March 18.] 
THE FIELD. 
263 
ovdof January; Hong Kong, to the 27th of January ; 
«inMDO»e, 10 the 3rd of February ; Penang, to the 5lh of 
February * Guile, to the 13Lli of February ; and Bombay, to 
fte 14th of February. The condition of Burmaii is 
” Idly improving. Decoito is declining, and there is pro- 
i e of an abundant harvest. The Nizam’s country is 
® rrun by bands of predatory horse, which are being 
hunted down by the troops of the contingent. Money is 
abundant at CALCUTTA. Indigo has sold well. Tiude was 
( : Exchange, 2 1 The Aucklautl hud returned to 
Bombay from the Persian Gulf, and reported all quiet at 
Busbire, Tebtrau, and Bagdad. Shanghai will soon, it is 
♦bought! be retaken by the Imperialist*. The export* 
from China are large. Exchange at Canton, 5.2 ; Shanghai, 
6fi. 
that 
COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE. 
A Railroad up a Mountain. — The railroad 
connects the eastern and western parts of Pennsylvania, 
bringing the towns on Luke Eric and the great western 
rivers into direct communication with Philadelphia and 
the Atlantic, is carried over the lofty ridges of tlieAile- 
chanv Mountains by a scries of inclined planes. These 
arc live in number, and the summit of the highest is 
2 000 feet above the level of the sen. The trains are 
dragged up each incline by ft rope attached to a drum 
worked by a stationary engine. They arc drawn across 
the plateaux which intervene between the inclines, in 
some cases bv horses, in others by small locomotives. A 
new road is, "however, being constructed, which will cross 
the mountains by one long winding incline. The ascent 
will be so gradual in its circuitous course, Hint a loco- 
motive will be able to ascend and descend with its train of 
carriages. It is calculated that four hours will he saved 
by the substitution of this new route, and the dispensing 
w’ith the stationary engines.— Mr. Whitworth's Report 
(New York Industrial Exhibition). 
Bridge Across the St. Lawrence at Quebec.— The 
Quebec Colonist says: — “Considerable preparations are 
now being made at Point! St. Charles, Montreal, for the 
construction of the bridge across tlio St. Lawrence. This 
bridge, which will cost upwards of a million and a half 
pounds sterling, will be a mugnificeut work of art ; but the 
recent flooding of Gritfintown lias revived the strong fears 
which have been entertained, that the sinking of piers in 
the bed of the river will cause, at certain periods of the 
year, the total inundation of the city of Montreal. — The 
Engineers of the Grand Trunk Ruilwuy are watching night 
aud day the movements of the ice and the workings of the 
immense stream of water, in order to furnish Mr. Stephenson 
with the most correct information, upon which he will base 
his calculations. 
Australia in Forty-eight Days. — According to 
advices from the Cape of Good Hope, it appears that the 
American Australian steamer Golden Age readied that 
place after an unprecedented passage, her running time 
having been 2G days and a half. She would lie detaiued at 
the Cape some days, but was expected not to occupy more 
than 22 days between tbe Cape and Melbourne, in which 
case her passuge to Australia will have been effected, as 
regards running time, in a little o\ er 48 days. It will be 
remembered that the Post-office authorities refused lo pay 
this vessel any extra sum for taking a mail, and that a few 
days afterwards they despatched, with a bonus of 1,0001., the 
sailing Bhip Matilda Wattenbach, which was ultimately 
driven dismasted into Lisbon. 
China. — The Civil Service. — Government lias, with 
sound judgment} placed certain civil appointments in China 
at the disposal of the council of King’s College. The 
students to bo selected for this service are to form a school 
of interpreters for the use of the British authorities at Hong 
Kong; and if not needed there, they are to proceed under 
the direction of the government to other stations. Report 
attributes this arrangement lo the noble lord the Home 
Secretary, who bus, on more than one occasion, distinguished 
the college by marks of his particular favour. [Why not 
teacli Turkish at Oxford and Cambridge, and give the 
berths of dragomans at Constantinople lo Englishmen? — 
Ed.] 
