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Sir 11. S. Meysey Thompson, Bart. 527 



had an agreeable theory that " all truly British Institutions 

 commence with a dinner," which sociable theoiy he much 

 delighted to extend and to carry into practice both at Kirby and 

 at his town house in Mansfield Street. His hospitalities — and 

 he was truly hospitable — he liked to make conducive to his 

 practical views. He was President of the Yorkshire Agricul- 

 tural Society in 1862, and one of the last acts of its Council 

 must have been highly gratifying to Mr. Thompson — by 

 authorising the Secretary of the Yorkshire Society to become an 

 cx-qfficio member of the Royal Agricultural Society, an intimate 

 connecting link was established between these gieat sister 

 societies. 



The Royal Agricultural Society of England was founded in 

 1838. Two eminent men, now no more, have in a remarkable 

 degree influenced the fortunes of this national society, Mr. 

 Pusey* and Mr. Thompson. The agricultural life of both these 

 distinguished men may find a fitting monument in its journals. 

 Mr. Pusey edited the Journal from the first, and until his 

 lamented and premature decease in 1855, when its conduct was 

 confided to Mr. Thompson, who more or less is responsible for 

 its management for a like period of seventeen busy years. And 

 what is the Journal ? A half-yearly epistle from Hanover Square 

 to the agricultural world; the record for the focus of the widest 

 possible induction — a bond of union that unites the members 

 of a great national society. Consider the circulation of the 

 Journal, and the influence its county reports have had in securing 

 happily prevailing uniformity, and say with us, may those 

 who manage it never forget all these essential considerations ; 

 without jealousy may they ever, like Mr. Thompson, be judicious 

 in the selection and promotion of young men ; and thus the 

 Society shall never know " the curse of nations, an inability to 

 wrestle with difficulties." A man of high character and sober 

 judgment, Mr. Pusey was at once a philosopher and a man of 

 business ; a majn in advance of his age. Practice with science, 

 the motto of the Society, his characteristic and oft-repeated 

 words, even he thought more desirable than probable. If to the 

 unreflecting these two pregnant words appear trite, the pondering 

 student sees in them the key to the agriculture of all future 

 time. It is fit, it is essential to draw some parallel, to suggest 

 some contrast between men so united in kindred labours in the 

 same cause, so distinguished in the same agricultural field of 



* See further, as to Mr. Pusey, and much other instructive matter, ' Quarterly 

 Keview,' 1844, Art. " Agriculture." Also Index ' Journal of the Eoyal Agricul- 

 tural Society,' vol. i. to xxv. And especially Sir T. D. Acland's Letter, vol. xvi., 

 p. 608. Mr. Pusey mainly assisted in " the elevation of English Agriculture to 

 the rank of a liberal art." 



