at the Salisbury Meeting, 1857. 417 



With the exception of a few slight showers during one night, 

 the weather throughout the whole period of the trials was without 

 a cloud, except, indeed, of dust ; and a scene more striking can 

 hardly be imagined than that which presented itself to the spec- 

 tator from a hill which, rising abi'uptly from the town, in the 

 direction of Old Sarum, divided the show-yard, which lay imme- 

 diately under it on one side, from the principal trial-fields of drills 

 and other implements on the other. It was upon this elevated 

 spot, accessible only from a narrow road by a still narrower 

 turning, very steep, and partly over soft fresh-cultivated ground, 

 that the steam-ploughing was to come off, if, at least, it could 

 ever come on. Tlie temptation of an unenclosed space of eight- 



once. The whole is admirably conducted ; there are 50 acres of 

 ground, Avith stalls all round the enclosed space ; and in the 

 middle of the 50 acres there is an amphitheatre for showing the 

 animals in, 250 yards in diameter, surrounded by covered seats 

 for about 40,000 people ! it reminded me of the Bull-ring at 

 Mexico. The ground was bought by this city for this express 

 purpose, and all the buildings are permanent. 



I was much feted (perhaps in return for your civility to the 

 deputation from the United States at your Salisbury Meeting), 

 introduced to everybody, got a seat with the Judges, &c. &c. 

 In two instances, sitting in the ring, I was able to pick out the 

 winners of the prizes for cattle before the award was made. The 

 show of animals is very good ; no great numbers, but splendid 

 beasts : I never saw finer cattle than the three prize animals. 

 The horse-show is also very good ; the horses magnificent ; all 

 trotters ; as many as 36 trotting-horses in harness at the same 

 time, racing in the ring. I never saw finer trotters anywhere. 

 The French Canadian horses are the great favourites here, as they 

 are considered so hardy. The show of mules was excellent ; 

 pigs capital ; sheep less good ; poultry show very good ; machinery, 

 I suppose, the best in the world ; all the implements of the very 

 best kind, for this country, at any rate. I think the plan of all 

 the animals being judged publicly in the ring a very good one ; 

 as public opinion is loud in condemning the favouritism so often 

 shown by so-called judges. Kentucky carried the prize for fat 

 cattle: this State (Missouri) was first for mules, won several 

 prizes for horses, and was second for cattle. Everybody is very 

 busy at this Fair and Exhibition, which lasts a whole week. 

 There are, however, no great dinners and speechifying, as you 

 have in England, for the time of everybody is engrossed with 

 business. My friends tell me I could not possibly have come to 

 buy land in any place where I should be so likely to do so to 

 advantage in everv respect as in this State. 



M. B. P. 



