The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-11 00:00:00

1912VATER OF THE SMITHFIELD CATTLE CLUB.

The annual dinner of this club took place last evening
at the Freemasons' Tavern. About 140 gentlemen were

present, and the chair was occupied by the Duke of
Richmond, the president of the club. Among the guests
we noticed Vice-Chancellor Kindersley, Mr. C. Barnett,
Mr. R. Milward, Mr. H. Wilson, Mr. H. Brandreth,
Mr. R. Baker, Professor Simmonds, Mr. B. Gibbs, hon.
secretary, Mr. J. Webb, and other gentlemen connected
with agriculture.
The cloth having been removed,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Health of the Queen,"
and expressed her Majesty's regret at having been pre-
vented from visiting the yard on the first day of the show
by the loss of a dear relative.
The toast was received with great enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " Prince Albert, the

Prince of Wales, and therest of the Royal Family/' and

adverted to the support always given by his Royal High-
ness to this and similar institutions connected with the
improvement of the breed of cattle in England.
The toast having been duly honoured,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army and Navy," and
paid a high compliment to both services for the bravery
they had displayed in the late war.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.

The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose " Success to the
Smithfield Cattle Club." It was hardly necessary for
him to state the reasons why he thought the club had
rendered important services to the agriculture of the
country. Tney were better judges than be was of the
stock of sheep and pigs which had been exhibited in their
yard, but he certainly thought that the exhibition was
a credit to the farmers of England, and that the stock
was far more excellent than usual. They could not ap-
preciate the advantages of this and similar societies by
merely visiting the show-yards ; in order to do so they
must go into the market-towns on market-days, and view
the improved stock there exhibited. (Cheers.) He was
happy to tell them that the club was in a most prospe-
rous and flourishing condition. It continued to receive
the support of the tenant-farmers of England, and if they
would not withdraw that support he had no doubt it
would continue to flourisb. Yesterday, in consequence
of the prosperous condition of their funds, it was referred
to a committee to report whether there should not be an
increase of from 2001. to 3001. a year of the premiums,
and an extension of the classes for what prizes were
awarded. The report would be brought before the ge-
neral meeting to-morrow. Of course, he could not tell
what would be the decision of that meeting—but the fact
he had stated clearly proved the sound condition of the
club. (Hear.) He had also to inform them that an
arrangement had been made by Mr. Boulnois, proprietor
of the bazaar, by which that gentleman had agreed to
give them the handsome sum of 700/. a year for allowing
the stock to be exhibited. So large an amount would
not be paid if a large number of people did not consider
the attraction sufficient to pay the entrance fee which
was demanded. (Hear.) In conclesion, his Grace pro
posed " Success to the Smithfield Cattle Club."
The toast was received with loud applause.
The CHAIRMAN then said that the meeting yesterday
resolved that in future the awards should not be read at
the annual dinner ; and he would therefore only an-
nounce the winners of the gold medals.
The gold medals were then presented to Mr. W. Heath,
Mr. R. Stratton, Mr. G. Walmeley, his Grace the
Duke of Richmond, and Mr. John Coate.
The healths of these gentlemen were duly honoured and
acknowledged.
Mr.. GORE proposed that of his Grace the Duke of
Richmond.
The Duke of RICHMOND, in returning thanks for the
flattering manner in which his name hal been received,
said he always felt deeply grateful when be gained the
premiums or medals of the club, and most of them would
remember that he was never much depressed when be was
beaten. Some allusion had been made to the humble ser-
vices he had performed in times gone by upon the staff of
the great Duke of Wellington. When be was a young
man, having just left school, he thought it was his duty
not to indulge in the pleasures of this great metropolis,
or the sports of the field, but to share the privations
and dangers of the soldiers who were fighting for their
country, and the friendships he then formed and the
goodwill be acquired had been more than a sufficient re-
compence for the services he had rendered. At the con-
clusion of the war he felt it to be his duty, as a landed
proprietor, to turn his attention to agriculture, and he
assured them that to the last day of his life he should
never forget the marks of friendship and esteem that he
had received, not only from the Smithfield Cattle Club,
but from all the tenant-farmers of the country. (Cheers.)
He had always felt a deep interest in their welfare, and
if there were any great landowners who did not mix with
their tenantry he thought they lost one of the greatest ad-
vantages of the station they occupied. He thanked them
from his heart for the additional proof they had just given
of their kindly feeling towards him, and he could assure
them they should never find him ungrateful. (Cheers.)
His Grace then proposed " The Vice-President and the
Trustees," and mentioned that Lord Portman had been
prevented from attending by the illness of a near rela-
tion, and Lord Demers by a domestic affliction ; he
therefore coupled with the toast the name of the hon. sec-
retary, Mr. B. Gibbs, the only trustee who was present.
Mr. B. GIBES, in responding, congratulated the club
on its prosperous condition, not only with regard to its
finances, but with regard to the influence it exercised
over the community. It was supported by all, and the
Prince, the landowner, the noble, and the tenant-farmer
met on equal terms to compete in friendly rivalry for its
prizes.
" The Judges," proposed by Mr. C. Barnett, was ac-
knowledged by Mr. F. Hobbs ; " The Stewards of the
Yard," proposed by Mr. H. Wilson, was acknowledged
by Mr. Greetham ; "The Royal Agricultural Society,"
introduced by Vice-Chancellor Kindersley, was re-
sponded to by Mr. Brandreth, and a few other toasts
having been disposed of, the company separated.
The musical arrangements, under the direction of Mr.
G. Genge, and the dinner provided for the occasion ap-
peared to give general satisfaction.