itt Vtnniurto.

Agricultural associations and agricultural shows are; now popular in- and the dinners which invariably follow the latter afford a in its character, where political antagenista May before the country. On Saturday last, East Cum- berland, which has been so prominently before the public lately, held its show and had its dinner, at Carlisle. The show was of the ordinary character, consisting of fat beasts and new implements : the speaking after dinner was distinguished from the mass of such dinners by the pre. Bence of the Earl of Carlisle Sir James Graham, Mr. Aglionby, Mr. Fer- guson, and several Howards. Of course the two first-named were the chief speakers whose words have interest for all England ; and their speeches derive additional in- terest from the blending of the mournful with the scientific, high farming with regret for "the Duke." In proposing the Army and Navy, the Earl of Carlisle dwelt upon the public topic of paramount interest at present.

He could not propose that toast without associating it with the memory of the man who had been its chief, and who "to all succeeding i tbne would be its pride, its model, and its inspiration." "This country has been taught by its own history to associate the deaths of its foremost heroes with the culminating hour of victory—with Wolfe expiring under the ram- parts of Quebec—with Nelson falling on the deck at Trafalgar. But, gen- tlemen, while in the number and difficulty of his achievements the Duke of Wellington far outshone those commanders, by the death of one of whom we received the dominion of a continent and of the other that of the sea, I feel that there is something still more in keeping with his steady, even, and unclouded career—that he should have sunk to death gently and noiselessly. 'It was not in the battle, no tempest gave the shock '• but a nation which he had made greater far than it ever was before seemed bathed in the summer sunshine of peace and prosperity, and Sovereign and people alike, who bad grown familiar with his mellowing greatness without losing anything of the veneration which attached to it, will have marked the close of his long, bright, and glorious day, with undisturbed regret and unalloyed affection. I beg to give you the Army and Navy ; requesting that for once it may be drunk in silence, and coupled with the immortal memory of the Duke of Wellington."

This toast was duly acknowledged by Colonel Maclean. Then the County Members were honoured, and the Borough Members followed them.

To the last Sir James Graham replied. He applauded deep draining; advised his hearers to eschew potatoes, "becoming every year more pre- carious " ; exhorted them to nurture stock ; above all things, to look after flax—to try if the straw could not be made to furnish raw material on the spot for manufacturing purposes, with the aid of machinery ; and then he too turned to the common theme upon which all are ready to dilate. Sir James laid his tribute on the bier of Wellington.

"-I do not think it possible," he said, " there can be a convivial meeting assembled in any part of the United Kingdom at this moment in which thoughts of a melancholy description will not arise in every breast. My noble friend alluded to a fact which strikes us all—that the foremost man of the world lies dead and unburied at this moment. Among all my recollec- tions, I am bound to say that I deem it one of the highest honours of my public life to have been associated in council with that noble individual. That eye whose glance kept the world in awe' has lost its lustre. Take him for all in all, We ne'er shall look upon his like

I am satisfied that, although the gratitude of the country has lasted during the life of this eminent individual, it is not this passing generation only whioh will mark its gratitude to him. lily noble friend dwelt with much truthon the extraordinary- ability displayed by the daily press, and its una- nimity—its honourable unanimity—in commenting on the character and ex- cellence of the great man. He does indeed. owe much to the press, but it is not to the passing eulogiuma of the daily press he. must look for the mainte- mance of his future fame. The Duke of Wellington has fortunately left, through the medium of the press, an undying ineinorial or the manner in which he exercised his great powers, and of the honourable mode in which he rose to fame. In those despatches, written on the most confidential in- tercourse with all persons with whom it was his duty to communicate, from the humblest officer to the greatest sovereign, it will be a noble study to trace how he achieved his great success. It will there be found that it was by devotion to his country—by never-ceasing patriotism—by self-denial with reference to all passing views of personal interest and exaltation. Love of duty and love of country were the loadstones by which he guided his course ; and my noble friend has truly said that he has left to the military profession a great example, and to all who take part in public affairs a lesson not less striking and worthy of imitation. Patriotism and love of duty paramount to every consideration made Wellington what he was. That example, at a dis- tance, in my humble sphere, it shall be my duty and desire to follow."

