Vroninrial.

Lord Palmerston distributed the prizes of the Labourers' encourage- ment Association at the Townhall, Romsey, on Tuesday. The success- ful candidates—men, women, and girls—had a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, which received full justice, as did Lord Palmerston, who, when he arrived, was received with loud applause. Prizes were given to shepherds for rearing the greatest number of sheep, drivers for never returning intoxicated with their teams, and to ploughmen, rickmakers, thatchers, seedamen, and drillmen, and also for length of service, neatness of cottages, and garden cultivation ; lastly, one of 30s. to a labourer for

making the best provision for his marriage. Lord Palmerston made one of his usual happy and hearty speeches ; he declared that the approba- tion of his fellow countrymen ought to be the ambition of every man, whatever is his condition in life ; he is glad to know that there are many deserving men in Romsey. " You have, my friends, received prizes among you for all those opera- tions which form the basis and foundation of good husbandry, and you must be well aware that your vocation is one of the most important of any in the community, because the cultivation of the land, the increase of the

produce of the soil, the supply of food to the nation, are the very founda- tion of all national prosperity ; and, unleae the skill, perseverance, and in- dustry of those employed in cultivating the land are directed to increase the produce, to the utmost extent that science will permit—unless these qualities are directed to secure the harvest, to protect it when garnered—

why, we know that all those other interests which are connected with the distribution of the produce of industry must fail, because the very founda- tion on which they rest will have been insecure and unsound. Therefore, my friends, you may feel proud on having attained distinction in your own vocation, because you must be conscious that that vocation is entitled to the greatest esteem and respect of the whole community." Lord Palmerston then impressed upon his audience the importance of rearing their children in a respectable manner. Three "honest, hearty, British cheers " were given for the Premier and Lady Palmerston. There was a dinner of the members in the afternoon,—Lord Palmerston presided ; in proposing the Queen, he said—" It may not be out of place to remark the contrast that exists fortunately between this and some other countries, which are not altogether at the other side of the globe, where the Sove- reigns have lost the confidence of their subjects, and where, in conse- quence, they have also lost the thrones which they occupied." He next proposed "the Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers." He referred to the China expedition in proof of the fact that our forces had not deterio- rated in skill and bravery : "a better equipped expedition" was never planned ; it had harmoniously cooperated with the forces of France, a symbol, he hopes, of the friendship between the two countries. Coming to the Volunteers, he said- " The Volunteer Service is one that cannot appeal in the same way as the Army and Navy to historical and traditional recollections ; but, if there is anything of which this nation has a right to be proud, it is the Volunteer

movement that has taken place during the course, I may say, of the last twelve months. I think there was never a more honourable act on the

part of the people of any nation than this organization of our Volunteer force. It would not be surprising if, at a moment such as happened in the great war with France, when an enemy was standing in great force on the opposite side of a narrow channel, when invasion was daily threatened, and when everything dear to the country and the nation was at stake—it could not be surprising that, at such a moment, 300,000 or 400,000 men should have arrayed themselves in defence

of the threatened liberties and independence of their country. But in the present instance, this Volunteer movement arose out of no such imminent danger, but out of a deep and reflecting sense on the part of the people that there might be an occasion for the services of such men. They felt that, although we were at peace, although there might be no immediate chance of danger to the country, yet that there was, nevertheless, wanting an addi- tional force in support of the regular Army and Militia ; and these men, really amounting, I believe, to something like 150,000 or 170,000, of all pro- fessions, ranks, and occupations, stood forth, devoting their time, spending their own money, giving the energies of their minds to the acquirement of military tactics. I am glad to say that I heard the other day from that gal- lant officer, Colonel M'Slurdo, who is appointed to inspect the force, that he was astonished at the proficiency already made. He said he had al- ready inspected 40,000 Volunteers, who were perfectly fit to take the field, and 30,000 more in a very little time would be equally fit to take post in line."

In proposing prosperity to the Association, Lord Palmerston took ad- vantage of the occasion to direct attention to the question of overcrowded dwellings-

" It is true, and has often been said that persons are frequently deterred from erecting cottages because they do not think they shall obtain an ade-

quate return for the money they lay out. But I must say I think that is a

radical and fundamental mistake. A man might as well say that he gets no return from his farm buildings, his cattle-sheds, his barns, stables, and other out-buildings necessary for the occupation of his farm. Why, he does get a return in the manner pointed out by Mr. Dutton, that no farmer of sub- stance, capital, skill, and enterprise, will enter upon a farm on which there is not all that is necessary for the successful cultivation of that farm. No one can expect to let a farm without a good farmhouse and all those buildings I have described; neither will a tenant prudently take a farm which requires a con-

siderable outlay of money unless he is sure that he will have his labourers at hand close to their work, and that he will not lose in their time and in the exhaustion of their physical power that which he would lose if they were re- quired to walk two or three miles to their work, and the same distance in re-

turning from their work at night. It is quite impossible that the labourer can do as much work, or do that work as well, if he lives a great way from

the farm, as if he lived in a comfortable cottage at an easy distance from his

work. Therefore I contend that those who build cottages do get a return for the money they lay out, over and above the shilling a week which, in a moral point of view, it is right the labourer should pay, inasmuch as it

makes him take better care of his cottage, and gives him a feeling of part ownership in it. But the landlord has a complete return for the money he lays out in getting a better tenant to occupy his farm than he would do if there were not houses for the labourers within reasonable distance. That company or association which my houourable friend mentions will enable those who might have hesitated before to extend their operations ; and I

trust, that at no distant time, we shall see all those wretchell hovels—of which I am sorry to say there are too many in different parts of the country —disappear, and that we shall see our labourers lodged as men ought to be who have farniliea whom they wish to rear respectably, and whom their employers ought to desire to see imbued with feelings of that self-respect which invariably leads to good conduct."

