The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-15 00:00:00

SMITHFIELD CLUB ANNUAL DINNER.

The usual anniversary dinner of the Sm:thfield
Cattle Club was held yester.lay, in Freemason,' Mill, hit
Grate the Duke of RICHMOND presid,nz. Tour ',map
present the Hon. Capt. Pelham, Col Sibthorp, M P., J.V.
Shelly, W. Wilsoo, .Esqrs., &c. &c. The at.tu.loses er
net so numerous as on homer tec.sions. _

On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN gus "As
Queen," an illustrious lady who was always actuated byths
most anxious desire to promote the welrare of all demist
her subjects. But, conspicuou, u were the regal ‘inuel
her Majesty they were not more urnarlable tra, thuds.
mestic qualities which rendered her an rgansp:t t, adds
women of her empire. He gave " the Oaten," with gm
times three. The toast was drunk with much a nt.

The next toast was, " Prince Albert, and the ecst of to
royal family." His Grace said that the members of tee
club had tenets to feel very grateful to Peen
Albert for the support be had invariably givu
to their club. (Cheers.) His Royal Highness was tbil lee
an exhibitor, and had gained one premium, and wale is
doubt have had great pleasure in going through the she,
accompanic d most probably by her most gracious Majesty,
had it not been for the loss beta had suffered in tee Inane
an illustrious lady—(hear, hear)—oho, during he life, bed
been distinguished by the practice of every Chrieian nen
—(load sheen)—one who had no pleasure durieg limonite
than that of ameliorating the condition of her pm
neighbours. (Loud cheering.) He gave then, "Prom
Albert and the rest of the Rossi Family:" (L ud cheese
The Duke of RICHMOND then rose to give the
toast of the evening. Ile said : The next toast on my Beak,
0 Success to the Smithfield Oattle Club." It is one wtiei
I give with the greatest satisfaction. (Loud cheers.) Gm
Brazen, from circumstances, to which it would not le
right for me just at this moment to allude, the show I
this teem is not so numerous as I have seta it
on former occaeions, yet still I feel that I may congruities
the club on the show whi. h they have brought to the yeti
during the last week. (Loud cheers.) I believe you will
agree with me that in many classes there never was a better
exhibition. (Hear, bear.) If I mention the cow class, sad
that of the short-woolled sheep, I believe you will agree wit
me that • better sample was never shown in Smithfield.
(Hear, hear.) It may be said that I praise the Se:dell
show because the club gave me two premiums. Will, Ida
think my sheep very good—(hear, hear)—but I am de
lighted that • Sussex meant farmer has taken h. ea me the
gold medal. (Cheers.) I have a treeing provincial feel-
ing, and therefore I think that Sussex should sb
ways bear away the prize in South Done sad
when I could not get it myself, I am delighted
that it should be obtained by such a rletsut
straightforward fellow as my neighbour Rigden. (Cents
and laugh er.) Clubs like the Smithfield have been attacked
s a being of ne use, but I thick I can show you why tines
of use. It is not only for the show at me bazaar that's
take credit, but we say that the establishment of the club
has induced farmers to turn their attention to the improve-
ment of their stock. This 1 know, that it goad stock don't
pay, bad cannot ; and, therefore, I am glad to testify that
if you go into the various markets of the country, you will
find that the example of the clubs, and of the various local
institutions, has made • vast alteration in the loped-
ance of stock from what it exhibited twenty yeses
ego. I feel that it is of the greatest importance to
farmers to know, not that they might always produce animals
so tat as arc exhibited for przes, but to know what
sort of cattle most readily accumulate flesh, and are there-
fore of the right sort for stock, and the matter becomes still
more important, when we consider the great number of
young farmers that visit our show-yard. (Hear, hem.)
Those young men having determined to follow the not vere
profitable profession of their fathers—(hear, liter)—it
most important that they should obtain every variety of
practical knowledge, especially in the all-important depart-
ment of the roaring of stock. There is another advantage
in these club', and one which I have always felt, and that
is, that they afford an opportunity for bringing the owaen
and occupiers of land together, a thing which mu-t always
be of the greatest advantage to both. (Hear, hear.)
I regret that this cur annual dinner is cot better supported
by the landowners, who of all men should take the greatest
interest in the development of the resources of the land.
(Hear, hear.) I am not now going to sound my owl praise,
but ever since I came home from the wars, I have tikes
every opportunity of meeting the tenant farmers, &easel
ask my brother landlords is to attend one of our meeting!?
when I am sure that the reception we shall give them, saes
be such as to make them regular attendants ever after.
(Loud cheers.) I believe this club to be of great national
importance, and therefore I propose that we drink its prat
perity with three times three.
The toast Laving been duly honoured, the noble CHAIR-
MAN proceeded to read the awards of the judges, whin
have already been published in the Express, and then to
propose the health's of the heads of the various chesee. The
first toast was " Mr. Jones, the holder of the gold medal*,
the prise oz." In proposing this toast the cheirmea es
pressed ,his hope that the success of Mr. Jones this yid_
would sot induce him to relax his efforts, but that he mega
be an enterprising candidate at each future show.
Mr. JONES returned thanks.
" The health of Mr. Walmsley, the successful candidate
in long-woolled cheep," was the next tease
Mr. WALMSLEY returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN sail his next toast was" The Succor
ful Candidate in Short-woollcd Sheep;" and he was hog
to add that the prizeholeier was a Sussex farmer who rd
been the lord lieutenant of his county. (Cheers.) He es"
trio Health of Mr. Rigdeo, and he trusted that be weed s°
on prespirouely in the march of agricultural improvement.
Mr. HIDDEN, in returning thanks, caogneul :tea her-
self that Sussex sheep bad carried away the prize f r "shed
wools," but his exultation was diminished when Iv' rend-
lected that their formidable opponent, Mr. Webb, had net
no sheep to the present show. However, if be had.
he
(Mr. Maiden) had no doubt but that he should have bees
able for him. (Cheers and laughter.) He thanked Shell
for the welcome with which they had received his heeltle
and he trusted they would have nn opportunity for exhibit;
hag equal friendship on the neat club day. (Cheers ad
laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN gave 5' The successful candidates is
class 20 (Digs)," and called upon Mr. Druce to return thank!:
• Mr. DM:CR felt very grateful for the compliment PI
him, and proud that he had merited the award cie tle
judges. He felt that now, more than ever, was the emu es
which the farmers of England should vigorously put silos
shoulders to tbo wheel. (Leud cheers.) Above all nigh
they must look for good blood in their stock, and thus ones
for the people the greatest quantity of food at the least
pease. (Hear, hear.) They were creeping now: blel2l
they did not exert themselves actively they would `ooh Dee
themselves only crawling, while every other class ne
was pregreemiag at railway spied. (Cheers.)
Mr. F. HOBBS, another of the successful corapeteorecel!
returned thanks, and congratulated himself that the on.
proved Essex pigs were beginning to have their menu so
knowledged by the critics.
The lion. Crpt. PELHAM said be ',had a feast to pe'
pose, which Le felt sure would be received with the guar
satisfaction by the meeting. Every one must acenowleeP
that since the death of their ever to be lamented pre
sndas
Earl Spencer, the chair of their club had been most wartime
filled by rile Grace the Duke of Richmond. (Loud thorn')
Ilia pace had been molt untemittiog in hi 6 exertions for tag