The annual meetings of the Agricultural Societies are now coming

off almost daily. There is little remarkable, however, in their proceedings, unless it be the absence of any talk about agricultural distress. Whether it be in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire, in Hereford or Norfolk, in Gloucestershire or the West Riding, the whole tenour of the speeches is how greater means and appliances can be brought to bear to make the land, already very productive, still more so. The agricultural interest, said Mr. Harcourt, at Watlington, never was in a more flourishing state. Land, said Sir Harry Verney, in Bucks, offers the best and safest invest- ment for at least a portion of the capitalist's means. Drain more, ex- claims Mr. Ferrand, at North Ribblesdale, and the increased productive-. ness of the soil will soon repay you. Improve your breed of horses and cattle, grow more green crops, try and supply the market with eggs, butter, bacon, poultry, pork, those commodities which the foreigner now sends, is the advice of Mr. Dent, at Ripley. Employ machinery, says Mr. Holland, at Stow-in-the-Wold, and employ it for a series of years, and it will give you profits. At many of the meetings a great desire to see the labourer better housed and better fed has been expressed. On the subject of labourers, Mr. Langston, Member for Oxford, made some sound remarks :- Experience has convinced the farmers that they can no longer trust to the assistance of Irish or Welsh labourers, who are now able to find employment at home. He trusted from what had occurred during the late harvest that the farmers would be induced to put an increased value upon the services of their labourers, for if their assistance is really, requisite in summer they ought to be taken care of in the winter season. (Cheers.) As chairman of the board- of guardians he had frequently been grieved to see that when the labourers had completed their work no sufficient provision was made by their employers to provide for their comfort when there was no longer suffi- cient employment for them. The consequence of this is that great disoon. tent arises in the minds of the labourers, who frequently leave their parishes when their services are about to be required, saying, "You don't care for us in winter, and, as we know our services are valuable we will now return the compliment, and leave you.to do the best you can for yourselves." He hoped, after what had taken place during the present year, that such a state of things would not occur again, and that the farmers would endeavour to keep in their parishes those men whose assistance they. found.the most valu- able to themselves. (Oheere.)

It is not often that the House of Commons is portrayed by one of its own Members. Sir William Payne Gallwey, Member for Thirsk, has, however, performed this service. His speech, if not quite accurate, is suggestive and broad _enough to be amusing. It was made at an agri- cultural dinner at Ripley, in the West Riding.

He remarked that being a Member of Parliament it might be supposed that he could rise and make a speech at a moment's notice, for it is one of the most talkative assemblies in the world, and if it were not rude to speak ofsuch an assembly in such language, he should say that it is composed of the most chattering body of men that ever came together to conduct either public or private business. (Laughter.) Following the example of some of his Yorkshire friends, he had performed his duties in the House of Commons in silence, and he was not ashamed to confess it ; on the contrary, he be- lieved that those duties might be fulfilled in a manner as conscientious to the individual, and with as much good to the country at large, in silence as by making long speeches. One of the great evils in our Legislative As- sembly of the present day is a vast amount of conceit and self-ignorance, which makes men ignorant of their own defects, and inflicts an amount of tedium upon their audiences which is terrible to endure. (Applause and laughter.) This is an evil which must be corrected, and he could not think of it without great indignation. He felt indignant also when he found con- stituencies classifying the House of Commons on this principle, and talking of one man as a useful member and of another as an obscure one, because

the former is constantly trespassing upon the valuable and important time of the House, and the latter performs his duties quietly, though truly and

conscientiously. As a Member of a great Legislative Assembly he felt it his duty to seize the opportunity to warn them against the evil to which he re- ferred. (Applause.)

Earl Powis, at Ludlow, gave testimony to the mental improvement of the labourers. Formerly they opposed the introduction of machines, now "how many labourers can be got to thrash with a flail." It is by giving the labourers better education and better cottages that they can be improved in every sense of the word. The Duke of Marlborough, at

Woodstock, said they ought to be proud of the fact that "no science has progressed with such an increase of speed and accumulated ratio as agricultural science." At the same meeting Mr. Henley said, that "if they looked forty or fifty years back they would find that an almost fabulous increase has taken place in the quality and quantity of meat." But he referred agricultural improvements not to science or chemistry, but to the intelligent farmers of the country—a singular statement from one who has been President of the Board of Trade.

The only place where any complaint was made was at. Hitchin. Mr. Puller said that during the last six years farmers had been in a state of great prosperity as compared with any former period. The old spirit found a voice and there wore cries of "No, no !" but Mr. Puller per- sisted.

The subject of Parliamentary Reform has been but slightly touched. At Woodstock, however, Lord Alfred Churchill expressed his views in general terms— With regard to the reform of Parliament, he didnot look upon it ens panacea for all the evils with which we are afflicted, but when he considered the great increase which has taken place in intelligence and education, he thought there are certain classes who might very fairly be intrusted with the franchise. lie should not, however, like to bring about those radical changes which would endanger the institutions of the country. lie wished to see Reform carried out in the spirit of the Constitution. (Cheers.)