Mr. Ferguson also spoke ; and then Sir James Graham proposed the health of the Earl of Carlisle—not for his "pedigree " but for his "qua- lities" : for pedigree, said Sir James, "the 'Towards will bang all the world " ; but that was not enough—they must look to quality, and in this respect the present Earl would stand the test. Lord Carlisle acknow- ledged the honour; and, speaking of Sir James Graham, said that he was endeared to him by old associations, "which I trust I may look forward to being renewed and freshened by subsisting and new ones." For the rest, Lord Carlisle spoke most emphatically of the " unmistakeable im- provement and progress" of the agriculture of Cumberland which he had witnessed. Subsequently, Mr. Aglionby and Sir James Graham backed up these praises with their testimony ; and in proposing the "tenant- farmers." Sir James styled them "high-spirited," "noble-minded" men, who had struggled against immense difficulties in the noblest spirit, not only of enterprise but of patient endurance, and who had performed "prodigies" of late years. One remarkable point in the speeches was the unanimity with which the speakers advised the cultivation of green crops and growth of stook, and the decrease of wheat crops. Lord Car- lisle was enthusiastic in praise of the "green and glorious turnip " ; Sir James Graham wished never to see wheat grown again on Penrith

The festivity broke up with the announcements of the prizes offered for the ensuing year.

Successful exhibitors residing in Manchester and Salford received the medals and certificates awarded for their share in the Exposition of 1851, on Thursday, at the hands of the Earl of Wilton, the Bishop of Man- chester, Sir John Potter, and the Mayor of Salford.

In seconding a formal resolution authorizing Sir John Potter, the chair- man, to distribute the awards, the Bishop of Manchester delivered an eulogium on the late Duke of Wellington ; whose presence at the open- ing and visits to the Crystal Palace had closely connected him with its history. He it was whose services gave that peace to his country which produced the Great Exhibition.

"The Crystal Palace had passed away, and so too had that great and highminded and good man, who formed the proudest ornament in the Crys- tal Palace as he passed along its corridors, viewing with calm and satisfied eye the greatness, •happiness, and union of which he, under Providence, had been one of the great authors. Calmly and peaceably had he passed away, 28 if leaving the shadows and types of this world for those realities on which his mind longed to dwell. His character in that respect had been misun- fierstood and misappreciated. It was said that he regarded duty rather than glory—that he was the 'Iron Duke.' But let all beware, in those terms which they attributed to him, lest they lost in the term itself the perfection and indication of the term—the real sense and impress of the greatness of his.mind. Duty was with him a large appreciation of the reality of every- thing in which he was placed, which took equally into consideration the mightiest combinations and the humblest and least results. Iron,' in one sense, he might have been, as the metal was enabled to adapt itself to the form which was required by the skill of the artist. but iron' in another respect he was not. While at all times ready with unflinching eye to see, with unflinching breast to bear, and with unflinching head to carry out what he knew to be beat for his country, a kindlier heart, a firmer friend, a more indulgent person to those around him, never lived." Subaequently, the Earl of Wilton, Mr. Thomas Bazley, and others, .addrns the exhibitors ; and these last replied by thanking the com- mittee :for the courtesy with which they had been treated and the aid they had received.

Last week, the Duke of Northumberland laid the foundation-stone of the Borough Schools at Alnwick, with great ceremony and state. The Duchess, Lord and Lady Lovaine, and Lady Charlotte Granville, were present.

At Oldham there is great excitement, consequent on the approaching election. The rival candidates are Mr. W. J. Fox and Mr. Heald, both =successful candidates at the last election, the one for Oldham, the other for Stockport. Flags and colours are seen everywhere ; riots have occur- red ; and the fever of antagonism is so fierce that the authorities have recommended the disuse of colours, and have issued a proclamation stating that they are determined to put down riotous meetings. Oldham is renowned for the brutal ferocity of its elections.

It is expected that this week the whole number of Militiamen required for the Liverpool district will have been completed from volunteers. At Prescot, on the 17th and 18th, 191 volunteers were enrolled ; many of these are labourers at Knowsley, to whom Lord Derby has promised half- wages during the Militia training.

