1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 341 



One of the most notable events connected with agricult- 

 ure during the last year was the fiftieth annual exhibition of 

 the Koyal Agricultural Society at Windsor, which was held 

 early in July. It was considered the jubilee year of this 

 renowned association, and the anniversary was opened on the 

 12th of March by a state banquet at St. James's Palace, given 

 by the Queen, who was the president of the great gathering, 

 and presided over by the Prince of Wales in her behalf. 

 The exhibition at Windsor followed in midsummer, the 

 premium list of which amounted to nearly sixty thousand 

 dollars, — .£12,000. This secured a total entry of over 

 4,000 head of live stock, 861 entries of poultry, and covered 

 a space of more than 15,000 feet for the exhibition of imple- 

 ments of husbandry, Many gold medals were presented by 

 the Queen to the pri^e animals, in her repeated visits to the 

 exhibition. It is said that 155,000 persons visited the show, 

 and that the receipts were £17,208. It is interesting also to 

 know that, even with this large income, the deficiency on 

 -account of expenses amounted to £5,000, — a calamity with 

 which some of us in this country can sj'mpathize. Many 

 years ago I was present at a banquet given by the Royal 

 Agricultural Society at York, at the close of an exhibition, 

 over which Prince Albert presided, and where the American 

 minister spoke, — a great, and, as I thought, an appropriate, 

 gathering, similar to those which I have witnessed in Massa- 

 chusetts on a few occasions since. Last year, however, this 

 ceremony was somewhat circumscribed, and consisted in a 

 royal command to Mr. Jacob Wilson, the honorary director 

 of the society's shows, to dine with the Queen at Windsor 

 Castle, and to receive at her royal hands the honor of 

 knighthood. And, while I am describing the connection of 

 Her Majesty with this great industrial exhibition, I may add 

 with propriety, that, " as the year came to a close, the Queen 

 maintained her character as a successful agriculturist " [I 

 quote the words of one of her faithful subjects] " by taking 

 the championships of both the Birmingham and Smithfield 

 fat stock shows, besides several of the breed championships, 

 and a large number of other prizes." 



This exhibition at Windsor took place when I was in 

 London last summer, on my way to Lisbon ; and I witnessed 



