ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 189 



careful study, but read in the light of modern research they appear very 

 wide of the true dia^osis of the affliction. 



The first great Agricultural Show of the Society was held in Cork in 1842, 

 and Deputations from the Royal EngHsh Society and the Highland Society 

 of Scotland attended this meeting. Considerable interest was manifested 

 in Cork city and county in the advent of the Royal Agricultural Improve- 

 ment Society, and on the arrival in Cork of the Council a few days previous 

 to the Show, they found preparations made for their reception upon a scale 

 such as had seldom been witnessed in this country. The catalogues were 

 made out with the greatest care, and the cattle were classified and arranged 

 in perfect order. The different edifices connected with the meeting were 

 fitted up in the most splendid style, and nothing was left undone to secure 

 the success and brilliancy of the undertaking. " As stock and implements 

 were to be exhibited from three parts of the kingdom, the Council thought 

 it advisable to have judges chosen indifferently from each." Some of the 

 most eminent of England's and Scotland's Agriculturists were invited, and 

 Sir Percy Nugent, Mr. William Cooke-Collis, and Mr. William Fishbourne 

 acted for Ireland. 



The proceedings began by a Council dinner at which 250 persons 

 attended. This banquet was, in respect of menu the subject of high lauda- 

 tion by Thackeray, who was then making his first visit to Ireland, but, with 

 his usual cynicism, the great novelist could not close his eyes to some of the 

 peculiarities of the Irish ways : — 



" ' Sir,' says a waiter whom I had asked for currant jelly for the haunch 

 (there were a dozen smoking on various parts of the table) ' Sir,' says the 

 waiter, * there's no jelly, but I've brought you some very fine lobster salad.' 

 I think this was the most remarkable speech of the evening, not excepting 

 that of my Lord Bernard, who to three hundred gentlemen, more or less 

 connected with farming, had actually the audacity to quote the words of the 

 great agriculturist poet of Rome, * O fortunatos nimium,' etc. How long are 

 our statesmen in England to continue to back their opinions by their Latin 

 grammar ? Are the Irish Agriculturists so very happy if they did but know 

 it, at least, out of doors. Well, those within were jolly enough." 



The financial results to the County Cork Agricultural Show, which had to 

 provide for an expenditure of ii^ioog is. 6d., were satisfactory, as they had a 

 credit balance of i^iog i is. gd. The Central Society also had a satisfactory 

 balance sheet, which showed a sum of ;£"iii to its credit. The success of 

 the Cork Show gave the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society a status 

 in the country which ensured success. Enthusiasm was manifested in all 

 quarters. Local Societies were formed and became affiliated to the Central 

 Society as follows : — 



Local Agricultural Societies. 



1841 - - - 23 



1842 - - - 50 



1843 - - - 80 



1844 - - - 100 "still increasing." 



The Show at Belfast in 1843 was also a very considerable success. Iru 