Ionian Islands.— It is said that Government has mado 
arrangements with that of Portugal for relieving our regi- 
ments iu tiic Ionian Isles, and partially even at Gibraltar and 
Malta, in order that Lord Raglan’s force may bo rendered as 
effective as possible. 
Board of Trade, Whitehall, March 13. — The 
Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy 
Council for Trade aud Plantations have received, through 
the Secretary of State for the Colonics, a copy of a minute 
of the Gibraltar Board of Health, imposing an eight days’ 
quarantine on all vessels arriving there from England — 
'Tuesday a Gazette. 
♦ 
AUSTRALIANA. 
Live Stock and Coals. — The following is from the 
Australian Agricultural Compuny : — “ The Australian 
Agricultural Company hay# received satisfactory udvices 
to the 25th of November, 1853. The chief superintendent 
had held un experimental sale by auction of live stuck at 
Stroud, on the Company’s port, Stephen’s estate, which was 
numerously attended, some of the largest breeders in the 
colony being present. The sum realised was 3,1141. Jt was 
intended iu future to bold quarterly sales. The colliery 
return shows 4,136 tons coul raised in September, and 
3,472 tous sold, realising 3,211?. Arrangements hud been 
mado for the immediate supply of ocean steamers from 
the company's local wliurf at Sydney.” 
Tenders. — The Emigration Commissioners have adver- 
tised for two vessels to curry emigrants to New Smith Wulos 
ami Victoria. One is to be ready for Sydney, and tlio other 
for Geelong, on the 21st of April. 
Australian Mail.— Notice is issued from tlio General 
Post-office that an Australian mail will be mude up iu 
Loudon ou the 4ih of April, to be conveyed by the General 
Screw Steam Navigation Company’s bCiew-sttumer tlio 
Queen of tho South. 
Arrivals. — The Elizabeth has arrived from Port Phillip, 
whence she suited the 25th of November, with 34,001) ounces 
of gold, valued at £136,000. The Advieo has arrived fiom 
More ton Bay (New South Wules), and the Atulnnlu from 
Sydney. The dates by ibeso vessels uro old. Neither of 
them is known lo have any ijold ou hoard : if they have any, 
the amount is probably trifling. 
Governor of Victoria. — Sir Charles Hobart, tlio 
RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPHS. 
Railway Accidbntb. — From a Parliamentary return, it 
appears that tbe total number of persons of every description 
killed and injured on all the passenger railways open for 
public traffic in Great Britain and Irelund daring the half- 
year ending Slst December, 1853, amounted lo 157 killed, 
uml 258 injured ; and may be classed as follows: — 26 pas- 
seugers killed, and 166 injured, from causes beyond tlieir 
own control ; 14 passengers killed, and 13 injured, owing to 
their own misconduct or wunt of caution; 23 servants of 
companies or of contractors killed, and 46 injured, from 
causes beyond their own control ; 53 servuuts of companies 
or of contractors killed, and 23 injured, owing to their own 
misconduct or want of caution ; 41 trespassers and oilier 
persons, neither passengers nor servants of tho company, 
killed, and lOinjured, by crossing or walking on the raihvuy ; 
total, 157 killed, and 258 injured. The leugtli of railway 
open on the 30th June, 1853, was 7,512 ; the length of ruil- 
wuy open on the 30th December, 1858, was 7,686 ; increase 
of mileage during the half year, 174. 
A Telegraphic Despatch from Bucharest lias been 
received, stating that the exportation of grain from the 
Duuubian Principalities is prohibited after the 19th inst. 
This order was fully expected, as it was presumed the ports 
of the invaded provinces would be put upon tbe same footing 
a6 Odessa. 
AGRICULTURAL TALK. 
