March 25.] 
THE FIELD 
287 
Cai. stock (Cornwall).— A rather singular discovery of 
nite in Calstock Consols Mine lias been made in driving 
^ ,he side of one of the copper lodes. The granite is 
f nd on the south wall of the lode for about H foot wide, 
d intermixed with the surrounding stratum, which is clay 
an . The nearest point at which granite is seen at the 
irfaco is about half n mile to the north. The proximity 
of granite is considered favourable for lodes yielding copper 
^Hull.— Capture op a Whale.— A whale, of the Aimer 
tcies measuring between seventy and eighty feet, has been 
sutured in the North Sea, by two smacks. It was towed 
into the Humber on Saturday morning. 
Birmingham. — This town has been the scene of another 
. coking ease of murder and suicide. The dreadful tragedy 
* nk iilaca in one of the small houses situated near St. Mat- 
>8 church, and in which resided Mrs. Speak, the widow 
fa bind master. Her son, Samuel Speak, a youth of little 
0 . than 20 years age, resided with her— both, In fact, 
Trine with her brothers, Messrs. John and Thomas Dodd, 
li was tills poor woman and her son who were almost in- 
stantaneously hurried into eternity yesterday morning. It 
fltmears that the youth Speak got up very early and went to 
Jf* cusiu, John Dodd, a pistol finisher, employed at Mr. 
L iey' s Whittal-strcet. While there lie produced n pistol, 
nd wished to cast some bulletts in a mould. He found, liow- 
that the mould would not fit the pistol— an ordinary 
Leket pistol— and thereupon he cut up some lead info 
'Yum and went away, saying, “ Now I’ll go and have a good 
sh„t • there’s some good waste ground near our house. ’ 
Nothing particular was observed about him them. Having 
breakfasted with his family, he was left in company with 
1 i9 mother, a female cousin having just quitted the room, 
when the report of a pistol was heard ; instantly the place 
was full of smoke, and in a moment after, when the 
cousin rushed into the room, she saw her aunt falling 
from her chair, covered with blood. The youth Speak 
was standing close beside her. Ho merely turned 
and looked at her for a moment and ran upstairs. 
Assistance having been obtained the mother was found to be 
dead, having received a fearful wound in the head. Another 
report of fire-arms was heard, and on the bewildered relatives 
proceeding to the front bedroom on the second floor, they 
found the unhappy youth who had murdered his mother 
lying dead by the side of the bed, shot through the head by 
bis own hand. In both cases death must have been instan- 
taneous. The weapon with which the fatal act was per- 
petrated was found lying by the body on the floor. The 
youth, Samuel Speak, was a gun engraver, and lmd been em- 
ployed up to Christmas by his uncle. He is represented to 
us as being a quiet, sober, steady youth, but “never reckoned 
over sharp.” There are various rumours as to the cause of 
this awful tragedy 5 but of course it would be impossible 
to attach any importance to thorn. It is suggested that 
shortness of work lately had preyed on a mind even at the 
best of times none of the strongest; and that the fear of see- 
ing his mother reduced to want had led to its commission. 
The unfortunnto woman was about 50 years of age, and was 
respectably connected. 
Death of Mr. Commissioner Daniel.— The decease 
of this lamented gentleman, formerly so well known ns a 
Queen's counsel, practising in the Court of Chancery, look 
place at his residence, Moriden-hall, near Coventry, Tuesday 
morning. His last appearance in the Court, of Bankruptcy 
in Birmingham was on Thursday last, when lie complained 
of slight indisposition. During the day lie had spoken 
to personal friends in the most feeling terms of the sudden 
douth of Mr. Justice Talfourd, for whom he entertained 
the siucerest regard. On returning home his illness 
became gradually more severe, and on Monday night Dr. 
Evuns, of Birmingham, was sent for by express to attend 
the then dying patient. Mr. Daniel expired abou 1 o’clock 
in the morning, his disease being constipation of the bowels. 
