320 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Jonas Webb, of Babrahani, Among the other occupantaof 

 the head table were Sir E. Baker (Dorsetshire), Sir Wil- 

 loughby Jones (Norfolk), and Mr. Brampton Gurdon, M.P. 

 ior West Norfolk ; and the general company, of whom it 

 was impossible to obtain anything like a complete list, in- 

 cluded the Hon. Mr. Ryder, Messrs. J. Clarke (Long Sut- 

 ton), Lugar (Hengrave), T. Crisp (Butley Abbey), 

 Hawkins (Smallbridge), G. M. Sexton (Cockfield), II- 

 Sexton (Wherstead), Payne (Risley), G. Ward (Bentley), 

 Empson (Essex), Jukes (Shropshire), Fulcher (the re- 

 presentative of Lord Sondes), Woods (Lord WaUing- 

 hani), Woods (Mr. Foljambe, Nottinghamshire), Kendle 

 (Weasenham), K. Cooper (Duke of Grafton), E. 

 Farrer (Sporle), Rev. H. E, KnatchbuU (Elmham), 

 IL E. Blythe (Burnham), R. Flowerdew (representative of 

 the Marquis of Townsend), R. Flowerdew jun., G. P. 

 Tuxford (London), Isaac Everitt (Limpenhoe), J. Everitt 

 (Soutli Creake), Matson (St. Osyth, Essex), S. Abbott 

 (Castleacre), Elliott (Shelton), S. Leeds, T. Browne 

 (Thrigley), Matthews (Sporle), Dobito (Suffolk), R. N. 

 Bacon (Norwich), U. C. Bonner, England, Cubitt, Wcl- 

 lingham, Field, Lubbuck, R. Butcher, R. Butcher jun., F. 

 Butcher, Messent, Tuthill, .L C. Caldwell, Farquharson, 

 W. Beck, IL Beck, Sherringham, M. Griggs, J. Hunt, T. 

 Chambers, Coleman, Newton, Hc-bgin, J. Bale, Steadman, 

 George, Reid, Sewel], H. Aylmer, Brackenbury, Paul, 

 Richardson, Syder, Southgate, Thurnall, J. Whaitcs, C. 

 Whaites, W. Whaites, cum mullis aliis. 



To the speeches at the collation it will not be necessary 

 to devote much space, as they were few in number and 

 limited in length. The phrase " at the collation" is literally 

 correct ; for as time pressed, and a good deal of anxiety 

 was manifested to get to business, the Chairman proposed 

 the usual loyal toasts while the company were busily en- 

 gaged in satisfying the inner man. The healths of her 

 Majesty and Prince Albert — with reference to whom the 

 usu.al allusion was made to the encouragement his Royal 

 Highness has afforded to agriculture — were proposed and 

 drunk amid a curious knife and fork accompaniment, which 

 produced a very novel and amusing effect. The curiosity of 

 the guests to hear the observations of Mr. Ilamond (who 

 generallj' speaks well and to the point) appeared to get the 

 better of their appetite, for the rapid clatter gradually sub- 

 sided into a slow and measured cadence, which was steadily 

 maintained by those who continued to devote themselves to 

 the good things before them. To the toast of the " Earl of 

 Leicester, Lord Lieutenant of the county," Mr. J. Hudson 

 made a brief response, in the course of which he expressed 

 the pleasure it afforded him to see so numerous a party as- 

 sembled on the occasion to examine the magnificent sheep 

 •which Mr. Overman exhibited. The toast of the "County 

 Members" followed, and was acknowledged bj' Mr. Gurdon, 

 M.P., who said it gave hirn great jdeaaure to meet so many 

 old friends and so many distinguished agriculturists, 

 who had no doubt assembled with the full intention 

 of securing some specimens of thesplendid flock of the worthy 

 host. The proceedings now ass^nning a more special cha- 

 racter, the speeches call for a more extended notice. 