The war fever lias devoured every other subject. The 
country papers are silent on the topics which in more peace- 
ful times occupy those “ whose talk is of bullocks.” The 
Black Sea and the Baltic are as much cunvussed as in those 
famous fearful times when farmers dreamed nightly of a 
flood of foreign wheat from Tamboff, and other districts 
witli names still more outlandish, at twenty-one sliillings u- 
quarter; but now it is not at what price food cun be im- 
ported, but at what cost armies and navies can be fed in 
those distant seas. Wo do not discuss the effects of an in- 
vasion of foreign bullocks, but on the best means of slnppiug 
our own cavalry. The usual means of growing grain, roots, 
and seeds, of feeding bullocks and fattening pigs, are being 
pursued; implement makers are busy, and brick and tile 
manufacturers have their bunds full ; but at clubs and mar- 
kets, inid-duy diuners, and over evening pipes and cold 
wiiliouts, war ! war! war! is the one perpetual topic. Tbe 
impulse given to geography is remarkable, and that is some- 
thing gained; but it inay be expected that, with tlio usual 
pain of inevitable evils, tbe inevitable calamity will bring 
some compensation for the taxes present and in prospect. 
We see “ looming in the future ” a demand for beef, pork, 
wheal, oats, hay, and nag horses. If peace were concluded 
to-morrow, it is now universally admitted that good farming 
is the farming that would pay best. A farmer with common 
prudence will not take a farm without proper buildings, and 
without provision fur draining, and security for outlay in 
portable manures. No lundlord who knows his own interest 
will accept either a reckless tenant, without capital, trusting 
to the chapter of accidents to pay his rent ; ora rulo-of- 
thninb tenant, coutent to farm anyhow, and live anyhow, so 
long as he cau scratch along. 
If prices are low, agriculturists must make up by the 
quantity per aero for the low amount per bushel j and ir 
pi ices are high, then it is every one's interest, — the 
tenant, the landlord, and the nation, — to grow as much as 
possible. 
With the present prospects before us, it can no longer be 
said that either landowners or tenants need encouragement 
for practising well-tried agricultural improvements. What 
is needed is chiefly the power for landlords to encourage, 
and tho knowledge for tenants to execute, improvements 
We have already said something about the crippled con- 
dition of our English landlords under the depressing in- 
fluence of the land laws which they have permitted convey- 
ancers, attorneys, and other legal purasites — we -use the word 
iu its botanicul sense — to impose upon them. Travellers in 
tropical countries tell us how the seed of some creeping 
plants deposited in the crevice of a large tree takes root 
in the bark, and grows and twines, and twines and grows, 
until it lias involved the whole giant bole in its green, 
sinuous grasp, and the lord of the forest is stifled into pie 
mature decay under the brilliant foliage of tlio creeper, 
which sustains the rotten central trunk long after the 
brandies have ceased lo bud, and the sap to flow. 
Exactly similar is tho effect of our secret system of con- 
veyancing. The trammels of “Title,” the difficulty of 
selling, the enormous cost of raising money on loud, eat up 
many a fine estate, and retain hundreds of others in a con- 
dition of semi-barrenness. The one advantage, it it is an 
advantage, of the system, is, that a land owner who can retain 
possession of his doubly-mortgaged acres, may sometimes 
keep up appearances long alter lie is really hopelessly insol- 
vent. But such a case is the exception. In these prying 
days there are few secrets, and it constantly happens that 
while a landowner is making immense sacrifices in costs, 
and high rate of intorest, to the respectable attorney, 
who is devouring him with the placid deliberation of a 
boa couslrictor, under tbe idea that, by paying 5 per 
cent, where 4 per cent, was enough, lie is keeping his 
want of money a secret, — in reality, bis needy condition, 
with many absurd t xoggeratious, is tlio talk of all his 
neighbours. Our landowners— and tlieir name is legion 
who own land— they can only deal with when, how, and at 
such cost as the lawyers please— must understand that they 
must sacrifice the delusion of secrecy — tho ostricli-llke 
notion, that bccuuso they hide their deeds in a lawyer’s tin 
box, their real liabilities are unknown, — if they want to add 
five, ten, or even more years’ value to those numerous 
estates whb'h, according to most eminent authorities, are 
“good to hold, but bud to 6ell.” 
