18 OCTOBER 1845, Page 9

Although opinion in many agricultural districts is in the state

best de- scribed by the epithet " jogtrot," instances occur, with increasing frequency, of a remarkable transition. The annual meeting of the Chertsey Agricul- tural Association, on Thursday, furnishes some striking examples of these newly-awakened views among the agriculturists of Surrey. Mr. Trotter,

one of the Members for the County, congratulated the county on having obtained last year a sufficient supply of food without foreign aid; which he believed, with skill and exertion, it would always be able to do. On this Colonel Challoner observed, that he agreed with Mr. Trotter in his opinion that the land was able to produce sufficient food for the population; but it could not be done without great labour, great exertions, and in some coun- ties entirely turning over a new leaf.

They should recollect, that although their population was increasing nume- rously, their quantity of land was still the same; and it was only by increasing its fruitfulness that they could hope to supply food for their population. Some gentlemen talked of bringing poor land into cultivation; but he was of opinion this would never answer, because he knew the expense of doing so, and that it would never pay unless corn was at high prices, which he thought they would not see again in this country, unless they were the result of scarcity, which God forbid should ever be the case. He had told them on former occasions, that they must not rely upon what they termed protection ; they must rely upon themselves; and they might rely upon it that the time would come when they would have none, and would be compelled to depend upon their own exertions. It might be next year, it might be ten years, but they might depend the time would come; and he called upon them therefore to be upon their guard, and not to be taken by surprise if they were told some morning that next year there would be no Corn-laws. He had no fear that even then they would be able to cultivate their land profitably if they exerted themselves. Mr. Wells, an extensive tenant-farmer, claimed greater consideration for the tenants than they have yet received— If the tenant had assistance from the owner of the soil, he could do much to improve the condition of his labourers; but the bad covenant under which they now held land prevented them from doing so. They had no inducement to improve— they were bound down to a certain course of cropping under all circumstances, and which he must call a most stupid system; and he hoped their landlords would take these matters into their serious consideration, and render their tenants assis- tance. They had many grievances to complain of, and which acted as a bar to improvement. There was the useless timber, the game, although happily they were not much troubled with that in this neighbourhood, and many other things in which the landlords might render their tenants essential assistance; and until this was done they could not expect that tenant-farmers would exert themselves.

Mr. Briscoe, toasted as " the father of the Association," allowed that protection is more a landlord's than a tenant's question— He held it to be the duty of a landlord to give assistance and support, and that not scantily either, to his tenant. He also thought that all those unwise restric- tions in leases that had been alluded to by Mr. Wells, and which prevented the honest farmer from exercising his skill and ability, and from making use of those scientific experiments which were so advisable, ought to be done away with. So far as regarded himself, he could inform them that a short time back he had the pleasure of signing a lease for one of his tenants, in which there was not a single condition or restriction, except that the premises should be kept in repair. (Cheers.) An old tenant of his had some time ago made to him a similar observation to that of the gallant Colonel,—namely, that he expected shortly there would be no protection: and he told him in reply, that should such an event occur, he would be most happy to give him a lease by which the rent should depend on the prices. (Great cheering.) He should be ready to do so, and he thought no landlord ought to object: it was perfectly fair to both parties—if corn fell the rent world fall with it, and if it rose the rent would rise also. (Cheers.) • • • A good deal was said about manufacturers and agriculturists: he, however, looked upon them all as manufacturers. The agriculturists were manufacturers—they manu- factured corn: they were all bound together; and if one class were protected, in his opinion, all should be protected.

Mr. Newman, one of the judges at the ploughing-match, concurred in desiderating a better tenure for farmers; who now work their farms ill and ruinously to all parties, for want of security. All these sentiments received abundant marks of assent, none of dissent.