The Manchester Chamber of Commerce met specially on Wednesday, to receive a report on the Commercial Treaty with France. The report detailed the steps which the Chamber had taken with reference to the negotiation of the treaty through Mr. Cobden. Mr. Edmund Potter the President of the Chamber, praised Mr. Cobden for his exertions : only he could have obtained the Treaty ; and although Mr. Potter did not like the way in which it had been set about, he yet believes that great ad- vantage will accrue from it : the duty of the Chamber is to consider it as a commercial treaty alone. Mr. Potter condemned the insertion of specific duties in the Treaty, and pointed to the message of the American President, which recommended specific duties as a consequence of the bad example set by France and England in partially abandoning the ad valorem scale. Mr. Bosley, M.P., also supported the Treaty as a commercial treaty, and is surprised at the coldness with which the moneyed interest had received it ; on many occasions, the abstraction of bullion to pay for the luxuries of France have been inconvenient ; our imports from France being fifteen millions, which was five millions more than our exports. Mr. Bazley warned the country that it should not be forgotten that France is already a great manufacturing country, so that by suddenly sending an immense quantity of our manufactures, we shall inundate the market, and disappoint ourselves.

Lord Stanhope was elected to represent South Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday.

The Liberation Society having taken up the challenge of Mr. Disraeli, is now engaged in the work of agitation. Lancashire is much excited in consequence of the Easter due proceedings at Accrington. A large public meeting was held at Ashton-under-Lyne on Thursday week, and the tone of the meeting may be collected from the speech of the Reverend J. G. Rogers, B.A., who stated that he had resolved now to cooperate with the society for three reasons—first, because of the declaration of the Man- chester clergy that they would not cooperate in other matters with those who belonged to it ; next, because the recent proceedings at Accrington showed that there was no guarantee that they would continue to be un- molested at Ashton ; and lastly, because the late speech of Mr. Disraeli was a challenge to the whole Nonconformist body to stand by their prin- ciples. The society is engaged in holding meetings in other parts of the country. Mr. Disraeli has precipitated an issue which a month ago was distant.

The Queen has contributed 100 guineas to the fund in aid of the dis- tressed riband weavers of Coventry and its neighbourhood. Subscrip- tions will be received by Jones, Loyd, and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn, Mills, and Co. ; and by Messrs. Drummond.

Most distressing accounts continue to be furnished by the public journals as to the state of the riband-weavers in and near Coventry. It is estimated that 21,488 persons, above the age of twelve years, and 8,157 under that age, were employed in the trade. It is impossible to state in words the in- tensity of the distress, but the details are of the most harrowing description. One family was found who had sold all their furniture, with the exception of a table and two or three chairs ; and after making that sacrifice, had only a little bread, and a few crusts to eat during two days. Another, after sell- ing all their furniture to get food, sold a quart jug, the only article of value they had left, to buy a twopenny loaf. These eases are but samples of thou- sands of others. Probably never did any district of country look forward to so gloomy a Christmas as that which is now before the people of Coventry.

A public meeting was held in the Townhall of Birmingham on Monday, to take steps for the relief of the distress in Coventry and its neighbourhood, 2001. was subscribed. A meeting was also held in the Mayor's parlour at Manchester for the same object, and 2251. was subscribed.

Samuel Twigg was convicted at the Stafford Assizes on Monday, of the wilful murder of his wife, on the 23d of July, at Wolverhampton, and was sentenced to death. The principal witness against the prisoner was his own son, a boy of fifteen years of age, who, on retiring from the witness-box, ad- dressing Mr. Baron Wilde, said, "Please, my lord, to have mercy on my father."

At the Assizes for the City. of Exeter on Monday, Mr. Justice Byles re- ceived from the Sheriff a pair of gloves, according to ancient custom, there not being a single prisoner for trial.

The sentence of death passed on Thomas Richardson, for the murder of Mr. Brian, at Wyberton, has been commuted to penal servitude for life.

The dispute between the colliers and the coalowners in the Churchwell and Drigblington districts in Yorkshire continues unsettled. A meeting was held last week and temperately addressed : the men ask for 58. a day " on the bank," and 5s. 6d., " straight work." But the most noticeable feature of the meeting was a suggestion to found and carry on a "cooperative colliery."

Seven more bodies have been recovered from the Rises Colliery, and iu spite of decomposition were recognized.

A special train from Sunderland ran into a luggage train near Brockley Whine station, on Wednesday night. The luggage train was knocked off the line. The occupants of the special train were detained in the snow two hours.

The express from Edinburgh, on arriving at Rugby on Sunday mornings came into collision with a goods and cattle train, which was being shunted ; the engines were thrown off the lines, several of the cattle trucks were smashed, and many of the oxen killed. The Irish mail and other trains were retarded.

A man, name unknown, was knocked down by the down train near North Woolwich station on Saturday, and the entire train passed over him, lite- rally crushing him to pieces. From papers found in his pocket, it is thought that the deceased came from Lambeth.

On Saturday morning, a collision took place between two trains near New Cross station. Police Sergeant. Knight of the A division and other passen- gers were slightly bruised by the concussion.

An accident occurred on the Midland Railway on Saturday. The 1.10 p.M. train from Doncaster was ten minutes behind time ; bnt was allowed to proceed although a fast train from Leeds was then due. Just as the Doncaster train entered the main line, the Leeds train came into it, and

hurled the engine down an embankment. The engine struck the parapet of a bridge crossing a canal, but did not fall over ; the coupling chains se- vered, otherwise the loss of life might have been fearful. Seven persons were slightly bruised, but were able to proceed on their journey.