The Rifle Volunteer movement is progressing in the most satisfactory way. Corps are springing up in all directions, and the efforts of the peace party and the military red tape school produce little visible effect. Lately Sir Alexander Hood, Member for West Somerset, and formerly an officer in the Life Guards, sneered at the yeomanry of the county in a manner that has been characterized by a patriotic vicar as " rude, un- gentlemanly, and silly." The Bridgwater troop dined together on Men- day, and the speakers paid the baronet in his own coin. They tell their member that West Somerset will remember his words at the next elec- tion, and probably they will keep their word. Sir Alexander has written a letter to say that his speech has been misinterpreted.

The Liberals of Kidderminster celebrated, on Friday week, their great triumph over the Tories at the late general election. It was assumed that Mr. Huddlestone would surely succeed, and the Tories were in ecstasies. But they hallooed before they were out of the wood. Mr. Bristow appeared, and Mr. Huddlestone disappeared. The town kept holiday to commemorate this victory.

The Bishop of Oxford has given formal notice of his intention to issue a commission, addressed to five beneficed clergymen of his diocese to in- quire into certain charges alleged against the Reverend William Simcox Briclmell, Vicar of Rneharn, Oxon, by Mr. Joseph Druce, yeoman and ex-churchwarden of that parish. The offences specified are reading the Morning and Evening Prayers and Lessons from the pulpit instead of from the reading-desk ; not rehearsing the Ten Commandments, nor reading the Epistle and Gospel at the north side of the communion- table ; and suffering the reading-desk to be desecrated by a number of bricks placed there. The commissioners named by the. Bishop are. the Venerable Archdeacon Clerke, the Reverend Dr. Leighton, Rural Doan,. the Reverend Decree Adams, Vicar of Bampton, the Reverend Daniel Goddard, Vicar of Burford, and the Reverend W. E. D. Carter, Vicar of Shipton-under-Wychwood.

The extensive docks recently constructed at Swansea were opened' yesterday week with all due ceremony. The trade of Swansea has ex. panded rapidly within the last ten years. The tonnage entering the pert in 1861 was 270,000, and in 1868 no less than 600,000 tons. The chief export trade is in coals, but nine-tenths of the copper used in the world is smelted at Swansea ; silver ore is exported in large quantities, and also patent fuel. The enterprise of the harbour trustees and the facilities afforded by the South Wales Railway, have helped to make Swansea the flourishing port it is. The works have cost the trustees 600,000/. The docks were opened by Miss Talbot, the daughter of the Lord Lieutenant. Sir William Armstrong has invented a hydraulic apparatus for opening the gates, swinging the bridges, working the sluices, lifting the hoists, and doing everything of the kind; so that Miss Talbot literally opened the docks by the use of this machinery. Several vowels at once entered the basins amid loud cheering. In. the evening Swansea illuminated.

A Commission is sitting at Gloucester to inquire into the existence of corrupt practices in that city. It consists of Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Fitz- gerald, and Mr. Welford. The first sitting was held on Monday. A

large number of witnesses have already been examined; their tes- timony clearly shows that bribery extensively prevaied. Mr. Carter, the elootion auditor, said that Sir Robert Carden's expenses were 10311. 108. 11d. ; Mr. Monk's, 464/. 118. bd. ; Mr. Price's, 464/. lle. ed. He believed the greater part of the bills had been paid, but not by him.

Mr. Welford—" The act of Parliament, then, has not been complied with by either of the candidates or their agents P' Mr. Carter—" No." Mr. Fitzgerald—" As auditor you have no control over the expenses?" Mr. Carter—" None whatever. All I have to do is to make an abstract of the bills and publish them." Mr. Fitzgerald—" Then, if you saw any grossly illegal payment, you have no authority to strike it out ?" Mr. Carter— "I have no power whatever, and no doubt that is the reason why the act of Parliament has been treated generally as a dead letter. I am particularly desired to mention that I was asked to pay the accounts, but as I had no control over the bills I thought it did not matter much who paid them."

