426 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



landed occupiers in the county, the strong feeling of that 

 gentleman was not to receive any subscription, except that 

 in the tangible form before them on the table. The feeling, 

 however, arose so strongly in his favour, and it was enter- 

 tained so strongly in all parts of the county, that the sum 

 was more than sufficient to invest in the plate, which he 

 thought to be an acquisition to his family. Upon that it 

 was resolved that the other portion should be presented in 

 a purse (applause). When they remembered the distances 

 which Mr. Johnson had travelled during these thirteen 

 years, the unavoidable personal expenses which he had been 

 put to in his travelling, and which he had always borne 

 himself, they would all agree with him that it was but 

 right and meet that such good services should meet with 

 their reward. He himself was glad when asked to join in 

 this matter, that it originated with those who were occu- 

 piers in the county and not with the landowners themselves 

 as a body (applause). At a meeting held in that town, it 

 was received with a fervour which hadneverdiminishedup 

 to this moment. (Hear, hear.) He need scarcely remind 

 them that a number of years ago, the funds of the Society 

 and the importance of its meetings was verj' inferior to 

 what they have been for several years past ; and that the 

 Society altogether, in point of position, numbers, meetings, 

 and donations, was much less powerful than it was at the 

 present moment ; and they could not on this occasion but 

 think that a good deal of that better position had been due 

 to the good offices, to the zeal and activity of the Secretary, 

 who had represented them, both in communications by 

 letter and by personal conununication, with all the many 

 individuals in this wide county. He was sure that this had 

 been evidenced from the early period of the movement to 

 the present moment by the large sums that had been re- 

 ceived. The very handsome sum of £230 had been invested 

 in the plate, and there remained £270, which he would 

 have the pleasure of presenting to Mr. Johnson. His own 

 feelings for Mr. Johnson were those of regard and respect ; 

 and it only now remained for him, in the name of all the 

 subscribers, and in the name of the Northumberland Agri- 

 cultural Society, to present him with the plate he saw before 

 him, and likewise the purse of money in which was inclosed 



270 sovereigns, with every wish that he and his family 

 might long live to enjoy the donation now made to him, and 

 that the plate they now saw on the table would form a use- 

 ful acquisition to his wife and family, and add, if anything 

 could do, to that sunshine and comfortable fireside which 

 they all rejoiced to feel he now possessed (prolonged cheers). 

 Long life and happiness to Mr. Johnson, and may he long 

 be spared to his wife and family, and to this Society. 



The toast was drunk with immense cheering. 



Mr. Waltkr Johnson rose, and the cheering was re- 

 newed. He said it was with feelings of deep emotion that 

 he rose to respond to the gratifying remarks made by the 

 Chairman, and to return his heartfelt thanks to his many 

 friends whom he saw around him, and who had done him 

 the honour to present him with that beautiful gift, which 

 would ever testify to him the estimation in which the hum- 

 ble efforts he had made towards the welfare of the North- 

 umberland Agricultural Society had been held during the 

 thirteen years he had had the honour of acting as their se- 

 cretary (cheers). Permit him to add that, if encourage- 

 ment had been necessary, the very kind co operation and 

 assistance which he had at all times met with from the 

 whole of the members of that flourishing body would have 

 been sufficient in his mind to have compensated for any little 

 exertion he might have made. Before he sat down he 

 begged to be allowed to express to Sir Matthew White 

 Ridley, and the many friends he saw around him, his ac- 

 knowledgements for their having travelled so far, and the 

 inconvenience they had put themselves to, in order to pay 

 this marked tribute of esteem towards him (applause). He 

 could assure them that as long as he lived it would remain 

 deeply imprinted upon his mind (apjjlause). Again ho 

 thanked them, and wished them heartily farewell. Mr. 

 Johnson resumed his seat amidst renewed applause. 



Several other toasts were afterwards given and responded 

 to ; many of the speakers complimenting the Secretary of 

 the Northumberland Agricultural Societj-, and expressing 

 the satisfaction they felt at being enabled to be present at 

 the presentation of the testimonial to him. After spending 

 a most agreeable evening, " The next Merry Meeting" was 

 given with loud cheers, and the company broke up. 



THE IMPROVED COTTAGES FOR LABOURERS. 



The annual meeting of the West Kent Labourers' Friend 

 Society took place at Tonbridge, on Wednesday, October 7. In 

 accordance with the wish of the committee, many of those 

 present visited the model cottages erected near the rail- 

 way station by Mr. George Punnett, builder, ou the society's 

 plans. 



The Rev. W. M. Smith Marriott was called to the chair. 



The Chairman said he had been greatly in hopes that the 

 Marquis Camden, their president, who took so lively an in- 

 terest in the society, or the Earl Darnley, one of the vice- 

 presidents, who had taken a great interest in the society also, 

 would have presided on this occasion. Circumstances, how- 

 ever, had occurred to prevent those noblemen attending. He 

 had himself felt a great interest in the society ; and although, 

 of course, he had not the influeiice which those gentlemen 

 had, he should be happy to use his best exertions in any way 

 in which he could promote the interests of the society. Some 

 time ago he had the pleasure of seeing two of the model cot- 

 tages, not those represented by the model on the table, but 



two others then in the course of erection, and he hoped that 

 landlords would avail themselves of the models and plans of 

 this society, by which they might not only much benefit their 

 estates, but greatly benefit their labourers and whoever lived 

 in their cottages. He recollected that it had been said by an 

 American author, whose graceful and delicate compositions 

 they were most of them acquainted with— he referred to 

 Washington Irving— that in his rambles in England, when- 

 ever he came to a secluded village, with nice cottages and 

 gardens, and saw throiigh the trees the squire's house, when- 

 ever he saw a good parsonage, a good church and churchyard, 

 neatly kept, and the cells of the forefathers neatly observed 

 and due honour paid to them— in such villages he observed 

 and found that the people were happy and contented, that they 

 were generally moral and well conducted ; and he (the chair- 

 man) did believe that if a little more attention were paid than 

 generally was the case to the dwellings of the poor, a very 

 great change would be made iu their habits. Much had been 

 done iu the way of improving cottages iu England, and they 



