Way, Professor Simonds, Professor Morton, Rev.
Thomas Henderson, Edwin Chadwick, Esq., Board of
Health; W. Lee, Esq., Board of Health; Mr. Appold,
inventor of the centrifugal pump; Mr. Fowler, inventor
of the draining plough; W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq.,
C. Knight, Esq.; and other gentlemen of eminence in
science, literature, and the arts. After a slight collation,
the company proceeded to inspect the farm, the growing
crops, and especially the new process of irrigation, from
which such fertilising effects are anticipated. The
general results of this examination may thus be briefly
summed up. On a small farm of 170 acres, the soil of
which was originally poor, cold, and wet, Mr. Mechi
has displayed the power of drainage, high manuring,
and elaborate cultivation, to produce a degree of fertility
scarcely surpassed and rarely equalled, even on our
most naturally fertile soils. His land has been well
drained and subsoiled, or otherwise cultivated to greater
than ordinary depths; trees and fences have been
entirely cleared away, so that there is no waste of
ground and nothing to impede the free access of sun
and air to the soil; all his stock—with the exception of
sheep during summer which are folded on the land,—
his innumerable pigs and numerous cattle, are constantly
kept in sheds, the floors of which are boarded, with
spaces for manure to fail into spaces underneath; and
from each shed pipes are laid to communicate with an
immense liquid manure tank. All the manure is from
time to time washed into the tank by means of flushings
of water directed by a hose, and forced by the pressure
of the steam engine. All the straw grown on the farm
is cut up into chaff for food, and is steamed for the
purpose. A large reservoir, or small lake, formed to
receive the drainage of the land, affords the means of
diluting the strong manure in the tank, which would
otherwise be too powerful for vegetable life; and finally,
this liquid manure is carried, through iron pipes laid
down all over the farm, to such of the fields as may
require to undergo the manuring process. Having
minutely examined every object of interest, the
company repaired to the most extensive of the out-
offices, which had been fitted up as a banqueting hall,
and tastefully decorated with laurels and evergreens,
besides an abundance of ornaments of a more substantial
character. Mr. Mechi himself presided, with the Earl
Fortescue in the vice-chair, and near the chairman
were the American minister, and Messrs. White and
Routh, both from the United States, Lord Ebrington,
and others of the more distinguished guests. The
American Minister, in a pleasant and cordial speech,
mentioned the probable accomplishment of the projected
route across the Isthmus of Darien. It might be thought
(he said), that the Isthmus route had little to do with
agriculture, but his belief was, that everything which
favoured the communion of the Anglo-Saxon race, was
a benefit to every class in the world.—Lord Ebrington
and Mr. Chadwick dwelt upon the importance of
Mr. Mechi's plan for drawing off the sewage of great
cities, as an aid to the great cause of sanitary reform.—
Earl FORTESCUE, amid loud cheers, gave the health
of the chairman. He said he could well remember the
time when Mr. Mechi was ridiculed as a quack, or
mentioned as a well-meaning enthusiast, but now things
assumed a different aspect, and even the good man who
had driven them over that day could say "there is
great improvement in the county since Mr. Mechi came
amongst us." He trusted that Mr. Mechi would live
long to enjoy his success, and to bring to perfection his
ingenious system of cultivation.—Mr. MECHI, in returning
thanks, said he had been often told he was wrong,
but he hoped and believed he was right, and he thought
all who with him had travelled to Lewes would be
prepared to admit that improvement was not quite
unnecessary in farming operations. He expected much
from the application of liquid manure and improvements
in draining; but the farmers, before draining their
lands, must begin by draining their heads. They must
endeavour to get rid of prejudice, and recollect how
long prejudice had retarded the admission of railroads
into their district. He had firm faith that a hundred
years hence, long after he had become a huge turnip or
a gigantic cabbage—they would find that his principles
were sound, and his system an improvement. Having
dwelt at some length on the advantages of sewage
manure, Mr. Mechi complained of the backwardness of
his neighbours in promoting education. A parish of
5000 acres had only contributed £15 a-year, being a
rate of about three-farthings a head. But all these
obstacles would disappear before the force of public
opinion, and farmers would become as intelligent and
enterprising as their neighbours, if they could only once
get rid of the cumbrous machinery which interfered
with the transfer of land. If he wanted to sell them a
razor, how would they like to have to inquire who had
owned that razor twenty years ago? and yet that was
the process they must go through before obtaining a
single acre of land. If they followed his plan, the ox
which went up to market on Monday would be back
with them again in manure before Friday, but to
appreciate and attain these results there must be more
education among the farmers. He was happy to say
that the college at Cirencester was getting on well,
but was sorry to be obliged to add that there
was not a single farmer's son among the pupils.
During the whole of this address Mr. Mechi was
warmly cheered. On the health of the "foreign
visitors" being given, Mr. WHITE, one of the
commissioners from the United States, was called upon to
return thanks, and obeyed the call, though he did not
know (he said) why he should be called a foreigner.
The first white child that was born in New England,
in February, 1620, was his ancestor, and therefore he
claimed a share in that mixed Norman and Saxon
blood of which he was so justly proud. As an
American, he was proud of his noble country—her
mighty rivers, and her vast forests; but he was also
proud of his Saxon ancestry, and that community of
laws, institutions, and sympathies which naturally
existed between England and the United States. If
any attempt were made on the liberties of England by
the despotisms of the continent that sympathy would
soon be proved. Several other toasts and speeches
brought to a close this pleasant and important meeting.

The New Metropolitan Burial Act, which became
operative on the 1st instant, when it received the royal
assent, contains fifty-four clauses. It is entitled "An
Act to amend the laws concerning the Burial of the
Dead in the Metropolis," and was passed in consequence
of the "failure of the Metropolitan Interments Act,
1850," which it repeals. It is now provided that on
the representation of the secretary of state, her Majesty
in council may order the discontinuance of burials in
any part of the metropolis, which order is not to extend
to the burial-grounds of Quakers or Jews, unless
expressly included. After such an order in council
for discontinuance of burials, it is to be deemed a
misdemeanour to bury therein. There is a saving of
certain rights to bury in vaults, &c., and also as to
cemeteries mentioned in the schedule annexed to the
act, and in new burial-grounds or cemeteries hereafter
to be provided with the approbation of the secretary of
state. There is an exception to St. Paul's Cathedral
and Westminster Abbey. No new burial-ground or
cemetery (parochial or non-parochial) is to be provided
and used in the metropolis, or within two miles of any
part thereof, without the previous approval of the
secretary of state. In any parish in the metropolis,
on the requisition of ten or more rate-payers, that the
place of burial is "insufficient or dangerous to health,"
a vestry may be called to determine whether a burial-
ground shall be provided under this act; and if agreed
upon, then a "burial-ground" is to be formed to carry
out this act, and to act in the manner prescribed by the
several clauses for the benefit of the public concerning
the burial of the dead.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

THE Queen, Prince Albert, and the royal family,
embarked at Cowes on Monday morning the 19th, on
board the Victoria and Albert steam-yacht for a
cruise. The royal party visited Dartmouth, Totnes,
Ashburton, and Princetown, Plymouth, and Mount
Edgecumbe; and returned to Osborne on Thursday
evening.