That portion of the South Wales Railway which connects Swansea and Carmarthen—a distance of thirty miles—was formally opened by the directors last week. But it was not opened for traffic, the Government Inspector not having authorized it : various surmises are afloat as to the cause of his refusal to do so.

Another Shipowners Society has published a letter on the grievances of the class, dated September 14th, South Shields. The South Shields shipowners adopt, and indeed echo, the complaints of the Sunderland shipowners which we formerly noticed. They would abolish or greatly reduce all light-dues, and would subject the laws, regulations, and rates of pilotage, to a complete revision. They complain of the working of our consular system, especially of the fees ; and they ask that British ships may be placed on a "fair and equitable footing" with regard to the ships of other countries ; instancing as first-class grievances, the option given to merchant seamen of taking service in the Navy at any time ; and the power given to commanders of war-ships to complete their crews out of merchant-vessels. They dispute the policy of granting salvage to offi- cers and men in the Navy ; and they demand liberty to man their ships with British or foreign seamen at discretion.

The Windsor Castle, a monster screw steam war-ship, was launched at Pembroke last week. Some thirty thousand persons were present. The following are the dimensions of the ship— Length over all, 278 feet 7 inches ; length between the perpendiculars, 240 feet 7 inches; length of keel for tonnage, 201 feet 1l inches ; breadth extreme, 60 feet 1 inch ; breadth for tonnage, 69 feet 3 inches ; breadth moulded, 58 feet 5 inches ; depth in hold, 24 feet 8 inches; burden in tons, No. 3771 19-94ths. To carry 140 guns, exclusive of six guns on the poop and a large pivot one on the forecastle. The engines are of the manufacture of Mr. Robert Napier, and of about 700-horse power. The Windsor Castle is many hundreds of tons larger than the Great Britain, which for some years was the largest vessel afloat. The only two vessels larger than the Great Britain are the celebrated American steamer the Pennsylvania, 3300 tons burden, and the Himalaya' now building at Blackwell for the Oriental Steam Navigation Company, 3200 tone. So that the Windsor Castle exceeds the great American steamer by upwards of 459 tons, and the Himalaya by 549 tons.

Some time ago, charges were preferred, by clergymen having local cures, against the Reverend G. R. Prynne, incumbent of St. Peter's, at Eldad near Plymouth. Mr. Prynne, it was alleged, had set up a confessional in his church, where confession was secretly carried on, and compulsorily as re- garded the girls belonging to the Orphans' Home, a school set up by Miss Sellon ; and that confession was enforced upon very young children, from twelve years of age. These were the formal charges; the sting of them lay in an allegation made by a girl of fourteen, that she had frequently.con- fessed to Mr. Prynne, and that he had put questions to her of a most inde- cent kind. The matter was brought formally under the notice of the Bishop of Exeter ; and on Wednesday last the Bishop presided over an extrajudicial inquiry into the case. Evidence was heard ; consisting of the written and spoken statements of the girl, her mother, several Sisters of Mercy, and clergymen. The reports which have reached us were, by consent of all par- ties, mutilated, and therefore we can only guess at the nature of the sup- pressed portions ; but we have the word of the Bishop and of two clergy- men, that the girl made the most disgusting statements to them in private. As to the allegations, they are utterly denied by Mr. Prynne. He says there is no confessional in the church, and certainly no one could prove that there was one ; but he admits to receiving persons to confess. He does put leading questions, but he is judicious and careful in putting them. Such serious doubts are thrown on the girl's statements by her contradictions and the allegations of those who knew her conduct, that we hesitate to attempt to render an account of them. To the mind of the Bishop they were ob- viously not conclusive ; and he declared, " as a man, a Christian, and a bishop," that it would be the " grossest injustice to withhold the confirma- tion in Mr. Prynne's church," [one of the objects sought to be obtained by the inquiry ; saying, moreover, that he felt bound to declare his opinion of Mr. Prynne a innocence in that emphatic manner Evidently, those who brought the charges—at least their spokesman, the Reverend Mr. Hatchard —did not approve of the Bishop's decision.