Under the present system, the family lawyer is the father 
cou lessor of every gnat landowner j and the whole landed 
property is enveloped .in a series of magic charms which, 
like those sold by gipsies to servant girls, can only bo un- 
loosed by gold und silver. There are European countries 
where, by tlio help of a good map und an open registry, 
land fetches five years’ more purchase than the best agri- 
cultural land in England, and fields are transferred ns eusily 
us railway shares. 
Publicity — the dreud lest the prying public should 
know exactly what it knows vaguely now — when and to 
whom, and for how much, Lord A., Sir John U., or 
Squire C., mortgaged an C9tale — is tbe Bryabos with which 
lawyers frighten their legislating infants into maintaining a 
ystrm which makes every landowner's attorney virtually 
lawyer; so can the owner of a ship worth thirty thousand 
pounds; but tlio owner of an acre of pasture is powerless 
without the help of his astrologer, his great medicine man. 
Everything connected with land is enveloped iu a manu- 
factured mystery, and the poor victims who pay for the 
periodical hocus pocus are taught that it is for tlieir good. 
We have no sympathy with the views of those who have 
recently tried to abolish tlio law of primogeulturo ; but, 
looking round aud seeing how needful it Is that landowners 
should have tho means of furnishing tlieir farms with the 
“ plant ” essential for skilful cultivation, we maintain that 
the most urgent reform of tho day Is a measure which shall 
extinguish the mystery, and establish slmplieity and 
economy and publicity iu all the transactions connected 
with the transfer of land. 
The Royal Agricultural Society is not doing tho 
duty imposed upon it by the position it lias assumed. Tlio 
Council monopolUe a largo amount of agricultural informa- 
tion, and bury it. An unworthy fear of puldiciiy, and a 
narrow monopolising spirit, cliaraclui iso (lie policy of tho 
governing body. Wo shall not bo content witli vague chaiges; 
we shall speak out the ■ iscontent which Is whispered in 
agricultural circles. And (list, tho Wednesday’s im-ctiugs. 
At tlvese meetings very interesting papers aro read, contain- 
ing the notes of men whose opinions uml observations ou 
agricultural subjects aro entitled to utlenliou ; discussions 
follow, which uro often of grout interest — pruciicul men 
correct popular errors, scientific men report tho result of 
tlieir investigations. But except I ho few who cau afford 
time to travel to Ilanover-square on these open Wednesdays, 
lew are any tho better for either the papers or the discussions. 
Reporters are excluded for several reasons — amongst others, 
the following very miserable ones: — For fear i he public 
press should compete with, and injure, tlio valuo of the 
society’s journal ; for fear lest ugricuhural members should 
be frightened into silence : and for fear lest sharp discussions 
should be reported. Unfortunately, the itidolutigublo secre- 
tary cau write short- bund — so lie takes notes, which, if lie 
had as uiauy hands as the Siamese twins, and could uso 
them ail, ho could never copy out in full. Instead of copy- 
ing he makes out u paragraph, framed on tlio principle 
which every secretary of u society must keep in view, viz., of 
offending no one. To offend no one, every thing remarkable 
must be cut out, und the whole rendered something between 
a paragraph in a court circular and u royal speech. ^ cry 
good pupors are reserved for llvo or eleven months after dale 
lo fill the pages of the journal. Very good discussions aro 
cousigned, for wunt of tiino und money, to the pigeon-holes, 
where nothing is ever hatched. For instance, lust year there 
was a very interesting discussion on liquid manure irrigation, 
in which several first-rate men took part. To tills (lay wo 
have no report of that discussion, ami all manner of ignorant 
errors are propagated for want of belter information, which 
stil! sleeps in the secretary’s shorl-haud. Again, flsh- 
mauure und other substitutes for guatio are discussed with 
great eagerness iu agricultural circles, and wore debated at 
considerable length iu Ilanover-squinc last mouth. Iiiloriiio- 
tion is wanted, but in any event it seems us if none were 
to be obtained from the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England ; for, iu great fear of offending some one, or for 
wunt of time or want of funds, the notes on fiah-muuures 
sleep beside those on liquid munuro irrigation. 
