indication
of friendship, willing to follow their example. (Applause.)
He was surprised that the Highland Society of Scotland
should have existed for sixty years without the agriculturists
of England following in their footsteps. The learned pro-
fessor then proceeded at some length to advocate the utility
of bone dust as manure, and to show the benefits derived by
agriculture from science, but the meeting got very impatient,
and he concluded by thanking the meeting in the name of the
Highland Society.
Lord FRANCIS EGERTON said he had to request the largest
measure of their indulgence, not, indeed, for the toast he
had to propose, but for himself. It so happened that public
engagements yesterday at Manchester, occupied with private
circumstances, had prevented him execuiing his own wish in
attending this celebration at an earlier period, and he only
arrived at Liverpool that day in time to cast a cursory glance
over the splendid exhibition in this neighbourhood, and to
arrive in time for that festivity. On entering that large
building, an old and valued friend had put a toast into his
hand, on reading it he felt somewhat consoled, for he felt that
it required no adornment of language to recommend it to the
meeting. If he had had all the time since the last meeting to
prepare this speech, he could not have done better than just
to name " The Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland." He
saw many around him, in every.consideration better entitled
to offer so distinguished a toast to their attention. It might
be that the committee recollected that some years ago
he was in some measure connected with that country.
Perhaps they knew the fact that in no place was a temporary
residence—whatever be the object of it, or whatever be the
colour of a man's coat, be it blue or be it red—more sure to
make a person depart with a sensible value of the better fea-
tures of the character of its inhabitants, of the kindness and
liberality, the gratitude and indulgence, which they were
wont to exhibit to-the strangers who visited them with what-
ever purpose, provided he maintained an average character
for integrity in his dealings towards them. (Loud cheers.)
In conclusion, his lordship said, that in receiving that toast
from him, they would forget the unworthiness of one who,
in an agricultural subject, had not a right to mingle. He
came there with a hope and intention of learning much, but
not with a vain and presumptuous hope of raising his voice
amongst them. He hoped they would drink to the success
of the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland.
A Gentleman from the sister country, whose name we
could not learn, briefly returned thanks.
ROBERT PALMER, Esq., M.P. for Berkshire, proposed
the toast, " The town and trade of Liverpool," and hoped
the trade and commerce of this great town would continue
to flourish.
Si.-- THOMAS BRANCKER returned thanks. After the
many eloquent speeches delivered that evening, and at that
late hour, it would be presumptuous in him to attempt to de-
tain them at any length, even if he possessed the ability to do
so. He would simply return them thanks, as an old inhabi-
tant of Liverpool, and to express, on behalf of the inhabi-
tants, their high gratification at seeing so numerous an assem-
blage in the town, consisting of the noble and wealthy of the
land, and many of the most intelligent farmers of the king-
dom. The occupation ;of the inhabitants of Liverpool they
knew to be chiefly commercial, but they were deeply con-
cerned in the agricultural concerns of the community. In
fact, it would be absurd to separate the one from the other.
(Applause.) If one languished the other would languish
also ; and if one flourished the other would not be long be-
fore it participated in its advantages. (Applause.)
Dr. RUCKLAND said he was much too anxious to do every
thing in his humble power to promote, in the smallest de-
gree, the interests of that great association, not to accept
readily the task suddenly imposed on him of performing a
duty which, from his situation as Professor of Geology in the
University of Oxford, he was very unfit for,—it was to pro-
pose the health of the Stewards of the Yard and of the Judges
of the Stock. The stewards of the yard were well known in-
dividually to them ; they were their first Noble President,
Earl Spencer, Mr. Ducie, his own' neighbour, who co-
operated so ably with the society at Oxford, and the secretary
of their own local agricultural association. These were names
which required not one syllable of recommendation from him.
The judges of the stock were too many to be personally enu-
merated, but they would forgive him if he suggested to them
the propriety of placing the prize animals on platforms, so
that they might be visible to every one, a practice which he
had seen advantageously usedat Aberdeen. and of producing
some gentleman skilled in stock, and universally respected
for his skill, to lecture to the surrounding farmers, and to
point out wherein consisted the excellence of the stock.
After a few remarks on the benefit of draining, he concluded
by again naming the toast.
P. W. S.-Mites, Esq., M.P. for Bristol, rose to return
thanks, but as it had become nearly dark, part of the cover-
ing of the pavilion was removed to allow the light to enter,
but this produced such a draft that it drove the persons from
their seats, and those who remained, buttoned up their coats
and put on their hats. A scene of great confusion ensued,
and bawling and shouting was continued during the greater
part of the time Mr. Miles was speaking.
The CHAIRMAN then called for Mr. Grey, of Dilston, but
that gentleman not answering, the chairman rose again and
proposed what he conceived to be one of the principal objects
of the society, " Success to the agricultural labourer." From
the confusion which prevailed, this toast passed off un-
noticed, except by a few who received it with marks of dis-
approbation. Amidst the disturbance which prevailed,
The CHAIRMAN bawled out that there was only one toast
more-,-the health of his successor, Mr. Handley. He (the
chairman) left the affairs of the society in his (Mr. H.'s)
hands, and he left Mr. Handley in the hands of his friend,
Lord Ingestre.
Lord INGESTRIE, amidst great uproar, said he craved their
indulgence for two or three minutes while he proposed to
them the toast which had been committed to his charge.
After attempting to be heard for some few minutes, he con-
cluded by proposing the health of the " President elect."
Mr. HANDLEY rose to reply, but was treated as unceremo-
niously as was the Noble Lord who preceded him. Most of
the company had departed before he rose, and the remainder
were moving off as fast they could whilst he was on his legs.
The toasts of the evening having been gone through, the
Chairman vacated his seat about half-past eight

IRISH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A deputation from the Royal Agricultural Improvement
Society of Ireland, consisting of the following gentlemen :
Colonel Crishton, and James L. Napier, Esq.. Vice-Presi-
dents; Gustavus Lambart, Charles Roper, James R. Jack-
son, John Robinson Price, Sir Thomas Butler, Bart., David
Charles La Touche, Henry Ryan, Thomas Bolton, Marma-
duke C. C. Roberts, William Francis Finn, Acheson Lyle,
Esq., and Peter Purcell, the original founders and promoters
of the Society, and Edward Buller the Secretary, yesterday
waited upon the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society
of England. His Grace the Duke of Leinster was also

pected-to be present, but was detained by being in attend-
ance on her Majesty, but the deputation was most graciously
received, and experienced the utmost attention and con-
sideration from the members of the Council.

[We have now got to the close of the proceedings of this

useful but grossly mismanaged society. We have elsewhere
bestowed a sufficient notice upon the arrangements which
the " Council" have deemed it fit to make for their meeting
in this town ; but we hope, when the Association again as-
sembles, the members of it will receive at the bands of the
Council more often tion, and the public greater liberality,
whilst the press, we are proud to say, can afford to be com-
pletely independent of their mean and paltry attempts at belt.-
aggrandisement and distinction.]

MATES' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—This promises to
be one of the most excellent institutions in the town. The
objects of it are the bettering the condition of the officers
of our merchant marine.—lt is to be hoped that all who have
an interest in shipping, will offer this young society a warm
support. We cannot spare space to enlarge upon the
subject this weeks but we probably may do so in our next
publication.
THE FINE ARTS.—We beg to refer to an advertisement
of some pictures on sale, which will be found elsewhere in
our paper this day.