The Ch.aikman said he rose to propose the toast of the 

 day with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain — pleasure 

 to see so fine an exhibition of stock, and so large a company, 

 and to hear so many remarks showing an appreciation of 

 the value of the animals shown : Mr. Overman, a man of 

 gingular perseverance and good judgment, had spared no ex- 

 pense to arrive at the perfection lie had attained. And it 

 was a matter of pain to him (Mr. Ilamond) that Mr. Over- 



man was retiring from a pursuit in which he had not only 

 been most successful, but which he had adorned by his 

 straightforwardness and integrity (cheers). He (Mr. Ha- 

 mond) felt pain, because he frequently passed Mr. Over- 

 man's doors, and he should lose a sight with which he was 

 always pleased — an admirable, well-managed flock of sheep; 

 a flock so well managed that he did not know another in 

 the county which could be compared with it. He had to 

 congratulate Mr. Overman upon the large attendance 

 — caused not merely by the advertisement of the meeting — 

 not merely by the excellence of his sheep — but also by the 

 respect which was felt for him (cheers)- Brevity of speech 

 was essential to a meeting of this kind, and he (Mr. Ha' 

 mond) should be most unwise to occupy with bis observa- 

 tions more time than was necessary •, still he ought to call 

 attention to a young man of great ability, extraordinary 

 industry, and immense pluck and perseverance, who had 

 been most useful to his father in every way in which a good 

 son could assist his parent. Great credit was due to this 

 gentleman ; and while drinking the health of the father, 

 he begged also to give "success to the son" (loud 

 cheers). 



Mr. Overman ( who occupied the vice-chair at the further 

 end of the marquee) rose to express his acknowledgments, 

 and seemed quite overpowered by the warmth of his recep^ 

 tion. He said: Mr. Hamond and gentlemen, be assured 

 that I fully appreciate the compliment you have paid me in 

 coming to see my sheep. I have endeavoured to produce 

 animals which might be advantageous to the country gene- 

 rally, and the point to which I have aspired has been to 

 obtain your esteem and good-feeling towards me (cheers). I 

 have much to be thankful for, and many of j-ou to thank for 

 the great kindness you have shown to me on various occa- 

 sions on which j-ou have stepped out of your way to confer 

 favours upon me. I am sorry, gentlemen, to part with the 

 animals which I have shown to you to-day; but I find that 

 time has worked so upon me, that it is necessary that I 

 should in some degree relax from those duties and from that 

 incessant attention which a flock of Southdown sheep — to 

 be brought forward as those now shown — require at one's 

 hands. My son is about to leave me; and it would be ex- 

 ceedingly unwise, and exceedingly wrong, on my part, if I 

 were further to tax his time and energies to serve me. I 

 am very pleased to take this opportunity of saying, in his 

 presence, that he is fully worthy of the praise which has 

 been bestowed upon him. It is an act of duty on my part 

 towards my son to show you, gentlemen, my feelings to- 

 wards him. There are various opportunities on which we 

 may show each other attention in our path through life ; 

 and from our president, who has kindly acceded to my wish 

 that he should take the diair, I have invariably received 

 that kijidness, attention, and respect which would make any 

 manthinkwcllof him. Mr. Ilamondhaskindly devoted some 

 time every year to look at my flock, and we have discussed their 

 qualifications, the recjuirements of the public, and the duties 

 which we, as ram-letters, owe to them. It is very possible, 

 gentlemen, that you may think my Southdowns are a very 

 large breed. Early in life I was called upon by the late 

 Lord Leicester to attend to the selection of his sheep with 

 Mr. Waltham, and I hope I have been some j-ears .advancing 

 upon the knowledge I then gained. When the late Lord 

 Leicester crossed his sheep with the Hampshire, and after- 

 wards came to me, be was astonished to find so much more 

 constitution and such quantities of meat in my breed. He 

 had not always taken as his guide the wild animals, which 

 fulfil the instinct implanted in them hy a great and all-wise 