Rugby. — General Meeting of the Shake- 
holders of the Town Hall Company — On Tuesday 
last the shareholders of the above company met at the 
Lanraitie Sheriff Arms Assembly Room, to decide upon the 
rules laid down and prepared by the committee iu the 
draught of the deed of settlement, which run over 142 pages 
of foolscap. There were present — J. A. Campbell, Esq., 
J. Atty, Esq., C. M. Caldecott, Esq., W. Sale, Esq., W. B. 
Congrave, Esq., C. E. Wratislaw, Esq., Messrs. J. F. Fry, 
W. Colledge, W. Butcher, J. B. Smith, W. Gilbert, Jenson, 
Tongue, D. Underwood, Cowley, Lock, Savage, Reynolds, 
Barnwell, Ward, Manning, Addison, W. Lawrance, Good- 
man, Stratford, Jeffery, Over, &c., &c. The chair was 
taken by C. M. Caldecott, Esq., who rend the clauses laid 
down by the committee ; a new clause was inserted, giving 
power to removo a director at any time. The chairman 
read a list of names proposed as directors of the company ; 
they were — the Rev. J. Congravo, the Rev. C. Evans, C. 
M. Caldecott, Esq., J. A. Campbell, Esq., G. G. Bradley, 
Esq., M. II. Bloxam, Esq., T. J. Bourne, Esq., F. Wood, 
Esq., C. E. Wratislaw, Esq., Mr. J. Reynolds, Mr. J. S. 
Savage, Mr. T. Goodman, Mr. W. Manning, and Mr. J. 
Bromwich : these gentlemen were approved. The chair- 
man then read a list of names to serve as trustees for the 
company, which were also approved ; they were — Sir Thus. 
G. Skipwith, the Hon. C. I.onnox Butler, tlio Rev. J. 
Moultire, the Rev. J. Congravo, the Rev. R. B. Muyor, tlio 
Rev. C. Evuns, T. Caldooott, Esq., J. Atty, Esq., J. A. 
Campbell, F.sq., S. Bucknell, Esq., M. H. Bloxam, 15sq., 
W. L. Sutton, Esq., W. Salo, Esq., Mr. J. F. Fry. Mr. W. 
Sale was appointed treasurer, and Mr. W. Butcher, Mr. L. 
Jayes, and Mr. Shearsby, were appointed auditors; it was 
resolved that the auditors do not receive le.*-s than ten 
shillings each for auditing the accounts of the company. 
The meeting occupied three hours and a half; the only 
matters that caused a division being “the qualification of 
a director,” which the committee had put down os the 
holder of five shares. This Mr. Campbell thought much too 
low, as the capitul of the company was likely to be heavy. 
Mr. Reynolds could not agree with Mr. Campbell that the 
qualification was too low, 03 there were many intelligent 
men who belonged to the originators of the company whose 
opinion ought to be respected, and whose judgment was 
equally sound as though they bold five hundred instead of 
five shares. It was ultimately resolved to fix the qualifica- 
tion at £10, or, in other terms, the holders often one pound 
ehaies ; and as there were two on the list below that number, 
they expressed their willingncssto trke the additional number 
of shares. Another discussion arose by a clause being inserted, 
viz. that benefit and friendly societies who hold their meetings 
at the Hall, should be charged a much reduced scale for the 
accommodation. This was a knotty point, nod at oue time 
threatened to break up the company. Mr. Savage said the 
benefit and friendly societies held together 1,500 shares — 
they projected the scheme, for the purpose of holding their 
meetings at a private place, instead of a public house ; and 
that unless accommodation was afforded them, they would 
withdraw from tlio company, and erect a building of their 
own. Mr. Campbell said this was a now foature — he always 
thought that tlio building wus of a public nature, and why 
should there bo any preference givon to any particular body. 
It was creating discord in the beginning. Ho had no ob- 
jection to give a preference to those societies who established 
the company, but to extend the samo privilege to any new 
society, he could not agree to. Mr. Salo agreed with Mr. 
