THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



159 



adopted at the special general meeting held on the Gth Jnne, 

 1860, this meeting does in the fullest manner confii-m those 

 proceedings; and it is further resolved that Messrs. Mil- 

 Tvard, B. E. Bennett, William Torr, S. Druce, Owen Wallis, 

 thomas T^ritchell, and R. C. Ransome, or any two of them, 

 be autliorized forthwith to sign tlie agreement which was 

 settled by Mr. Ade, the solicitor of the Club, and Mr. Dor- 

 man, the solicitor of the Agricultural Hall Committee, and 

 approved by theLegal Arrangements Committee in its re- 

 port to the general meeting of the 6tli of June, and that a 

 copy of the agreement be entered on the minutes." My 

 lord, it is not enough, in the ease of a great society like the 

 Smithfield Club, that a measure like tliis should have been 

 adopted by a large majority; it is absolutely necessary that 

 such a society should stand well in public estimation, and 

 it is in order that ic may do so that I intrude myself on the 

 notice of the meeting, to give an account of the successive 

 steps by which we have arrived at our present position as 

 regards the question now before us. I appear here as a 

 simple member of the Club, without any of the advantages 

 connected with rank or agricultural reputation, for this rea- 

 son — that what I say is all the more likely to be judged ac- 

 cording to the facts and figures ; that what is laid before the 

 meeting will not derive any weight whatever from the per- 

 son submitting it, unless, indeed, it be that weight which 

 everyone must have who, having been for some time before 

 the public, is known — as I believe I have always been 

 IsnoAvn — habitually to adopt a straightforward course. 

 My Lord, the commencement of this discussion dates back 

 as far as the general meeting of the 8th December, 

 1857, when ic appeared to be the unanimous feeling of the 

 members present that the existing accommodation was in- 

 sufficient, and notice was given of the intention to move 

 the appointment of a committee of enquiry. On the 7th of 

 December, 1858, on the motion of Mr. Giblett, seconded by 

 Mr. Fisher Hobbs, it was unanimously agreed, " That a 

 sub-committee be appointed to enquiie into the practicability 

 of procuring a better and more commodious place for the 

 Smithfield Club to hold their annual exhibitions, and report 

 the result of their enquiries to the next general meeting." 

 Two days after, on the 9tli of December, at a meeting 

 which was equally unanimous, the committee was nominated. 

 That committee made its report to a meeting held on the 

 Gth of December, 1859, distinctly declaring that in their 

 opinion Baker-slreet was not suitable for the purposes of 

 the Club ; and that document was adopted by a very large 

 majority, the minority consisting, I believe, of only seven 

 persons. At the s.'ime meeting the committee was re- 

 appointed, with the addition of six other members of the 

 Club. This committee reported to a special general meeting 

 held on the 22nd of May last. On that occasion, for the 

 first time, Sir John Shelley, who had not taken the trouble 

 to attend any of the previous meetings, and who had not, 

 as he himself has stated, real any of the circulars which 

 have han issued. 



Sir J. Shelley : I never said anything of the sort. 



Jlr. Sidney : No, I beg pardon ; what Sir John Shelley 

 said was. that there were a number of members who had 

 not read the circular, and that it was to be presumed that 

 such gentlemen had not taken a very warm interest in this 

 matter, and were not well informed respecting it. My 

 opinion is that most of the persons who did not trouble 

 themselves to write did feel a warm interest in what was 

 being done, but were perfectly satisfied with the reports of 

 the committee. On the 23Qd of May, the report of the 

 committee recommending the adoption of the agreement 



with the Agricultural Hall Company, and which was in 

 accordance with that adopted at the meeting of last Decem- 

 ber, was carried by a majority of 1(3 to 8, one member only 

 having been added to the number of those who originally 

 opposed what is now under contemplation. On the same 

 occasion a Legal Arrangements Committee was appointed ; 

 in other words, a number of independent members were 

 selected to draw up the terms on which the Smithfield Club 

 should lease its Show to the Agricultural Hall Company. 

 That committee, acting in conjunction with Mr. Ade, the 

 Solicitor of the Club, and Mr. Dorman, the Solicitor of the 

 Company, drew up a form of agreement, which was sub- 

 mitted to a general meeting held on the Gth of June. All 

 these meetings were summoned by the indefatigable Hon. 

 Secretary of the Club, who, with that business-like talent 

 which always distinguishes him, distinctly showed in every 

 circular the precise business to be transacted on each 

 occasion. You will sec, therefore, from this statement that 

 six general meetings and three committees have by their 

 proceedings led to the adoption of this agreement ; that it 

 was unanimously declared that the premises in Baker-street 

 were unsuitable for the purposes of the Club, and that 

 it was decided by a large majority that it was desir- 

 able that the Agricultural Hall Company should be 

 formed, and that the arrangements offered was such as it 

 would be advantageous to the Club to adopt. T think, 

 therefore, I have completely stamped out the insinuations 

 made at the previous meeting, and propagated through the 

 medium of the press, that the scheme of the Agricultural 

 Hall Company was got up for the benefit of the promoters, 

 and without any regard for the interests of the Club. And 

 here I might stop, because it is perfectly clear from the 

 minutes which have been read by Mr. Gibbs, that the bar- 

 gain is complete, and cannot fairly be disturbed ; but, as I 

 said before, it is essental that a club like this should stand 

 well with the public, and therefore I will enter a little fur- 

 ther into the merits of the case, even at the risk of provoking 

 animadversion from those who are opposed to me on this 

 question. In the first place, my Lord, allow me to remind 

 the meeting that this Club consists of 361 members. The 

 committee, to which I have referred before, consists of 

 vice-presidents, judges, stewards, and leading exbibiters, 

 comprising altogether 40 influential members of a club, 

 with a total list of about 360. I ask, was any question ever 

 investigated in a more satisfactory manner? (Hear, hear). 

 The hon. baronet opposite (Sh- John Shelley) will, perhaps, 

 tell us that these persons are very insignificant compared 

 with those whose names he has brought forward in support 

 of his opposition. I am sure I feel, as we no doubt all do, 

 the greatest respect for persons of high social rank, who 

 honour the Club with their patronage; but at the same 

 time we must pay some regard to the opinions of the active 

 workmg members of the Clirb, men who have taken an 

 active part in the proceedings of the Club. Among these 

 gentlemen I find the name of Mr. Sanday, the well-lmown 

 breeder of Leicesters, the occurrence of whose sale to-day 

 has. I know, prevented many members of the Club from 

 attending this meeting. I find also the names of Mr. 

 Milward^ Mr. TbiT, Mr. Owen Wallis, a distinguished 

 aoi-iculturist, whose name commands respect wherever he 

 i3° known, Professor Simonds, and Mr. Bennett, 

 agent of the Duke of Bedford, who has declared that he 

 caimot attend any more meetings on this subject, because 

 he regards the question as settled, and considers that it 

 would be a gross breach of faith to attempt to unsettle what 

 has been acted upon, .'partially at least, after the fullest 



