Sir H. S. Meysey Thompson, Bart. 535 



must, between themselves, by friendly intercommunication and 

 regard for mutual interest regulate their own affairs. Land will 

 always be valuable in proportion to the tenant's security and 

 confidence. The farmer, who from sentiment gives more than 

 market wages, would soon be bankrupt : so, on the other hand, 

 it is unbusiness-like to expect the labourer to be content with less 

 than the market value of his labour. The President would have 

 it clearly appear that there is an essential difference between the 

 Royal Agricultural Society and Chambers of Agriculture, farmers' 

 clubs, and other kindred societies. The aim of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society does not exclude other charter subjects, 

 but virtually the essential aim of Society, from its commence- 

 ment, has ever been to encourage the production of the most 

 food on the least space — leaving the wealth so extracted to be 

 apportioned between landlord, tenant, and labourer, as may be 

 settled between them — man with man. The President was not 

 likely to lose sight of the fact that labourers' earnings have an 

 important influence on the moral character of that class. Firm 

 belief is expressed in the vitality of the Society ; in the steady 

 and continuous progress of improved agriculture ; and he 

 speaks encouragingly of the expansion of trade, and improved 

 transport by sea and land opening out to us nations of new 

 customers, and all creating demand for agricultural produce. 

 The President points to a boundless region for scientific im- 

 provement, stretching away, far away before us, and lost in the 

 dim, inscrutable distances of the future. A fitting and character- 

 istic conclusion refers gratefully to God's good providence, and 

 to His promise that so long as the world endures there shall 

 be a bountiful return of seed-time and harvest. 



The following letter, at the close of the year 1873, was 

 addressed by Mr. Thompson to the Council of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society, and read at a numerously attended Council 

 meeting : — 



" My Lords and Gentlemen, — It is with great regret that I have to 

 request that at the reconstitution of committees, which takes phace next 

 week, you will not place my name on the list of members then apijointed, 

 as my health will not permit me to attend any business meetings at present. 



" After taking an active part in the afl'airs of the Society for thirty-five 

 years this sudden severance causes me deep disappointment, but my illness is 

 too serious to be trifled with, and I take this opportunity of offering my best 

 thanks to all my colleagues on the Council for the kindness and courtesy 

 which I have received from them from the original formation of the Society 

 to the present time." 



Whereupon the Council recorded an expression of unfeigned 

 regret and sympathy, and of just appreciation of continuous 

 services rendered to agriculture — as President of the Society, 

 as a Member of Council, as Chairman of the Journal Com- 