Campbell, that it would be injudicious to extend tlio pri- 
vilege to benefit or friendly societies — ns, for instauce, n 
body of men, w ho might have strange views of matters, and 
whose proceedings would he objectionable, might take ad- 
vantage of tlio clause, and call thomselves a friendly 
society, and do a deal of mischief. The chairman said if it 
was agreed to adopt this clause, lie for one should linvo no 
more to do with the company. Mr. Tipler said lie was 
prosent at the committee meeting when this clause wus 
inserted, and ho really did not see tlio use of it, for two 
reasons. Tlio fact of the benefit societies expressing a desire 
to keep away from the public house would operate in the 
minds of the wise and good, and it was certain that every 
inducement would be held out to them to attain their desire 
iu this respect. Besides this, the members of benefit societies 
held shares that entitled them to become directors, and as 
seven of the directors approved this day were members of 
benefit societies, he was of opinion that tlio clause was an 
useless one. After a division, the clause was struck out — 
and, as Mr. Savage said this would meet the case, harmony 
was again restored. It was then resolved to send the deed 
to Loudon, to be drawn up in accordance with the resolu- 
tions adopted; and after a vote of thanks hod been given to 
the chairman, and also to Mr. Stratford for the use of his 
room, the meeting was brought to a close. It is reasonably 
expected that in the course of a month at furthest the 
company will bo enrolled. The capital is £G,000, with 
power to increase it to £8,000. Near 5000 shores are 
already allotted. 
IRELAND. 
Dublin. — I n the midst of the most extensive operations 
for spring agricultural work, and general complaints of a 
deficient supply of labourers, emigration still proceeds with 
an unchecked course. The remittances from friends in 
America continue to arrive, and those who receive them arc 
ever found ready, at the shortest notice, to obey the call and 
cross the Atlantic. The last steamer from Waterford to 
Liverpool took over 500 emigrants hound for North America. 
Four additional casus of cholera have occurred at Kanturk, 
tlio total number of cases since tlio beginning being 69. A 
very extensive and serious strike has taken place among the 
carpenters, masons, masons’ labourers, aud others employed 
in the building trade in Cork. The strike of the tradesmen 
is for 27s. instead of 24s. n week. 
POULTRY. 
DATES OF SHOWS. 
ArniL. — Royal 'Dublin Society’s Sprinz Show, April 18, and throo 
following days. Assistant Secretary, W. E. Steele, Esq., M.H. Entries 
close April 3. 
Jdxk The West Kent Domestic Poultry and Flower Show will bo 
held at Farninghnm, the first week tn June. 
September. — Malvern, in the Promenade Gardens, Wednesday and 
Thursday, the 13th and 14th of September. Honorary Secretary, T. 
McCann, Esq., Graham House, Malvern. Entries close August 19. 
December. — Colchester Second Annual Exhibition. 
Extraordinary Eggs.— The following are the dimen- 
sions of two eggs, laid by a common barn-door fowl belong- 
ing to Mr. Roberts, of Gloucester :— Gj in. by 8 in., and Gij 
by 7 2- They each weighed over three ounces. 
Hereford Poultry Markets. — It is well known that 
the Hereford poultry market is one of the best, if not the 
best in the kingdom, not excepting those of Norwich and 
Exeter. Now that the Abergavenny and Hereford and 
Shrewsbury and Hereford Railways are opened to this city, it 
might be expected that the poultry dealers from Birmingham, 
Manchester, Merthyr, See., should attend our Wednesday 
and Saturday markets to make extensive purchases. This 
(hoy would unquestionably do, but we understand that an 
absurd and most false rumour lias gone abroad to the effect 
that our market is closed against “ liuckstels ” until a lute 
hour in the evening! Nothing can be farther from the 
truth— the market isopen from morning to night alike to all 
comers, and sure are we that poultry dealers from Manches- 
ter and London, Birmingham aud Merthyr, will find it 
their interest to regularly attend our excellent market. It 
is true that their attendance may raise prices ; but as the 
demand becomes greater, the supplies will become larger ; 
and the poultry establishments of the farmers, not only of 
Hereford, but also of Hie adjoining counties, will speedily be 
increased. Poultry and eggs will then be among tho most 
remunerative produce brought to tlio Hereford markets. — 
Hereford Times. ____________ 
AGRICULTURAL TALK. 
