508 Abstract Beport of Agricultural Discussions. 



allude were the owners of cows. They have lost, perhaps in a day, 

 the fruit of the savings of years : they have lost that which was perhaps 

 essential to the futvu'c well-being of the childi-en around them : they 

 have sustained a loss from which they may never recover. The most 

 pathetic ballad in the English or in any other language — such at least 

 it is said to be, on good authority — whether in ancient or in modern 

 times, is the ballad written by Lady Ann Lindsay, " Auld Eobin 

 Gray." When she had described all the miseries that she thought 

 could be inflicted on poor people, she turned round to her young sister, 

 and asked what additional aggravation there could be: upon which 

 the sister called out to " steal the cow." Here then we have, as we 

 often have, a reality far more pathetic than any tale of fiction. 



Gentlemen, I am very much obliged to you for having, as Shake- 

 speare says, " lent me your ears," for a long time ; but, before con- 

 cluding, I have a word or two to say on the subject of divinity. It 

 is in evidence that on one morning early in August last one or two 

 hundred cattle that were known to be diseased were sent out of the 

 Metropolitan Market simply because there was no one who had the 

 moral courage or the authority to prevent such a state of things. 

 Then I say that the strong man Samson, when he caught three 

 himdred foxes, tied firebrands to their tails, and sent them through 

 the corn-fields, did not adopt a more certain way than this to spread 

 disaster. And I believe it to be a manly, an English, and a Christian 

 sentiment to say that, when we had each of us the consciousness of 

 having done our very best, or at all events having tried to do our very 

 best, to stop the plague, then was the time when we might most 

 properly approach the heavenly throne, to ask the aid of Him who is 

 the great All-giver. 



Sir E. Kerrison, M.P., said : What he had been fortunate enough 

 to hear of the noble lord's remarks was exceedingly interesting to him, 

 as it must indeed have been to every one present. It must be satis- 

 factory to those who had throughout argued in favour of isolation, 

 a,nd of the traffic being in a great degree suspended, to see what the 

 result of those measures had been between the 17th of February and the 

 present moment. At the former period 13,000 cattle were attacked in 

 a week, and with back cases the number was 18,000 ; whereas, by the 

 last accounts, they found that 7000 instead of 13,000 was the number 

 of animals that fell victims to the plague within the week. Although 

 there were 508 new centres of infection, it should be remembered that 

 there were 900 in February. At the present time, therefore, there was 

 a very great diminution in the number of fresh centres. The question 

 would soon be settled when the suspension of railway traffic should 

 cease. The day appointed was, he believed, the 25th of March ; but 

 he understood that the period would be prolonged until fresh Orders 

 in Council were sent out. He hoped the experience of those who 

 assisted in suspending the traffic would induce the authorities to 

 continue the suspension for some time longer. It was of immense 

 importance — if the traffic were stayed, and if the Act which was now 

 being taken in hand by the Privy Coimcil to put a stop to fairs and 

 markets likewise came into effect — it was of immense importance that 



