38 KINGSBRIDGE 



consequence was that very few people were in on the 

 Saturday. Everything passed off quietly, and there was 

 not even a case for the interference of the police." 



Mr. J. F. Earle, of Upton, has kindly given the following 

 account of an institution of considerable importance to the 

 neighbourhood : — 



" The Kingsbridge Chamber of Agriculture was established 

 about six years ago, for the purpose of discussing all 

 questions affecting agriculture, with the view of influencing 

 legislation, by petitioning Parliament, so as to prevent 

 the agricultural interest from having an undue share of 

 burthens placed on it. The following are a few of the 

 subjects dealt with by the Chamber. The unfairness of 

 charging local real property only with rates which are 

 spent for Imperial purposes, and should be supplemented 

 by funds from the Imperial Exchequer. The desirability 

 of abolishing turnpikes. The formation of County Financial 

 Boards, so as to give the ratepayers a voice in the expendi- 

 ture of the county rates. The improvement of farm leases 

 and agreements which are become obsolete. The necessity 

 of allowing the occupiers of land to destroy rabbits. The 

 propriety of adopting the 'Metric' system of weights and 

 measures, in lieu of the present numberless systems and 

 customs of buying and selling, by which it is impossible 

 to ascertain the real value of an article in any particular 

 market of the kingdom, the same terms being frequently 

 used to express different weights and quantities." 



A Branch Bank of the " Plymouth and Devonport Banking 

 Company" was opened in Kingsbridge in 1832, under the 

 joint management of Messrs. George Fox and John Nichol- 

 son. The name of this establishment was afterwards changed 

 to that of the "Devon and Cornwall Banking Company." 