West, a quarryman of Leeds, has killed his wife by stabbing her in the back with a knife while she was lying in bed at night. He had come home intoxicated, and a dispute arose. The couple had been married only five weeks. Samuel Greening, of Newport in Monmouthshire, has wounded his cousin and sweetheart, a middle-aged but handsome woman, by firing a pistol in her face, while he was excited by drink and jealousy. The charge of the pistol fractured the jaw, smashed some of the teeth, and passed through the mouth.

A boy only twelve years of age has committed forgery at Manchester. He was sent by Mr. Cookejunior, his father's lodger, to deliver a bank- order to Mr. Cooke senior; but instead of delivering it, the boy forged Mr. Cooke's name on the body of the order, and also indorsed it ; he then attempt- ed to get the order cashed at the bank ; but suspicion arose,' and the forgery was detected. Mr. Cooke declined to prosecute; so the young rogue escaped with an admonition from the Magistrates.

Henry Kernot, the youthful son of Dr. Kernot of Cowes, has attempted to elope with a servant-girl and 2001. of his mother's money. The lady had 6001. deposited in the bank at Newport; the son stole the note, and drew out 2001. ' • then he and the girl fled. But the Police were put on the alert, and the hopeful couple were captured as they attempted to leave Ryde pier. On the young gentleman 1991. 6a. W. was found.

The frauds on the Post-office revenue at Ipswich now appear to have been ex- tensively systematic. At the outset, as was recently mentioned, one clerk was charged with pocketing money paid on letters and affixing obliterated stamps; but since that time, the chief clerk and a second subordinate clerk were ar- rested on similar charges ; and all three have been examined and remanded by the Magistrates.

Two painters who were in partnership at Sunderland have become equally partners in carefully-devised crime. Each was married and has children. They have eloped with two women, one of whom was married, and the painters have plundered a number of persons : they got advances from cus- tomers, gold watches and guards on bills, superfine cloth and gold leaf on credit, and one actually got possession of a cottage and raised money on it by mortgage. It is supposed that the whole party have gone to Australia.

Captain Galion Government Inspector, has been conducting an inquiry

into the cause of accident on the Sheffield and Retford line—the case where the Jury were unable to explain the cause. The evidence taken by Captain Galton was of the same general character as that given before the Jury ; but one special point which was then overlooked he has particularly inquired into—the construction of the locomotive. The engine which left the rails was a " tank" one—that is, there was no tender, but but the engine carried a tank for water and its own coke ; the tank projecting at one end. Does this decrease the safety of the engine ? Many are of opinion that it does ; while practical men declared to Captain Galion that it does not, and that many of these engines are employed without harm : Captain Gal- ton himself travelled on such an engine to the scene of the accident, and he admitted that it went steadily. The Inspector's conclusions will not be known till he has reported to the Board of Trade.

The return of the last train from Carmarthen was signalized by a sad acci- dent. A door had been left unfastened ; Mr. Williams, proprietor of the Cambrian, leant upon it, and he fell out. The train passed over both his feet, so as to cut off his toes. It was found necessary to amputate portions of his feet ; and the unfortunate gentleman is crippled- for life.

At the inquest on Lambert Heaton' the engine-driver who was killed near Creech by the accident on the Bristol and Exeter Railway, the evidence was much the same as in the case of Humberstone the stoker ; and the Jury re- turned a similar verdict. Mr. Badham, the secretary of the company, made some observations in defence of the management of the railway, which ap- pears to have been assailed. The railway had been opened seven years ; it is seventy-six miles in length ; a great traffic has passed over it the yet this was the first fatal accident which had occurred not ascribable to the suffer- ers' own misconduct. If it appeared advisable to make any alterations at Creech, the directors would assuredly effect them.

On the North Union Railway, near Wigan, a passenger-train, which had been already delayed by an accident, ran into a coal-tram, smashing the last truck. The driver of the engine leapt off, and was cut and bruised: no other person appears to have, been hurt.

The body of Lieutenant Reeves, who was drowned by the upsetting of a boat, has been found off Cowes.

Two children have been suffocated in a cottage at North Newington : the family of the parents of the children had been gleaning, and the children were left in a room where corn was strewn about; one seems to have set light to the straw with a match. When the fire was discovered, a young man rushed in and brought out the children to the mother—dead.