34 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



During the period indicated relations were estab- 

 lished with other agricultural societies, viz., the 

 Middlesex society, when formed in 1794; with the 

 Board of Agriculture of Great Britain in 1796; with 

 the new society at Sturbridge, Mass., in June, 1799, 

 and with the New York society. Friendly letters were 

 exchanged in each instance and copies of the society's 

 publications were sent to each society when issued. 

 The most interesting, at the present date, of these 

 experiences is that with the British Board of Agricul- 

 ture. In November, 1794, William Strickland, a 

 member of that board, who was contemplating a visit 

 to America, was proposed as an honorary member, 

 and unanimously admitted. In the following August 

 a letter dated in Philadelphia was received, in which 

 he acknowledged with thanks a notification of his 

 election. Soon afterwards the trustees sent some of 

 the society's publications to the board in England, and 

 upon his return he was authorized by the board to 

 make due acknowledgement, which he did, writing 

 from his residence in York, and with a graceful com- 

 pliment, considering then recent events, dated his 

 letter, July 4, 1796. He expressed the desire of the 

 board to cooperate with the society ''in promoting 

 objects so eminently conducive to the benefit and 

 happiness of mankind." The letter was accompanied 

 with publications of the British board. 



The trustees responded with a vote of thanks for 

 the gifts, and they instructed the secretary to write to 

 Mr. Strickland, certifying to the vote, "and send him 

 a small cheese-mill, such as is used in this country." 

 In June, 1797, a letter from Mr. Strickland was read 

 in which he states that he has received "a machine for 

 breaking curds in the manufacture of cheese," and 

 says, "I make no doubt that it will meet with the 



