Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-06
AGRICULTURAL DINNER IN ENGLAND.

Mr.. IsoERsoLL, the American Minister, responded at
some length. He complinented Lord Ashburton, and
referred in terms of high praise to the high services
which the late lord had rendered both to this country
and the United States by the settlement of the boundary
question. Mr. ngerso then alluded to the agricultural
productions Of America reminding the farmers that it
was not too much to ascrbt the prosperity Of England
ana especially OF her manufactures to the millions of
bales of cotton which Amercl to her. If they
desired more, his counrymea would grow and
to supply that demand and to cultivate those relations
OF increased friendship which the cotton trade cacu
lated to promote There danger, for century
two at least OF the demand the side the supply
on the other falling notwithstanding the production of
Egypt, India, and Western Africa. He was informed
that the exports of cotton from Alexandria 500 900
bales, large amount certainly, compared with the crop
grown in America, which was 100000 In 1860 this
amount would have another million added to it, and in
Egypt the productive ground covered by the plant
SO that the land Of the Pharoahs and Ptoemys would
not Interfere in this respect with the land of the Washing
tons His Exceency having referred to tobaccoof which
they grew in the States 200 900 lbssad that when
wet season any extraordinary and unpropitious
event rendered desirable for this country to call the
Americans for their eatables they would produce them
to any extent. OF rice, which in itself the aliment
Of one-third Of the human race, his countrymen pro-
duced 100000 600 lbs Of wheat 100 900, 900 bushels
and OF maize, Indian corn-that which came the
relief Of the Irish people during the amne-600 900
bushels per year The soil of England contained he be-
eyed $4,000 900 of ACRES but in the United States there
and ready for sale 70,00O,o0O of acres. political
philosopher had predicted that England could not
support 10000, O0O and she had doubled that
Der but II her population went increasing he invited
her agrcuursts and visit the United States
and to stay as long they pleased for they would lind
hearty welcome there. [Cheers and laughter. Be-
sides the vast numbers of their countrymen settled
in the United States-amountng to nearly 10000
from Ireland and $4,000 from Englandhe babe them
remember that its constitution and laws such that
any individual who among them, attached good
|
every political distinction, and certainly would acquire
every social right possessed by him here. ICheers
His Excelency then referred to ships which, he said
were drawn from the primeyal forests much corn
was drawn from agriculture and which were now bridg
ing the ocean, rendering the voyage between Eng
land and America short that hesitated to take
it, and agreeable that found it otherwise than
delightful In country like his where there album
dance of soil to be found and where science and art
applied to agriculture eagerly cultivated they would
always be proud to emulate the farmers of England who
stood at the head Of the agriculture of world Cheers
His Exceency concluded by giving as toast, The
Royal Agricultural Society"
Sir M. RIDLEY having proposed, in very COM
pmentary terms, g the health of the President of
the Society
Lord AsHBURroN said: feel proud of having my name
connected for day, with society which has done
so much for agriculture, much for England. TCheers
Other societies have risen before to beg extor assist
ance from the authorities of the day They have passed
leaving trace of their existence This society been
founded upon principle that God helps those who help
themselves We have left Governments do their best or
to do their worst In spite Of heavy blows and dis
couragements, we have kept shoulders manfully to
the wheel and God has blessed our efforts that now
at this tme were to ask any of the distinguish
ed foreigners who honor England with their presence
what produce of British industry is most unquestonaby
superior to the produce of the rest of the wordwha is
the produce of Great Britain which gives him the highest
idea of the Judgment ingenuity and practical skill of
Englshmenhe would tell you that he has better
silks in France, beautiful cotons in Switzerland
that losing ground in edge tools and cutlery that
America equals us in ship building; but that there
is kind of British produce the excellence Of which
other country approach-one- kind that men flock
from all countries TO and admire and purchase at
fabulous prices and that produce is the produce of the
that while Manchester and Sptalfeld and Stoke
Trent and other hives of industry wont to call in
French and Germans to assist direct and instruct them
in the higher branches Of their several arts the world
comes to to learn farming But satisfied with
merely claiming the palm for produce venture TO
assert that the farmer has far greater difficulties
tend with IN his calling than any other producer hatbis
contest with those difficulties employs cutyaes and de-
yeopes more energy, courage, resource
practical wisdom than is created by any other industrial
pursuit Take for example, the Of the cotton
spinner He buys his machine puts his wool or cotton
in at one end to take the finished article the other
he undergoes no risk he feels anxiety he deals in
deed, with the powers Of nature but with powers de-
i
Gated by his machinery. The farmer also deals with
ture, but with nature in her widest and Maynard
moods he has to encounter her in the tempest in the
burning drought in the overwhelming food, in the plague
Of insects The qualities required Of him those Of
who navgates his vessel amid the of the Atantic
the qualities required of the other rather those Of the
captain OF barge towed upon your peaceful canal The
consequence is that the farmer of the present day
more like the farmer of yore than the steamship that
forces its regular passage in spite Of wind and current is
like the tubshaped gallio Of old that lay in every
head wind and made one voyage year. Cheers Like
the steamer you have learnt almost to defy the vcis
tudes of the elements 1t is true you stop the de-
uge OF rain, but you drain off the superuous moisture
you cannot prevent drought but you give such crumb
70 the surface OF the soil by your implements, such
strength to the crop by TO defy it you
cannot arrest the pngue Of insects but you hurry the
growth OF the turnip by artificial and raise it
OF their reach you have invented breeds of beasts and
sheep TO make beef in twenty months and mutton In if
teen you have called the engine in to do your
work. in short you have raised agriculture from being
mere empirical pursuit to become master science
dominant art, ralying under its guidance insub-
ordinate cooperation the abors Of the chemist the
Psychologist, and the mechanician TCheers1 The re-
result is that we farmers Of England thwarted by
ure as industry is thwared smartinp under heavy
blows and sore encouragement experienced the hand
OF man. have by skill and perseverance elevated our
calling to the highest rank Of industrial pursuits aud
have done more to illustrate the skill and ingenuity Of
England than any other profession The result is that
We who have made great and generous sacrifices the
public good have made progress even than those ON
whose behalf those sacrifices made Now gentle
men, why do insist upon hisy Ii is to ater those
entitled to this praise il is to stimulate the backward
TO shame those who still cling to the Anticipated practices
oil their orcfathcrs, who in the midst of light still live n
darkness. Cheers What is to be the doom of those
W ntr ahn otna Iora. .r...-x