FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 121 



influence was exerted chiefly in two ways, the publica- 

 tion of editorial or communicated articles in advocacy 

 of improved breeding, and the award of premiums to 

 individuals, who, at their own cost and trouble, had 

 made desirable importations. During the period of 

 the cattle shows, such animals, as well as others im- 

 ported by the society or coming to it by gift, made a 

 part of the attraction of the Brighton annual festival. 

 An importation by the society, in 1816, of three 

 Alderney cattle has been mentioned. The next of 

 record is an importation of a bull and two cows from 

 Flanders, in 1817, by Israel Thorndike of Boston. He 

 was a member of the society from the year 1792, and 

 its vice president from 1823 to 1829. He made a gift 

 to the society, in 1818, of the bull and one of the cows. 

 The animals were of much celebrity, and their prog- 

 eny, as they appeared from time to time at the cattle 

 shows, won great admiration. A bull of the Tees- 

 water breed, of reputation in England at the time, 

 was imported by a member of the society in 1818. It 

 was also known as the "short-horn" breed. In the 

 same year Charles Thorndike, a son of the above 

 mentioned Mr. Thorndike, imported a bull and 

 two cows from Portugal. In 1819 Gorham Parsons, a 

 trustee, and Cornelius Coolidge, a member of the 

 society, each made importations of cattle of the 

 Holdemess breed. In 1820 was made the first of a 

 succession of gifts to the society from two English 

 gentlemen, who were brothers. Sir Isaac Coffin and 

 Gen. John Coffin. The former held rank as an ad- 

 miral in the British navy. At the time of making these 

 gifts. Gen. Coffin was residing in New Brunswick. 

 Their interest in the society was derived from the fact 

 that they were both of Massachusetts, having been 

 born in Boston. Both were in the royal service at the 



