The West Somersetshire Agricultural Association had their anni- versary dinner
yesterday week, at Sherborne ; Mr. Bickham Escott, in the chair. Among the company, were Mr. E. A. Sanford, Mr. Berkeley Portman, and Sir Thomas Lethbridge. Mr. Sanford warned the company not to expect aid from Parliament— The evil was beyond the power of Parliament to cure ; for they wanted higher prices, and it was impossible for any laws or any government to raise or to regulate prices. He might incur unpopularity for saying so, but it was the truth ; and, as their Representative, it was his duty, and that duty he should fearlessly discharge. If he believed that it was in human power to raise prices and thus to relieve their distresses, he declared that he would gladly sacrifice his time, his peace, every thing he possessed, to effect that object. He had looked at the question with care, and to-morrow he would enter upon it more fully. But though he said that the Legislature could not much help them, he was far from saying that there was no help for them. God forbid ! there was the private relationship between landlord and tenant—there must be the remedy: to that, turn it and shift it as they would, to that they must come at last ; that alone will relieve them effectually ; and over that relationship no Legislature can or ought to have any control.
Sir Thomas Lethbridge thought that Parliament might perhaps do something for them. He advised the farmers not to despond— When he looked round him, and saw that trade and commerce was flourish- ing—that other agricultural produce, except wheat, was at a fair price—that wheat alone was so ruinously low—he felt there was hope of better times. He thought there was a remedy for the evil, if they would only look for it. lii had once stated in Parliament that it grew out of the Currency ; but Parlia- ment thought otherwise. Perhaps the Corn-laws had something to do with it. When in Parliament, be had opposed the present law ; he had proposed a scheme of his own, and divided the House upon it. He was for open ports w ith fixed duties. Why should not the trade in corn be regulated like any other trade? The graduated duties had been imposed for the purpose of keeping prices steady. Had they done so? No. Let the farmers too change the course of their husbandry. Let them go to the Legislature, and ask them first to alter the Corn- laws, then to commute the tithes—let the tithes be paid by the land- lord. That will be a greater relief than is supposed. The Clergy had behiased well, and had been easy titheowners; but by a commutation much bickering would be spared. Let them say nothing about currency. If there were any currency-doctors there, he would talk the matter over with them on the morrow.
Mr. Portman spoke with his usual good sense— The landlord and tenant must meet together, with no middle-man, and adjust it between them. It had been said that die remedy was to be sought in the reduction of rent : he had done this, but it was not enough. The Legis- lature cannot relieve the renting farmer, but it can relieve that other class who farm their own small estates : and this it may do, first, by an honest commu- tation of tithe, secondly, by relieving some of their local burdens ; but the,e men may better relieve themselves by adapting their expenses to their income. There is another class of men whom neither the Legislature nor individuals can relieve—those whose estates are mortgaged beyond their value ; and it is with such men, and with such men only, that the projects of the currency- doctors can have any weight. But before any doubtful remedies are applied, let the landowner and the titheowner meet their tenants and adjust matters as well as they can. He begged to tell them, that he hoped soon to introduce to them a newly-invented drain-plough, which would enable them to drain three acres at the same expense which it had hitherto cost to drain one. He was glad to hear that they were gradually changing their crops. If they paid at- tention to these things—if the tithes he commuted, and the Poor-laws put into operation —he doubted not that he should soon have to congratulate them on returning prosperity.
Mr. Bickham Escott delivered a flaming speech ; but, as will be seen, be was at fault when pressed for his remedy--
It had been said that those who had mortgaged their estates must expect no help. What does that admit, but that the great and noble class of fame, s must descend from their station in society. He demanded for them that they should receive the same support from the Government as any other class : they have a right to the same comforts; and if they have them not, they have a right to complain—to grumble, if vou please. What is to be done to remedy that dis- tress? (Loud cries of "Wame, name the remedy, the remedy !") He should exercise his own judgment whether he should mention the remedy or not ; he should consider whether it was prudent to do so. All that was neces:.aly for him to do was to prove that the farmer is distressed. Sir John Campbell, in a speech at Edinburgh, had denied it (Mr. Escott then proceeded to com- ment upon an extract from Sir John Campbell's speech.) Not only here, but in the public prints, he saw it denied that the farmers were distress, d; some of the newspapers had said that agriculture was very flourishing, or the farmers could not afford to grow wheat at all at the present prices. He compared the condition of the farmer to a ship with a leak, which swims along afur the water is within her, and goes down suddenly with her streame s flying. (Cries of " Name your remedy," were resumed.) He should chroose his own time fa that. lie had been asked to attend a meeting to-morrow : he did not drill
it would be politic in him to do so. He had his reasons for it ; be thought the Legislature ought not to be petitioned upon the subject. If he were asked whether Parliameat could do any thing, he would reply, he did believe it.
Name, name, what ?") Of what use was a Parliament if it could not do this? What was gained by their reforms ? What would a foreigner say if he were told that a British Legislature could not relieve the distress of the great interest of agriculture ? (fries of " I/1/4at, what ?") He would not now enter upon that. They were bound to bestir themselves until they succeeded in their object. The spirit of the country would rouse itself; the Legislature would be forced to help them ; and then, once more, they would be able to hold up their heads. Mr. Snowden explained, that Sir John Campbell alluded ; in his Edinburgh speech, to the flourishing state of agriculture in Scotland— In that speech, after congratulating them upon the condition of their farmers, he proceeded to express a hope that the English farmers %%mild soon be relieved front tl:e distress under which they were labouring. So far from denying the existence of great distress among English agriculturists, he expressed his deep regret that it should be spread so widely.
Soon afterwards the company separated.
There was a meeting of he Cambridgeshire Farmers' Association, at Cambridge, on Saturday ; when it was resolved to join the Central Society in London, and to support no newspaper that did not advocate the cause of the farmer !
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