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persons 100 years of age and upwards, 201. How many do you think were in Ireland, in not nearly so large a population? 765. That fact speaks highly for the health of the old men and old women. The only thing further I have to add to my summary of statistics, and perhaps I should consider it the most important, is, that in the last year there has been a sensible decrease of crime as compared with preceding years. Now, my Lord and Gentlemen, I will only add that this is not a country to despond about. There are now two sets of principles and of influences at work for mastery over its future destinies. On that mountain top which overlooks so great a portion of the country-on the majestic Slievenamon-one set of those principles and influences finds its vent in shrill and ill-omened shrieks for strife, for discord, and for the bloodshed of those who possess and those who till the soil; the other or counter set of principles breathes through such organs of peace as this and other kindred societies, of which it is the harmonizing and healing purpose to spread the knowledge of useful improvement, to encourage the proprietors of the land to reside on their estates, and to take an interest in the land they live on and the men they live with, and to unite all classes and all grades, landlords and tenants, farmers and labourers, in one blessed reciprocity of good will and good deeds.

The EARL OF CARLISLE again rose, and said:

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

I have risen to propose a toast-one which will meet with your warm, and cordial, and hearty concurrence-I mean, "The health of the President, the Earl of Bessborough." Now, I only feel that the modesty of my noble friend might induce me to be too short in my observations in proposing this toast, while my own feelings of regard and friendship might only tempt me to be too long in dwelling upon the claims which that toast has upon us. Sprung from a race distinguished alike for their public spirit and their service to their country, descended from a father who at one time filled the highest office in this country, and at all times filled the most useful office, that of a resident proprietor, not only residing on the soil, but metamorphosing the appearance of his property. My noble friend carries on the principle and the practice of those who have gone before him. There cannot, perhaps, be a

surer and safer test of the character of a landlord than the condition of his property. I will only say that what the Bessborough property is as an estate, and what Piltown is as a village, such is the Earl of Bessborough as a landlord.

THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S SPRING CATTLE SHOW.

EVENING MEETING FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRIZES.

[MARCH 30TH, 1864.]

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BELIEVE I may gather that the resolution, so kindly proposed by my friend, the Hon. Mr. Handcock, has been endorsed by your acceptance. I can only assure you that I receive this and similar demonstrations in this theatre with great pleasure and gratitude. I feel particular pleasure in thinking that we may be confident that the Show which we have witnessed this day is one of continued and gaining success. I must content myself with referring to the instructive speech of Mr. Maunsell, who can speak with a much nicer degree of discrimination upon the peculiar merits of that Exhibition than I could; but its general merits must have been obvious even to spectators as unqualified and superficial as myself. It is very pleasing to find every time I come here that the Royal Dublin Society has provided fresh appliances, new accommodation, new sheds, yards, and galleries, so that we are now no longer obliged to poach upon Leinster Lawn, but resign its unbroken. sward for purposes of flower beds or parterres, or for the Statues of more Irish worthies. I feel that when I take occasion to commend Exhibitions of live stock upon this and similar occasions I run one risk-I know I am liable to be told that I take much more care of the cattle, and sheep, and swine, and perhaps even of the poultry of the country than of the nobler species-man himself; and that, in my anxiety to prove that Ireland should be the mother of flocks and herds, I comparatively leave ought of sight and do not care what becomes of Irishmen.

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Now, if I thought this required a serious answer, which I do not think it does, I might say that I have reiterated on former occasions my approval of and sympathy with that movement, which I believe the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland has sought to encourage and promote, the construction of better dwellings and cottages for the agricultural labourers. I might also say that I have taken the most public opportunity I could find of giving vent to my regret that the bone and marrow of the rising youth of Ireland, instead of being expended in wholesome labour upon their own fertile soil, should be allowed to rot and moulder on the far battle fields of America. But, Gentlemen, I humbly conceive that, to furnish them with that employment which I covet for them-to secure them those wages which I fain would see rewarding their well-directed labours, there can be no method so obvious or so sure as the processes by which this Society, and in connexion with it the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, have for their special province that is, to improve in every point the agriculture of the country-to perfect every breed of animals employed in husbandry-to make generally known and bring into common use the most useful improvements, and, where the occasion may invite, to furnish new growths and new crops, such, for instance, as that we have just heard allusion made to the flax crop in this country, to the promotion of which every one will rejoice that the Government has given, through this Society, its aid and co-operation. It is precisely in this spirit and in this direction that the poet, in one line, when addressing his country, utters magna frugem parens-and, in the next line says, magna virum; and I believe this is not a fanciful collocation, but that it is from a well-cultivated and well-farmed country that we are most likely to see emerge an industrious, contented, and honest peasantry. Returning you my thanks for the kindness I have received, let me express my pleasure at meeting you this day in the noble yard of this Society, and to anticipate, whether I am here to witness them or not, many future Shows, as gratifying and as full of promise and of hope as that which we have assisted at this day.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW

SALTHILL.

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

[SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1856.]

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TOAST:

"The Health of the Earl of Carlisle, and Prosperity to Ireland."

MY LORD CHANCELLOR, MY LORD MAYOR, AND GENTLEMEN, BEG to return you my very sincere thanks for the honour you have done me in so kindly drinking my health. This is certainly not the first occasion of my witnessing the exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland, but is the first on which I have partaken in so solid and excellent a form of its entertainments; and I am sure, in reference to the Lord Chancellor's generous invitation, that I have had every temptation this evening to renew my experience of your hospitality. I can sincerely congratulate you, Gentlemen, on the strides which the science and practice of Horticulture have made in Ireland, even within my own experience. I believe for those strides the science is mainly indebted to the members of the Royal Horticultural Society. I am sure it must be your first wish, not only that your own exhibitions should be attended with success which hitherto accompanied them, but that they should be largely imitated in the provinces, and amongst all classes of people in Ireland. I myself had the gratification only two days ago of witnessing a very successful Horticultural Show in a very secluded part of the neighbouring county of Wicklow; and I had the pleasure of learning there, that within the very short period. during which the local Society had been established, there has been a most perceptible and marked advance in the endeavours both of farmers and cottagers to improve the gardens round their humble homesteads. This is as it should be; for I am sure it ought to be the first aim and object of us all in promoting the science of Horticulture, not merely to

desire success in displaying splendid exotics and wondrous epiphytes, but also to see that every cottage, no matter how humble, may have its neat flower bed in front, and its well-stocked kitchen garden at its side, and even its smiling orchard behind. Reference has been made by your Lordship to kindred societies at which it has been my privilege to be present. Not long ago I had the high gratification of visiting the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society at Athlone, and I there had abundant opportunity of witnessing the signal improvement which has taken place in Irish agriculture within the last score of years. I suppose the Horticultural Society of Ireland is not yet furnished with such an imposing array of statistics as belong to the sister Society for the promotion of Agriculture; but I make no doubt that almost as great an advance has been made in the floral as in the cereal experience of Ireland. I can only exhort you according to your several opportunities to persevere in your laudable endeavours to improve the Horticulture of this country, and in so doing you will add grace to the lovely landscapes of Ireland, beauties by which they were not before adorned. The science has not only an ornamental, but has directly a utilitarian character, and it is in that respect that I cordially wish all possible success may attend its efforts. With that hope I beg leave to propose as a toast,

"Success to the Royal Horticultural Society;"

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