Mr. Ellis, agent for Mr. Price, said that Mr. Price said to him, " Pay my share of the legal expenses ; but I would rather be rej' ected. than pa y a shel- ling to bribe a man.' Mr. Jones, agent for Mr. Monk, said the evidence he heard in London as to bribery took him very much by surprise. In like manner Mr. Bretherton, agent for Mr. Monk, knew nothing about bribery. So far all seemed fair ; but the next witness, Mr. Wilton, a surgeon, put a different face on matters. He told how, deputed by the Local Reform Club, ho and Mr. Morell went to London, and there picked up Mr. Monk as a candidate. Then he described how he bad, during the election, received money from one Thornton or Thompson, and had handed it to others, wherewith to bribe—to Brewer Monk, Hutton, Byron, Henley, and Harry Jacobs. Thom eon " told me he bad come to Gloucester to do certain work, and had been furnished with the material to do it; but who sent him, or had given him the money, he never would tell me." Thompson was called, but was not forthcoming. Mr. George Moffat, late Member for Ashburton, said that as Mr. Monk's friend he saw Thompson and Morell in London. They said the election would cost 12001. or 15001. Nothing was said as to how the money would be spent. Mr. Price asked him to supply the money for the preliminary expenses, and he sent a cheque for 5001. drawn on Mr. Ralli, Mr. Monk's father-in-law, to Sir William Hayter ; and Sir William sent to him one Thompson, saying he was "a trustworthy person to take the mone5 to Gloucester." Sir William Hayter was examined. He said that Mr. Mof- fat had asked him if he knew a trustworthy person to take money to Glou- cester. Sir William, not knowing one, inquired, and Webb, clerk to a Parliamentary agent, recommended Thompson; whereupon Sir William gave Thompson a note to Mr. Moffat. Sir William then received the 5001. cheque from Mr. Moffat, with a request that he would give it to Thompson, if Mr. Price wrote to Sir William, and as the latter was going out of town ha commissioned Mr. Parkes to give Thompson the cheque. Mr. Parkes did so.

" Was it intended to convey by the word trustworthy' any other mean- ing than that of honest ?" Witness—"I can't say what was meant. Cer- tainly at the time I had no knowledge that any money would be sent down for an improper purpose." " Had you any suspicion how the money was to be used ? improper Witness—" That is a question which I cannot fairly answer. I will say distinctly I had no knowledge of bribery ; but when you come to suspicion, pardon me if I do not answer." " Do you think the appointment of an auditor a dead letter ? " Witness—" I think it quite useless."

John Clarke, a wholesale milliner, who has been engaged in bribery at elections on both sides, and who was known at Gloucester as " Brettles," confirmed Mr. Wilton's statement that he received money from Thompson. Clarke was engaged with Thompson in the transaction. George Webb, partner with Mr. Gilbert, Parliamentary agent, deposed to the engagement with Thompson to take down the money, but " had not the slightest sus- picion that it was to be employed in bribery." Mr. Wilton added to his list of sums expended (on the whole 9441.), but refused to give the names of persons bribed. He promised to give specific evidence of bribery in Gloucester in 1857.

Mr. Wilkes, a solicitor, entered into various minute particulars proving bribery. He had during the election made an " unsolicited sacrifice" of 901. for the Liberal cause.

Other witnesses made equally specific statements respecting acts of bribery of which they were cognizant.

A military Court of Inquiry, composed of various officers of the Royal Ar- tillery, has been held at Woolwich, to investigate the circumstances con- nected with the flogging of a gunner of the corps, who, it appeared, suffered so severely from the punishment, as the fact cannot be disputed that the man's back was partially covered with boils when the lash was administered. We understand that after hearing evidence and carefully considering the case, the Court decided that the medical officer was blameable for allowing the punishment to be inflicted, and that he be reprimanded accordingly. It is stated that as a consequence of the publicity given to this case by the press, the commanding officer of the battery to which the man belongs has received various letters of a most insulting description, but according to the regulations of the service such officer cannot be entitled to censure, inas- much as he has not the power to set aside the sentence of a court-martial, when sanctioned by the highest military authority. On the other hand, when a court-martial passes sentence of flogging, the medical officer of the battery or brigade to which the delinquent belongs is bound to certify that the prisoner is physically in a condition to receive the punishment, or such punishment cannot legally be administered.

An unfortunate accident, the consequence of furious driving in the dark, has caused the death of Lieutenant-General Morse of the Indian army. He was driving from Reading to his house at Farley Hill on the 16th at the rate of twelve miles an hour and on the wrong side of the road. The driver of a phaeton hearing some vehicle coming at top speed drew up as far on his awn side as was practicable. The dogcart of the general ran into the phteton, and the general and his butler wore thrown out. The butler recovered, but the general died of concussion of the brain.

The Earl of Shrewsbury, Colonel Taylor, M.P., and Captain de Winton, driving from a Staffordshire Yeomanry dinner at Lichfield to Ingestre Hall, on a dark night, "accidentally" drove the horses against a bank. The re- sult was that the noble Earl and the Tory whipper-in pitched on their heads, but neither were seriously hurt.

A fearful explosion in a percussion cap manufactory at Birmingham, on Tuesday, led to the loss of eighteen lives. It is believed to have originated in the "priming shop," but how, has not been ascertained. There were at least seventy-five persons in the factory, perhaps more. Many of the sur- vivors have been so seriously burnt, that it is supposed they will not recover. A fire followed the explosion, but fortunately engines were speedily on the spot and soon got it under. The spectacle was awful and exciting. This accident has attracted the attention of the magistrates to the practice of carrying on a business which demands so much combustible material in the heart of a densely populated town.