The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-03
LORD NAPIER s SPEECH Al THE BANQUET or
TIE UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL SOCIE-
. FY, RICHMOND, FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 1858
Report "a for the union.l

| Of agriculture, toasted Lord Napier In the following
words
beg leave therefore, to propose on taking my seat
the health of distinguished guest the President of
the Agricultural Society of the County of Sekirk, in
Scotland distinguished no more by his learning his eo-
quence and his craftsmanship than he II by all those
amenities which grace gentleman, and 1t the Queen Is
not, she ought TO be, proud Of her Peer Immense
cheering.
| Lord Napier replied substantially as follows
eEsrLrMEs When rise to address the distinguished
assemblage which has remembered my sovereign and my
country, and which has done me the honor OF noticing
my presence at this festival Is matter OF satisfaction
to reflect, that however ignorant am OF the noble IN
dustry to which you have alluded and however ncapa
bic of Justly approaching the fruits and services which
you rendering in this cause may still rank myself
although in subordinate degree, among the true sons OF
| the soil Applause.
remember With proud pleasure this occasion, that
my father unsuccessful farmer laughter !; but,
gentlemen that he successful writer upon the art
| of farming (CheeRl l belong to class whose yoca-
ton and interests deeply rooted in the and-a class
whose active life is much bestowed upon the business OF
Parliament the negotiations of civil government or on
the profession of and which, in all the vcissltudes
of life and strife, still represents itself thus upon helds
and courts but who have dreamed of late return to the
hereditary honors Notwithstanding this diplomatic de-
serton and this foreign vagrancy of which shall not
accuse myself on the present occasion, still remain
member of the Highland Society Of Scotland and you
have just heard president of the Industrial Assoca-
tion native county for the improvement Of Cheyot
| sheep [Cheers and laughter,
Now gentlemen with these aneccdens and with these
associations you may well believe did not fail to give
stronger to what has been said in my hearing, and
| that / gmtihed by the hearty welcome ! expe-
rienced from this brotherhood of agriculture. Since
my arrival at Richmond my attention has been called to
the motto of this StateSn Saaper 1yrdnnis. This is
strong legend and 1t has reproachlu .gnif ance in
English ears laughter but when reflect upon the an
cient hospitality of Virginia. have in my mind new
motto Sic SeD,per Anices the to the oppres
sor and always the to the guest fidelity to free
dom and fidelity to friendship still the bases OF Vir-
hnaha aufIr nf
America in its great expansion and in its rapid progress
presents spectacle to which Englishman can remain
indifferent History offers example of this rapid ys-
terous unceasng encoachment of skill and labor over
the fertile domain of the savage and his prey 1t is the
first triumph Of man occupied with all the power OF in
| vention and experience
In the agriculture of America the spontaneous
industry of which the field is the American continent
| and of which the implement is the AngoSaxon arm.
fCheers 1t may be asserted with equal truth that the
agriculture Of America forms the principal basis OF the
prosperity of England In the three great staples
cotton, corn and tobaccowe recognise the udspensa
\ bic material of manufactures the main basis for
the of the State But gentlemen not only do
the agricultural productions of the United States con-
tribute in very high degree to sustain government
and industrial community but the land and labor
ket of America offer to whole population an nevi
table refuge in the hour Of distress. BY these the bur-
den of domestic taxation c lghtened the public peace
preserved and political institutions relieved of
that pressure to which it would be otherwise exposed
from the passions of men without the means of constant
support and without hope of relief and surely gentle
men, there is event in the circle of human action
that is more touching than the departure of family
from their birth place to settle in strange country II
subject upon which poets ponder and novelists eSer
else their genius For my part my impressions are de-
rived from life and disposed to refer to those scenes
because they intimately connected with my first
sociations of America. Belonging to Scotland, in which
the aspirations emigration, my earliest recolIectons
are mingled with thoughts of the people leaving their
fields of toll and turning their faces towards the western
world that they might open up more generous gain to
those who staid behind All the features OF such
incident still present to my memory there is
stormy morning-the mist dwelling the mountain
top there is cottage with its smoky chimney and neat
4 chnmber-therc the helpless infant there the suffering
wife, reluctant but resigned elder children pleased
the father grave Then gentlemen, the long parting OF
those who will meet until the weary at rest
And thus people come forth to another world i'm
PEELED by the Almighty power which sends them on their
/ distant course. Cheers.
Whilst recognising these characteristics of the people
have the honor to represent cannot deny myself the
satisfaction and pleasure of expressing the qualification
which have personally drawn from the external aspect
of American husbandry. DR.. johnson, on being asked
what the summit of human felicity, said that if you
wish to be perfectly happy here below, yon should pro-
cure horse and drive rapidly through country,
with pretty woman by your side Laughter. Now.
gentlemen strike out the pretty woman and think
the respectable moaist right for have yet to learn
of higher qualification than travelling through new
country That is pleasure have been enjoying upon
several occasions since have been here 1t must not
be supposed however, that the aspect of country
is always agreeable to the eye In the new portions,
often the primitive beauty is destroyed and not meeting
with that to which have been accustomed, fas-
tiious taste complains that the fuow is not straight
that the wheat is not clean; the swamp not drained
and then the absence of green groves and the def
cheney of sheep-t TINT interesting animal which
/ il is my peculiar privilege to preside. Laughter and
| cheers But it requires little reflection to show
that these the results Of the first efforts at agri
culture, and it must be allowed that In various parts
of the Union there extensive tracts well ordered
which please the eye and taste of the English traveller.
Besides that the horse to be equal to that of the
old country Il speak with respect, near the birth
place of Sir Arcby) Laughter The superiority is still
to be tested, and gentlemen regard with qualification
the system of emulation between the horses of the two
countries which has lately been started, and have
doubt that good results will flow from it, With reference
ieve the best English breeds will be produced without
degeneracy.
In country like the United States where human labor
is cxorbanty expensive the greatest amount of mcchan
ieal assistance is required, and in this department the
triumphs Of American ingenuity not only profitable
| at home but recognised by nations abroad Much has
been accomplished and the future will still be greater in
its results for by the scientific inspection of soils and the
discriminate application of manures cannot doubt
that the whole country will be improved and every por
ton of the land will be brought TO very high state Of
productiveness and beauty.
Mr., Chairman and gentlemen, her Majesty The Queen
will learn with qualification that her character and dig
nifty held in honor in the ancient Commonwealth
which had its ancient from the most distinguished
OF her predecessors Gentlemen, it has been remarked
by two recent historians of great rebellion that
the question of right uncertain that hon