The fact is that few private societies cun afford to publish 
reports of tlieir discussions ; because, if they publish ut ull 
they think they must publish oil — a great mistake. The 
resource is to admit tho Proas, which will select tho points 
on which the public ure interested. 
Wo shall return at an early duy to the subject of live 
management of the Royal Agricultural Society, and suy 
something about its effect on agricultural literature. 
new govern. ir of Victoria, is to tako his departuro in tho 
Queen ot the South, which will convey out ttie Australian ! irresponsible. The man who has u railway share, or a canul 
mail of tho 4th of April. » slturo, or a share in a mine, can Beil without consulting his 
Steam Ploughing. — Wo are requested to stute, that 
Lord Willoughby d’Eresby’s steam plough is now completed, 
and available for general use. Any gentleman who wishes 
to see it in operation may do so on application by letter, 
two days previously, to Mr. Scott, lidenhaiu Bourne. Lord 
Willoughby wishes it lo be understood that frro permission 
is given either to take drawings of the machinery, or to 
make any use that may be desired of the inv ention, gratis. 
Rochester County Bench. — Caution to Agricul- 
tural Labourers. — Henry Hawley was charged with 
lutviug absconded from bis employ os an agricultural servant 
in the service of Mr. Henry Solomons, farmer, of Slim tie, in 
ibis county. Tlio defendant had been engaged by Mr. 
Solomon on the 18th November, 1852, a- a farm labourer for 
one year ; but eurly on tbe morning of tlio 29th April fol- 
lowing lie absconded, and had not since returned. A warrant 
was tuken out, but tlio defendant bad kept out of tlio way 
until one duy last week. He was sfcou at Gravesend by tlio 
complainant, who applied for the warrant for his apprehen- 
sion to bo put in force, lie having been previously convicted 
of a similar oft'ence. In answer to questions by the defen- 
dant’s futher, Mr. Solomons admitted that tlio defendant hud 
called upoq him about a month after lie had absconded, and 
had promised to meet him tho next day ut the maui. tinted 
office, but ho had not duuo so. One mouth's hard lubour. — 
Maidstone Journal 
The Lambing Season.— T he lambing season is now 
sufficiently advanced to enable us to give u tolerable account 
of its progress. We are sorry to shy, from tlio reports 
which have reached us from various quarters, tliut in Hamp- 
shire and Wiltshire muny severe losses have been sustained, 
botli in luinbs and ewes; the complaint of lambs coming 
dead at birth i> more general ihuii ever remembered, many 
flockinasters having hud to register quite hull out of tho first 
hundred . under this head. Where this bus huppenod, 
serious losses of tho ewes have iu most instances followed. 
There ure exceptions, where a very good full has been the 
lucky lot of the owners. It is generally the fashion to 
attribute a pievuiling futality to '‘something; ” sometimes 
it is uttlibuied to frosty turnips; sometimes to too great u 
quantity ; with more reason, we think, to the uniinul 
system being out of order, to which nothing is moro Ilk. ly 
to conduce Ilian the very bad liny of toe p'exi.t season, 
more espuciulh if the Hock lives chiefly upon it, und drinks 
copiously, 'i'hei u is also much outcry about the rot, or 
‘ collie,” in many quarters; large quantities have been 
sacrificed ill Southfield, and other niurkrls, uot hull fat, 
rather than incur u further risk. The epidemic, ms It was 
termed a few v curs since, but now more prop.-, ly described 
us an “ established foot disease,” is making snd havoc m tlio 
condition of many flocks; the young lambs are also suf- 
fering from it in U greuter degree llmu bufore known, and 
tlieir growth is much retarded iu consequence. Altogether, 
theie is uu uuusuul combination of circumstances acting as 
d raw backs on thu apparently latgo profit' ou slock, now rea- 
lising high figures fur such us are sound und fleshy. 