The Royal Agricultural Society lias been engaged in a 
financial revision. Their revenue is large, but their ex- 
penses arc larger, and they seein to hope to make both ends 
moot by chipping and carving. It may answer, but it would 
be wiser to try to increase their numbers and means by 
increased efficiency, great liberality, and a less exclusive 
spirit. 
Amongst other subjects, the cost of the journal lias oc- 
cupied the attention of the Financial Reform Committee ; 
but, according to what we hear, instead of improving the 
quality, they are considering a lew cheese-paring reductions. 
It is not by culling down the price of paper or printing, 
or reducing publishers’ charges, that tho committee will save 
an j thing worth saving. 
The Journal of tho Royal Agricultural Society, in con- 
sequence of the novelty of tho design — a journal conducted 
on so large a scale, without View to profit, and edited with 
immense labour by a gentleman of fortune — has been 
hitherto considered as properly exempt from criticism. 
There is nothing worse for either a public man or a public 
jouruul than to lie exempt from criticism. The circulation of 
the Journal is little affected by its being better or worse ; 
hence, readers suffer; it seems too hard to find fault with a 
journal, whose editor does for nothing, wliat would cost an 
ordinary publisher four or live hundred a-ycur. But we 
must criticise if wo wrjnt to improve. 
The system of prize essays rarely produces anything good ; 
it is the old system of managing magazines, which, after 1 
being well tried by our grandfathers, has been abandoned) 
even by tho publisher of pocket books, and is only now known 
by certain dull and dreary tracts, of a wonderfully verboso 
and common -place character. 
The prize essays of the Royal Agricultural Journal are 
ohiofly devoted to descriptions of counties. They are good and 
bad, and noitlior ono nor the other ; but, such as they arc, when 
sent in they remain. No space, and no opportunity is af- 
'orded for residents in the samo country to supply omissions 
>r correct orrors. Tlio essay, with all its inevitable mistakes 
md flaws, is sent forth with the soul of the society’s authority, 
with such notes us tho editor run casually collect. Now, 
under a hotter system, each county report would afford a test 
■or a correspondence, which, carefully edited and divested of 
everything personal, would be both useful and amusing. 
But it is tho system of the Journal to bo always right — to 
mffer no contradiction, llouco most absurd statements obtain 
currency in spite of the care of the editor. Then, again, 
how can the contribution of a noble lord ho refused or criti- 
cised when it costs nothing, and fills several pages? 
Tlioro is another dhudvnntago In tho prize system. A 
man cannot well have two prizes in the same year, still less 
one In every number. Therefore, when by chance a prize 
has brought out a now agricultural writer, in the person of 
M>mo intelligent young fanner, there is no encouragement 
lor him to go on and attain that practice in the art of ex- 
pressing truths clearly and picturesquely, which can only 
ho attained by practice. Hence the editor is never able to 
form a staff of writers on whom lie can depend, and is ob- 
liged to go liuuting ubout for contributors, whoso gratuitous 
contributions lie cannot well reject alter having asked for 
1 hem. In no journal of the same importance arc tlio articles 
so unequal — tlio most admirable being bound up with the 
greatest rubbish. Tho reports of tho proceedings of tho 
Society are very badly given — matters of no moment at 
meat length, while important papers and discussions are 
altogether omitted. 
It is not 10 bo expected that Mr. Pusey, with his infirm 
health, will go on for ever labouring at the Journal ; ovon 
judges resign their seats at a certain time, and Mr. Pusey 
has done so much, and so generously, for agriculture, that, 
at any time he pleases, ho can afford to retiro on past prin- 
ciples. 
At any rate, whenever, from any cati6P, the management of 
the Journal comes to be lemodelled, the following scorns to 
usa feasible schento for making it more useful and attractive. 
A paid editor of acknowledged agricultural and literary 
ability — a division of the Journal into essays and reports on 
agricultural subjects — contributing parties paid on a fixed 
liberal scale — and of correspondence for which, excopt ns to 
tho propriety of the tone, tho editor would not be auswer- 
able. 
Under this plan the editor would not only bo able to cull 
from voluntary contributions, but to order the preparation of 
papers on the most Interesting subjects of the day ; while 
tho papers iu tho 2nd part of the Journal would bring out 
usoful practical correspondence. 
On this plan there is no reason why the “ Agricultural 
Transactions” might not oqual the Quarterlies in interest 
; nd literury ability, while losing nothing of their essential 
practical character ; and a reduction of price would socuio 
a lurgely increased circulation. At present there is too 
much reliance on the monopoly of exclusive information, and 
n gratuitous — or professedly gratuitous — circulation. 
A member of tlie London Fanners’ Club, Mr. Acton, 
whose loiter we published last week, imagines that to him 
wc imputed tho argument that agricultural statistics were to 
bo feared because they would tend to reduce tho price of 
bread. Ho is mistaken: wo alluded to gentlemen from 
Croydon and from Hampshire— genth men who hud been 
active in agitating* for a change in the method of taking tlio 
corn averages, because they contended that under the present 
system an unfuir averogo enables the tithe-owners to levy a 
higher rate of rent charge than if tho true value of corn were 
registered every week. 
Thus they blow hot and cold, they want correct informa- 
tion where they think it will diminish their payments, uud 
they want to perpetuate incorrect Information where they 
four it inny diminish their returns. We believe that tho 
substitution of "facts" for "rumours ” would udvuntago 
the farmer more Ilian anyone cl.-e ; but in any enso wo 
do not often meet with so unblushing un avowul of selfish- 
ness. Imagine wliat formers would say if tho clergy met 
and protested against correct averages on tho ground tliut 
these averages would diminish their income. 
It was such selfishness, It was the imputation of tho bosett 
motives to individuals and to whole classes, that gave n “ low 
tone ” to the farmers’ chit-chat discussion. Great public 
measures should bo discussed on broad general principles, 
not on petty malicious dcluils. Agricultural statistics, 
which mean a faithful report of the annual agricultural 
produce aud progress of tho nation, is the question of tho 
day, mid yet we hear persons who read newspapers foil of 
rumours, of gossip, of police reports, ull calculated to do 
tome harm, but good ou the balance, opposing the publica- 
tion of information about cultivation, lest landlords should 
make use of it to raise their rents, or to prosecute their 
tenants for breach of covenants of cultivation. 
The tenant who farms on tenancy at will, under tlio belief 
that lus landlord would ruiso bis rent if ho knew the truth 
as to his produce, is u fool undeserving of pity. He tec a 
the need of u lease, or u “ tohunt-i ight agreement, hot bus 
not the sense or tho pluck to ask for either. So of covenants ; 
of cultivation ; either they are right, mid then they ought to 
he enforced, or they arc w.ong, ami then no landlord ought 
to Impose them, and no tenant ought to submit to them. It 
it tu a fact that a large percent.. go of tenantry 010 living in 
fear of their rent being ruised, and bound by ruinous cove- 
1 , mils of cultivation, it is a new and strong argument for 
collecting agricultural statistics, which will enforce security 
..I tenure, and abolish idlo covenants. It is such miserable 
details and futile objections that gave, in our opinion, a 
“low tone” to tho debate. As to the “ manner ” of the 
Club it wus not lower or more excited than that of the House 
of Commons, or any other hit nested assembly. 
Tho pity i , tliut (he London 1 armors’ Club lost an op- 
portunity of doing an important piece of work, woitliy of a 
central club. Had u set ofeiruighifui wa.il resolutions, like 
those proposed and carried by Mr. Sliuvv in 1845, been 
adopted, the next step would have b> <11 t« communicate will* 
all other local club;, on the best mode of securing complete 
correct 1 . turns, in tlio manner the least inquisitorial and 
vexatious. Tho performance of that duty would have placed 
tho club in a position of utility and importance. 
Unfortunately for the club, the doy was commenced by « 
resolution to pursue the financial career which bos already 
brought it to tho verge of insolvency ; and concluded by * 
muddled milk-and-water resolution, which effectually 
